Ooommpph…I Did It Again

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:10:00 GMT

Well, a little over three weeks had passed since my last ride (which I described in my last post). The shoulder was finally feeling better – thumb not quite 100% - and the weather was great. I could not pass on getting the bike down and getting back on the trails.

So, I left work headed home, changed and went to pull the bike off the hook in the basement. As I reached up to get the bike, of course I felt the pain in my shoulder. Not real pain, just that shadow of past pain, a lingering reminder, like the one from your childhood that reminds you not to stick your fingers in the spokes while the tire is spinning.

Soon enough I was off and on my way to the park; excited to both ride again and see the “dumbing-down” that everyone was talking about. The ride to the park was the fairly uneventful, trying not to get creamed by cars on their rush hour commute. The first few sections were also uneventful.

I have to say, after the two wash-out wrecks during my last ride and my lazy ass not getting around to changing out the tires, I was a little timid on the turns.

When I was crossing over from No-Net to the Seminary Trail a trio of riders were entering the same trial from Big Rock and took the lead ahead of me. They were going along at a pace slightly quicker than I, and while I could not see them I could hear them. I was a bit bummed at the dirt ramp that someone built at the log crossing at the beginning of this trail.

So we are all cruising along the trail and approaching the stream crossing. I hear from the group in front “they really need to dry that thing out”. So I’m processing this statement while approaching the stream crossing. Still being a little timid (and I guess a little stupid to boot) I start crossing the stream way too slow. I’m about three quarters of the way across the creek and notice, immediately on the other side, a big black mud bog…the very same one that has been there since the small re-route about 10’ up-creek.

Well let’s just say that if there was something, anything, that I could have done I was too slow, stupid or just caught in the headlights to figure it out. My front tire oh-so-gently rolled into the mud bog and instantly stopped in its tracks while I, and the reminder of the bike kept moving. Of course we were no longer moving forward horizontally. We were now on some perfectly charted arch that is probably taught to high school students using some arcane mathematical formula that, for at least 99% of the students, will never, ever be relevant again.

Unless you happen to be riding along and your front tire gets stuck in a mud bog.

So up I went. Over I went. And down I went. It all seemed slow-motion but not quite slow enough for me to do anything, or at least much, about it. I landed right on the same shoulder which I hurt on my last ride three weeks ago.

I guess I was lucky enough that I landed in a nice mud patch so it was a relatively soft landing. Given the location, it was probably a nice bacteria filled landing too.

Muddied but not bloodied, I got back up and kept going. Disappointed by the reroute around the big root and the removal of the u shaped tree limb (the same that always seemed to catch one of my pedals). I understand that change is going to happen, but how am I going to get to be a better rider if trail keeps getting modified to be easier? Then again, two rides/two wrecks…maybe I need the trail to get a little easier.

Cherokee Ride Synopsis

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:25:00 GMT

Leave house about 6:25. Damn, getting a late start.

First few sections of trail uneventful.

Hit reroute section of No-Net (where everyone was working on Sat). A little disappointed. I liked that section before the reroute and didn’t think it was all that technical. The sphincter puckering section – the steep rocky downhill leading to the waterfall – is still there.

Immediately thereafter nearly fall backwards over the downed log that you have to ride around when, for some inexplicable reason, I stopped pedaling, steering or thinking. Got some nice scrapes on the back of left calf. No worries, something to compare against Robs wounds.

6:45 hit cut off to go to golf course/wilderness loop. Cool…plenty of daylight left, enough to ride both sections.

Clear Montana’s Pass (correct name?) - the upper trail @ Big Rock - for the first time. Felt good, even if it was the easy direction.

Head to Wilderness Loop. Got some nice air crossing the golf cart path…not too bad for an old man.

Take on all obstacles, only one not cleared.

Stop in Big Rock parking lot to help some PRP lookin’ dude pump-up a BMX tire while his slightly past pleasantly plump bikini clad girlfriend looked on. Feel pretty stupid that I have no idea how to work my pump. No matter, he still has a hole in his tire that hisses out every drop of air we finally manage to get in there.

Mitzvah half completed, I’m on my way again.

Towards the top of the Bird Sanctuary I pass a guy with nice thin slicks on his bike. He was working hard and doing a good job. I felt for him...I rarely pass anyone, joggers included.

Down the KyMBA Downhill quickly. At the bottom I hear a rider coming up fast behind me. Exiting the trail I veer to the right to make room. The bike washes out to the left and I’m on the ground. Damn, it’s been a while since I’ve hit the ground. Passing rider asks if I’m okay. Yeah, it’s good to know that I can still fall and get back up. I laugh it off, even after I realize there is blood coming from somewhere on my face. Damage report: bruised hip, scraped and bruised shoulder, scraped and bruised thigh and a bloodied face.

Head the next section wondering how the fuck that just happened and wishing I had a mirror to see how bad my face looked. Climb the trail behind the maintenance shed without incident.

Cross the street to Cochran, the last section. Less than 50 yards into the trail, I’m getting along and, out of nowhere, the front tire washes out to the right and down I go to the left. My body is speared into the trial, shoulder first, everything else following close behind. No laughing this one off. Immediately all I can think about is Marvin and his shoulder injury. Fuck that hurt. Access the damage to self and bike. Forget the bike. My damage report: Possible dislocated right thumb, unknown damage to left shoulder, bloodied and bruised left knee, severely bruised ego and damaged confidence.

Finish the section thinking I’ll just take it easy on the fast downhill. Still try to catch some air on the little root ramp, after all, you need to get back on the bike… No air to be had, what little there was was knocked out with that last wreck.

Stop to check out my face in the mirror of a parked car near the Frisbee field. Not that bad, a little bit of a slice on the upper lip and cheek. Head up the hill towards Willow Park. Right thumb is fucked, can’t even shift gears. I start to ponder what it will be like with only one opposable thumb. Wondering if I even have enough ice at home to cover all the bruised areas. I know I’ll need to go to the store to buy aspirin. I’m thinking I’ll just drive there.

Old Man and The Bike

Ooommpph…I Did It Again

Cherokee Ride Synopsis