DNF Not the way I would have liked to finshed the season.

" A $2 part can end your race." Derek Bell on mechanical failure in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Auto race

Well Today was Nutmegman my last tri for the 2008 season sadly it seems all the negative energy from the economy, my grandmother's passing, family and fiscal situation all decided to clog themselevs in my front deraileur. But before I get to that, there was a high note on the day I was second out of the water, and the volunteers were excellent but it seems from the second I hit T-1 things weren't going right. First I had a problem un zipping my wetsuit and getting out on to the bike. I was in second then dropped to third about 3 miles into the ride. then as we hit one steep little burner, my front derailleur just wouldn't kick from the big ring to the small ring, when I finally summited the thing the gear finally shifted over. Maybe I overloaded so I decided I would short shift, just to make sure I had enough time to kick it over. ( also I haven't really ridden in 2 weeks so I had no idea what was going on with the blasted thing.) I ended up stopping after pedaling but experiencing more than normal resistance on a flat section, there was no frame rub, the brakes weren't locked so maybe it was my head playing tricks on me. I was in 5th at this point. We hit the turn around and after losing some spots on the descent I short shifted only to hear the sound on my chain hitting the frame as I was beginning to climb. I stopped muttered a few explatives,almost thought of tossing the bike over the guardrail Normann Stadler style. Then walked the bike to a flat area, fixed the chain and started again, by this time I was in god knows where place. I figure that my problems were over, tried to calm myself, saying "Bobby Cowboy the Fuck up and finish this thing!" I caught back up to one of my team mates from HEAT Gary G. but he soon ditched me on the crazy fast part of the course. I managed to retake some of the spots I lost but as I started up another climb, I tried to short shift, the chain didn't kick, I unclipped because other wise I would have face planted, I walked the bike up the hill to the aid station and politely asked where the mechnaic was, the voulunteers told me my safest bet was to ride to transition as the SAG car was still a long way back. I rode to the start point of the second loop, my bike now finally in the small ring, I informed the State Trooper that I was heading back to transition and I rode the way back. I got there and found out the mechanic was gone I thought about just ponying up in the small ring but took off my timing chip and dropped out, instead, I needed all my gears on this course and also maybe dropping out from a $20 mechanical problem was saving me from a 40+mph bike wreck and time in the ICU. It just sucks that my season had to end on such a low note. On a high note Gary and at least 3 of my fellow HEATsters topped 10ed.

As for now I don't know what awaits me other than school and work, maybe I'll just take a few months off and focus on those aspects of my life for a while, maybe I'll enter the Hartford Marathon, or re-sign up for Masters, all I know for certain is the stomper has a date with Al later this week.

Bumed out big time
R.D.

I now have a reason to put this race on the schedule next year...it owes me a big one.

Saturday's ride and Go Bree Go!

Well Yesterday ride was supposed to be 100 miles instead it cost me $100. The first 34 miles were uneventful. I got up to the lake and around with no problem, but as I began on my way out of Washington, I heard a swift whistling sound as if somebody launched a roman candle, followed by the tell-tale thump. A Flat Shit! I know what everyone is thing Bobby had a Normann Stadler moment complete with bike tossing, explatives, crying, and vowing to give up cycling for life....sorry guys I guess Normann and I will have to save that bike tossing contest for another day. I calmly descended upon my bike bag removing my spare tube, handy tire level, CO2 , and worked on removing the wheel. One cyclist rode past and offered help, I politely declined as I inspected my tire, shit I had blistered a hole the size of the dime into in through the chords and all. I wasn't sure if I put a new tube in if it would hold up but I was out in East Bum Kill and had no cell reception for a ride. I managed to get the tire remounted I had pinched the tube a tiny bit but I only needed it to survive 7-10 miles, so I could get back to my car and to the bike shop. Well it lasted about a mile....does that count for anything. As I approached a stop sign the familar whistle of the rear tube exploding rung out again. A woman in a Subaru had stopped next to me..." What was that?" She asked..."My rear tire going flat." I replied sort of laughing sort of stunned that this had happended twice yet I don't think a pinched tube or a gash in the tire would have anything to do with it. Long story short she gave me a ride back to my car..which was cool because otherwise it would have meant more than an hour walk in bike shoes. I decided in my Brilliance to take the bike out to Newington..figuring I could pay for it on my Trek card which I forgot is on credits only....d'oh. Well while I was there I had my persky deraileur problem looked at again, but when I found out the situation on my trek card they had already found the problem and were in the middle of fixing it ( worn out chain, so they had just cracked the old one , also got a good chastising for not cleaning the bike religiously.) So what was supposed to be a $70 for new tires ( Continetial GP Triathlons...Bjoern they are handmade in Germany, so you know that they've got to be fast....Angry to still want to get rid of that other set of Conti's I 'll take them off you.) was well above $100 over that due to labor, and new parts, ie a SRAM force chain, so since my Trek Card was useless, my book fund took a hit....no offense to the good guys at Newington Bike, they do an awesome job...but I think I'm going to domy future service with my Homies Dave and Al at the Bike Rack in Waterbury, it's not the quality of service is just I'm on a college kid budget, I'll still show up for spinining this winter and who knows maybe I'll buy that aero helmet from you...also if I like the Conti's I'll probably be back for another set...but Al dosen't charge as much for labor, mainly because he showing me how to do it myself....but thank you for getting the Stomper back in ass kicking shape.

Off my bike expediture news...man I'm still hurting after that...if you follow the adventures of First Year Pro, 2007 Kona Female overall age group winner and 2008 women's runner up at Ironman Japan, Bree Wee, is racing in Canada this weekend. At last check she was in 5th on the bike, more updates as the day goes on. Or you can just follow the race at Ironman live. And yes the burning question for all Canadian tri fans she was beating the Great Lisa Bentley.

Also head on over to Sir Angry's on updates on Runner Girl Leeana's Marathon in Quebec City. With all this racing I might be motivated to leave my computer for a ride or run of my own.

The diligent tracker
R.D.

Edit #1 6:30 PM ( 3:30PM IM CDN time) Upon checking the athlete tracker after my 12 mile run Bree Wee was 6th off the bike but as of yet hasn't crossed the half marathon point, I hoping it's just Ironman live being slow with the splits, but according to them she has dropped from the top 10 hopefully it's not a DFN and if it was I hope it wasn't a major injury. Also for any Kiwis reading this, Taupo's Bryan Rhodes won for the men, Cameron Brown's winning streak might be in jepoardy next March.