Back in the day it was an upcoming race that kept me motivated to keep riding and stay in shape. These days I'm not really into racing. Are any muni riders in a four-hour radius even organizing muni events or joining mountain bike races? So I made my own goal for the year: to ride the Hojack regularly, through the Chiyoda and Bird Sanctuary trails, and try to top my own round-trip time, from home to the end and back.
Today was my first ride. It was a cool 45°F and I was joined by Kessa, patiently riding lazily on her mountain bike. I'm out of shape and this was the first real ride of the year.
Unfortunately it did not go well. I fell FOUR times while in high gear. Every fall was caused by me just losing control in high gear. There are enough bumps in the trail to cause me to wobble forward and back and have to correct my balance, and my corrections clearly aren't good enough sometimes. It feels like a feedback loop and a series of over corrections but just kind of happens in the blink of an eye.
The first fall was on the outbound leg on the Hojack.
Moving fast, I lost it, fell forward, pushed the handlebars down, a step or two, one tuck and roll to my back, and a short slide.
My left knee hurt and was dirty from an impact and my palms were chaffed and stung a bit. It hurt but I was ok to walk it off and keep going.
Fall two was also outbound.
Same, moving fast, I lost it, fell forward, pushed the handlebars down, a step or two, one tuck and roll to my back, and a short slide.
I think I hit the same parts. My left knee hurt more and was now bleeding and dirty and my palms we more chaffed and stung more. But this time I got some wind knocked out of me. I think I jammed my left elbow into my left side during my roll and my ribs hurt. I'm 99% sure my unicycle never hit me during a fall, but maybe.
Seeing that it wasn't going well, my knee was weeping blood, and I had already felt like I probably wasn't in great shape to get to the Hojack end and back, I decided heading back home would make sense.
Fall three then happened on the Bird Sanctuary trail.
Same, moving fast, I lost it, fell forward, pushed the handlebars down, a step or two, one tuck and roll to my back, and a short slide.
The fall added some dirt to my bloody knee, but more notably caused my left calf to cramp up. I think I stepped off awkwardly and pulled it wrong. I had to remain on the ground for a few moments for the cramp to subside before my leg was usable again.
Fall four happened soon after getting onto the Chiyoda trail.
Same-ish, just not moving too fast yet, I lost it, fell forward, pushed the handlebars down, a step or two, one tuck and roll to my back, and a short slide.
This time my right calf cramped up! And my right pinky must have gotten pushed funny because it hurt in a worrisome way.
But everything was still working, and Kessa and I continued home.
On the road portion, I didn't want to press my luck again, and there was a noticeable headwind to contend with, so I sadly kept it in low gear and hobbled home.
Once home, of course I cleaned up and checked myself out.
The left bloody knee was the focus.
Palms were raw and ached.
Pinky is sore but ok.
Left side is on the edge of scary sore. Laughing and breathing deep makes it hurt more. Bruised ribs?
Right knee is sore and scuffed by an impact.
Shoulder is scuffed through my clothes.
Ego a bit hurt.
So what happened?
I'm out of shape and fatigued to the point of failure?
I'm getting older and my balance is suffering?
I'm expecting too much from myself in high gear?
Tire pressure issues?
And now what?
End my personal year challenge on my first ride?
Get back on the horse once I'm healed and try again?
Train more first?
Do smaller wheel slow muni more instead?
The ride was 8.7 miles. I also rode 3.4 miles while Kessa jogged the neighborhood streets, last Sunday.
