I wish I had more to say . . . .

I wish I had something exciting to say about the Black Fly this year.  It was a great race, but the course was dry and fast and my race was lackluster as best.  I wish I could say that it was a great effort.  Heck I wish I could say something bad even happened to me during the race, but all I can say was that I had a mediocre race.

I wish I could say something exciting about the Wilmington Whiteface 100.  I could say that it was actually 69 miles instead of 62, but that really had no impact on my results. I wish I could say that some dude didn't blow past me and crash on the only sketchy section of the course.  I wish I could say that I didn't flip over my bars and do two somersaults.  I wish I could say that I was smart enough to take a look at my bike after the crash.  I wish I could say that I didn't ride uphill for 4 miles listening to my rear rotor rub.  I wish I could say that when I finally pulled over to fix it that I didn't pick up a few miles per hour instantly.  I wish I could say that when I stopped at the second water stop that I didn't dump a cup of water into a mostly full bottle instead of the empty one.  I wish I could say that after that I didn't panic and ride off without refilling my bottles.  I wish I could say that after thinking about it for the next two miles that I decided to turn around and get more water.  I really wish I had turned around . . .

I wish I could say that after I was completely out of water that I didn't seriously lose my mind and very seriously consider peeing into one of my empty water bottles for fluid.  I wish I could say that I hadn't seen Bear Grylls kill and skin a snake and then pee in the skin to store his own urine for a drink later.  A poor mans Camelback I guess.  I'm thankful I didn't have a snake full of urine . . . I might have put it to use. I was really glad to see the volunteers at the third water stop.  Really glad.  Water, Gatorade, banana, and fig newtons.  I almost got off the bike to hug the volunteers.  Almost.  Not having to further contemplate drinking your own urine can turn one into a dirty, hug giving hippy.

I really wish I hadn't tried to convert to tubeless before the Wilmington 100.  I really really wish I hadn't watched Stanley Kowalski use a 3/8" drill bit to "easily" open up the inner valve hole of a rim.  I wish when I tried to mimic Stanley's move that I hadn't ripped through my entire rim in less than a second.  That's once second of my life that I wish I had back.  I'm certain I've done worse in a second, and I'm really certain I've said worse in a second, but there's definitely a certain queasiness one experiences when they destroy an expensive piece of equipment they'll need in two days for a big race.  I'm really glad that Brian K. from Syracuse Bicycle sold me some sweet replacement wheels.

I was super glad to see my wife before the hike-a-bike up Whiteface since she had two bottle of Secret Drink Mix.  I was also glad that I didn't have my homemade drink mix . . . you know the one that induces vomiting.

I was really glad to get to the Lake Placid Brewery for a few pints and my annual dose of chicken tenders with a side of hot sauce and blue cheese.

Meh, as I read this, maybe things were more exciting than I thought.  Not "hey I drank my own pee exciting, but almost."

Black Fly 2012: Brief Recap

So for the diligent readers of this blog that may recall the "A-cup irritation problem" I experienced as part of the 2011 Blk Fly race, I am happy to report that I am home, showered, and there is no apparent missing or irritated skin on the nippleage front after completing the 2012 Blk Fly.  This is a good thing.