Talk about some bad luck...I think it was just an all-around weekend from hell. I certainly can't top your and Beta's stories, but I did manage to get 40 miles off course on a Century today that I was in the process of bailing out on, trying to pick up the 61 mile route (+ 5 bonus miles thanks to the escort at the start)...That'll teach me! At the first rest stop, 20 miles, some guy was ranting about how they should re-name it The Endless Winter With Gale Force Winds Century. Yeah. At least there weren't any mountains...You guys out there- I don't know how you do a single Century, much less a double. There's this rule in diving, if three things go wrong, quit the dive. Let's see, misplaced cat, forgotten water bottles, and rear wheel falling off. Looks like you did the right thing :-) When I look back at the two rides I've DNF'd, one due to freezing rainy weather, one due to SAGs running out of water in 90F heat, (both off-road) and I don't feel even a little bad- I know I made the right decision. There's no point in torturing yourself if you aren't enjoying any aspect of the event.

Nanci