On the Deck

It was bound to happen, and this morning, after 1 year and 7 months back on the bike, I fell on my arse (well my head actually). I know I was laying on the bitumen at the Hell of the West Triathlon in Gundy earlier this year, but that was a 'tipover', this one was 'real'. 

Sauntering along, about an hour from the bottom of my beloved Bunyas, in a group of six, when a rider in the group lost control in front of me and layed down. I had nowhere to go and hit and rolled pretty hard. A little bit of bark off on the left but I smacked my head quite hard. I ended up at hospital and have a mild concussion (and a hell of a headache).

What about the bike you ask? It was almost perfect, but I did write off a helmet and the lenses in my Oakley Sunglasses.

The good news is, I don't think I will lose more than a day of training. 

Race Report: Club Criterium (Chasing Jared Graves)

A very small field of seven lined up today for an A and B grade combined, 40 minutes + 2 laps criterium. It was set up as a handicap with four A graders chasing a two minute gap on three B graders. 

Jared Graves (yes world champion mountain biker Jared Graves) was in my group of four, and he absolutely destroyed us to get across the two minute gap. We got there in 28 minutes and then he started attacking again, again and again. I lost contact with him and Trent West (from Team TLD) at about 35 minutes. Jared dumped Trent shortly after and he went on for a comfortable win. Trent came second and I managed to out sprint one of the B grade guys who stayed with me for third (see picture):

This was my first race since November and in many ways it was a great way to 'blow some cobwebs out' because it was so bloody hard. I'm looking forward to the season ahead and to be honest, I hope Jared keeps racing locally, because you can't pay enough for a flogfest like that!