French Creek Fiasco

Let me say this. I love racing in the rain. I love mudfests, I love brutal conditions. Why? Because I ain’t that good. My god given talents are less in the athletic, brains, or beauty department, and more in the I don't have enough common sense to quit area. When conditions are tough, my strengths get to shine. I have to work at this game, and work real hard. Everyday, ever pedal stroke is measured. Every effort counts. I have to, or I can’t ride the way I want to. Which basically means I'll get dropped by Todd (el presidente) So I love rainy days, I love the nasty ones, and if those are the only days the sun shines on my ass, I’ll take it gladly.

But I digress. Today’s race was my first 35+ expert race. I have been riding well and was stoked as the conditions were right up my alley. Lined up on the front row with Travis Sealer (single speed monster), Chris “power” Auer, and Green Trek John. I kinda stressed the start because it was long and flat before the first climb. I figured I was pretty vulnerable on the ole gay UPS truck, by Spot Brand. Much to my surprise, the four of us were able to get clear of the scrum pretty quickly. Auer came by me on the dam.

In the woods the ground was mucky, almost peanut butter. Big power stuff, Green Trek John, who climbs up fuckin’ walls came around me. A couple of other dudes come by me, Kuzak the eventual winner included as I struggled a bit in the deep mud. We hit the steep section everyone is walking.

We cross the road, and the trails were all rock. I start to grind. Pick up one of the guys that just past me, and we are rolling. Through the big rock garden, I’m in 5th, and moving. This is a good set up, mentally I’m ready to grind this out. I come up on some endurance riders, they go left, I look up a fellow questioning where I am supposed to go, the guy points in the same direction as the enduro guys, so I go.

I quickly pass them, and I’m getting my grove on. I feel like I’m flying down the rock strewn descents. I’m kinda surprised that I haven’t made contact with the 4th place rider or the lead group. That’s how good I felt. Then I feel kinda weird, like I’m on my own. Not catching anyone, the course is still marked, I see tape. I keep rolling. I admit, something doesn’t feel right. The loop seems short.

Climbing up what last year was one of the last climbs, Brandon d, passes me. A horrible thought hits my head. “That dude pointed me in the wrong direction.” I feel my motivation die. I talk to myself, “dude, common, you’ve been doing this for a long time, you don’t miss corners, he must be in the enduro race. “ I start grinding again and then my truth is revealed as Deiter comes by and says, “hey fat !” crap. I was lead the wrong way. I immediately go through the 5 steps of coping:

Denial- “no way this is happening, I’m in the top 5, I’m gonna get a podium. I just need to keep going.”
Anger- “MutherFucker. I’m gonna punch that fuckin’ Scum Bag in the face. Bastard should have marked the course better.”
Bargining- “well maybe if I finish this lap, I’ll start the next and ride the section I was directed away from twice, and then finish up…”
Depression- “aw man, I was having a good day, now, what the fuck. Can’t I buy a break?”
Acceptance- “Fuck. My day is done, no sense trashing this bike, I haven’t even gotten my other bike back from the ROTD. This sucks. It’s like when you were in high school, and you were about to score for the first time, and then her dad comes home from work early and you have to sneak out the window with a wood. My day is done.”

Coming through the start finish it was great to hear many cheers, “go fatmarc!” yeah, I’ll just go DQ myself. Fuck.

Blah, so it was a bad day, I'm kinda over it now. Hate the missed opportunity, but, I'll live to fight again. I'll have to take the advise of the 20-60-20 rule. This one will fall in the lower 20.

So, okay, I’m done bitching. It was good to see Wes, Travis, Yoder, all the Bike Line guys, as well as my spot teammates Paul, and Fitzy. Warmed up with Kyle a bit, we joked about having warmer gloves, Single Speed Dan, and Green Trek John too. Good to see the New York boys too. I hope they all had better days than I did. It was like a big party seeing so many old friends again. Jason Moore was on the scene too... This year is gonna be interesting forsure.

respect
fm