First time OTB

underblu said:

This must be a right of passage or something. I smashed my upper lip area and nose pretty good right where the asphalt section of the trail begins. Thing is, I’ve done this little downhill dirt path so many times.

I either hit a divot, root or rock large enough to stop a 29er front wheel or more likely, I squeezed the front brake too hard. Regardless, I’m buying a Bell MIPs convertible helmet. I’d not care if I look like a jackass on wheels, I’m not risking any more facial damage. It seems the risk of smashing the front part of your face is as least as likely as your forehead.

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That’s quite some feat. I recently commented in another thread that I have not done an endo for at least 6 or 7 years. Likely 10. My daughter hasn’t done one since getting into biking in 2015. I was chalking it up to 29 inch wheels and modern geo.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

PS - my daughter and I both have a Bell Super 2. Neither of us have used the chin bar even once. We bought them with the best of intentions. I worry about my daughter because I have a crap load of money sunk into her teeth. At least a half a bike’s worth. Lol!

I go over or sideways of my bars a few times a year, it’s the price of admission for riding tech.

if you’re not crashing, you’re not trying hard enough 👍

Full face helmets are mandatory for face crashing 😊

I’ve gone over the bars three times this year alone. Welcome to the club!👍

that’s good to know. I hope you and your daughter have many more years of safe riding.

Hopefully I won’t do another OTB for the next several years as well. I wish I had my GoPro turned on as I’m not sure exactly what caused the crash which is a bit unsettling.

mtnbkrmike said:

That’s quite some feat. I recently commented in another thread that I have not done an endo for at least 6 or 7 years. Likely 10. My daughter hasn’t done one since getting into biking in 2015. I was chalking it up to 29 inch wheels and modern geo.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

PS - my daughter and I both have a Bell Super 2. Neither of us have used the chin bar even once. We bought them with the best of intentions. I worry about my daughter because I have a crap load of money sunk into her teeth. At least a half a bike’s worth. Lol!

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Probably brakes. It sometimes doesn’t take much.
Definitely get a chin bar helmet.

Nurse Ben said:

…if you’re not crashing, you’re not trying hard enough…👍

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There may be other explanations for crashing. And not crashing. Just sayin.

underblu said:

This must be a right of passage or something. I smashed my upper lip area and nose pretty good right where the asphalt section of the trail begins. Thing is, I’ve done this little downhill dirt path so many times.

I either hit a divot, root or rock large enough to stop a 29er front wheel or more likely, I squeezed the front brake too hard. Regardless, I’m buying a Bell MIPs convertible helmet. I’d not care if I look like a jackass on wheels, I’m not risking any more facial damage. It seems the risk of smashing the front part of your face is as least as likely as your forehead.

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Full face hats are becoming more popular these days. Wouldn't say a reasonable piece of gear is going to make you look like an ass on wheels.

Everyone is going over the bars eventually so it happens.
The important thing is that you learn to modulate the brakes appropriately to not perform an encore. Brakes today are strong enough to stop an F350 Superduty! Put enough miles in and you will have the feel for braking needs. Just takes time and miles/

It took a little doing to get past the old fist full of lever thing of times been and gone.

yes you are right, Thing is, the code Rs on my Heckler are quite good modulation wise. I probably wasn‘t focused and grabbed the front break too hard. I felt a little off all day too. Anytime you’re on a bike you have to be focused otherwise bad things happen.

BansheeRune said:

Full face hats are becoming more popular these days. Wouldn't say a reasonable piece of gear is going to make you look like an ass on wheels.

Everyone is going over the bars eventually so it happens.
The important thing is that you learn to modulate the brakes appropriately to not perform an encore. Brakes today are strong enough to stop an F350 Superduty! Put enough miles in and you will have the feel for braking needs. Just takes time and miles/

It took a little doing to get past the old fist full of lever thing of times been and gone.

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I went over the first time mountain biking in June doing some downhill. I've done it a couple times dirt bike riding. I'm glad I was actually wearing my dirt bike helmet (no reason to buy a separate "mountain bike full face helmet"). I still got a mild concussion from it. I might not have walked away so easily if I was wearing my normal trail helmet

It happens to us all at some point, almost happened to me this other day but was able to save it. It was my fault as I was not focused on the ride and was day dreaming.

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Did you:

Squeeze the front brake hard on a steep downhill as the front wheel met a small uphill object?
Let the bars turn sideways on a downhill due to terrain/obstacles/rocks?
Not shift your weight backwards and down before your front wheel met an uphill (relative to your path) object?
Combination of the above?

Jayem said:

Did you:

Squeeze the front brake hard on a steep downhill as the front wheel met a small uphill object?
Let the bars turn sideways on a downhill due to terrain/obstacles/rocks?
Not shift your weight backwards and down before your front wheel met an uphill (relative to your path) object?
Combination of the above?

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i either squeezed the front brake too hard or let the bars turn sideways. It was at the end of a downhill dirt patch that meets the asphalt part of the trail requiring me to turn at the end of the descent. Not terribly steep. Some roots but more hard pack. I’ve done it so many times that I was probably less focused. I’m usually good about dropping the saddle and shifting my weight back. Also my upsized Heckler MX is very stable.

I tried to go over the bars but my handlebars into my thighs saved me. 👍

mtnbkrmike said:

That’s quite some feat. I recently commented in another thread that I have not done an endo for at least 6 or 7 years. Likely 10. My daughter hasn’t done one since getting into biking in 2015. I was chalking it up to 29 inch wheels and modern geo.

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Same here. I remember it was a consistent danger on my carbon Ibis Mojo, an occasional fear on the early Rip9, and now I can't imagine it happening unless I'm going straight down a wall.

I can be pretty judgy out there on the trails, but don’t think a thing when I see full face helmets. I would say the Heckler (which must be a 26er?) was a contributing factor though. And likely it was causal, or atleast wouldn’t have happened on a new rig. Old bike geo may feel stable, but OTB is always a risk. Last time I went OTB was on a new 2016 27.5 enduro bike. Had dislocated my pinky in the park the day before. Was on the tail end of a long ride. A slow relatively flat tech section stopped my front wheel right as I put some power into the pedal stroke. OTB with a karate chop to a rock - right on my dislocated pinky knuckle. I know new bikes are hard to come by these days, but may want to consider it.

I’ve been riding a trigger FF for my trail rides for a little over a year now and love it. Comfortable, light, and keeps rocks away from my face!

VThuckster said:

I can be pretty judgy out there on the trails, but don’t think a thing when I see full face helmets. I would say the Heckler (which must be a 26er?) was a contributing factor though. And likely it was causal, or atleast wouldn’t have happened on a new rig. Old bike geo may feel stable, but OTB is always a risk. Last time I went OTB was on a new 2016 27.5 enduro bike. Had dislocated my pinky in the park the day before. Was on the tail end of a long ride. A slow relatively flat tech section stopped my front wheel right as I put some power into the pedal stroke. OTB with a karate chop to a rock - right on my dislocated pinky knuckle. I know new bikes are hard to come by these days, but may want to consider it.

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It is a 2021 Heckler MX-S with a 29 front and 27.5 rear. I’m going to examine that section of trail before I go down it again. I think maybe I wasn’t concentrating and grabbed the front brake at the wrong time. Something stopped my front wheel and sent me hurtling to the pavement.

underblu said:

It is a 2021 Heckler MX-S with a 29 front and 27.5 rear. I’m going to examine that section of trail before I go down it again. I think maybe I wasn’t concentrating and grabbed the front brake at the wrong time. Something stopped my front wheel and sent me hurtling to the pavement.

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Gotcha, those look pretty sick.

I went otb once. I had been riding really hard for too many days and wanted to do an easy, "recovery" lap. I've ridden that trail hundreds of times, and never had any trouble in the place where I wrecked. It was an easy downhill, about 5 feet tall, with a couple of steps.

It bothered me for days about how it happened, then I realized I was going too slow for my front wheel to roll over that root at the lip of the step. I'm normally going much faster in that spot and my slow speed just let the root grab the wheel and twist it. It's sort of like being on a motorcycle in that you're way more likely to drop the bike during a slow speed maneuver. I have no idea how fast you were going when you met the asphalt, but maybe you were going much slower than normal?

Anyway, itmessed me up pretty good. I couldn't use my left arm for a few days and I had all sorts of residual shoulder problems for nearly a year.