UNBELIEVABLE !!!! Part 2

Well I have been back on the bike, visiting the gym and trying to keep a positive attitude. I am also getting some extra family time. I usually do not go to the flea market on the weekends but given the current status of my body I went this weekend. Sat. while looking at all of the stuff Dave calls me. He ask "what color is your sling"? Then he tells me that his is blue as well. What in the hell is going on? He was on his way to work (on the bike) when he clipped the handle of a paint bucket which hooked a spoke on the front wheel, got stuck in the fork and sent him flying over the handle bars. He now has a separated shoulder and torn ligament that connects the collar bone. WTF !!! He was already kicking butt and I was getting ready to start flying. Now we wait. Hopefully we will recover quick and then release our bottled up anger on the southeast. Till then we get to enjoy rehab. Whoopee!

UNBELIEVABLE !!!!

The strongest I have been this early in the season at River Falls and then the next week a @#$%%$# crash. I don't get it. I went to the Tuesday night ride in Etowah and was going to sit in since it was a recovery week. There was about 25 or so going into the first sprint and I was 12-15th cruising them some jack@#$$ crashed I had nowhere to go and tried to jump over a wheel and the next thing I know is Thad is holding my head telling me not to move. The results are my left collarbone is broken in 3 places, 2 broken ribs and a punctured lung. Oh yeah my new bike is destroyed. I spent 5 days in the hospital. I got on the trainer Tuesday and Wednesday and went to the gym yesterday. I should have enough time to get ready for nationals. I could not have gotten thru this without Kellie and Shawn that's for sure. Well back to recovering for now and hopefully a speedy recovery at best.

River Falls

What a beautiful day to race. It was sunny and warm and a huge crowd. We had 70 plus in the 35+ feild and it was fast. On lap 3 I made the biggest attack and had 5 guys from all the teams come up and we started getting away at 35 mph plus when one of the guys blew up and stalled us out which let the feild catching us. I only got into trouble on lap 5 coming up the hil lbut worked with some guys and got back in the group. Coming into the finish the moto came up to the front and started talking and the feild jammed up them all out war insued. The guy in front of me blew I could not go right and to keep from hitting him had to go across the center line with the mote right behind me. I hit the brakes got back around the guy and finished 25th. Not the best way to finish but I found out how strong I am and how fast the Madone is. Yesterday took Nathan and Alan on a 4 hour ride while being on day three of being sick. Not fun. Today I am about to die. Time to rest and shake the cold and get ready for April.
Shawn had a good weekend as well with a movie at school Friday night, birthday party Saturday and 75 degrees and sun on Sunday.

Offical start to the season

I decided to test my luck and do the road race at fork shoals Sat. in the rain. We had 40 or more and 2 guys went away from the gun. I wanted to follow but did not know what my performance was. Lap two there where several attacks and I was able to respond and do some work to pull them back. Lap three same thing and I made some attacks. The finish was a group sprint which I was boxed in and finished in the small chainring. I was happy with my fitness and think I am on track for a good year. Sun. we had a winter storm blow in so I had to put in 3 hours on the trainer. Monday we woke up to 6 plus inches of snow and 30 plus winds, BUT this coming Sat. will be in the 60's so River falls is a possibility.

What to do ?

The last couple of weeks have been hard training as usual and mentally preparing for the season. The body is adapting well and I am starting to see some power. I went to Greenville last Sun. to train on the course and spectate. It sounds like Sat. was a mess with everybody coming home with bodies and bikes in tact except Thad getting some stitches from a chainring.
My big dilemma is this weekend. I had planned on racing the road race Sat. but they are calling for rain. Trainer--Road race in the rain??? Safety---possible medical insurance deductable being met??? What to do. I guess I will decide tonight and in the morning.
On a high note Dave won the single speed 12hr MTB race in FLA last week. We also had confirmed that Low Country will come thru.
The family is well and the cat is still sleeping 22 hours a day, so all is good.

Warmer temps

Finally a weekend with warmer temps. I got 5 hrs in on Sat with 4400 ft of climbing and 4 hrs in on Sunday with a 40 min. tempo. I am glad today is a rest day. Sat. I was able to do a high speed sprint on the new bike with the longer stem and it felt good. Kellie did a great job washing and waxing the trucks and I was able to get them both serviced. We where able to get a lot done and Shawn spent the weekend outside. This week will be a rest week with nothing major happening other than the team meeting tonight which will determine who I ride for. It is always nice to have your chain yanked especially when the season starts in 12 days. I hope for their sake Dave goes easy on the caffeine before the meeting or there could be a mess. Will see?!

A/B Honor roll - YES !!!

Friday Shawn got his report card and a ribbon for making the A/B honor roll. Needless to say momma and I are very proud and guess we will let him live another day. To be such a hand full he still continues to make us proud on a regular basis.
We enjoyed the weekend in Charleston. Kellie and Liza spent Saturday enjoying girl time and Dave and I had a very productive ride. Later that day he gave me a bike fit at the Trek store which brought to light a lot of suspicion I had about my set up and reveled the need for a longer stem. Sundays ride was a large group which included David Lee.....need I say more? It was not a constructive ride seeing as how I was third wheel behind DL in the pace line at 384 watts at one point. I was still able to get in a 30 min. tempo and ride sensibly. D Hall got to practice his tube changing technique this weekend as well , which resulted in the sacrifice of one Continental tire Sunday afternoon and the purchase of several tubes, levers and a tire. He should be set for the rest of the year now. In all we had a great time, got to put the smack down on some chunky monkeys, made it home safe and in time to see the Super Bowl.