[Kistle]

Dang, sorry to hear that! I like reading about your mountain bike rides.

That sounds like a hard hit! A stark reminder of how quickly things can go south. Simply removing one hand from the bars at the wrong time and an unrecoverable incident strikes! That laying on the ground gasping for breath and moaning is unfortunately familiar and not fun.

I am 53 and ride fairly hard and fast for my age. Things happen. I came around a semi-blind corner fast and there was a tall root in the middle of the trail. I glanced off it veering my bike to the left, which caused my left bar to hit a big tree. The rest is blurry except for going down a rocky hillside on my back. Helmet took a hard it, and my back was saved from big, sharp rocks by my Camelback which was full of water! That was about 6 months ago, and my knee still isn't right.

Just last weekend, I was about 4 miles into some good singletrack, way down at the bottom, of course, 95 degrees out, and my seat post clamp bolt broke! That was a long standing ride/walk back to the 4Runner.

Don't get discouraged. Keep riding. People suck more than anybody. I ride alone and prefer it that way, but situations like this are a good and timely reminder. Heal fast, and get back out there.

JA