out of commission

In the event that you find yourself in an undesirable situation it is best to get out of it. I have never choosen the easy path, but the harder less traveled one. Probably because I don't learn so well from my mistakes. But, this time I do not think I will for get. I have written before on my simple little page about my previous incidents on the bike in the Southeast. Maybe I should have proof read them so I had the sense not to do a local mass start all category training crit on open streets in an industrial complex in Atlanta. Bad idea right? Well, for some reason I baited myself into thinking it wouldnt be that bad. Wrong. After about 10 minutes I gottaken to the curb and haad to bail out into some soft bluegrass. Soft landing yes, but as the hours ticked over my wrist began to swell to the size of a orange. After another trip to the ER, this time the very effecient, professional Northside Hospital in Atlanta, I learned I was the recipient of a broken wrist. Whoppie. I snapped the Scaphoid bone in half. At least this time I did it right, and if its gonna hurt it might as well be a clean break. It looks like I won't be racing until May now, and I will probably be out of work.
Can't wait to see whats next.

Fork Shoals to Donaldson Center

After tip toeing through the daiseys on the bike for a week JC and I ended up outside of Greenville for a couple circuits through the rollers of South Carolina. I still can't get out of the saddle, but......
Once again the so pro field cranked up the pace, and it never seemed to let up. But, these clowns are like a gang of shriners on minibikes, completely unable to ride in a straight line. Hack, chop, sweep, cut, hack, chop....repeat. Not sure if I have ever seen such collectively poor handling skills. It may be directly related to the inablity to handle automobiles in traffic because I have experienced the worst driving in memory here in the southeast too. Is it a complete lack of respect for the people around them, or an unawareness? No clue, but it sucks. I am glad to be done with the racing, except for a training crit tomorrow night I am ready to head for the ass crack of the US and do some races with some guys who can drive.
.......man my ribs hurt.

The first last lap of the year

People in the south are so personable. I made it down to Albany Georgia this weekend to do the first road of the Georgia Cup. WIth my stomach still not right from my bout with gut rot the drive down was less than nausiating. On to the racing. Our new teammates from Florida were up for the weekend scoring a series of podium spots. Two wins and a fourth on the first day for the women, and a second for the masters. What a way to start. For myself, the TT was a lung bleeder. I turned out a decent time, about 20 seconds off the pace, but so did everyone else. I went through the usually thought of, I suck at TTs, I could've shaved some time starting a bit slower or if I preroad the course. most probably actually properly warming up would have helped? Whatever, I am here to choke out some cobwebs, and that I did after the TT. I was actually unable to move for about 5 minutes after the 3K effort. The crit started with a bang, literally. Very eventful day With 4 to go in the crit today, I shot forward in 4 corners past about 50 riders. Not bad for a guy who was saying earlier in the day that he didn't think he had any leg speed I made it to around a lap and a half to go today. At which point the rider my travel and work associate and I began to realize there was some dangerous riding going on. He took evassive action. I did not. In front of me the worst culpret hit the deck. Sliding to a stop I made contact, possibly with the assistance from someone behind. Not wanting to hit the pavement I searched out my friend and his not so soft torso. At first all indications were of a couple broken ribs. After a 4 hour stint at the local meatball ER it looks like no broken ribs, but I am very uncomfortable. Several bruised ribs and bruised the lining in my torso beneath. No chance of racing tomorrow, but I will try a ride on monday and go from there. I am still hoping to race next weekend in Greenville, but no telling. Josh said we finished the race in 1 hour exactly. My simple math tells me thats 31mph for the avg. I knew it was fast, but with the 10-15mph wind gusts thats storming.

Cachectic

Ever notice how time slows down when your sick? I am moving at the speed of mud right now. I got the heave ho the other night, and lost my inerds. If memory serves, the chilli I had eaten and everything else came up like a trash filled tidal wave of fear. The kind of fear you get when things become uncertain. The survival kind. After a couple of hours of purging I fell asleep from exhaustion. It wasn't over though. Waking completely dehydrated, feeing like i got kidney punched, I down a glass of water. Wow, bad idea. I never knew I was allergic to water. If you have ever been caught in an undertow you know what that experience was like. After another bought with the puking, completely dehydrated at this point, all ability to move lost and quite a ways from bed, it took me 10 minutes to crawl to my covers. 12 hours later I was finally able to hold down a little Sprite.

I bet your asking yourself why am I reading this? Because you love a train wreck. Don't ya?