mind f*&cked

[sarah]

After my incident Friday, I noticed I was a little more careful in switchbacks: basically holding my back break like it was my lifeline (which was more dangerous.) However, this evening I was out on my bike trying to get comfortable again. I rode Saturday and Sunday without a fall. Today, though, I was playing around practicing my obstacle jumping and hit a rock on a switchback that sent me off my chosen line. Guess what, I fell. Better than that, though, I don't have one new scrape or bruise. I knew my hangup was all mental, and it was really starting to piss me off. After that little fall, I was having a blast laying off that back break and relaxing. Just thought I'd share that.

[Kaiser]

Two sports where I think you are worse off being tentative are mountain biking a steep downhill and skiing. In both cases you are better off attacking the hill. Did you get the new seatpost as well?

Also, check out the fall today at the TdF. (Click on the Daily Clips section on the right and you'll see the summary.) ....you'll feel way better about yours after seeing this poor rider! Broken hip, broken wrist, broken finger. Crashed at over 40 mph. It hurts just to watch it....but of course, we do anyway.

[Jean-Paul]

Here's another story:

GAP, France - Lance Armstrong came within a hair's-breadth of disaster in the challenging ninth stage of the Tour de France on Monday, narrowly missing a harrowing crash involving Joseba Beloki, one of his main rivals.


AP Photo


AFP
Slideshow: Tour de France




Beloki slipped off his bike speeding around a bend on a rapid downhill section near the finish, and hit the road hard. Armstrong, just behind, just missed plowing into the Spaniard. Beloki was taken away in an ambulance.


Armstrong finished the stage in fourth place, keeping his overall lead.


Yellow jersey US Lance Armstrong (US Postal/USA) rides with his teammates during the ninth stage of the 90th Tour de France cycling race between Bourg d'Oisans and Gap(AFP/Joel Saget)

Beloki crashed right in front of Armstrong. To avoid him, the Texan was forced to plow into a field next to the road. He bumped across the sun-burnt grass, cutting off a hairpin bend. At the end of the field, he got off his bike, carried it onto the road, got back in the saddle and sped off again.


"I was scared like never before," Armstrong said. "It was a real panic. In a moment like that, it's a survival instinct."


Hot summer temperatures have been heating the tarmac on the Tour, making roads slick. Armstrong said the road where Beloki fell was "not safe for a fast descent."


Yellow jersey US Lance Armstrong (US Postal/USA) rides with his teammates during the ninth stage of the 90th Tour de France cycling race between Bourg d'Oisans and Gap(AFP/Joel Saget)

Alexandre Vinokourov of Team Telekom took the 184.5-kilometer (114.4-mile) stage through the Alps from Bourg d'Oisans to Gap. It was the Kazak's first Tour de France win and moved him into second place overall, behind Armstrong.


Beloki had been in second place overall before the stage started.

graphic shows stage 10 of the tour

[sarah]

yeah, I saw that crash. It looked like it hurt really bad. Way to save yourself Lance! He's having a tougher race this year, though. Yeah, I feel much better now. All I needed was to relax. I've learned that if I just relax, everything in life becomes easier.

[Jean-Paul]

Sarah, my bike will be out tomorrow by 4pm. If I can get a yard pass lets go for a late afternoon ride... what say you?