Bad Bike Gods... Good Bike Racers

So you know those times on the bike or in a race when things just don't go your way? It happens to all of us... and it happened to me... but there is a good side. Did the Durham Classic 'Cross race last weekend.... less than a 10min drive from my house. Get out there nice and early to have a good warm up since i was sick for most of the week and just wanted some intensity. And then... i stripped the valve extender i needed to inflate my tires.... "can i borrow one from someone else"... can't find one.... "why don't i just put a new tube in?" ... forgot them at home... "can i trade a tube for one that will work?"... thanks to Nathan Chown for swapping with me... "OK... a short warm up but that's okay"..... and we're off!!! Almost crash hopping over a pothole on the gravel road start but settle in behind Dave Dermont for a lap and then pull through when i start to feel good... "Hey.. i have a bit of a gap"... "hey... i have more of a gap".... "Hey... i have a flat tire!!!!" ..... darn those rocks hidden in deep puddles... "Dave, do you have a wheel i can borrow?"... no luck.... so i keep running for most of the lap... until Jonathan Wilby goes by... "Hey Barnes... i have a set of Mavics in the pits you can borrow"... my eyes see the light at the end of the tunnel.... and i work my way back to 5th place... not bad considering being sick and the long run. So i stick around for the awards (FREE BEER!!!) and end up with a nice pair of PI carbon road shoes as a draw prize.... sweet.... So overall not the worst day of cycling. Now it's time to get ready for the UCI race at Centennial Park... should be fast!!!