So we're always a bunch of roadie friends hitting MTB races for a bit of fun. There was 6 of us doing the Vineyard MTB Classic at Laurensford Wine Estate, culminating the end of the ABSA Cape Epic. We're always giving each other a hard time if either of us takes a fall...usually resulting in an embarrassing picture of the 'victim' on all 4's in the mud, bushes and even rivers. During the race coming down a longish decent, I was out front and struck a tree root wrong and came down tumbling over the bars. In an attempt to avoid any further embarrassment, I jumped up as soon as I could, got on my bike and off I went before the 1st of my friends managed to see me. As I was descending, they obviously had now caught up to me because of my incident, the gradient increased quite a bit and a rocky river crossing approached us swiftly. Reaching for my brakes, I realised that my handlebar had swivelled 180 degrees and my brakes were suddenly on the inside which I had overlooked during my hasty recovery from the 1st fall...and of course I took a massive tumble hitting the boulders and losing control with all my buddies as witness. I still haven't heard the end of that 1. My pride took a hit that day and I've learnt a lesson or two in the process...rather bring up the rear
