Le amateur domestique is a married Man, and loving it! A lot has happened since the last post. I've married, had a great week down in the islands, came back, found fitness again and was all ready to lay some hurt down last weekend or at least try to finish (my first 1/2/3 race of the year would have been last weekend), this coming weekend (2/3 at Bike Jam and 3/4 at RFK, and next weekend (1/2/3 CSC).
The training coming back was good. I didn't do much to help myself over the week off, unless cases of Presidente and Rum drinks somehow are considered good cross training, but a week back and the legs were coming back into form. Maybe this thing they call "rest" really amounts to something...anyway, I had done my first A race at Greenbelt and even though I didn't make the official scorecard, I finished with the front group after helping chase down a break and even made a little move on the last lap coming up the hill to try and sneak away...so the confidence was there.
Then Thursday (5/15) happened.
I was down at Hains Point for a hard ride following Greenbelt and had a blast. The suffering was great. A couple of guys on TT bikes showed up so the pace was fast. The workout rocked. So an hour later I'm on my way back tow work down the mall, just like I've been doing for the past 6 years, look at all the flowers, the tour buses, the tourists, watch out for cars at that light ahead, etc...and then the next thing I know I'm lying flat on my back in the middle of the road and my whole body is aching.
What the F@#$ just happened?!?
Some lady (who was walking the other direction towards me while I was riding) said that a child (10 to 13 years old) ran off a parked tour bus, ran around the front of it, and sprinted across the street as I was going past. His timing was spot and he creamed into me just as I was passing. I'm no scientist, but a bike moving at 15 mph heading East colliding with a human traveling 10 mph going North without either of them realizing the other is there causes damage. I'm remembering back and there wasn't even a moment to have that, "oh, sh!t...this is going to hurt" moment. One second I'm looking up the road, the next I'm on my @ss on the street.
The kid was fine. Minor bruises to the face and more scared than anything. To be 13 again and invincible, eh? The bike, suprisingly, seems to be okay. I haven't taken it in yet, but some adjusting of the brakes is all I think it needs...impressive Specialized stuff...nice.
Myself on the other hand...not so good. Fractured left arm, radial fracture (forearm and elbow connection area). Doctor recommened 6 weeks off, minimum, before I can start putting pressure on the arm. I think two more weeks and maybe I can sit on the trainer with some tweeking of the positioning...I can't do anything worthwhile with the left hand right now....thank the lord I'm right handed. I figure the season from now on is over. Dang. I'm a little disapointed. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
Maybe this is one of those, put life into perspective moments...where you walk away with it with a greater love for all the other things in your life (the stuff you take for granted)...like putting deoderant on.
Good luck to all of you racing these next two weekends...and be safe and watch for tourists...
Cheers.
6 comments:
Dude I am going to have to hang up the bike up until august. The reason being is that by the time august rolls around there will be nobody left to compete against. I will then get enough points to upgrade to 2 and then quit on top of the game. Bummer. Hope you get better.
Jesse. I was looking forward to seeing you at Bike Jam to say congrats on getting married - so I'll say congratulations here. I'm speechless about the accident. Can't beleive it. Your attitude is great like Chuck Wagon who broke his leg at Hains point last week. I'm starting to think traning is more dangerous than racing! Hope you get better soon.
Jesse-
sorry to hear about your encounter with unbridled youth. On the upside...you now can shop around for a cyclocross bike and salvage a race season!!!
- Jeff
Sorry to hear about your run in with young touristas. You can always do cyclocross!!!
Really sorry to hear it. Get better soon.
Jesse,
Just reading your blog about the crash. Sorry to hear about this. F'in pedestrians suck. What if you were a car instead of a bike. That kid would be ...
Congrads on the marriage.
I was going to race at RideSallyRide this weekend, but on my first ride outside this past week, I found a crack in my fork. I'm pissed at myself for not checking the bike more carefully over a month ago after the Poolesville crash. The fork arrived this week, but the Bicycle Place is backed up and they won't be able to get to my bike until next week. Maybe time for me start looking for a new team to ride for if this is the kind of service you get from your team. pissed me off.
Anyway probably better I didn't race this weekend, since it'll give me some more time for my shoulder ligaments to get stronger. Still feel some pain when the shoulder is jolted.
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