car 1, B 0

Last Wednesday I embarked on a training ride with a couple of teammates.  These guys are pure motors and know every gravel road in a 200 mile radius of Salem, so usually I hang on for dear life.  We rolled out of town around 9:30, and about 20 mins into the ride, while passing an intersection to a park, a lady decides to gas it through the intersection we've just entered into, making a left hand turn from oncoming traffic.  She clips the rear wheel in front of me, and the Scion Xa and I become fast friends as I slam into the side of it.  After careening off the car I land in the road clutching my shoulder.  There were a few other cars that got a front row seat to the action as they were stopped at a red light. 

After a short ambulance ride, xrays show a stage 3 spearated clavicle, and a compressed rib cage. 

A visit to an orthopedist results in a sling for 4 weeks, no surgery, and lots of pain during sneezing, coughing, and laughing.

It's now the end of October, been off the bike for over 2 weeks, slowly losing my sanity.  Though I've been racing since Febuary, I felt itchy to get back on the bike after only a few days, 4 weeks is torture.  Coach says to use the time to get a nice mental break, then back at the base miles...he's always right.

Since I was on my cross bike, my only geared bike, during the crash, it's toast, and now I'm waiting on a 2011 Specialized

shoulda, woulda, coulda

I have learned many things from my dad over the years, but there are a few gems that stick out.

In my life, I have participated in two motocross races, both times finishing mediocre in the novice category.  After the last of the two, I was recounting the race for my dad, when I remarked that there seemed to be many people afterwards who kept playing out hypothetical race situations based on assumptions.  For instance "if only he hadn't cut me off in that turn, man, I shoulda just taken the inside line, I woulda passed him, and I coulda gotten on the podium."  The response from my dad was simple, "Ah, I see you've found the 'shoulda, woulda, coulda' racing team, there's a few members at every event."

 That was in 2008, and I have not been on my dirt bike since.  I took up cycling that summer, and have just completed my first season road racing.  I'm not quite sure why that thought stayed with me for so long, perhaps it's because most people have a tendency to use the 'SWC' in times of race reccolection, no matter what the dicipline. 

At any rate, I obviously intend this blog to cover my coming 2010 cyclocross season, as well as any racing from here on out.  Hopefully I won't 'SWC' much and rather say 'thank got he didn't do that, and I get to keep my top spot on the podium.'

Thanks for your time.