Up and Over

It was a busy weekend and the weather was stellar, what more could I want? Well I could want to learn how to ride my mountain bike properly so I don't end up having to get some stiches, now that would be nice. I got out on my first trail in the mountains on Sunday. All was going well, as per usual I was trailing behind Deanne, hearing my ragged breathing and doing lots of pushing my Mt Bike uphill. However I did note that my fitness is stronger from last year so that was encouraging. I had promised myself to do more Mt Biking so I could get better. My first year riding I pitched myself over the handle bars and ended up having some very serious road rash and a scar left behind to remind me of the event. Last summer I Mt Biked only once in the season. I'm not sure if I was climbing lots or if I wasn't feeling the Mt Biking love but I didn't go. This season I signed up for a Women's Riding Camp to improve my skills, which is next weekend.

However that didn't help me too much THIS weekend as once again I was sailing over the handle bars of my bike, but this time with the bike still attached to my foot. My face was skidding along the dirt and even in the midst of that I could think "ohhhh, this is going to hurt"

Interesting what systems kick in at a time like this. My Adventure First Aid training came up automatically and I started to do my own primary assessment as I was still lying on the ground. I was uncertain what to do next since I didn't want to risk twisting my ankle that was still attached to the bike or have it fall on me and hurt me more. I did get myself untangled and Deanne patched me up well enough that I could ride/walk my bike back to the car.

Once I could look at myself in the mirror at the car it became apparent that the cut on my chin was deep enough to need a stitch or two for sure. The bruises, scrapes and sprain were annoying but not that serious. And thank goodness, no nasty road rash! So off to the clinic Deanne drove me, I was in and out of there in 15min. Mostly due to the fact that the cranky doctor wanted to close up shop and I was his last patient.

Deanne is the best person to be with during this time. She has first aid training, she stays calm and she knows how to calm someone else down. And she was my coach/cheerleader while I was getting stitched up. She would make a great nurse and I bet her fiance Jason would really dig seeing her in a little nurses uniform, but I digress.

I obviously have lots to learn about Mt Biking and I am very much looking forward to my upcoming skills clinic. I know I'll have to work on my confidence again since every fall does set me back mentally. I'm apparently not alone with taking knocks during the first couple years of riding. So I will keep plugging at it and see what happens.