In the meantime there’s another report that came in over the wires form our overseas correspondent (well, Wales is a different country at least). It seems he’s been taking the effort of riding firmly on the chin.
Some things can sort of put you off this mountain biking thing.
Since starting to ride off road again, I have ridden three times. The first time I came away scot-free. The second time I wiped out in a pleasantly satisfying way part way round White’s Level, and got up and finished the trail with little actual damage. This time, I hired a bike in Afan Valley and headed up to The Wall again.
I was struck by how much difference a couple of rides and some better technique makes. The climbs, which I found gruelling and exhausting before, passed by without too much effort. The Afan Valley Bike Shed’s new Avanti hardtail made short work of the fire road and singletrack climbs, and soon delivered me to the beginning of Tramway, the first taste of flowing singletrack riding. As I reached it, I was thinking that I must be improving significantly. I wasn’t exhausted by the climbs. I had actually overtaken a couple of riders on my way up. I must be getting better.
Tramway, which I enjoyed immensely the last time I rode, was dry and fast and a little dusty, and I hit it fast. I like that kind of riding, it flows nicely under your wheels. Right at the end, the barrier comes up quite suddenly, and the few yards before it drop away in uneven humps, with logs and rocks to the side of the path. Between braking hard, not slowing enough, and not picking a good line, I lost control of the bike, hit a rock, and went over the handlebars.
Luckily, my face broke my fall.
Much later, after spitting blood, finishing the trail, returning the bike (hosed down - I’d bled all over it), driving home, cooking, eating, and showering, I realised that I had done much more damage to my face than I had realised at the time. I drove to A&E.
As it turned out I needed six stitches in my upper lip, where I had a deep cut that opened whenever I moved my face.
I feel lucky. I still have all my teeth. My nose is still the right shape. My jaw is still intact. I plan to ride again, as soon as I can. Although I might wait for my face to heal first.
Smile!
Ouch!
T
See you next week.
A
PS. Something about an "interface" that I can't quite work out.
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