Dave's Good Stuff

At least I can say I’m learning something. At least I can say it’s happened at three different places on the trail, rather than the same place over and over again.

What I can’t say is that I know better than to ride the trail after it’s been raining.

When I started off on my ride home today, it was dry. All of Indian Creek Trail was dry, in fact. Dusty in places. I was getting annoyed because I’d have to dust off the bike when I got home. Still, I tallied forth with determination. I navigated the site of my first crash easily. Then I got to the Gary Haller trail, and the farther north I got, the wetter it got. I noticed this, and slowed down accordingly. I navigated the site of my second crash just as easily.

However, right around mile 18 or so, I came up on a rather garish looking patch of mud. I positioned myself to hit it straight on so I wouldn’t be turning while in it, but I attempted said positioning where the asphalt was… you guessed it… wet.

The bike went one way, I went the other, and slammed my left hip and left shoulder into the ground. Then there’s the requisite rash on my arm and shoulder. What would a crash be without that?! Again. Not so much with the pleasantness. In fact, very much with the unpleasantness.

The hip is definitely going to bruise up something proper. The shoulder doesn’t look that bad, but something feels funny (as in hurts a good amount) around where the collar bone meets the shoulder. I’m inclined to limit it’s range of motion for the time being on account of the pain moving it brings.

While out on Sunday, visiting with Megan, Don and Melissa, I recounted a little bit of the recent crashes. Melissa allowed as to how she had some extra padding on the hips that would help her in such situations. While I humbly disagree with the “extra” part of that descriptive, I would be inclined to take some of that off her hands… er… hips, if it would help *me* avoid future hip to knee bruising.

Seriously. Why can’t I stay off the trails after it’s been raining?

What’s the title of the next one going to be? If the third time is the charm, what’s the fourth? What’s the fifth? Inquiring minds want to know. I’m asking you, my humble reader, to help me come up with the title for the next post about this idiot blogging cyclist putting the rubber where it don’t belong.

While you mull that over, and dedicate your extensive wit and charm to the task, I’m going to lay back on the couch here and try not to move.