Beginner lessons

Matt and I had warm weather for a mountain bike ride on Friday afternoon, shredding the trails at Salisbury. It was the second time we rode off road last week, and I found the second outing to be a bit more challenging that the first, mostly because there were lots of rocks to impede the bike's natural course and motion. Matt, who has more experience riding off road than me, seemed to be less effected, but I wound up walking a fair bit.

That got me thinking about challenges and being a beginner. I've long had a fear of being a beginner, especially where cycling is concerned. After all, I've been riding on the road for years, and -- I think -- I've passed the point at which anyone would think of me as a beginner -- although I'm still far from what I would consider an "expert." But, that's all on the road. Off road, I'm a pathetic mess, and it's been both tough and enlightening to begin that process.

The trails at Salisbury were very fun and also proved challenging. Unlike the trails here at South Mountain -- originally intended for hiking, but also used for mountain bikes -- Salisbury was purpose-built for two-wheeled use. So, you get things like really fun bermmy switchbacks on the way down the ridge, and logs -- even big ones -- ramped for easier riding. I anticipate that riding there will be well worth the 20-minute drive once my skills improve to the point where I can ride over rocks, rather than getting intimidated by them and slowing down.

As it stands, I'm still at the point where larger rocks make me nervous. For one, bright, shining moment on Friday, I thought I had figured it all out and was rolling right along down a moderate incline -- when I got ahead of myself and wrecked. It was the sort of slow-speed wreck that shouldn't have caused more than a momentary hitch, but I smacked my knee on a rock.

It's been a while since I've really crashed (in fact, I think the last time was that time I broke my wrist, and that came not as a beginner's mistake, but as an occupational hazard of racing, and I experienced the blinding flash of pain that momentarily made me think I was about to die. But, of course, I didn't -- and wasn't going to -- die, I jumped up and hobbled down the trail, pacing back and forth for a few minutes until the pain subsided. Then, the ride went on without further interruptions. Later, I found that my knee was swollen, and I had some scratches on my shin.

Two days later, my knee is still swollen, but I was able to ride on the road both Saturday and Sunday without pain -- so, I suppose, learning my limit was worth the momentary pain. But, I think I'll hold off on riding off road again until the swelling subsides.