Damage Inc.

[Danimal]

I decided to start a thread so people could list their bodily damage on the trails (just for fun). I would also like to see if I'm the only one who busts their ass out on the trails;)

Yesterday I had my 13 year old out to Lebanon for the first time, he made the intermediate loop, the X and the XX! Wholly Crap Man!

And on the X Loop I managed to lose it over one of the log drops by getting massive air and flying beyond the path into the woods. I hit a soft patch of ground with my front tire and over I went into a log. So I ended up with a bruised trachea (I'm typing louder than I can speak) and a nasty gash from my bottom lip to the bottom of my chin. Cool.

Anyone else have some Damage Inc stories from this week?

[kdeleon]

as a relative newbie...

a) trying to hop a small log... but a bit too early, so the front hooked the log instead and i was thrown to the log instantly. Damage: skin donations on the left knee and left elbow, slightly twisted right wrist and the pain of slamming on the log.

b) Tried to go over the giant log pile on the River Bottoms. I didn't make it to the top so i went toppling down. The pedal slammed on my shin, and grinding a good amount of skin/meat off it. And you know how painful it is to get hit on the shin.

I'm trying to be more sensible next time.

[manual63]

My most recent one was pretty minor. I was riding the MI Tech trails the day before the Tech Time Trial race and I didn't put on my knee and shin pads. My front tire slipped off a skinny and hit on of the supports holding it up and flip my 50 pound bike over. My right knee hit something, like maybe the log, and it hurt for 2 or so days. I put my pads on after that and it hurt to have the pads on my sore knee.....:crazy::scream:

[Danimal]

So even more experienced riders take "neckers"? Here I thought I bought it cause I was overexceeding my limits. Freakin hurts when that happens.

[manual63]

Here I thought I bought it cause I was overexceeding my limits.

It's hard to know where your limits are if you don't overexceed them every now and then. If you do crash, it's a good idea to look back and try to figure out why you crashed. Where you stiff, scared, using the brakes too much/not enough, leaning too much/not enough, weight too far forward, and so on? If you can diagnose your crash, there is a better chance you might learn from it.

Usually losing control over log piles is caused by leaning to far forward as you crest the top to go down the back side. I have also seen people panic and hit the front brakes and over they go. Over logs, pull up the front wheel to clear the front side of the pile, lean back, stay loose.....and you will clean it with ease, even at a greater speed. Keep in mind.......stay loose, if you get tense as you go over, you will likely lose control.

[Wolfchimp]

I was riding Memorial Trail in RW this last weekend and i had a nice crash on some freeride stuff in the quarry section. I dropped my front wheel off of a skinny(2x4 width) about 4ft off the ground. I was sent over the bars, hit the log, rolled off and fell flat on my back on the ground. My bike was still on the ride because the chainrings stuck into the wood, so that was pretty funny to see. As I was plummeting to the ground i managed to see my girlfriend crash going over a log pile just behind me. We were both laying on the ground at the same time, hahaha! Two of a kind I guess. Damage: some nice scrapes and gashes on the inner part of botho f my legs, missing skin on my arms, and the biggest one was the Ego damage(since I have ridden it dozens of times) The girlfriend just had to brush herself off.

Oh yeah....I turned around after the fall and rode it again. No problems what so ever. Wish I could have done that the first time. :D

[gordanfreeman]

well late last night/early this morning i managed to lose my keys while biking around. i have an idea where they are but if i go to find them and they aint there, i have no way back inside my apt :hit:

not exactly bodily damage but it may end up being more inconvenient :geek:

[Danimal]

Crap man I think I'd rather bust my skull open than lose my keys on a trail. Where would you even begin to look? And the hassle....

[gordanfreeman]

well i was riding mostly on the road and i have one place in particular i think they might be (the place i fell) but thats in the bushes on top of a hill a good mile or so up the road. ok i know its not that far away but the main problem is that if i leave what happens when i cant get back inside if i dont find my keys :embarass:

i want to go look now but i have no sure way in for another 5 hours :geek:

[mdesorcie]

LOL, my first post here, and I pick this topic! A few years ago (when I lived in Texas), was on trail, hit a log, flew off over the bars. Landed on my feet, then fell forward to hands and knees. I thought I was studly, then 2 things happened: Bike, still on wheels behind me, smacked me right in the back (OUCH - and tiire mark to boot!). Then I noticed that in the process of falling to my knees I had stuck a small (1/2 ") rock into my knee. Took a couple of stitches to close the wound, but otherwise okay.

My best ever crash was on the road. I t-boned a Cadillac Seville that cut in front of me - glass scratches all over my back, hematoma that made my left forearm look like Popeye's, and $5k damage to the Caddy - plus the death of my custom painted Trek frame!

[bolmsted]

LOL, my first post here, and I pick this topic! A few years ago (when I lived in Texas), was on trail, hit a log, flew off over the bars. Landed on my feet, then fell forward to hands and knees. I thought I was studly, then 2 things happened: Bike, still on wheels behind me, smacked me right in the back (OUCH - and tiire mark to boot!). Then I noticed that in the process of falling to my knees I had stuck a small (1/2 ") rock into my knee. Took a couple of stitches to close the wound, but otherwise okay.

My best ever crash was on the road. I t-boned a Cadillac Seville that cut in front of me - glass scratches all over my back, hematoma that made my left forearm look like Popeye's, and $5k damage to the Caddy - plus the death of my custom painted Trek frame!


Ummmm...Note to self: Don't go riding with Michael. :crazy: