Hey there, fellow adventurers!
I’m writing this from somewhere near Arcata, California—where we thought we were going to hit some epic downhill mountain bike trails… but instead, we got dumped on with a good ol’ Northern California coastal rainstorm. So, while the trails are too slick to ride right now, it gave me time to reflect on a pretty wild week.
Let me tell you about an action-packed week that included one of the scariest mountain bike rides we’ve ever filmed in Italy, a major crash I experienced back in the States, and how I used my recovery and progression protocols to bounce back stronger than ever. It’s a wild ride—and a powerful reminder of why I train so hard and take recovery seriously.
????? Our Scariest Day Mountain Biking in Italy (Watch the YouTube Episode)
We just dropped Day 3 of our Molini Italy MTB Adventure on YouTube, and it might’ve been the scariest day of riding we’ve ever filmed.
I’ve NEVER had so many close calls on the bike in one day.
The trails were slick, unpredictable, and demanded 100% focus.
? Watch it here:
? This Could Be Our SCARIEST Day EVER Mountain Biking
? My Worst Crash in a Long Time (And Why I Was OK)
This crash didn’t happen in Italy—but it did happen after a day of sessioning some massive gap jumps (we’re talking 20–30 feet).
We had a solid session. I pushed myself (safely), saw real progress, and knew it was time to wrap it up. But on the way out, I hit one last small gap jump—just messing around—and came in too hot.
I overshot the berm and launched my bike into a full-sized tree.
My body got thrown sideways and slammed into a basketball-sized rock—right on my hip and oblique.
I was geared up for the big jumps, so I had full armor on, including a protector backpack. Still, the impact was so gnarly that my body armor cut through my skin. I could hardly move the rest of the day and seriously considered going to urgent care—something I haven’t done in years.
? Why I Train So Hard (And You Should Too)
The crazy part?
If I hadn’t spent years building strength, muscle, and connective tissue—and if I hadn’t been wearing my gear—I probably would’ve broken ribs or my hip. No joke.
This is exactly why I train so hard. Not just for performance.
I train to be resilient.
I train to be harder to kill.
I train for LIFE.
And if there’s one thing I want you to take away from this—it’s that you can do this too.
You don’t have to be a pro athlete.
You just have to give a CRA*! and show up consistently.
? My Recovery Protocol (And Why It Works)
Here’s what I did immediately after the crash:
- Doubled my Perfect Aminos
- Took arnica for inflammation
- Used Kineon (Amazon) red light therapy (3x a day)
- Stayed hydrated and ate nutrient-dense foods
- Took Beam Dream (Amazon) to help with recovery sleep
The next day? I was sore but moving well enough to hit a workout and do my daily MTB skills practice.
There’s still some pain, but nothing broken. Nothing limiting me.
This stuff works.
This is #WorkoutInsurance!!!
? Progression Comes From Practice, Fun & Feedback
This week I also hit the biggest gap jump I’ve ever done—maybe 30 feet. It scared the crap out of me, but I felt ready.
Here’s something I’ve realized:
If you want to get better at something (whether it’s mountain biking, training, your career, or even knitting), do this:
- Practice it often. Daily if you can.
- Have fun doing it. Don’t just chase a goal—enjoy the journey.
- Get feedback from a coach or community. You’ll progress faster and have more fun.
For me, that “thing” is mountain biking, strength training, making videos, and writing. Yours might be totally different. But the formula still works.
? Final Thoughts: Why You Should Train For Life
Crashes happen. Setbacks are part of life.
But if you build your body to be strong, mobile, and resilient—you’ll recover faster, avoid serious injury, and keep doing what you love longer.
And if you know a mountain biker who isn’t strength training yet—please send them this post. It might change their life.
? Want More Stories Like This?
If you dig these kinds of real-life stories—plus actionable fitness tips, motivation, and adventure recaps—sign up for my Feel Good Friday email.
It’s the best of what I’ve learned each week in training, nutrition, and mountain biking. No spam. Just value. ?
? Subscribe here ? allaroundjoe SUBSCRIBE
