well despite high hopes, the second time wasn't the charm for me... hoping to re-live the inaugural ride down at the south shore, the conditions weren't quite the same. not as warm, and snow & ice in the shade and in the canyon/gully. unfortunately, it wasn't long after wheels on the ground that we came down "freeride" and the ladder obstacle (the bigger one). i had stopped to help athalliah fix a broken chain, and by the time i got to the ladder it had been slicked up a bit. near the bottom, where you must cut left to avoid a rock slab, i must've dabbed the brakes, cuz next thing i knew the bike went out from under me on the ice and i faceplanted directly in said rock. thank my lucky stars (and my watchful guardian angel) that the loud "crraaaaackk" i heard was my helmet, and not my teeth and/or nose as i had first suspected. unlike the crash at elbert, where i distinctly remember seeing the ground rise up (or rather, my head fall down) in slow-mo, this wreck happened so fast i was caught completely off guard. i was a bit disoriented for a moment (thanks JSD303 for the assistance) but was able to score some vitamin I shortly thereafter to mitigate the swelling.
luckily my visor and helmet took the brunt (now on my 3rd bell delerium), but i was left w/a reminder on my chin of how serious this could have been. that, and now my right wrist/hand is all jacked up (to match the left). ;-)
mostly just bruised the ego, as there were some very strong riders out this day, and i had hoped to muster the mettle to attempt "steep & tech" among them. needless to say, a granite faceplant does wonders on the confidence, so i pretty much flailed about tentatively the rest of the day. guess that calls for another trip down south, eh?
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