Life can be quite an adventure. As you continue through life and try new adventures, never forget that Mother knows best.

This past weekend Mom and I decided to travel to Memphis to participate in the Wolfman Duathlon. This was a first for us. The event consisted of a 3.1 mile trail run, a 6.2 mile mountain bike ride, and finally a 1.2 mile trail run.

Mom and I decided to sign up for the team competition. Since Mom only has a street bike, I decided to do the bike portion on my off road bike. Just before we left Grenada early Sunday morning, Mom told me I needed to have a helmet and gloves. I told her I did not have them, so she offered hers. Even though I seemed unwilling, she decided we needed to take them with us.

When we arrived at Shelby Farms in Memphis, there were people riding everywhere (without helmets). These guys (and gals) were riding up and down this little street, warming up. We went to the registration table and signed up. Mom again reminded me, you need to wear the helmet and the gloves. She added, when I purchased these gloves, they told me I needed them for WHEN I have a wreck. (Not if!) OH MOM!

I looked around just a little bit before time for the race to begin and found that most bikes which were staged to be picked up after the initial run had helmets with them. I rode back to the truck and got the helmet and gloves, just in case I decided to use them.

The race began! Mom took off running, looking good!

At 15 minutes and 8 seconds after the beginning, the first young man came back from the 3.1 mile run and got on his helmet and picked up his bike.

Just a few seconds behind him was a young man (probably 15 or 16 years old) that came in and picked up his bike (no helmet). The race officials stopped him and would not let him complete the race because he did not have a helmet. Now get this, this young man finished the 3.1 mile initial run in under 5 minute miles and was not allowed to continue!

MOM KNOWS BEST!

Mom came in from the run in just over 30 minutes! This was her best time in a 3.1 mile run to date. I was so excited! She tagged me (yes I had put on the helmet and gloves). I took off, not wanting to waste too much time since Mom had done such a great job at the run. I rounded the corner and started down the trail.

I skillfully maneuvered through the trees and stumps for about 100 yards before having a close call with a tree. I slowed for just a second, but again, I did not want to waste any time! I rounded another corner and started down a steep hill. The path was about 2 foot wide with fairly large trees on both sides. At the bottom of this hill I ran in a rut and my feet slipped off the pedals when the bike jumped out. I tried diligently for about 1/2 second to get my feet back on the pedals before I arrived at the upcoming turn. No way! Have you ever tried to round a corner on a 2 foot wide course on a bike without your feet on the pedals?

I turned slightly before my right pedal snagged a tree. Needless to say, the bike stopped immediately. I didn't!

The next thing I remember is opening my eyes and asking myself, What is that bike doing there? Next thought, why does my head hurt so much? I soon regained my bearings and looked down to see a large piece of plywood laying on the ground which my head (in the helmet) has struck.

MOM KNOWS B.....!

I shook my head a time or two and felt the side of it to see how much I was bleeding. No blood! WOW, I can continue racing! I jumped up on the bike only to find that the handlebars and the front wheel were no longer pointing the same direction. Hmmmmm. I jumped back off and twisted the wheel back straight. I jumped back on and took off!

Well, I rounded a couple of corners gently and was on my way. I exited the woods shortly and was riding across an open field. There were a number of ruts with which I had to contend. I ran off in a fairly deep rut and turned the handlebars slightly to get out. The front tire caught the side and turned around sideways. The bike, of course, stopped immediately. I didn't! Straight over the handlebars! My head hit the ground (or should I say the helmet?)

MOM KNOWS ............!

When I got back up, I again straightened the wheel. I noticed that it was quite easy to twist it back around straight, which probably explains why it was so easy for it to get turned sideways. I rode down the trail a bit farther and the same thing happened again. I am again lying on the ground, dust in my face and a bike on my back!

MOM KN....!

Well, there was only one more incident where the front tire turned sideways and I fell off. The remainder of the wrecks were unrelated to the problem with the front wheel.

MOM....!

After some time I really got tired of stopping time after time to straighten the front wheel. I came up with this great plan! When the tire was off just a bit, I would take my foot and nudge it back into place! I learned that it is EASY to overcorrect. I also learned that it is easy to catch the toe of your shoe in the spokes! Yes, I hit the ground again!

MOM........!

I did, however, note some other interesting facts during my first trail ride:

= Yes, you should be embarrassed if you have more than one accident during the ride!

= Yes, you should be embarrassed if you pass a guy with a flat about halfway through the race, only to have him remove the wheel, replace the tube, air up the tire, and pass you back before you finish!

= Yes, you should be embarrassed if you are almost finished, going up the last big hill, and another rider with a flat tire passes you, riding on the rim!

= If you nose, head teeth, arms, legs, and bottom all hurt as soon as you finish, you probably did not have a good ride!

= It would be advisable to at least ride your bike across the yard, or something similar before competing in a trail race. Those bicycles just seem to handle a little differently on a trail with trees and ruts than they do on a paved path.

= Check the size of the tool need to tighten up the handlebars and take one along, just in case you need it after hitting a tree.

= The front wheel can be adjusted to go straight down the road in two ways. One is to point the tire frontward, as the manufacturer intended. The other is to point the tire backwards with the front fork pointing back toward the bike. I suggest the direction the manufacturer intended. You are much less likely to run in a little ditch and fly over the handlebars.

= Most riders wear those little pants with pads on the bottom for a reason!

The ride was a definite reminder of my mortality. I even wore my seat belt home from Memphis! I figured if a helmet helped me that much, maybe I should try another safety precaution or two.

One final note:

MOM KNOWS BEST!

Rob