I was riding my bike around this evening and I went up a curb sideways and the tire, rather than going up on the curb, continued on into some direction but I didn't see where because it happened so fast. Anyway, the bike fell over along with me and my knee hit the ground and net my chin.

I was planning on going MTBing at South Mountain in AZ this weekend but I feel that I would only be falling the majority of the time. I have gone MTBing when I was maybe 6 or 7 and I ended up flipping my bike over and my entire arm scabbed over, and also last year with another bike. The second time wasn't nearly as rocky as the first so I came off unscathed and scratchless. But I'm having second thoughts now. I barely went up 2 inches and nearly broke an arm. I'm not exactly proud to say this but... I wasn't wearing a helmet. I'll definitely wear one if I go MTBing and also knee and elbow pads but I still worry about falling alot.

Does anyone have any tips for a somewhat first time mountain biker? Should I take extra precautions and not go so fast? Or just be careful if I do go fast?

Any advice is welcome,

Josh

Hey Josh-welcome to the forum! You are hitting a true world class place for Mountain Biking. I grew up in the 60's and 70's riding my paperboy special all over that park. Love it.

The trails are marked for different skill levels. Stick to the mild trails until you get your confidence up, Don't be afraid to get off and walk a stretch of trail. If you feel yourself tensing up or getting fatigued, stop and get your legs under you. You want to stay relaxed and loose.

We all have stories of stupid falls. Many happen at slower speeds when you don't think anything is going to happen. Enjoy and post some pictures.

I just moved from Tempe (Sadly) and if you're scared you aren't prepared for mountain biking I'd hold off on South Mountain. Papago Park is a better bet for a beginner in my opinion. I can give you more details about parking and all that if you'd like.

Read this thoroughly & carefully. Take a few minutes after to contemplate what you've just read. Then read it two more times for good measure.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/545271-Taken-for-granted-techniques-for-new-riders

My advice is to learn skills first then start trying tricks... In mountain biking most accidents occur because the rider is either trying something over his head and/or he doesn't have the skill to deal with the terrain. It's always best to ride with caution until certain skills are mastered. If you think in the beginning you can ride like a professional, then yes, you will get hurt. Many people start out that way... too impatient to take it easy and learn how to tackle terrain first.

Here's what I do to address skills... if I have difficulty with something, say steep, narrow switchbacks (my nemesis), then I ride them over and over and over again. I ride them until it becomes second nature. Obviously you want to jump things 1) is your bike set up for it and 2) do you know the basics? Think about taking a skills class...

I won't address riding without a helmet, you already know how dumb that was... not certain well you feel the need to wear pads unless you are freeriding but if it makes you feel better OK. Another thing, do you know what to do in a fall (ie do you know how to fall properly? Arms in, head tuck, roll...)

Anyway remember you aren't 6 or 7 anyway and wont heal as fast plus if you are like me, you have to work on Monday so be careful...

I realized how stupid it was as my chin hit the concrete...

And I actually didn't know that there was a specific way to fall but if you could give me the entire procedure that would be wonderful.

And I'm 15 years old and in high school but we don't actually have school Monday because of President's Day but I'll still take it easy anyway.


Josh

Thanks for that link, I'll actually print them out to review them because I'd rather not ruin my bike by going up a rock incorrectly.

I have recovered quite quickly overnight but I'm not going to go out all happy-go-lucky and end up even more bruised and beaten before the weekend even comes around.

Which high school? I graduated from South High in '72.

I go to Corona Del Sol in Tempe, AZ. BTW I noticed in your Bio that you "prefer a sleeping bag under the stars". I also happen to be an amateur astronomer and I have been for, as of today, 1 year, 2 months and 13 days, and I think astronomy, along with biking, is going to be one of those "things" that I'll never get bored of. Glad to know that I can relate to someone on this forum!

Josh

I never get tired of finding Orion, the dippers and a few others.

You're 15, huh? You still have a few more years of invincibility left. Go mountain biking. Nah, but seriously, everyone spends their first mountain bike ride on the ground. That's how you learn.

And what do you mean you sent up a curb sideways? Like you tried to bunny hop sideways onto it? Or you ran the side of your wheel up against the curb? Because in the latter situation, you're done.

What I meant by going up sideways onto the curb is that my front and rear tire werent at a 90 degree angle and the front tire was a bit over inflated for stuff like that and didn't grip the curb and pull me up. Instead he bike kept going in the direction it wanted to, naturally never where you want it, and I fell on my left side with my hip, then knee, then chin and arms. My knee was the most battered because the jeans I was wearing had holes in them.

And I'm wearing a helmet from now on to prevent a series of stupid events like that.

Sorry didn't realize you were 15 - I guess I sounded like the Mom I am...

Listen even though you are young, never too late to learn there's a right way to ride... I would bet there are skills classes in your area and some may even be free.

For rock/log hopping or curb jumping, you just can't ride full speed and ram the obstacle hopping the bike will go up and over... you have to weight yourself off the front tire, pulled up on the handlebars and lift the wheel up (think of a rearing horse). Once you get the wheel going up it should continue up over the curb. Practice first on something smaller. For instance a driveway where the curb will dip and then get bigger. Start at the easiest height and then build up once you master the wheel lift.

Like i said, mountain biking is all about skill - its just not ridng hard and hoping for the best. And a young man should never ride without a helmet - just too young to start building on all those concussions. I can't tell you how many of my friends have permanent brain injuries (including myself) take care of yourself - don't make your future life any worse than it can be.

Go to the library or a book store and look up books that offer mountain bike skills. Essential skills are climbing, decending, weighting off the front and back tire, and falling. Boy knowing how to fall properly has really saved my head and limbs!

You tube is also a great resource for skill building.

The way I see it - if you never fall when you mount biking - you probably not mount biking at all.

How true this is!

Two years ago my wife and I were riding the C&O Canal and I was lagging about three bikes behind her. I wasn't really paying attention and rode right off the trail, right down into a ditch where I laid it out mid-hill. I fell flat on my face. While that's all well and good, the fall could have been horribly bad as the trail is right above a 30-40 foot high embankment. Leading down the "straight path down" are some trees but below them are the rocks and river. Where I happened to go down was an area with a bit of a "lip," which extended what I'd guess would be about 100 feet...and then there was the drop-off.

My wife didn't even know I went down. I called out, "MAN DOWN," but she didn't hear me. She said she turned around and I just wasn't there! At this point she was flipping out. She obviously turned around and found me laying flat on my face, in the long grass. She was pretty worried as I was just laying there with the wind knocked out of me and didn't get up for a few minutes.

Well, sure enough, I was okay, but it just goes to show that even the simplest of trails could turn deadly. This is a straight, dirt/gravel path we're talking here, not even mountain biking. I'm an experienced rider (not an expert, but I'm a pretty decent rider, IMO...) but things happen.

Yep, "stupid" falls do happen!

Hey W. Tiger, great story (now it is, when your gasping for breathe its not so funny.) I had installed a new Cateye back in the day and was looking at my IMPRESSIVE average speed and slid off a corner. Got eleven stitches in my left knee for my moment of vanity.

Glad your wife came looking for you. JOWILSON, one day you will point to scar tissue, snarl like a pirate, and brag about the blood left on a trail.

EXACTLY what I was doing, too; looking at the "odometer!"

HAHAHA!!! Definitely one way of putting things. I'mm going MTBing South Mountain today so wish me luck!!

Josh