My last minute ball aches started in February or March, shall I start:=
Broke numerous spokes, more in February, March and April than probably over past 10 years.
Two wheels called it a day.
March, Broke my PBP bike, frame snapped. Frame to be replaced under warranty.
Got my new replacement frame and bike rebuilt for PBP, broke within a fortnight.
Got my bike back, and qualified for PBP. On a 600 the week after my last qualifying ride, my best PBP rear wheel hub broke.
Got a new rear wheel built for PBP, after a few weeks something wrong with it bearings had play which you could not get rid off. Also spokes not holding tension. Wheel to be rebuilt.
Chain rings worn out and replaced.
On the same day, snapped crank clean off the PBP bike just as I had finished a ride and going up my drive. Needs a new crankset.
Got it all repaired, found new crank wobbly and no reason as to why? and unrideable, back to shop
Got my wheel back, found when I spun the wheel, the bearings would unscrew, back to shop.
Got the wheel back, took it for a test ride, mystery rattle, finally traced it to the cassette, it was very loose. Rode home, locknut was tight so stripped it down, incorrect amount of spacers on the cassette.
When putting my PBP best socks on, put my finger straight through the back pulling one round my ankle and ripped the hem off
Buckle broke on my shoe.
The bike that I am going to ride PBP on in the past couple of days is now playing up with the rear mech and do not know why with phantom skips, pondering on has the hanger become bent or jockey wheels on the way out.
Weather now changed for the worse between now and Wednesday when I set off, hardly any time for anything to change on the bike and give a good testing out. In 2015, I was ready to go in June, riding my 400 and 600 qualifiers with my bag all packed with everything for PBP to get used to it, this year, I am no where near ready with hardly anything packed through all the misfortune.
In reality, I just cannot see it happening this year, the above is just the tip of the iceberg of everything that has gone wrong. I may set off, but my morale is now that low, I just cannot see me finishing, everything I look at on my bike now, all I can see is it breaking on the ride. So having spent a fortune already, I may not even go just to cut my losses on fuel, accommodation and food etc that I will be paying for, or just go to watch and don't ride.