Reed’s Report

As I pedaled to Cat Paw before the race I knew I was ready. I had good legs and I was going to be at the front with my teammates making something of this throwaway race. I had been a bit timid in mid-pack the other races I’d done this season and wanted to be in-the-hunt beginning with this race, on this day, on these roads. Battenkill-Roubaix was on tap for next weekend and I was ready to put to good use the form I’d worked on since November, let alone the previous four seasons. This was to be (another) breakout year for me. That combined with Patrick’s leadership and a bunch of great teammates boded well for a spectacular season.

As I rode towards Cat Paw I noticed that the roads were wet, but they were so completely wet I was relieved because with that much rain they would be clean. Good, I thought, there is less chance of slippage, something we are all concerned about. We lined up, let a bit of air pressure out of our tires for better traction and then we were off. Fritz was at the front pulling the train, I was right behind. Then the race picked up and riders moved to the front. As we passed the 106 transverse I, too, wanted to move back up for better position. Rick passed me and I grabbed his wheel. This was going to be a great time, I thought. My head and body were in the right place working together and working with a teammate. It was a terrific feeling to be without fear, working within my ability, aware of everything that was going on and having plenty of gas in the tank for moves, as opposed to just reacting to other’s moves. As we started to turn at the top of the hill above Lasker Rink I had no image of going down. The peloton was moving at a good, but not hectic pace, as points were not available until the second lap. All of a sudden I noticed that somebody’s (Peppo’s) wheel slid out about five bike lengths ahead of me. A split second later my front wheel likewise slid out and I planted my hip, head and shoulder into the tarmac. Lying there after the crash I figured that I had broken my clavacle since my arm did not work properly. When I was helped up I could not put weight on my left leg. It was then that I realized that I had also broken my femur. I had broken the same femur as a kid on a minibike and therefore knew just about everything about this type of break. I knew then and there that this season was toast and that it would be a long road to recovery. But, having been there before, and having seen Omallie come back from his crash last year, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I’d be back in the peloton.

Since the break was high on the femur I figured I might need a new hip so I told the ambulance driver to take me to Lenox Hill where my wife had had a hip replacement a few years ago. I wanted her surgeon who, as it turned out, happened to have an available slot for me on Monday. So, I laid up for the weekend and had surgery Monday morning. The clavacle was not pinned. Cadel Evans has broken his clavacle something like 5 times because of a plate that was inserted when he first broke it. So, I was very happy to hear my surgeon suggest that it not be pinned.

Recovery was difficult because I was recovering from a violent crash with a leg that did not work so good and an arm that was in a sling. So, getting around, even getting out of bed, took all my focus and strength. Visits from family, friends and teammates helped me get through the first week in good spirits. I am very thankful for all their support. And my vanity was stroked when one of the RN’s (from Kzakhstan who’s husband follows Astana) asked if I was a dancer. She said that the nurses had been talking about my legs and figured that only a dancer would have such musculature. Made my week.

Finally by the weekend I could walk around and after nine days in the hospital I was released. Now I can do just about everything without assistance and have begun simple physical therapy at home. Next week I’ll start going to a clinic and get the full PT treatment. I look forward to my healing, recovery and rehabilitation. And, with Mike Sherry’s help, my focus can be getting back those dancer legs so I can again make things happen with my teammates.

Patrick’s Report

Kyle Peppo (the JA rider) felt really bad.  He was the first domino to fall.  But he did not take me down, I was well clear of the first pile-up.  Someone behind me panicked and locked up their brakes, they slid out and hit me from behind on the downhill, taking me down, then their weight and momentum pushed me into the curb with force.  My right foot was still clipped in and when the bike hit the curb it popped the bike up and that's what broke my ankle.

So I'm out for a while.  I hope to get back on the trainer ASAP, but we'll see what the orthopedist says about that.

As for Reed, he has the Mack-Daddy of hip-surgeons doing his hip-replacement on Monday.  He'll be out for a while, then we expect him to come roaring back.

Keep riding.

Bertil’s Report

Thanks for the update, Niko, and no biggie with me either just another road
rash and general Advil-level pain. The word is out and people are sending
good wishes from all over and as far away as NJ no less. P+R, as you know, I
am slacker and have most of the days off during next week, and can help you
out with whatever, just let me know.

Niko’s Report

For those of you who don't know, today's CRCA race saw  4 AARF riders go
down (that I know about) Nat and Bertil seem to have some pretty bad road
rash and hopefully will be ok (please let us know if this is not the case).

Unfortunately, Patrick, our men's captain ended up breaking his ankle and
will be off the bike for a while (the doctor wanted to have Patrick's own
orthopedist look at it and make a determination.  "Some doctors would have
you walking on it tomorrow" is what he said before adding " I am not going
to tell you that, its up to your doctor."

Reed Rubey, our spiritual leader, broke his collar bone and also his upper
left femur which will require hip replacement surgery which he will try and
have asap.

I would also like to add that I have always had respect for Reed as a
cyclist, person, father etc... but seeing him handle today, how calm, cool
and collected he was, laughing and joking with us and discussing his options
with the doctor like he was talking about a simple sore throat, left me in
awe.  He is one tough mot-- dude mentally and physically.

Hopefully the women's race report will lift their spirits...

Since 2 people asked about the cause here is what I know.  As the peloton
was approaching the pool on its very first lap and making the first left
hand turn down the S curve, a Johnathon Adler rider's bike just slid out
from under him taking down or many riders - Bertil, Patrick and Reed's
crashes were all related to that initial crash.  As Adam and Rick explained
to me this has happened before in the same spot on wet days.    Nothing
precipitated the crash other than slick pavement and the JA rider who many
of us know was very gracious and sent his best wishes to our guys...

Nat’s Report

Niko, thanks for the updated report.  My little spill was hardly worth
mentioning, just some minor road rash and pair of ripped shorts.

Reed and Patrick hope you guys feel better and get some good tender loving
care for those injuries of yours.  You guys were two big casualties from
today's carnage.

Peta’s Report

Myself, ML, Steph, Annie and Lauren all braved the wet weather and shitty roads...

There were alot of neutralized spots during the race due to the crashes and the men

overtaking us (sometimes without warning) impacting HH points for lap # 1 and lap #2.

Regardless we did not win any points on HH. I tried for a two man breakaway on lap#3 or lap #4

(with the intention of it sticking from just after cat paws to HH) with what could be the smallest girl

in the pack and one of the stronger girls but she had blown herself up already. Had Steph the TT guru been there with me - it may have stuck who knows..But I could not pull the entire thing off

by myself and the rat pack came a running. Lauren and Co. went to the front of the pack to try

and block during the breakaway so that was good effort. Lisa was looking strong (the week

skiing must have done her the world of good). ML decided pulled off to help our wounded

teammates.

 

Annie had good position on the final sprint but the wheel she was on started too early and

she found herself running out of gas. : ( (Next time chic!!!!) I think we managed to come in 8th, 12th etc...but guess they only care about top 7 so we can't be sure right now. Had we had a good lead out and been more organized I think we could have had a better placing. We are going to practice this at the next training girls....I bags I am organizing the first training when I am back from vacation on Wed or thur am - I have some ideas..............

 

One grovel - I personally don't understand why we are not started last in the CRCA races as I find

the neutralized spots a time for women to recover in the pack....

 

However, most importantly we all finished in one piece. We are still working out the intrincancies of racing with a womens open field with alot of experienced women and teams - but with a few more races under our belt and some team practices I think we can give them a good run for their money.

ML’s Report

When I was standing around getting ready to ghost ride the guys' bikes back  to the start as the ambulance was leaving, the A field came around and some  Foundation riders slid out in the EXACT same spot... they hit that wide painted stripe and just went sliding. So it was slippery. That area is also really off camber, so that didn't help. Get well guys!! Keep the chins up!