Fracturing My Rib in Mammoth Lakes

After our first trip to Mammoth we were eager to go again. So we persuaded Andrew (who really didn’t need any persuading to be honest) to make the most of his temporary bachelor time and join us. So we headed out on Friday after work and arrived just in time to grab a pint before heading to bed. We made an early start (well early for me - I think having kids may redefine my definition), grabbed some passes and headed up the mountain. It was a bit cooler than our last visit but very comfortable nonetheless. We started on out on our favourite run from our last visit. After a quick stop for a photo (below) I pushed off and tried to catch up with Lisa.

Just 3 minutes after taking this photo, things went a little wrong. I was doing 25mph and hadn’t realised how dry the ground was. I distinctly remember hitting three bumps; on the first my feet came off my pedals, on the second my arse came off my saddle, on the third I came off the bike completely! Judging from the scratches on my helmet I landed on the back of my head and my left shoulder. I also managed to scrape my left knee and both elbows! Andrew arrived a few minutes later to find me in a pile on the floor! Fortunately nothing appeared too serious, my bike was fine and I was walking!

Crash #1 – 3203m - 37" 37 N 119” 02 W

Unfortunately I wasn’t my completely done with crashes. Just three miles later I was doing a more leisurely speed (about 12mph) when I found myself once again on the floor. This one was a little more sudden, I don’t really know what happened! But I did manage to complete my collection of scratches by landing on my right knee. I also managed to ‘wax’ a two inch by one inch section of my leg and remove all the hair!

Crash #2 - 2926m 37”38 N 119”03 W

With some much appreciated encouragement from Lisa and Andrew I got back on my bike and continued. We had an awesome day and continued to do 20.3 miles, descending about 4000 feet on our three trips up & down the mountain. Returning to the hotel I was finally able inspect my collection of wounds:


Right Elbow	Left Shoulder	Left Elbow	Left Knee

Sunday was a very different day in Mammoth, it was pouring with rain! I’ll admit I needed a little encouragement, not only was I fairly stiff but I didn’t have any wet weather gear. Boy was I pleased to be dragged up the mountain! On Saturday the riding was really technical, full of plenty of lose gravel and dusty trails. Over night it completely changed and we did 8.6 miles riding down the mountain on an awesome trail. It was full of puddles, mud and banked corners. I was soaked after 20 minutes, so threw caution to the wind and attacked the run, much to Lisa’s amusement. Whilst she was carefully avoiding puddles, I headed straight down the middle! It was superb fun! So our second trip to Mammoth was over, I left with much more respect for the mountain! This was reinforced three days later when I visited the doctors. After a few x-rays the doctor gave my shoulders the all clear but said I almost certainly have a fractured rib! So I’ve spent the last week popping ibuprofen and reluctantly cancelling our trip to Utah, which was meant to be our next biking adventure!