My First Helmet Cam-Captured Crash from fatbearfehr on Vimeo.
Following our 5 Up, 9 Down ride last weekend, I’ve decided to make the 14 mile trek a weekly event. Today was the first of another 10 rides or so before winter. Mike and I made great time on our way up to the top of Flying Dog. Reaching the summit in just under 75 minutes. Faster than usual, but equally exhausting.
The ride down was not nearly as enjoyable as last week’s ride. We stopped a few times to film a couple sections in the aspen groves near the top of the trail, but failed to select the correct camera setting. About a mile into the ride, and still eight miles from the car, Mike blew a tire. Mike’s backpack held extra water, three powerbars, a knife, a compass, a first aid kit, a bike tool, a bike pump, and zero bike tubes. Thus, Mike began the slow walk and bike carry down the hills to Jeremy Ranch.
I left Mike and continued the ride down. Fueled by my helmet cam, I attempted to go as fast as possible for the remainder of the ride. This worked pretty well until about a 1/2 mile from the bottom, I simultaneoasly hit a rock and slammed on my brakes. I rode on just my front tire for a second, but wound up hurtling through the air, over my handlebars, onto the rocky, dusty trail. Luckily I was filming. Oh, and unhurt.
I picked myself up, battled through a few minutes of shock-like symptoms and cautiously made my way down to the car. I picked up Mike as he was making his way out of the woods. He was covered in scrapes and worn out from having to blaze a trail down an entire mountain, carrying a bike and a disabled wheel.
Everything turned out ok, as we made it to Park City Bread and Bagel just in time to catch the opening kickoff of Utah vs. Michigan. Utah won by the way. Go Utes!