 | | | | | | | | | | | Trudy says:
I remember thinking I was going a wee bit too fast and started to panic. I just remember thinking 'if I brake I'm going to crash', [although] with hindsight, crashing earlier would have been a better option!
I hit the dirt and started sliding. Next thing, I was sitting up on the forest road talking to some guy called Dave (a hillwalker Stephen had passed and had rushed along to wait with me).
I don't even remember getting a soaking in the stream! Every bump along the track in the minibus hurt my neck but I didn't think for a minute it was broken - if your neck's broken you can't feel anything, right? When they told me the bad news I just thought 'OK, I can feel my hands and legs, so everything is fine', I was more worried about my broken tooth and messy hair [Ed: include stereotypical, sexist joke here]!
Back to Stephen:
Luckily, Trudy doesn't remember much about the crash as she had blacked out. Her helmet was destroyed and probably saved her life - although a full face would have been even better on that day. Most of the nurses thought it was a motorbike, not a mountainbike accident!
Her new bike escaped with a bent bar and broken brake lever, and although she will need to wear a headbrace (complete with trick titanium screws!) she should be back on the bike by next spring. [She will be] taking it easy for a while - I don't think I will be persuading her along to Glentress for a spot of riding on the Black route!
Don't have nightmares:
For all those novice bikers out there - don't worry, Trudy's accident was a bit of a freak one, a case of wrong place at the wrong time. It was caused by too much speed and lack of experience - only ride as fast as you think you can handle and you won't go out your depth.Stephen and Trudy Malaney
If you have any good story's that you've gained through biking, email them to us ([email protected]) and we'll be only too happy to put them live. Cheers.
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