First Cat 4 race and first big Crash
 

Wood Dale: I upgraded to Cat 4 and had my first cat 4 race and big crash. I was feeling great during the race and was in the last lap. I started moving up on the outside as the group surged. I was going over 30mph and within the front 10 when someone on the inside of turn 2 lost it. Not sure what started it but the chain reaction caused 8 riders to go down. I was on the outside and thought I had made it past when one last rider clipped my back wheel knocking the tire off the rim. It also sent the back end of my bike sideways. I tried to correct and, not sure how it happened, but the front tire rolled off the rim and lodged in my brakes (that's they way I found the bike). I went over the handle bars and landed on my head and then onto my back. I remember someone asking me if I was ok and if they should call an ambulance. I said I did not need an ambulance. What I did not know was that I was out for about a minute. Later the person that helped me told me so and suggested I get checked out.

I just got back from the hospital.....nothing broke and CAT scan negative. I have abrasions from my upper-back down to the middle of my ass, left arm, leg and hip. My lower back is all brusied BUT, no broken bones. My helmet is cracked down the middle and I'll need a new kit. My bike...I was told...flew about 15 feet and landed in the grass taking a soft landing. It looks good and was given a preliminary check for damage. I need to get a carbon frame check to be sure.

THANK GOODNESS I'M FINALLY GOT OUT OF THE DANGEROUS CAT 5s!!!!

PSI...Sorry I did stop and talk, my Dad (85) was there and was a bit shook-up. I was letting him know I was ok and answering all his questions.

Dude ... you gotta move up to the 3's where it's safe. :D

Glad you survived.

(don't worry, I'm keeping a list of folks who need to carry my bike-cam)

No problem man. That wreck took out EVERYONE! Yourself, our man Scott, Lenski (Spin Docs), Sean P (Verdigris), etc. All guys with good shots at the win (Scottwon the 5's that morning and upgraded - gotta love ABR, and Sean P won the 5's at Monsters outsprinting Joel - and took 2nd at Wheels On Willy the next day - J-dub has a pic of us 'eating' at the restrauant later that day).

I had a feeling you were in bad shape.

J-Dub is keeping a list for his camera - I am keeping a list of whose wheel to no longer follow.... ;)

FWIW - Scott shredded his shorts, torqued up his bike pretty bad. It's in my shop right now for me to fix it and his wheel.

I think the guy asking if you were ok was Cory from our team.

That wreck happened right behind me and sounded absolutely horrid. And it just kept going and going and going. I could hear bikes hitting stuff off to the left in spots where there was no reason for bikes to be. I know that one of the other riders hit his head on one of the gigantic decorative rocks.

Too bad you didn't make it through. Only about 13 of us missed it or didn't get caught behind it. Taking out 15 percent of the field creates quite a gap.

Glad to hear your ok. Not all Cat 4 races are like that!

Oh...and Lenski cracked his helmet. I suggested he get checked out and relayed my story about not getting checked out and then regretting it later. He agreed so hopefully he's got a clean bill of health too.

Damn RJBTrek, in the thread about being annoyed I said I want to race, I might have to take that back now :) Glad to hear you are ok and that you don't have any more brain damage than you had previous to the race :p I was watching you in the vette, on numerous occasions I could tell you just wanted to floor it, and I saw you get on it coming out of the corner during the 50+ race :)

Scott.

You are correct! I am an idiot. Changed.

RJBTrek,sorry to hear about your crash.Glad to hear that you're ok:thumb:.On a side note my wife and I were thinking if you had a black cowboy hat on when you were driving the vette,people would think Tim Mcgraw was piloting the pace car:).

He is, of course, kidding. The crashes are just as frequent...but a lot faster.

I do have a hat and it's a big black Stettson too. I acquired it in Dallas, TX. after a bunch of beers. It seemed like a good purchase at the time.:o

It's funny, I was there and luckily...ahem...I forgot my shoes and couldn't find a pair before that race.

glad you are ok, RJBTrek. Sorry your dad had to go through all that! my teammate went down too. Someone lost it on the inside and pushed him off the course and he hit one of those rocks that were on the outside of turn 2. He was fine though and jumped in the 3s race right after just so he could finish a race that day.

PSI, I was looking but didn't see you! One of your guys (youngish, late 20s/early 30s???) was really nice and after seeing me throw stuff and go on a vocal tirade offered to help me find a pair of shoes--I stupidly never asked his name. He had a beard, was in the 4s, pass along my gratitude.

Do you wear a 10.5? That was Cory (he's 22). He was asking all over for extra shoes and what kind of cleats/pedals people had. Makes a little more sense now!

that wreck ended my season and broke my colnago

Damn!!! Sorry to hear that. Are you ok?

Whoa! Season ended because of the broken bike, or did you break some of "you" as well. Does this mean no supergirl come cross season?

I kept hearing the sound of that wreck in my sleep. I don't ever need to hear that again.

Doh...didn't know you were in it Mayo.

Hope you're ok.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help out with replacement parts and such.

broken wrist cast for 6-8 weeks. off the bike for longer. probably no supergirl.
frame is broken. don't know what to do.

heartbroken on many levels

SUCK!!!!

I predict you'll be riding again within a month.

What size frame you ride?

no way i'll be riding in a month. i hope to make some cross races but i don't know (54 cm is my size)

my best guess is something happened on the inside of the turn and spread outward. i was gunning it to get in about 5th position (my idea was the race was going to be won on turn 3 just before the hill and i wanted to be way up front)
i think it was a tall guy in orange that took me down (not his fault). i think someone hit me from behind but i don't remember. i do know i was sliding forever. I heard them call for an ambulance for someone.

hurt on many levels

:(

Sorry to hear it. Crashes suck. I broke a frame last year also. Heal up.

Broken wrist..that stinks. I was also moving up on the outside and just started to really work hard when things started to happen. I figured the same as you....the race would be won on the third turn and hill. I was feeling good and was planning a hard push down the back straight. My HR monitor showed an average of 137 up to the point of the crash. I thought I was far enough up front and outside to be past the mayhem when a rider clipped my back wheel.

Get well quick!

Heal well, man. Sorry to hear that.

There's a positive in there somewhere, you'll find it.

I broke my hand one Superweek. Couldn't ride - but couldn't work - so I hit the road with my team for the Tour of Michigan. Was their manager for a week's racing (and still collected my usual pay!) :rolleyes:

Scott was on the front when you guys came around for the last lap. I found his report on our team forum: