bikehoco

A few years ago I was on a group ride, there was a multiple bike pile up, fortunately I was not involved. It seemed to happen in slow motion (although it only took a few seconds) and can’t get the sound out of my mind.

rsbob 

You reminded me when I started doing more walk downs with my MTB because I definitely didn’t want to bounce. Before it was banzai! But after 15 years, it became - uh don’t want to risk it. Pretty much gave MTB this year since my back hurts for days after every ride unless I see the chiropractor to get popped back into alignment. Not worth it, not to mention two friends of mine getting severely injured.

Moral to the story: So it’s ok to walk down steep hills.

PeteHski

That's not something you see every day

PeteHski

I've toned down my mtb riding over the last few years (basically when I turned 50). Sold my long-travel Enduro bike and replaced it with a shorter travel trail bike, which I actually find more fun to ride. I still ride fairly techy trails, but nothing with big-air or sketchy drop-offs. Touch wood I haven't crashed since and still enjoy a good off-road mtb ride. I just choose trails with more flow and less rocks!

rsbob 

you just reminded me, that we have a well built very flowy mtb park nearby which provides a good workout with out the bumps and jumps unless I so choose. I usually forget about it since it’s use primarily by beginners and intermediates and a handful of people that go off insane jumps which keeps are local ER busy. Will need to put some more sealant in the tires and head up.

c_m_shooter

Not every day, but often enough.....

big john

I fell off of my enduro bike when I was 66. I was rounding a turn and the front wheel slipped off of a little lip and dropped into a hole and the bike stopped immediately. I didn't even take my hand off the bar. Now when I'm riding and something sketchy comes up I remember what that felt like 2 years ago. A short travel bike would handle the stuff I do now but the enduro has saved me from mistakes more than once.

big john

My back usually hurts more after a long road ride than a mountain bike ride. Sometimes when I feel sore from a road ride I will ride the mtb the next day because it's so much easier on my body.
All of the serious injuries to friends have occurred on road bikes. Also, to me.

rsbob 

An alternate universe for sure. One thing never works for everyone. Don’t know how your MTB, but I typically go down steep technical single track full of rocks, boulders, and over fallen trees. It’s very jarring even with full suspension. You may have a much set up bike than mine. Am glad to hear your MTB helps you iron out the kinks.

PS just finished three hours ago a 30 mile road ride and my shoulders ache so much I took Ibuprofen.

big john

I don't do as much technical stuff as I used to. I rode dirt bikes every weekend for 10 years and I've had 5 mountain bikes, the last 3 full suspension. The one I have now has 150mm rear with a 160mm Fox 36.

Pratt

And nobody stopped to see if he was ok?

rsbob 

Typically in racing, the riders do not stop, just like in car racing. I know it sounds heartless but at bigger races there is usually medical staff.

Airfehr

I bounced hard today on mt MTB today. Shoulder, ribs and hip are not happy. Helmet did it's job so I get to pick out a new one. This kind of stupid hurts with every breath.

rsbob 

Glad it wasn’t worse. MTBing definitely has its risks. I have an expression that works for most bad decisions, “Paying the stupid tax”. I have paid a lot of these taxes. Heal quickly and get back at it.

BTinNYC 

Amazing how fast it happens at that "moderate" speed. My front tire flatted on a turn this week at around the same speed and I was down instantaneously. I got a bit of road rash, shredded kit and some amusement reading the Shaved Legs topic.

Juan Foote

Well actually, yes.

Some years ago, a friend and I were regular attendees of the Critical Mass ride here in Atlanta. Much of the time the (most common) leader of the ride, Angel, would utilize and show off the various PATH, Beltline, and other ABC bikeways that have been improving around town. We had ridden all the way to the Northside of Atlanta (from Woodruff Park), I cannot recall if it was the "400 trail" or one of the greenways. Buddy and I are talking, the pack is moving at a pretty good clip along the otherwise deserted bike path. We come to the crest of a hill, and everyone is suddenly stopped. For those of us paying attention to ahead of us, no issues. My buddy gets distracted easily in a "look! squirrel!" kind of way and at the last possible moment before colliding with someone he swerves and grabs a big handful of brakes. Over the bars he flies, lands and rolls out of it, comes up in a standing position right next to the reason for the stop. One of the other riders popped a tube. He was standing next to them, had to pick his bike up anyway...and grabs them a fresh tube out of the rack pack. Underway again moments later since about 10 people then jumped off to "pit stop repair" and everyone nearby had a funny story to tell.

Koyote

Maybe in certain racing genres...But that's not been my experience in gravel racing.

Broctoon

Referring to the incident in my original post? No, it was not necessary. There were spectators nearby, and medical professionals as well. There would be no point in other racers stopping, unless one of them happened to be a close friend or something. Come to think of it, perhaps a friend did stop for him. I just kept racing.