Thursday, June 4, 2009

My first tri nightmare

So I was doing this shorter distance tri few weeks before Vineman Full Ironman and most of my teammates were there as well. For some reason I can't carry my bike and my transition bag into the transition area at the same time so I leave my bike with a race volunteer and go find a spot to rack my bike. I walked around for a while and I found this rack with the correct height (all racks have different height... some are too short... some are like 5'10 high). I left my transition bag under the rack and head back to my bike.

As I was walking to my bike a patrol car was running over it. I ran as fast as I can but it was too late. The cop ran over my bike and took off. My first reaction was... nooooooooooooooooooo. Then I was like... great... this is like fighting for a traffic ticket... his words against my words... there is no way I can get $ for my bike.

I looked at my bike and it didn't look good. the front wheel was bend and the tire wasn't really attached to the wheel. There are also some weird stuff coming out from my wheel. As with the bike frame, the connection between the top tube and the head tube were no longer... connected.

Frame Diagram
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bicycle_Frame_Diagram-en.svg

I rode the bike for a short distance and I can still ride it, but I definitely need a new wheel because the wheel was hitting the front brake.

I managed to rack my bike. I talked to my teammate carlos and he assure me everything it's going to be cool. I then called Coach Paul and ask him what I should do.Paul told me this is why we are training with the ironteam... we always need to be prepare of what's going to happen. We are all going to experience problems, but how we deal with our problems determine if we can finish the race. I asked him if I should just do the swim and skip the bike/run. Then Paul ask me... what if this happen in Vineman? Are you just going to swim and not bike/run? I was like... no way. He hang up so I can figure out what I should do on my own.

I decided to go for it. I decided to swim, ride my broken bike, then run.

With only minutes to spare before the swim start, I reach over to my transition bag to prepare... only to find out my transition bag and bike DISAPPEARED. GONE... just like that. Why would someone steal a broken bike??? So now I really panic... how am I going to swim + bike + run when I don't have my bike and swim stuff...

Then... thanks god I woke up.

1 comment:

Carlitos said...

LOL...OMGoodness Louis...WHY are you having these types of dreams. Was that ME in your dream calming you down??? yes....u dream about me. Well, u are always prepared Louis...you will do GREAT no matter what difficulties are thrown your way. Handle IT LOUIS!