Comments on: Avoiding Disaster on the Trail: My Story

By: ChiliPepper

ChiliPepper — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:48:19 +0000

Sorry to hear that bro! I can relate to your episode, as I had a heat stroke last month which put me in the hospital. It also messed me up enough where I have to pace & watch myself more often, and I cannot ride as much in the heat now as I used to be able to do. That day I had plenty of water, drank a bottle of Gatorade, sucked down a energy gel, but still mother nature found a way to push me to a heat stroke. The next step after heat exhaustion guys and gals. I fell off my bike several times after leaving the trail heading to my car. I thank God that my wife and son was with me, or I do not know what would of happened. No one else was on the trails at that time.

By: trek7k

trek7k — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:47:47 +0000

I posted some video I took along the trail before I got wiped out. I tried to get some shots of the more tech. stuff on the loop... Bull Mountain MTB Video

By: abovetheridge

abovetheridge — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:00:07 +0000

All points listed are extremely important and not to be taken lightly. All of us ride solo every once in a while, but depending on the ride, make sure people know where you’re going WITH an acknowledgement. Don’t rely on a note, text, email or voicemail that someone may not get. I recently went to visit a buddy in Colorado and coming from the east coast, I needed a few check rides on the rental as well as to get acclimated to the elevation. We started at 7800, next day at 9100 and 9600, then on the 3rd day (4th trail), I was ready to climb to 11K+ which was the goal. Don’t assume you’re superhuman no matter how much training you’ve done. Take your breaks, hydrate, refuel, etc… It’s not always a performance or endurance “test” and don’t be ashamed to stop when people might be passing you on the trail. Those trails could be their backyard and more often than not, they’d be willing to assist you if you were in trouble, but why push it to that point if it can be avoided. Ride safe to live to ride another day!

By: steve32300

steve32300 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:25:11 +0000

When we did Monarch Crest trail last year,I knew with the altitude I would need extra water.Heck,I was totally aware that I didnt even prehydrate or eat very well prior to the ride.At 12,000 ft.,altitude sickness is a very real possibility.I ditched my camel bak in exchange for a regular back pack so I could carry an extra gallon of water,a whole extra gallon which was beyoond heavy for a mountain bike ride,but I knew I needed it.I drank water like crazy and as fast as I could at the start of the ride and I still got a headache and wooziness, my riding partner was cramping up kinda bad.I’ve had altitude sickness before,but that was at work in Breckenridge and I could just go sit down if I had to,but on a mtn bike ride,ya gotta keep going.Not fun,although we took the bailout route back to the parkin lot which actually turned out to be what seemed like 2 hours of absolute downhill every inch of the way back to the car.And to make it even better,it rained most of the way back down which was a real big relief being that it turned out to be so hot that day.
I’ve recently bought a camel bak havok and have an extra water bladder that will fit in it so that I have extra water for rides like this.

By: Goo

Goo — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:28:58 +0000

i had a freaky ride similar to that back towards the end of june… not any fun at all.

By: dsb1829

dsb1829 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:41:41 +0000

This year has been a tough one in the SE. The rainy early season and mixed rains throughout seem to have the trails mucked up more often than not. Unless you are riding road or are fortunate to have gravel fire roads near by then you are likely not in as good of shape as you think. It has caught me off guard a couple of times. That and the fact that rides when the weather permits have been very ill planned and on short notice. Fortunately I am not too proud to limp, walk, or crawl back out of the woods. During the summer here in the South I have noticed that the 100oz bladder just doesn’t seem big enough. Might be a good idea to pack an extra 40-50oz bladder, a lot of hiking packs have smaller bladders available. Might give REI a try if you are close to Atlanta any time soon. I really miss being closer to REI.