I must admit to having been a little bit cocky at Dalbeattie. Having survived 'The Qualifier', I looked down the slab and thought it actually looked OK. Apart that is, from some nasty diagonal ruts across its face, it seemed smooth and straightforward.Half way down, i felt like i was doing about 50 miles an hour and willed myself not to touch the brakes. Even as I was touching the bottom I was looking at the runout thinking I had got away with it. That, sadly, is when disaster struck, the back wheel slid out sideways, i did an abrubt left turn and poleaxed myself onto the base of the slab, smearing myself
After the screaming had stopped and i'd worked i was still alive and could still breath, i pretty much knew by the pain that my ribs were broken. As well as this i had a completely dead leg from using my left leg as a rudder!
The guys milling aroung the bottom of the slab were brilliant, sorting out the ambulance and helping me limp out to the fire road. Ironically when the ambulance arrived, they had known exactly where to come, cos they had been there at just about the same time the day before!!
Made me think though about our vulnerability when we are out riding. I didnt have a phone or map with me, no-one else of the half dozen or so people around had a map either, and the day before even the ambulance had taken a couple of hours to find the spot as they hadnt ever been there before. None of us really knew where we were in the forest or how far away from the carpark we were, and i really couldnt have walked anywhere.
ANYWAYS i think i've learnt my lesson now (seeing as this is the second time i've broken ribs this year). Phones and maps are good... Only break something when there are lots of people around...
