MILES WATSON

Hi

I had a rest for a week, and then raced a few times in the rain and then got sick, so have had to have another week off. Then in my second race back from being sick, I had a crash on the 29th of Aug and wrote off my frame, rear derailleur, did a good job to my rear wheel, sti hoods, seat, & bar tape, gloves, shirt, shoes ect. It was the last lap of the race & somebody attacked so I chased him down. When I reached him he turned around and saw that I had caught him up, he stopped pedaling, and swerve to the left. The wind was blowing from the right so I was coming up on his left. I went to go round him on the left & he turned around again to see where the bunch was as I was passing him. He swerved again about two meters across the rd bam! He took out my front wheel with his rear, and as we were going 50-55km I did a summer salt over the top of him still clipped into the bike. I sled across the rd for 15m or so. We both came down along with another rider. Estimated damage to my bike is $2500. The crap thing is I came off a lot worse than he did. I still placed 15th out of about 45 so that was cool. I got superficial grazes to my elbow & thigh so that’s a relief. I would be ready to be up and running to compete in another four races before I leave, but no one has a spear frame large enough to fit me. I cannot afford a new one until I can work to save up some more coin.

I’m scheduled to fly to Sydney on the 9th of Sep, but am most likely going to change my flight a week earlier or, so I can get back on a bike. It’s been about 10-20 degrees for the past month and been raining about 70% of the time, so every one in the team has been on and off sick, & its summer. My three month stint in Belgium’s finished now & am planning to fly out about Fri or Sat to Sydney to continue racing. Then back to NZ for the Rd season, which includes some Opens, fun rides, Rd Nationals, K2, Tour of Southland, Lake Taupo, Criterium Nationals ect. Il be reporting back after my first race in Australia which is on the 16th Sep.

If you read this dad before I talk to you, I need to talk to; I can’t get a hold of you.

Cya

Miles