Getting Race Ready: 61 Days and Counting...Happy 4th!

Hey everyone, happy 4th of July!

Not too long ago I posted some videos of the trails I like to ride. One of those videos was from a trail system known as Deem Hills. If you remember, part of that video included a very fast downhill section that was lined with boulders...a relatively dangerous section to crash in. Well, today I crashed there...on my brand new bike. I feel very lucky to be sitting here right now writing about it...it could have been so much worse.

I no longer have a brand new bike...I have a brand new bike that is cracked in half! Yep, that's right, my wonderfully light and strong carbon fiber racing frame now has a crack running all the way through the top tube...it's done...kaput! Now I have to see if Ellsworth Bikes will warranty the frame for me...I am not sure what to expect from that.

I truly feel very blessed to be alive after this crash. You see, I went head first (at a high rate of speed) into the basketball sized rocks that line the trail. Luckily, I was wearing my helmet...which by the way, cracked all the way through as well. If had not been wearing my helmet, I would have been seriously injured. The funny thing is that this morning about 7:00 am (while I was still at the fire station) I heard a call go out for a mountain rescue at the same place I was riding this morning. Apparently, another rider had crashed and was semi-conscious, and was carted out by the Glendale Fire Department Technical Rescue Team.

It's weird... and very cliche', but it all happened in slow motion. I can remember seeing the rock come at my face, and quickly turning my head away, then feeling the immediate slam into my helmet. I sat there for a moment, dazed, telling myself not to pass out because I did not want the fire department to have to come get me off the mountain. When I realized I was not going to lose consciousness, I did a quick 'once-over' of my bike and my body, and got back on the bike. Happily, the bike was still ride-able, although it was apparent that something was not right. I still had about three miles to ride, to get back to my truck...it was a long three miles!

It easy to look back on things and say to yourself "I shouldn't have done this...or that" and today is one of those days. You see, I just got home this morning from a 48-hour shift at the fire station. I was a little tired when I got home, but I knew I needed to ride...so I did. It was already hot, and pretty muggy when I got out on the trail, and part of me thought I should just head back home, get up early tomorrow morning, and get my ride in then. Now I wish had followed my instincts!

Let this be a lesson to all...HELMETS SAVE LIVES! I truly believe my helmet saved my life today!

Here are a few pictures to look at...