Knock on Wood

I had just gone by Graham (who was stinking up the Cat 3s), had just passed 2nd place, and was catching first.  It was the second day of the Swampcross in Gainesville Fl., and the 4th out of what would be 7 laps.  The approach to the barriers had a tricky chicane.  The barriers were 2 2X12s stacked on top of each other and held up with re bar, and there were two of them in a row. 

Not me

Needless to say they were more substantial than the PVC barriers we used at the Gators practice facility.  I had had issues with these evil obstacles the day before so I should have been more aware.  But I had trophy lust, I was passing people, I was feeling "it".  I felt so awesome, until my foot clipped the first barrier.  I stumbled, in slow motion I saw the second barrier approaching.  I could not get my feet under me.  I landed on the second barrier on my knees.  This had the effect of increasing the speed of my upper body, which was still holding the bike.  My right arm and then my nose contacted the well compacted Florida soil.

I can remember the thudding sound my mouth made when it hit.  My first thought was my teeth, did I still have all of them?  From years of crashing in moto I jumped right up, you always did that so you didn't get landed on, not really a problem in a bike race though.  I ran my tongue around the inside of my mouth, everything was still where it should be.  Then I felt the dribble of liquid running down my lip, I looked down to see little red drops hitting my top tube.  A 352 rider who was practicing the course asked me if I was ok, then asked me if I had all my teeth.  I nodded and tried to get back on my bike only to find the chain had come off.  I was a little befuddled so he helped me get it back on and sent me on my way.

I had lost 2 positions, my knees hurt, my lip was bleeding, but I could see 3rd place not far ahead.  When I went by Ric he said "go! ohhhh" so I knew it must look bad.  I managed to finish 3rd in my class.  Won a great pair of socks. 

As I lounged on the grass after the race, holding an ice pack to my ever growing lip, and munched on a cheese quesadilla, my good friend BJS brought me a beer.  He was smiling as he leaned over to give me the solo cup filled with ice cold IPA.  He started to giggle when the cup slipped from his grasp.  Only a small amount of liquid fell on me, until he grabbed it again, squeezing it, and dumping the remaining beer all over me.  He claims it was an accident but I'm not so sure.  I swear he was laughing before the first spill.

Some would say I was lucky not to get hurt worse, of course if I was really lucky I would'nt have fallen in the first place.  Anyhoo, it was still a great weekend.  Tim won on Saturday, Ric won on Sunday, BJS went 4-2 on the weekend, and I can still eat an apple.