From my doorstep, I am fortunate enough to have immediate access into some phenomenal mountain bike trails.
Every week, I tend to get out at least 2 times to do a solid ride on the mountain bike…and I have been doing so since we moved to Christchurch NZ.
Riding in the Port Hills requires a level of commitment at times that can be a little more than the usual mountain bike trail. The steep sided hills and cliffs sometimes present a “don’t fall off the hill” situation. So, the approach is simple – get off and walk the bits which you don’t want to ride OR if you do attempt to ride over, then make sure you fall into the hill – not off the hill. I can imagine what some of you are thinking right now… 
For the first few rides up there, you’re forever stopping and walking sections. Gradually, you gain the confidence to ride sections that seem daunting. Your local track knowledge expands, and you begin to prepare mentally and physically for the trail that lies ahead. Soon enough, your consistent rides start to pay dividends. You’re riding the tougher sections, with style and confidence. The stuff that was hard before is now fun and well within reach, and the stuff that was laughable (read: diabolical) now seems within the realm of possibility.
So, at some point in time…as my mountain biking brethren know…the Gods of the hill decide to extract a payment for all the rides you’ve had with no incident.
I never ride with the assumption that I won’t fall, I just try not to dwell on this. There are times when I visualise myself riding hard sections of trail and get anxious before the ride, but usually when I am out there the last thing I think about is the fall.
If you’ve been riding for a while, and have good control and skill – the fall happens when you least expect it. It unfolds in split second timing, and usually you’re spared the fall through your instinctive corrective reaction that has developed by spending a long time as a mountain bike apprentice. However, sometimes you’re riding along, and the next thing you know you’re in freeze frame vision…a phrase I just made up to describe an awareness of a moment of time that lasts a little longer than a moment. It’s an out of body experience – as if you’ve stopped, stepped outside of yourself and are looking at yourself on that steep rocky technical descent you’ve nailed so many times and yet this time you’re airborne, almost upside-down (vertical and head down), one hand on handlebar, one foot still clipped in to a bike that’s not horizontal, not vertical and just too hard to conceive/describe in terms of pitch and yaw…
Then you’re within yourself once more and writhing in pain on the rocky trail, and perhaps you’re still falling down the trail. I recently came off this way, and had to pick myself up after a 5 minute lie down and ride some more to get home. I actually rode more than I needed to just to get “back on the horse” (or steed of choice!).
I ride conservatively. I ride to enjoy the experience. I love to push myself a little bit at a time and I have gradually come to a point where I can tackle things that are deemed to be pretty difficult. I believe in a steady and long apprenticeship in anything I undertake…
The fall can come at any time. Your focus determines your reality and if you focus on the fall – then its a done deal – you’re comin’ off!!
On yer bike!
