Bruising

I finally went with Todd mountain biking on Saturday.  He has been asking forever, and I just thought it would be too difficult for me.  And the fact that I baby my Achilles.  Anyway, I went, and I did it!  I even had fun.  I was surprised at how well I did. 

Now, with that said,  I must tell of a few incidents that created a REALLY fun experience for those watching.  Todd went off a few jumps that someone had set up out on the trail, in the middle of the woods.  He looked at me and asked if I wanted to try the little one.  I thought, what the heck, and off I went!  I decide that the medium sized middle jump would be cool and then I could go on to the next jump, the smaller one.  You must now all get excited for me, because I actually made the jump and landed it!  Yes, I actually did it!  But.........on the way to the next jump, the smaller one, I freaked out and turn the handlebars slightly and down and around and upside down I went.  I landed on top of the wood for the smaller jump.  Whoopsie Daisy!!  I had to take a few seconds to access in my head if everything on my body was OK and still working.  I am fine, but I did get this majorly awesome bruise on my thigh.

This is what it looks like today.

Oh, and boy did it hurt the day or two after the incident.  Oh, and I bent the right side of the handlebars and the seat is loose and having issues.  So for the rest of the ride I was a little off. 

The other exciting incident was on a scary looking downgrade filled with tree roots and a pretty serious degree of a drop.  I was doing great, pumping my back break, when the downgrade became steeper and I panicked.  Now, those of you who know what happened to me on grandpas three wheeler, will know I have an issue with hand control when under stress.  Maybe that's why I can't play the piano, there has got to be a disconnect somewhere in the old noodle.  Anyway, my brain issue happened again and I locked both hands on both breaks.  Not just the back break, which is the correct break, but also the front break.  Not such a good thing!  I was rolling, me and my bike, down a portion of that lovely downgrade.  Surprisingly though, this lovely wipe out did not hurt like the last, I just received a few more scraps and bruises.  Oh,, and the seat got worse, but I think I fixed the handle bars a little.

So, to wrap up my adventurous tale, I liked it and will probably go again soon, if I can get the bike fixed?!