Very cool, @IBOHUNT

I'm with @Racer Ex. The only time it was worth running is if there were lights and sirens in the distance. Course, now I don't even hardly flinch when I see or hear them.

@chasm54 How are things over there? Will be in London town in few weeks....

Would you actually be charged full price twice to have the same fit revisited after a few months? That's not how it would work with my fitter, although I think mine is a bit of an aberration. Our official gig is $350 I think for the initial fit (in my case this was road-bike, prepurchase), which include 2 gratis follow-up sessions within 45 days. Second fit for a different bike type (like a TT bike) is $100, with 2 gratis follow-up sessions within 45 days.

In reality, he lets me come back as much as I want & never charges me for any follow ups (even though I try to pay). He also didnt charge anything to set up my second road bike. The threat of charging you beyond the first two follow ups is just to keep they type A people in line, I think, or to discourage people from coming back who he really doesnt like too much.

Hey All

Congrats ibhunt and sarals! Awesome performances and way to keep up the motivation.

racerex: (from the other forum?) curious to me how flattery in the form of "wow, you're fast" can still make a national champ smile... :)


My crash update:

Thanks for the well wishes from a few days ago, y'all.

Dr. says I am healing amazingly fast. I've been off pain killers for a week...I can walk around and similar just fine, but the ribs still hurt when laying flat, so I still have to sleep in the lazy boy. I came close to sneezing today and did everything a child would do to prevent it, including pinching my nose...something worked, as I'm still here...

Generally, I suppose I'm past the worst of the pain phrase, and I'm probably starting to enter the frustration phrase...

I haven't gotten my track bike back yet, but apparently it's fine. Which means there could have been no cause for the crash except driver error. Sure, that's a bit embarrassing that I just wiped myself out (and I'm happy that I didn't take anyone else with me), but much more importantly, it's also scary and completely confidence-eliminating. I suppose it will take a lot of hours to get the confidence back.

On an interesting note, in response to my stating that I have no interest right now in returning to the velodrome, my ER trauma doc told me today that he can divide his trauma patients into two distinct groups: those that got the **** scared out of them, and dramatically change their behavior so as not to be exposed to that particular risk any more; and those that pretend that nothing ever happened, and continue on as they were before. His advice to me: be in the latter camp, and don't change a thing; it was likely a fluke, **** happens, he's of the opinion that cycling is a net positive to most everybody, and he hopes that I'm back on the track in the spring.

Tom - Good to hear! I like your doc's attitude, too. :) Your confidence will come back, just take it gradually.

Tom - Good to hear you're healing fast. I'll agree; be in the latter camp.

@IBOHUNT Stealing the kids candy. The mothers are not going to let their little Johnnies play with you anymore.:D Congrats on some great racing.

@rapwithtom Glad you are feeling better and you will get over the post crash syndrome.

I want to give the bike being okay a do not like. Generally, racers do not just crash for no reason on the track by themselves. I watched a new track racer at Carson crash all by himself when he lost control of the bike when he hit the transition from the blue band to the 45 degree banking at a bad angle. He was too rigid and he lost the front end. This is rare and experienced trackies hit that same area all the time and do not crash. The other reason for crashing for no reason at the track is to stop pedaling. If one stops pedaling the fixed gear bike, it will throw the cyclist into the track. But once again, many racers stop pedaling, get a kick in the ass and start pedaling again without crashing.

I have a not so good story about a racer who crashed on the road without any apparent reason. He broke ribs and etc and ended up in the hospital. They ran tests and etc. I was with him over Christmas last year post crash and he was okay and back riding. He is a 50+ guy.

Guess what? Later he was in for quadruple bypass heart surgery. His earlier crash was caused by heart fibrillation and he passed out on the bike and the impact of the crash de-fribilated him. He is okay now and back riding.

My point is be aware of ones total health and do not assume because one is an endurance athlete that one is immune to heart and other conditions.

Things are great over here, except that I am FAT.

PM me about your London dates. Always possible for me to spend an evening in the smoke if a few beers are in the offing.

Tom, good to hear you're coming back quickly! It doesn't hurt a bit that you're in terrific shape. And, the doc is dead on right. You'll be back on that track bike!

@Hermes

Thank you for that important post.

I had a sort of random, inexplicable crash in May, and now this also inexplicable one at the Velodrome in August, so your post suggesting something beyond random coincidence has certainly gotten my attention.

I've never experienced any of the common symptoms of fibrillation, but I'll talk with some folks and explore this and other possibilities.

Again, thanks.

Welcome back Tom, glad to hear you are healing up. And yes, comments like that never get old. Especially as I do.

Echoing Hermes comments, mystery crashes aren't normal. Stuff can happen in a pack that we may not be aware of (getting a wheel clipped, Etc) but if you're out there on your own unless you get the TKO effect you should be able to figure out why you hit the deck.

-----

Did the local TNW race last night against the 1/2 yutes and the multi time Nats crit champ who I am trying to outlive as he's my racing age till one of us goes. Racing him and another legend in the State Crit Sunday. Had a good night. Rode smart, got into a couple of failed breaks and took a $25 prime by a whole bunch of room. Called it a night when it got dark enough that I was having trouble seeing.

Some of the depth is returning despite my program being "fart around". So made myself a deal: if I podium Sunday I'll drive over to Utah for the Nats crit. If not itssssssssssssss cross time!

Good deals are good, and that sounds like a good deal.

See you in Utah, RacerEx. :D

http://d2ws0xxnnorfdo.cloudfront.net/meme/397644

Been that kind of year.

:)

Ummm, no - Hunting season
I'm not that far from Richmond and will not be attending any of that stuff this fall. Why in the world would anybody schedule bike race stuff during hunting season? I just don't get where they think priorities land. A mans gotta eat ya know. Sheeesh!

Cross has a lot of vegan types.

Ohhh, I thought 'cross' referred to crossbow. I thought Ex was gonna shoot me a boar. Cause he knows I like wild boar sausage.

;)

I'm doing all I can to save their food from the masses.

:thumb:

Rode well this weekend, tactics didn't work out but figured I'd hit Nats. Reg is closed and no day of. Oh well.

Boo. Was hoping to meet you. There is onsite reg for rr and crit.

Really? According to the website there's not...hmmm....