Nearly killed myself today...

[Slarti]

Was out to SWK today for the first time.  I'm no expert at Mountain Biking, but I've been going at it at Knoch Knolls regularly.  Been out to Palos a couple of time...(2nd time, bit the dust and result was 7 stiches in my Knee...no permanent damage, but I now am the proud owner of a huge lump on my knee that won't do down.)

sooo, I thought I'd try SWK today.  It started out ok, but somewhere around Colossus (or maybe it was Devil's Dip) I went down a REALLY steep, long hill  and dumped the bike at the bottom.  I landed on my side so there was lots of area to absorb the impact, but man, it felt like I broke a rib.  I got up...felt all the parts...they seem to be there...no serious bleeding, but man my ribs hurt.  I could breath ok, but now (10 hours later) they really hurt.  I think I need to meet someone out there that has ridden this trail and knows what they are doing.  I'm to old to go dumping my bike like this.  The place was great and even after the dump I really had a blast.  I ended up walking up some of the hills cause i'm just not good enough to know how to ride them up yet.  I rode most of the way back, but there were some hills in JackRabbit that were just to wicked so I walked them...up and down.    (sucks to be newbi)

Bottom line is I'm keep an eye out here cause I want to ride again, but just not alone.  So I need to find someone to ride with...

Mark

P.S. Hopefully, i'll be ok to ride tomorrow...
P.P.S.  I REALLY love this sport.  I have not had this much fun in a long time! ;

[Nick]

perhaps you should check this out instead ...
http://www.knittinghelp.com/

[RenegadeRick]

You aren't really a mountain biker until someone has poked fun at you.  I guess you made it.  Welcome to the sickness.

[r0ckh0und]

Sounds like you went down on the first of the double drops on Colossus. Don't feel to bad, that loose, gravely drop has claimed many a rider over the last couple of years, including myself a couple of times (I think elisdad will back me up on that  ). I should be able to ride with you when I'm done working these ridiculous hours. Which will be in a couple weeks.

[TheWebGuy]

welcome aboard, nothing you can really do about broken ribs anyway, so hopefully you will be feeling better soon.

Wiping out sucks, but it is the only way to find out your (and your bike's) limits. It'll get easier. And when it does, you'll have a whole new vision of what hard is.

[I pick bad lines]

Sounds like you went down on the first of the double drops on Colossus. Don't feel to bad, that loose, gravely drop has claimed many a rider over the last couple of years, including myself a couple of times (I think elisdad will back me up on that  ). I should be able to ride with you when I'm done working these ridiculous hours. Which will be in a couple weeks.

I don't think that I've seen r0ckh0und crash out there, but as he knows, I've had plenty of good spills out at SWK. That latest one had me limping and not riding for several days.

[alex jb]

I got a facebook folder of pictures of damage SWK has caused me!
It's still my fave place in the area to ride.   

You just missed the work day on sat, people went for a ride after that, but I'm sure there will be other's riding out there soon.

[TrailJumper]

I fall off my bike the most on my good days at SWK.

Faster>faster>Faster>bigger>faster> oops.

[ridingintraffic]

i prolly crashed the same spot when i was out at swk and dont feel bad about it hurting it hurt the 25 year old every bit as much as you

[Slarti]

Thanks for the encouragement all....especially the suggestion that I take up knitting...somehow though I think those knitting needles are going to be REALLY dangerous while I'm going down the really STEEP hills...  

Anybody going out there over the next few days, please let me know as I'm almost healed up and would like to go again.

Mark

[powerpantz]

SWK is a cherry, it is always challenging. Everyone I take there loves it and wants to go back immediately. 

Riding it alone does suck, I suggest recruiting some friends, making some new mountain biking friends, or at least letting someone know you are heading out there so if you don't come back, someone will come looking.  Also  - for the downhills, keep on your feet (Stand)  and lean back (keep your weight low and over the back of the bike) .  For the uphills,  sit and lean forward.  You will have to constantly alter your riding position on a trail like SWK.  Shifting and peddling anticipation comes with experience as well as choosing trail direction and route.  You should be able to ride it all without unintentionally stopping, granny gears are your friend, pedal before you lose momentum or at least at first sign of slowing down.  I also lower my seat a bit so my seated center of gravity is lower and it is easier to get in and out of the saddle with out racking.

Side note, I was a little freaked out the first time I went, I guess there is a gun range nearby but I thought it was hunters.    Post your anticipated ride dates, somebody else is probably looking for riding partners there and all the MTB riders I have come across there have been friendly.