Comments on: How to Fall Down

By: Christina

Christina — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 16:57:12 +0000

The Tyler Hamilton article is super funny. I hope someone’s paying you good freelance money for all your creative writing submissions. It’s rare to read something genuinely funny in magazines. Some humor columns can get a weak smile but not a deep belly laugh. Hey, I have an idea for you regarding the Friday weigh-in: You should start weighing yourself with one of your bikes. Preferably the bike you want to upgrade to better (lighter) components. Get my drift?-The Beast Mom

By: Unknown

Unknown — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 20:57:57 +0000

Okay…I have been witness to some that weren’t mentioned, and they were no less entertaining than those cited in the BLOG. I guess when you have such an impressive collection some are certain to be omitted. The Elden/Bob Kokopelli "the trial is mine" blunder on Baby-head Boulder Hill stands out…as do(es) the accompanying explitive(s). Or the Soap Creek Wash thunderous shoulder/face plant. Or…wait, that’s not very nice! But hey, I can’t remember many of them since most of the time FC hands me my lungs when I finally catch up (and he has stopped to wait). That’s usually ’cause I have to stop to knosh a block of cheese or a ringding something.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 20:13:22 +0000

Good comments today. I have two things for you: spinecho says these crashes are the reason he doesn’t own a mountain bike. I am of the opposite faith. I have crashed many, many times on my MTB’s. One time so violently all I remember is the laying on the ground on my back with my bike on top of me and my light broken (night ride) and shining directly in my eyes. I’ve been a little banged up but I always dusted myself off and finished the ride. I have fortunately never crashed on a road bike. I was behind a frind of mine of a short descent when he crashed on his. It was a simple crash (as crashes go); all he did was mis-judge a corner and bounce once on the pavement. he tore all three ligaments in his left knee to one extent or another and lost six months of riding. Before you say it, yes – I acknowledge that any crash can have the worst of consequences but in my opinion, MTB is much, much safer than road riding.As for the pride MTBers have in their crashes – I was lucky enough to interview young California downhill racer Kathy Pruitt a couple of years ago (She just won the NORBA women’s downhill series). We got talkng about her various crashes and she seemed so proud of her injuries, like they were somehow medals she recieved for the hard work she put into her riding, that we put this list together to go along with the article:Bones Broken: Left Hand, pre-race, 2003 World Cup FInals, Kaprun, Austria. Left Collarbone and Rib, pre-race, 2003 Sea Otter Classic, California. Left hand pinky knuckle, round #2 dual slalom, 2000 Norba National, Park City, Utah. Left Collarbone, pre-race, 1997, Norba National, Big Bear, CA (my first ever National. race). Left middle finger, rollerblading down a hill, 1994. Left ACL, pulled my bone apart when I hyperextended it riding moto-x, pre-race, 1996. Right elbow, racing moto-x as a 60cc intermediate, Sand Hill, CA, 1993. Jaw, racing moto-x 80 novice, 1995. Left wrist, racing moto-x, 1994. I’ve had a few concussions ;-Thanks for sharing your space.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 16:46:56 +0000

Two pieces of information concern me: (1) You are aware of your propensity not only for falling down but also for falling down and getting hurt, and (2) You are purchasing a track bike that has no brakes. Are your life insurance premiums paid up?

By: EricGu

EricGu — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 14:02:16 +0000

It wasn’t suicide. In a moment of the highest service that a two-wheeled mode of transportation can aspire to, your bike selflessly sacrificed itself so that you would be hurt no more.

By: Fat Cyclist

Fat Cyclist — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 05:14:36 +0000

embonpoint \ahn-bohn-PWAN\, noun: Plumpness of person; stoutness. thanks for the word of the day.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 04:41:39 +0000

Lord Eldon of Embonpoint triumphs again! As I read, I can feel every bump and noggin bonker, every rip, gash, smash and tear. I was going to chide you, and men in general, (like it’s a man thing, eh?) but then I had to consider my own guilty past. In my prime, I used to have a lot of similar incidents, only in dubious vehicles, with dubious friends, in the Baja 500 and 1000 and/or pre-running same, but I was drunk at the time—ALL the time.Hmmmmmm… if I ever finish Bumpkins, I guess I’ll have to start on Drunkkins! Bumpkins, really, is just another part of The Sordid Adventures of Ditsy Drunkkins. Or maybe I could just sprinkle them in here and there to stave of the dreadful monotony.

By: Ariane

Ariane — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 01:33:03 +0000

I *heart* inexplicably finding yourself face-first to the ground, skidding to a bone-rattling, blood-letting halt. Not that that has ever, or will ever, happen to me. (Suspiciously glances left, right, and left again, then runs to the lavy to check on supply of Bactine.)

By: Unknown

Unknown — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 22:27:12 +0000

Hmm. From these stories, I suspect that you have murdered more than one bike — does this make you a "serial" bike killer? No queston that you are obsesed. You are certainly delusional (defined as fixed false idiosyncratic belief — which is an adequate description of your faith that you will ever have any hope of mastering the "technical moves" — um, not that I even know what those are.) And you are crazy — defined as doing the same thing over, and over, and over again and expecting different results (not face planting, eating dirt, or other forms of self mutilation). Very suspect, a mon avis. We will be on the lookout for bike carcasses at your premises. Who knows what we will find…;)

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 21:23:05 +0000

Excellent! I have always wanted to hear your (and other’s) most spectacular bonks/blowups and long crawls back to the car or starting point. Got any good ones?Chris