After a day off the bike due weather on Friday (morning) and traveling with B-Man to his soccer match on Saturday, I got out for a quick lap at MMCC after B’s home match on Sunday. I wish I hadn’t.
I was feeling tired and not all that much like riding on Sunday afternoon, but it was a beautiful day and after such a long winter I wasn’t going to pass up getting out, so I drove up to the MMCC trails for a ride. I usually do my laps in the traditional counter-clockwise loop but I am guessing that the Sweat Shaker XC race next month with take us clockwise (they usually flip-flop directions between the Rust and Sweat Shaker), so I went clockwise. Dumb.
I went up the first climb, took a couple turns, started feeling good and picking up speed. I looked up ahead and noted a small limb on the trail– BOOM!!! The next thing I know I was eating dirt and felt like I just got hit upside my head and back with a baseball bat.
It seems that when I got distracted by the limb ahead I clipped a tree on my left and that sent me hurling off to the right of the trail, slamming my ever-growing man bodice on the side of the trail (seen above). I was less than I mile into the freaking ride and was laying there wondering what the hell just happened to me. I sat up, a bit dazed, concerned about my head. I can’t remember the last time I crashed and smacked my head like that. All was good with my helmet and that tingling, just got smacked in the face, feeling was leaving. I was a bit concerned, given that I’m on blood thinners. A heavy bruising to my legs and arms, I can deal with, but extra bleeding in my skull is not I really want to deal with.
Eventually I stood up and started moving body parts… all good. Then I moved on to my bike. It was all good as well. It seemed I cushioned the blow. Now I was faced with the decision of turning around or continuing on. My back felt all cattywampus and my hip was hurting, but since I had JUST started my ride, I decided to continue and maybe prevent any stiffening up.
I rode along cursing myself for doing the lap counter-clockwise and for crashing in such a stupid way. I was really having no fun at all but thankful that my bike was OK and that I wasn’t knocked out or hurt badly.
I didn’t do the full 16 mile, opting to do the old 10 mile loop with the addition of the White Trail. I’ve had better days on the bike for sure but it could have been worse. It just amazes me how I always seem to crash in the dumbest ways.
Aside from a big lump on my back in the love handle region (like it wasn’t big enough already) and a stiff neck and back, I am all good. Probably hit the gym today and and ride dirt roads tomorrow.
Later.