I still remember my 2 favorite bikes, a schwin scrambler with mag wheels (had it for like a day before was stolen from school bball courts) and my schwin varsity (loved that bike sooo much - it was a beast). But my Trek is a monster and works like a champ. So by last July I had been riding a few times a week for over a year and was getting comfortable. Shifting was working out well. I was getting good at climbing and was trying to spend all free time riding.
Then after my 40th bday I was tested. On a beautiful summer afternoon I went out for some climbing. After cresting hill I turned towards home. On way down hill I got a bit of speed. Week prior I had Wheelbase adjust my bars - dropping them as low as possible so I could get more aero. As Im cruising down Hamburg rd I was feelin good and let speed get up. Hamburg is winding 1 and 1/2 lane tree lined mtn road. I came around a long corner maybe a bit too quick. While still in turn I looked ahead and saw a Vette pullinig around a cyclist climbing hill towards me. I tried to drift wide, but I was hard on brakes and ended up eating gravel. It only seemed like I touched ground for a split second. I hopped up and noticed other cyclist and driver were huddled around me. Cyclist eyes were HUGE as he told me - "I thought you were in the tree for sure." Other driver was really worried. I was pissed cuz looked like my bike took it hard. Then I noticed i couldnt feel my finger and it was bent all strange. Other cyclist said I dislocated it and he got real strange look on face when he saw my back. Weird cuz i couldnt feel anything other than I was SOOO HOT.
I thanked both guys and apologized for goin way too fast for the road. I hopped on bike and bolted outta there. When I got to level ground I pulled over and called for the team car, oh wait I mean I called wife to come get me. haha. I was carried away there for sec.
Long story short, only dislocated 1 finger but was able to see bones in my back from the hole i cut above my hip. Those damn things took freaking forever to heal up. But Im happy to report that White Lightnin was a beast and absorbed nothing worse than a flesh wound - some tape scrape.
Funniest part of that 40th bday present which I got myself - road rash - was that the day before fateful ride I was sure my descending skills were spot on. Hmmm in retrospect I could have been more in control. Ok - a bit of an understatement.
Since I had to let finger, and hip heal I was off bike for a bit. But I tried using this time to get core strength in better shape. I couldnt do pushups or pullups for a bit so I concentrated on doing plank - isometric stuff. Great idea. Then when I was back on bike I felt more in control of both bike and my body when riding. Im still amazed how little time I need to spend doing isometric stuff daily to maintain. Proof that if you really take care of body it will function correctly.
Well thats all I can take - its way to nice out to be sit here type. late
Then after my 40th bday I was tested. On a beautiful summer afternoon I went out for some climbing. After cresting hill I turned towards home. On way down hill I got a bit of speed. Week prior I had Wheelbase adjust my bars - dropping them as low as possible so I could get more aero. As Im cruising down Hamburg rd I was feelin good and let speed get up. Hamburg is winding 1 and 1/2 lane tree lined mtn road. I came around a long corner maybe a bit too quick. While still in turn I looked ahead and saw a Vette pullinig around a cyclist climbing hill towards me. I tried to drift wide, but I was hard on brakes and ended up eating gravel. It only seemed like I touched ground for a split second. I hopped up and noticed other cyclist and driver were huddled around me. Cyclist eyes were HUGE as he told me - "I thought you were in the tree for sure." Other driver was really worried. I was pissed cuz looked like my bike took it hard. Then I noticed i couldnt feel my finger and it was bent all strange. Other cyclist said I dislocated it and he got real strange look on face when he saw my back. Weird cuz i couldnt feel anything other than I was SOOO HOT.
I thanked both guys and apologized for goin way too fast for the road. I hopped on bike and bolted outta there. When I got to level ground I pulled over and called for the team car, oh wait I mean I called wife to come get me. haha. I was carried away there for sec.
Long story short, only dislocated 1 finger but was able to see bones in my back from the hole i cut above my hip. Those damn things took freaking forever to heal up. But Im happy to report that White Lightnin was a beast and absorbed nothing worse than a flesh wound - some tape scrape.
Funniest part of that 40th bday present which I got myself - road rash - was that the day before fateful ride I was sure my descending skills were spot on. Hmmm in retrospect I could have been more in control. Ok - a bit of an understatement.
Since I had to let finger, and hip heal I was off bike for a bit. But I tried using this time to get core strength in better shape. I couldnt do pushups or pullups for a bit so I concentrated on doing plank - isometric stuff. Great idea. Then when I was back on bike I felt more in control of both bike and my body when riding. Im still amazed how little time I need to spend doing isometric stuff daily to maintain. Proof that if you really take care of body it will function correctly.
Well thats all I can take - its way to nice out to be sit here type. late
Ouch! Slightly out of breath after the first installment, we felt like we lived through every tumble, scrape, puncture and dislocation of the second. Admirable fortitude to return to the road. Awaiting chapter three -- MDWV.
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