The Most Horrible Thing...

Never?

I got the whole idea to do TMHTE after Captain Morgan and I failed to make the first day cut-off at the Double Dare back in October. The extreme frustration riding fixed gears in Pisgah for over twelve hours and missing second place and the cut-off on day one by ten minutes...

ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes
ten minutes...

sorry, that happens from time to time. Usually I wake up on the floor with the dogs licking me, my kids writing on me with Sharpies, or my wife slapping me (more outta general spite than any interest in waking me up).

Anyways missing out on all that was meant to be certainly left a scar on my gray matter. I decided that my soonest shot at redemption was to go to the next level and sign up for the more horriblerest sibling in the Pisgah Production family, TMHTE. I originally decided I was gonna go all 36 hours in the solo manner thus reducing the risk of failure by 50%, and increasing the chance of freezing to death or mentally slipping of the edge of sanity and living the rest of my natural life out as a wild turkey by 42%.

Mike Piazza decided that as my manager he had no interest in managing a wild turkey, so he pulled out our contract and showed me the clause that stated I have no rights or free-will in our arrangement. He insisted that he be my partner, not in the interest of my personal safety, but in the interest of him still drawing a salary as my coach/attorney/PR guy/trainer/blog spell checker. I agreed, as if I had a choice, and the die was cast.

Mike Piazza and I never even had a chance to go out for a training ride. One night back in December Mike Piazza was making oatmeal cookies in the kitchen. I was in the other room doing pilates when I heard a scream. When I ran out to the kitchen this is what I saw:

Apparently Mike Piazza was measuring out the raisins, and the next thing he knew he heard the mixer turn on behind him and BAM!!! He was a little pissed that I started taking photos instead of immediately helping him, but when I explained that it was good blog fodder he made sure to smile for the camera. After I saved Mike Piazza from the terrible peril the phone rang. It was none other than my PMBAR partner from 2008 Mark "Elk" Elsasser. Mark said he had heard that my TMHTE partner had been injured in a baking accident, and he wanted to know if he could fill in the spot. I wondered how he coulda heard about it since it just happened, but he blamed the internet and satellites. His story seemed a little fishy, and when I looked out my window I saw somebody running with a cell phone into the darkness, and Mark sounded like he was breathing heavily into the phone..., but since I was desperate I agreed to take him on as my partner.

Mark did let me know that he had some stuff coming up in in his personal life, and if it didn't all work out by the end of January then I was on my own (or maybe Mike Piazza would be off the injured reserve list by then). I let him know at that point that I was going to have to make an adult decision too. If my wrists aren't 100% better by some time in January then I most certainly would need to bail also.

An adult decision. Yes folks, instead of just plunging headlong into another stupid idea I have decided to take my health into consideration. I've got a pretty cool summer lined up, and I expect to enjoy it to its fullest. I'm very aware of the fact that if I go into 30+ hours of riding in one weekend at anything less than 100% it will set me back in healing up. This is a priority, and no glory or riches will get me back on my bike in the name of competition until I feel it's prudent. Some time after the weekend of January 17-18th I will have to make the call. You know that I know that you know I'll let you know.

And...

Like I said yesterday, if you have any interest in owning a 2009 Bad Idea Racing jersey you have this week (and mebbe next) to speak up. If there is enough interest I will look into it further (design, price, ordering, and such). Read yesterday's post for the full scoop, and let me know.