The other day while out riding on some trails that I have ridden in the past I made a mistake and ended up flying through the air with the greatest of ease. I was climbing a steep hill with a steep side slope to the right. My one leg that does not bend that well did not give me the power I needed, and my handlebars turn to the right and went over the lip just a little. I somehow ended up bailing on the left side of the bars fell down the hill about 6-8 feet before sliding down the hill on my butt. I used the arm to protect and fling the bike away from me. I slid several more feet as I squeezed my back muscles as I hit a tree with my back. Thankfully I was wearing a small day pack which helped. It was all in slow motion but there was nothing I could till I came to rest. My feet were uphill when I came to a stop. I swung them to the downhill side and scrambled back up the hill on all fours. My wife who was running ahead of me did not answer, as she did not know what had happened, and did not hear me call either.
The picture above does not show the steepness of the hill but this is where it occurred near the top of the trail.
As I get older I take less chances(chicken) and go on slightly easier trails. However if I do that what is the adventure in that though I do not want to get injured either. I may just have to get off and walk a bit more though I will still be sucking air as I walk up the hill pushing the bike. My children and wife tell me I am getting older and need to be more careful. It is so annoying to not be able to ride up or down hills I used to do easily. The muscles are weaker, the body less flexible, the body weight more, and fitness not as good. But it is so nice to get out and enjoy the nice crisp air and the smell of leaves and dirt, even in the middle of a million city population.
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