Owww - first crit training race of the season and I get taken out!!!! I was in an open field of cats 1-4, so I stayed in the top 10 the entire 45 min race - over 40 women present. Was feeling great - rounded last corner into sprint finish - and next thing I know I am on the ground travelling at a high rate of speed listening to the sound of my helmet and my bike (no longer attached to me) scraping the pavement.

Apparently I picked up something in my rear derailleur or got accidentally clipped from behind (like anyone will admit to that..hee hee) and had the rear tire go out from under me with an explosive blow out and me riding the bike down to the asphault - I don't remember anything.

My beautiful orbea was trash - frame fractured in 3 places - I saved the cassettes, cranks, stem and brakes - that is all. Sob......

I did a number on the seventh cervical vertebra, lost a lot of skin and jammed up my left thumb - worst injury was the bad concussion I got from knocking my head so hard. I am lucky to have not broken any bones...

I just took two weeks off the bike and rode today - went climbing slowly - it is hard to feel good on the new bike - even though it is the same orca - it doesn't feel the same. I also don't feel like the same debi. It is amazing how fast we loose our fitness.

Well, sorry to have to start the race season off with such a crappy update - but as they say $hit happens.

Debi