Team Pedicab, Round 3!

Good day pedicabbers.

Well, it was an interesting race, I must say. Team Pedicab had one finisher out of two. It was a grinding course, but fast and furious.

Brook finished 2nd in the Beginner Women's race. I do not know what her time was, but suffice to say she finished and finished strongly. From what I understand, she was leapfrogging the entire way and happened on the backside of the last hop. She is still a strong rider, and motivated to continue the strong performances.

http://www.mavsports.com/

Yours truly, crashed. Hard. I was 3rd in the pack from the start and got ahead of that guy I have been chasing so much. I felt like I could continue the pace, and let a couple of fast rabbits go out in front. You will see me below going head to head with my archnemesis, Henry, the bloke to the left. I am directly behind bike #141. See the sweet orange bike and the red jersey?

However, this is when it gets nasty. Still see the red jersey?

Zipping through the single track and trying to make up time, I hopped a rock. Next thing I know, I am on the ground and seeing little bluebirds and stars. I had a couple of expert women come in behind me, along with a sport man. All were either nurses or chiropractors. I didn't feel too terrible, given my adrenaline induced state, but word has it that I was unconscious and unresponsive. I dug my head into the ground a-la-faceplant, then my mouth began to pick up where my helmet left off. I wasn't face down, I was face up, which means I flipped. I always am flipping over...I got off the trail so other racers could race. I guess the course was closed because of me. I wouldn't have wanted it that way, but I vividly remember my archnemesis stopping to see if I was okay. Maybe he isn't such an enemy. An ATV arrived to extract me. I made it to my house where I had a neighbor waiting with a car. I was a bloody mess, and it actually looked like I got in a fight with 13 Marines. I had a funny mix of blood and dirt taste in my tomato loving mouth.

I went to the hospital where I had to spit out the pine needles and grit I ate in going down. It was quite painful. The Oral-maxilo-facial surgeon sewed up my detached lower lip and various tears. All said and done, there were about 75+ stiches in my face (inside my mouth and outside), and a helluva headache. I opted to stay away from the Vicodin and Percocet, requesting anything else but. They just gave me antibiotics and some nice minty mouthwash. Tylenol was the prescribed pain med. Now, I have some scars for antecdotal evidence. I get to eat my food through a straw, mostly, and make valiant attempts at not spilling. Applesauce, soft pasta, soup. But I am craving a beer and a huge pizza. Beer is on hold until I finish my antibiotics. But could go for a cold one right about now. Apparently, my tolerance for pain is legendary. Docs said they saw a trooper.

I can open my mouth and the swelling has gone down significantly. I get my stiches out Wednesday. My nights of pedicabbing are about to pick up, because I have to pay off the med bills. Folks, this is what happens when you love bikes so much- you don't quit, even though it may seem ludicrous to keep going, I love bikes, and for Pete's sake, I love pedicabs.

The Valkyries of Team Pedicab shall ride again. The 4th of July Firecracker race will be on the 4th of July, and my intent is to place highly. I believe Brook is also planning on this race. This is a 50 miler. I won't crash. I promise. The Copper Mountain Melee is set for July 11, and I know I can do that one. Mr. Henry, you will eat my dust. So, this time around is a DNF for me. Chalk it up for experience, which is never a loss.

The Homegrown is fine, but I have plans for a physical for it.

So it goes. Thanks for your support pedicab-ites.

Still yours and still a bit swollen and in pain,

beefsteak