Crashing – All part of mountain biking

As you recall on Father’s Day weekend, I took my friend Val Macatangay for a ride at our local trail – Coal Canyon.

Since then, he’s been frequenting this trail.  Almost on a daily basis, Val hits the trail at 6 am – rides from his house and climbs a little further than the last.  Little by little, he is getting better.  He recently told me that he is getting acclimated to what the trail has to offer.  He enjoys the workout of the climb and looks forward to the reward of the descent…

Several days ago, Val headed up Coal Canyon.  On his way back down, he was going pretty fast.  On a fireroad descent, you can easily let things fly.  As he neared the bottom, he overshot a left-hand turn.  Panicked, unable to unclip and the fear of going over the side – he laid his bike down.  He stopped his momentum with the left side of his body, including his face…OUCH!  Unable to ride his bike all the way back to his house, Val had his wife pick him up at the trail head.

The Damage:

• Road rash – left cheek (face not the backside J)
• Road rash – left leg
• Tweaked rear wheel

                                                         Crashes are common for both beginners and experience riders in our sport.  For Val, he did not let this crash deter him.  He was back at Coal Canyon two days after grinding up the mountain and bombing back down.  Way to go Val!