This time a year ago, I was taking two friends out on their gravel bikes for the first time. Nothing too technical, nothing too speedy, just a chance for them to build some confidence and see how much fun the gravel could be.
See that photo up there…That’s me, less than 4 km into the ride trying not to look as hurt as I really was.
Looking back, it’s funny now – it was funny then. It hurt, I injured some ribs, and tweaked my shoulder – I just couldn’t ride on. It was the exclamation point end to a pretty non-remarkable year on the bike.
I had all the excuses. I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so my visibility was not that great. For all of that, I truly believe that if you’re not falling off, you’re not doing it right. Falls are a way of life – they exist right out there where the boundaries of competence, luck and adventure intersect.
Soon after, I got new glasses (#excuse) and got back on my bike. Being able to see the trail helped, but every fall is a lesson.
What have you learnt from your falls?
