In today’s send I’m going to talk about to bounce back from an injury. I’m also going to talk about how to do a gravity bleed.

Also, based on some inquiries, I’m now offering Bike Consultations, you can find more information about it here.

Injuries happen: How to get back physically and mentally.

Over the years I have crashed a lot! Just ask my wife, she loves telling me I am not in my 20’s anymore. Most of the wrecks were minor, and just lead to a bruised ego and a bump or scrape. Some of these have resulted in a nagging pain that would go away in time. They never kept me off a bike for more than a few days. I have also had a few wrecks that have landed me in the hospital or urgent care. I am pretty good at riding within my ability, and these wrecks were either a fluke or a mistake I made.

My more serious wrecks have lead to broken ribs(three of them), stitches, staples, a dislocated finger, and a partial ACL separation. This isn’t meant to scare you away from riding. It is just a reality of riding bikes in the wilderness. I like to ride fast, and I crash sometimes. I will say that riding 100+ days of downhill and frequent rides on rocky trails have greatly improved my skill, and comfort while riding fast.

The physical part of recovery is the easy part. Take the advice of your doctor. Rest, ice, and rehab are all keys in that recovery. Gashes heal, bones mend, and your fitness will come back with time. If you are able to ride a trainer or stationary bike while recovering that’s even better since you won’t lose as much fitness. Listen to your body, and don’t try to come back too soon as it could cause a setback keeping you off the bike even longer. If you need to, start back on easier trails until you feel like you are back to 100%.

I found the mental part of recovery is harder. My worst wreck resulted in two broken ribs, and a good 3” gash on my arm. I also destroyed my helmet in the wreck. Thankfully I didn’t end up with an injury to my head or neck. Since I was at the hospital getting my ribs tended to, they did a full scan of my head and neck. This is one of the reasons I always preach about the importance of a good helmet. It can save your life. This wreck was totally my own fault. I was feeling really good, and I was riding a little faster than I should have been. I hit a few bigger drops without issue, and one steep rock roll I barely rode away from. That should have been my wake up call to mellow out. The next rock roll got me. It has a 2-3 foot steep up followed by a 15 foot steep roll down. The runout has a tree on one side and pile of rocks on the other. I was headed towards the tree, and I tried to change my line too quickly causing my front wheel to wash out. I landed on the pile of rocks on the left. The picture below is the same roll from a few years later when I finally rode it again. Some of the rocks had been cleared out by that point.

The physical part of this injury took about two months to fully recover from. I was back on a road bike after about six weeks and back on easy trails a few weeks later. The mental part took a solid six months to overcome. I lost confidence in my ability. The only way for me to get it back was to slowly start adding back in rock features and jumps that were easy. Once I was confident on those, I moved onto more challenging stuff. As my confidence came back the memory of the pain I felt that days also faded. It took me a few years to ride that rock again. To be transparent here, it was the third time I had seen it after the wreck since it was a place I didn’t ride that often. I was on my hardtail the day I rode it which made it that much better for me.

Don’t let fear of injury hold you back. If it happens, take the time you need to come back. Knowing your limits will go a long way. Keep the rubber side down!

Bike I’m Eyeing: Surly Moonlander V2

Maintenance files: how to do a gravity bleed on a Shimano brake.

I would only do a gravity bleed on a mineral oil brake. DOT fluid is nasty stuff, and I wouldn’t want to risk spilling it on me or my workspace.

Tools needed: bleed kit, brake fluid, 2.5mm hex, 4mm hex, 5mm hex, and shop towels.

To perform a gravity bleed on a Shimano brake, you need to position the bike so the brake line slopes downwards from the lever to the caliper, then attach a funnel filled with brake fluid to the bleed port on the caliper, open the bleed valve slightly, and allow the fluid to flow down by gravity, essentially letting the air bubbles rise to the top and out of the system; ensure the fluid level in the funnel remains topped up throughout the process.

Key steps:

• Prepare the bike:

  • Remove the wheel to access the caliper.

  • Remove the brake pads, and install a bleed block.

  • Push the pistons flush with the caliper with a soft tool like a tire lever.

  • Position the bike so the brake line slopes downwards from the lever to the caliper.

  • Position the lever level to the floor.

  • Remove the caliper mounting bolts, so it can hang straight down.

  • Remove the bleed port screw.

• Set up the bleed funnel:

  • Attach a bleed funnel to the bleed port on the lever.

  • Fill the funnel completely with fresh brake fluid.

  • Place a container under the caliper to collect the brake fluid.

• Initiate the bleed:

  • Slightly open the bleed valve on the caliper.

  • Observe the fluid flow from the bleed port funnel though the caliper into the container.

• Monitor and replenish fluid:

  • Keep an eye on the fluid level in the funnel and top it up as needed.

  • Continue the process until only clean fluid is exiting the bleed port on the caliper, indicating that air bubbles and contaminates have been removed.

• Finish up:

  • Close the bleed valve on the caliper.

  • Remove the bleed funnel, and put the bleed port screw back in place.

  • Clean the caliper and lever thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol. 

  • Reattach the caliper.

  • Reinstall the brake pads(using new ones isn’t a bad idea)

  • Reattach the wheel and check brake function. 

  • Repeat if needed.

The most important part here is to be sure the bleed funnel never runs out of fluid allowing air into the system.

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My favorite stuff: Holiday Gift Guide Editon

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Trading Backyards withHannah Bergemann and Matt Bolton