He fought the tree and the tree won
Posted: 12:26 pm Jun 06 2010
Almost put this one in the Injuries section, but since the swelling went down, we'll just call it a ride report.
You know you haven't taken your son riding in waaay too long when you load up the bikes and notice that while his front tire may have 75% of it's life left, it is completely dry rotted.
We'd been doing yardwork all day and at 3:30pm decided to take a quick run over to Rockcrusher and play. Obviously that tire wouldn't last very long on the SX style jumps so after a few phone calls, we found a replacement at Union Powersports.
By the time we picked up the tire and a new tube it was 4:15 so we nixed Rockcrusher and just headed over to Davenport Mountain. After a few choice words and a little blood on the knuckles, all was right with the world and we mount up. There is only one other guy there and he is heading out for his last loop of the day.
Wilson takes the lead and has really picked up speed since our last outing. One lap clockwise and the only time he stumbles is on the big hill climb where he forgot all about his friend "Mo". After a brief water break, I asked if he wanted to try out the big bike. That mistake is gonna cost me about $1K-$2k. The boy leaves me in the dust and when I finally catch him at the bottom of the big hill, he is grinning from ear to ear and has decided that it is way past time to get a bigger bike. We swap back and decide to take one more loop before calling it a day..... isn't that ALWAYS when it happens?
After crossing the main road, I was steadily pulling away from him and then realized I hadn't caught even a glimpse in several of the switchbacks so I pull off and kill the motor. Sure enough, it's quiet as a church mouse. Couple of Woohoo's get no response so I spin her around (two way trails) and head back. A couple hundred yards back he is standing next to his bike with his helmet off and the strangest combination of grimace and grin going on. That's when I notice the fender and tree.
Seems he came around a corner with a water break in it just a little too hot to realize that once airborne, a bike and rider generally tend to travel in a straight line. ::duh::
His knee took a good lick and was already starting to swell, so we head back to the truck and load up. By the time we made it home, he had a nice sized goose egg going on, but after ice and anti-inflammatory meds overnight all is on the mend this morning.
Looks like I get to be a first time plastics buyer....any recs on brands to buy and/or stay away from? Seem to recall that one particular brand has a reputation for being brittle, but can't remember who it is. Oh yeah, knee guards (at least) and a larger steed are in his future as well.
You know you haven't taken your son riding in waaay too long when you load up the bikes and notice that while his front tire may have 75% of it's life left, it is completely dry rotted.
We'd been doing yardwork all day and at 3:30pm decided to take a quick run over to Rockcrusher and play. Obviously that tire wouldn't last very long on the SX style jumps so after a few phone calls, we found a replacement at Union Powersports.
By the time we picked up the tire and a new tube it was 4:15 so we nixed Rockcrusher and just headed over to Davenport Mountain. After a few choice words and a little blood on the knuckles, all was right with the world and we mount up. There is only one other guy there and he is heading out for his last loop of the day.
Wilson takes the lead and has really picked up speed since our last outing. One lap clockwise and the only time he stumbles is on the big hill climb where he forgot all about his friend "Mo". After a brief water break, I asked if he wanted to try out the big bike. That mistake is gonna cost me about $1K-$2k. The boy leaves me in the dust and when I finally catch him at the bottom of the big hill, he is grinning from ear to ear and has decided that it is way past time to get a bigger bike. We swap back and decide to take one more loop before calling it a day..... isn't that ALWAYS when it happens?
After crossing the main road, I was steadily pulling away from him and then realized I hadn't caught even a glimpse in several of the switchbacks so I pull off and kill the motor. Sure enough, it's quiet as a church mouse. Couple of Woohoo's get no response so I spin her around (two way trails) and head back. A couple hundred yards back he is standing next to his bike with his helmet off and the strangest combination of grimace and grin going on. That's when I notice the fender and tree.
Seems he came around a corner with a water break in it just a little too hot to realize that once airborne, a bike and rider generally tend to travel in a straight line. ::duh::
His knee took a good lick and was already starting to swell, so we head back to the truck and load up. By the time we made it home, he had a nice sized goose egg going on, but after ice and anti-inflammatory meds overnight all is on the mend this morning.
Looks like I get to be a first time plastics buyer....any recs on brands to buy and/or stay away from? Seem to recall that one particular brand has a reputation for being brittle, but can't remember who it is. Oh yeah, knee guards (at least) and a larger steed are in his future as well.