Lost my Mojo?

Hi folks,

Lost my mojo at Dalbeattie today, first bank holiday weekend in May, I went arse over tit at the first bit of the qualifier, broke three ribs, chipped a bone in my hand and dislocated my right shoulder.

First time back yesterday and managed to wash my front wheel out on the skills loops, it looked at though I was shot by a sniper. Banjo'ed my ribs again and hit my head that hard broke my giro hex helmet, hole in my knee and sheared off my left shifter. I didnt continue whilst my three mates had a great time.

Major whiplash today and breath catching my ribs, great!

Any tips for getting your mojo back?

get a juju instead

😀

I took a tumble on July 3 last year, knocked myself out and broke my collar bone. second ride back on the bike, I took another and damaged the other shoulder. I had convinced myself it wasnt going to slow me down, and was over compensating. So i slowed up a bit and gradually built up to 'flat out' again.

By the start of this summer all was back to normal, so on July 3 this year, I took a tumble and broke my collar bone – 50 yds from where I did it last year.

Some lessons are learned the hard way.

Healing vibes, and ease yourself back into it next time, think of the longer term. Oh, and don't do it again!

If its any consolation Monster101, thats the only bit of trail centre I have never ridden!..Just looks a bit sketchy if you get things wrong,I do the slab no probs tho. 🙄

Mojo back?…There might be a few things worth looking at,It could be something as simple as tyre pressures,bike set up etc.

Confidence on the bike is everything,Your mates are probably riding just a bit faster than you would like,(after your first crash/injury)start from the bottom and work up,try a few steady rides,consider a skills course to sharpen things up.Cyclewise or cycle active…Theres lots out there.

hth, and you get your mojo back soon 😛

Thanks Gavgas,

Good Advice

I have had a new front tyre, Maxxis Advantage and not particularly confident with them so might try something new to try and get the confidence back

I had no intention of doing the slab or the qualifier, I didnt even bring my pads. (I have done both a couple of times before my fall but wanted to build up to it)

Slipped on a bit of granite just after the trail splits next to the start of the black skills loops.

Pissed off about the helmet and shifter getting broke,

👿

I crashed in Les Gets a couple of years back and bust my lip, needing stitches. Must have almost knocked myself out as was very woozy indeed when I came to. Had a stinking headache and a very uncomfortable neck. Subconciously I reckon it screwed me up. I backed right off on the trails and wouldn't do stuff I used to. Then one day it just clicked and came back to me. Still have off days when I decide somethings too high risk then days when I flash down fast trails like a nutcase.
Weird thing is, I've ridden the qualifier at Dalbeattie but haven't managed to yet get over the lip of the slab.
Keep riding mate and most of all enjoy yourself when you are out. MTB for me is all about fun, so make sure you have plenty with your mates.
I use the term "mates" very loosely as post-crash in Les Gets I felt my mate Rob rummaging in my Camelbak. I assumed he was going for my first aid kit but alas not – he went straight for my camera 🙂

,

It could be something as simple as tyre pressures

Dalbeatie is usually pretty grippy,I dont think the actual tyres will be the problem as long as there a relativly soft compound,try running softer pressures than normal and work up from there.

I assumed he was going for my first aid kit but alas not – he went straight for my camera

….lol 🙄

Broke me foot in a non mtb "accident" at the begining of the year. I rode a ht down a red / black run after three only week- the foot felt ok ish but stiff, and i'd done a 30 mile xc wheels on the ground loop the day before..
The pain on rocks and drops was excruciating and since that day i wont ride rock or flights of stairs….even stuff i have cleaned 100 times before and i KNOW i can ride them, yet still a mental block makes me get off and walk

Lost my mojo when I hit 30.

and not just on the bike…..

Lets face it, I was better on the bike 15 years ago, it's all downhill (no pun intended).

However on the plus side I do have lots more money so I can use that to buy things that compensate for my diminishing skill and make me look ace in the car park.

nah, I am 35 and can afford to do all the things I want,

Skiing overseas,
Ski moutaineering in Scotland
Moutainbiking
Scuba diving

I seem to be getting more adventurous as I am older.

I am just kicking myself for feeling like a nancy. Once the ribs heal again I will try and get straight back out.

I am just kicking myself for feeling like a nancy.

Nah, give yourself a break – well not literally again obviously 😛

Might be worth changing the tyres tho. MTB is very much like climbing – you need confidence in the kit to perform at your best.

CycleActive

Monster, had you thought about spending a day or two brushing up on your own handling skills?
I'm assuming you are somewhere up north, so you could check out these guys. They do all sorts of training in all sorts of locations, off teh peg and bespoke …..it could really help get some of that confidence back and lessen the chance of another big spill.

Good luck 😀

I find that if I'm nervous I tend to look down at the ground about 3 feet in front of my front tyre. And as any fule kno, where you look is where you end up.

I force myself to look a good 10 to 20 yards further up the trail (always focus on the tree after next, for the reason given above) and tell yourself that your subconscious has clocked the bit you're riding over and then let your bike do the work.

Yep, a skill course my be the way to go, I know Jedi is up this way from time to time and dirt school at GT is only a 45 min drive.

Thats the thing I was looking about 20 yds ahead and have no idea why my front tyre washed out on the granite.

thanks for your reply guys.

Skills course went a huge way in curing me. I went with EdO

Time is a great healer mate. That and riding with new people.

I took couple of tumbles about 3 years ago, both within a week of each other and whilst not really injuring myself badly, they really knocked my confidence. Took about 12 months for it to come back, but then I am a right pussy when it comes to this sort of thing.

15 years of racing dirt bikes and never really hurt myself then in the space of 8 months managed to dislocate shoulder, break about 6 ribs, compressed my neck and broke my shoulder. Sorry to say never got it back. Dont know how old you are but at 47 I am done with breaking bones, just looking at a 2metre drop off on a little jump park in the town in Sweden I am in and just said no 😥 leave it to the kids.