So there I was, thinking that the season' crash sheet was finally tallied. But alas, no. As I was kindly asked on the weekend, "what about Ed's crash?". Good point. Then I thought, which one? Then I realised, a whole article could be written on the season that was (not) Ed's. And now I have received another 'notification'. Oh no!
The season that Was not Ed's.
It all got off to a poor start for Ed at Vodafone one Madison Saturday night late last year. In the elimination race a few of the riders got a little intimate going down the back straight. Now Ed was in there, or more to the point, behind there, when it all went wrong. So to make it clear, crash 1 was not Ed's fault. As he went sailing through the sea of bikes and bodies he flipped, summer salted and was heading towards the infield dining area at a great rate of knots. If it wasn't for the Chief Handicapper, one Laurie Norris sticking his body on the line, Ed would have been eating dessert long before the race was over.
I spoke to Laurie about this incident, and his only comment was, 'Ed owes me a slab of beer.....I'm not joking!'. Apparently Laurie's shoulder is still sore from ballistic Ed's impact. So Ed, hurry up and give Laurie what he wants so that we can get our good handicap marks back.
Crash 2. Blackburn Club racing. I cannot remember what happened, but it was on a borrowed bike and Ed was not too happy.
Crash 3. Bendigo Christmas carnivals. Same story as the first crash, except it was a scratch race. Ed's first foray back into racing, a borrowed bike and helmet, all went skating along the ground as the bunch in front came unstuck and Ed was left with nowhere to go. Not Ed's fault. Now by this stage Ed's head was the worst for wear. A concussion left the poor guy sitting in the stands all day not really knowing what was going on or where he was. End of Christmas carnivals on day one! So in three weeks, Ed had the following repair bill; 1 frame, 1 set of forks, two bike helmets, a tyre, half a human skin, 3 million brain cells (irreplaceable) and a shattered confidence level. And a lot of interesting hallucinogenic elephants and wheelbarrows floating around in his head.
Needless to say, Ed's back, the confidence is returning and we march on.
Now while I'm on part two of this saga, (please don't let there be a part 3), I receive an email from a Blackburn road rider, one Stuart Birnie. Now I don't know Stu, as he's a road rider. Uggh! What a dirty pairing of words! Road is for training, track is for racing, dirt is for potatoes. Anyway, Stu claims to be the club serial stacker. The story goes that he has had one or three bingles on the road, but the latest, on a MTB, left him with the following legacy... "I'm now typing with my left hand after smashing my collarbone into 4 pieces on a mountain bike ride at Lerderderg Gorge last Sunday-week. So, without private health insurance I'm one-armed and waiting for some pins to be inserted during surgery (soon hopefully!)". Stu - see my previous statement. Dirt ain't for riding bikes on! (even though I love MTB myself).
So the crash tally raises by one. Now Stu wants his girlfried to drive him to races so that he can do his marshalling shifts. Atta Boy. Good work.
Now before I go, remember these words of wisdom that we have all heard before; cycling is a safe sport for the whole family to enjoy.
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