STAFF SGT. SHANE MILLER
Clarksville, Tennessee
Two Soldiers determined to improve their physical conditioning while pushing the limits and having fun took to the woods of Tennessee on mountain bikes. All preventive maintenance checks, pre-combat checks and test rides were completed on man and machine. All were in full working order.
The Soldiers were shielded from the environment by all the personal protective equipment they could possibly need, to include helmets, gloves, eye protection, padded shorts, and quick-release shoes and pedals to allow them to safely egress their bicycles should the need arise. They were also equipped with CamelBaks, first-aid kits and bicycle repair tools and parts. One Soldier was even wearing a reflective PT belt.
At first, the ride was routine, fast, fun and challenging. Both individuals had their heads on a swivel because the area was usually teeming with deer, hikers, joggers and fellow cyclists. The lead rider was more familiar with the trail and in better condition, often getting away from his buddy and having to wait at the next turn for him to catch up. At one stop, the Soldier realized his buddy was bleeding.
“You all right?” he asked as his exhausted friend rolled to a stop next to him.
“Tired, fat and out of shape, but all in all I’m good,” he said while gasping for breath and drinking water.
“Looks like something got you. Your shirt’s torn and you’re bleeding,” the lead cyclist said.
“Eh, cut it a little close to a low-hanging branch on the last turn. It’s just a scratch,” the other cyclist reported back.
After the brief exchange, the Soldiers decided the slower of the two should take point for a while. Though he was not as fit as the faster rider, the Soldier had more experience and pushed the bike and himself to the limits at almost every opportunity. At one point, while negotiating a turn in the middle of a hill, he attempted to ride through an obstacle balanced only his back wheel. Not surprisingly, this resulted in a crash. He laughed it off while his buddy warned, “Maybe you shouldn’t push it too hard. We still have to work tomorrow.”
“Nah, man, I got this — just slipped out on the loose dirt,” he claimed while getting back on his feet and knocking off the dust.
“OK, but if you get hurt being stupid, I’m just gonna laugh and leave you here to figure out where you went wrong!” his buddy said.
“Roger that. I’d expect nothing less,” he replied.
After a few sips of water, the men were back on the trail, flying down hills, powering through climbs, careening the turns and having a blast. As they approached an extremely tight and winding part of the trail, the faster rider took off, knowing he would be able to stay within sight and earshot of the slower rider. The slower rider pushed himself to perform better — going faster into turns, leaning the bike over further and staying away from his brakes at all cost. The whole time he was thinking, “I may not be able to pedal as fast, but I can keep up or even pass this guy with better technique and bike-handling skills.”
After a sharp left turn, the trail straightened out and the lead rider came back into view of his slower buddy. The only thing separating them now was about 25 meters and a small wooden bridge. The slower rider wrenched down on his pedals, launching his bike forward while picking up speed and closing on his buddy. As he approached the bridge, the Soldier decided to push the limits yet again. Shifting his weight, he lifted the rear wheel off the ground to roll over the bridge on only his front tire. The Soldier’s aggressiveness sent him flipping over the handlebars and into some exposed tree roots.
“I’m down,” is all he was able to force out through the pain. Rolling over, he took off his helmet and noticed several large gashes on it. Without it, those gashes could have been on his head. As he made his way back to his feet, his buddy pulled up and asked, “Are you OK?”
The faster rider was shocked his buddy was even standing. His helmet had been torn up, his shirt shredded and covered in blood, and both hands were bleeding profusely. Adding insult to injury, his bicycle was lodged upside down in a tree, several feet above the trail. They recovered the bicycle and began to make their way down the trail again.
“What happened back there?” the Soldier asked his injured buddy.
“Well,” the injured rider said, “I felt like practicing some physics while pushing the limits. Turns out Newton was right.”
“Newton?” the Soldier questioned.
“Yes, sir,” the injured rider replied. “Newton’s third law of motion. For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. This time, my overconfidence led to an equal amount of pain, skin and blood loss — not to mention injury to pride.”
FYI
Mountain Biking Safety Tips
There are numerous ways you can improve your mountain bike safety. Many riders will tell you that wearing a helmet is the most important step to staying safe. The second most important step is you should always ride in control of your mountain bike. By riding in control, you'll not only prevent crashes, but keep others on the trail safe as well. When riding out of control, you lose the ability to adjust to the terrain as you ride over it. This can — and usually does — result in serious injury to yourself and others.
Follow these helpful guidelines and you'll remain safe when riding your mountain bike.
- Gear. Always make sure you wear a helmet and other necessary safety gear for the conditions that you plan to ride in.
- Never ride beyond your control. There is no shame in walking the areas of the trail where you don't feel comfortable riding; never let anyone else tell you there is.
- Keep your speed under control. Always make sure you keep your speed at a level where you can quickly adjust to any obstacles or changes in the trail.
- Know your trail. You should never push the limits on trails you aren't familiar with. Take trails you aren't familiar with at slow speeds until you learn them better.
- Slow down around blind corners. If you can't see past a corner, slow down. You never know who or what you could run into.
- Start small then go big. Work your way up to stunts or obstacles. Practice in controlled environment and work your way up to doing the more dangerous stunts.
- Play it smart. If you start to question what you’re doing, you probably shouldn't be doing it. Always think about what you are doing and go with your instincts.
Editor’s note: Adapted from an article by Jerry Travers in adultbicycling.com.