Myth # 37--Mountain biking is not safer than climbing, a story of pain
by:
Kerry Brown from St. Louis, MO
My buddy, Mike, and I have been hard core rock climbers for about 4 and a half years. While standing at the base of El Capitan, Yosemite, we decided to "retire" from climbing and head into a sport that wasn't quite so death defying. We had a few close calls while hitting the road for years in search of the perfect climb. Mike had purchased a killer mountain bike the year before, Independent Fabrications, and I used to mountain bike in California years ago, so hey, why not mountain biking? Mountain biking was supposed to be less dangerous than climbing 2,000 ft cliffs, or at least this was our thinking. Boy, were we wrong!! I sold all my gear and purchased a Cannondale Jekyll 600. We were off on our next adventure. Hardcore biking was our next obsession. I live next to some of the best singletrack in the midwest. After a few easy rides on well travelled trails, Mike and I were off to Castlewood to tackle some moderate singletrack. After flying down the Lone Wolf Trail, I heard a scream coming from the trail 100 feet above. A chuckled to myself knowing that the explicatives I was hearing meant that my buddy wiped out hard, but was OK. Well, he got to the bottom a few minutes later and said "E.R. dude!!" "What?" I said and then he showed me his arm. Mike had taken a freak fall and tumbled down the ridge,crashing into rocks and a tree or two, cracking his arm open from the elbow 5 inches towards his hand. We both stared at the gaping wound. "Jes dude, I can see your bone! Kinda cool, but yeah, we'd better get going." We had taken up biking to increase our chances of staying alive until retirement, and now we were off to the ER, something that hadn't happened while climbing 5.11s and 5.12s for years. Well, MIke almost lost the used of his arm permanently, nearly severing a nerve that runs along the base of the bone. The doctor said he was very lucky. So, we now ride XC with body armor. Yes, that's right, XC with armor. I have taken some huge wrecks and the armor had allowed me to get back on and keep riding. So, to all you hard riders who I see on the trail, and now pass on the trail. . . . get the armor, you will ride faster with the increased confidence and safety and won't end up like my good friend-- with 20 stitches and a huge scar. To all you who don't yet ride hard. . . .what are you waiting for?? You only have one life, so get off of your computer and start living it!!!!! Ride hard!!!! Kerry Brown
