You Can't Eliminate Risk
We all know that there is risk every time we get on the bike, maybe part of the thrill of riding is an awareness of this risk. Even if it is just in the back of our minds. I think we all make active choices that are supposed to reduce risk. We wear helmets, protective gear, we inspect features, we ride within our abilities, and most of that risk management reduces the odds of an injury.
Last Thursday, before Race #2 of the Bogus Basin community series, I was doing all those things. I left work early to get practice laps in, I fixed a brake issue before riding, I went on pre-ride to get comfortable, I spent time looking over the feature that had been on my mind all day, and I chose what I believed was the more conservative line for my first time on a new feature. I wasn't riding reckless. I was doing all the correct things to reduce the risk. And I still crashed.
The hardest part hasn't been accepting the separated shoulder. It's accepting that sometimes doing everything "right" still doesn't protect you from getting hurt. One small hesitation caused my pedal to clip a rock by a matter of inches, and that was enough to end my summer riding plans. All of those calculations to reduce risk were the right things to do and I still got hurt.
This crash has reminded me that you cannot eliminate the risks, but you can find the line where you are okay with them and actively choose how to minimize the damage done when the odds swing the wrong way. I'm thankful this crash wasn't worse. I can count on one hand how many times I've gone over the bars and this one could have really been bad. I'm grateful I only have a couple bruises, some scrapes, my arm in a sling and hopefully I'll be back to riding this fall.
The bike is now parked in the garage while my shoulder heals. Five seasons of riding without a serious injury is something I'm grateful for, and this one won't keep me away forever. Recovery will take some time, but the trails aren't going anywhere. I'll see you on the trails soon.
Forever two wheels!
-Myles