chapter 04 : retrospective

Well, here we are. A rainy assed Saturday morning, and well I have this sweet new cross bike all built up that I won't be riding today. Maybe won't be riding tomorrow either. So I started cleaning out my cycling bins and found all kinds of stuff. Since my only riding will be on a trainer today, and I'm procrastinating that, I figured I go through some of the stories with the team's jerseys I have proudly worn.

circa 1993. I get on to the Wooden Wheels team. This is where I would spend the majority of my racing career. Wooden Wheels was a very dominate road team at that time, I think they won D20 2 or 3 years in a row. I got on as a beginner mountain biker, because I won the cat5 Thursday night crit in Wilmington. Nope, it didn't makes sense to me either, but I wasn't gonna let a chance to ride for Wooden Wheels slip through my fingers. The road team had guys that are still my heros: dennis smith, wietzell, and Billy V. Bob Reuther lead the way in the dirt. He was pro and was always super cool to me,Diane and my brother even though we were just some kids wearing the same jersey.

Around 1995 or so the road team split and became team Delaware. I don't know what really happened there. Andrew Mein and I ran the mtb team. We came up with our own jersey to separate ourselves from the old team. We felt like we had our own approach and frankly wanted to win our own championships. This is where Andrew drilled home the "be an ambassador for the sport" thing into my head. The team was mostly a close nit group, Nick Riddle provided guidance for us. Greg Burbidge and my brother Craig were the most talented riders we had, aside from Nick who was just a super freak on the bike. That machado kid was tough too. Dennis Smith was always good to us, he called our new team "the kids"

This jersey was designed by Joe Brevoort. He was Mike's older brother and is a hell of an artist. It was in this jersey that our team began to evolve into a sport/expert unit. It was also in this jersey that we won our first team championship: the MAC cup. We won it with basically 5 of us, Katie (on her single speed and often hung over), Diane, Jeanie, Ted and I . With 3 women we cleaned up team points, and Ted and I were fighting to score in the B's. Ted used to do 2 races to take one for the team. We trailed Bike Doctor by 10 going into the final race at fairhill, and we pulled every wooden wheels rider we had that day. Justin Thompson, who was one of the best cross riders in the country rode for us that day too, he was a product of our program and wanted to help us secure the championship. Justin rode in his devo kit. I am personally responsible for the MAC rule that says in order to score team points for a team you must be wearing that team's jersey. At our season ending party, after Justin's mom polished the cup, we drank beer out of it and danced around their house in celebration.

It was in this version of the jersey that our team garnered the nick name "evil empire". We bolstered our ranks as finally Jay Jay joined us, as did Tom Mc, Kurtee, k-man, fortjames, Keith G Bobby's boy, Greg came back, Johnny G, and hell even Matty Doyle was doing some mtb races for us. A kid name Johnny Royal came on the scene. Todd, who I chased for years to race for us finally came over. Lead by Katie and Justin's 14 year old brother named Joey we won another MAC CUP. It was awesome watching Joey going from a kid showing up on the rides, or riding cross on his mtb, to him kicking all our asses. It was also in this jersey that the MASS started, we finished the first year 2nd to Guys, and dominated the second year winning 8 out of 10 races taking the team title. At the awards ceremony, Ted played the Empire's theme from star wars on his boom box as we crowed on the podium. We drank and were merry. I think everyone hated us, but we didn't care our mission was accomplished. To this day we are still the only program to win both a MASS championship, and a MAC championship. yeah I take some pride in leading those teams.

After the stress of chasing down a MASS championship, I needed something new. I stepped down as leader of Wooden Wheels and started a season on the road. Johnny Royal, Bryant and I we had a pretty kick ass cat4 team and we put some one on the podium in pretty much every race we were in winning a bunch. Each of us had a role, and we worked so well together. Bryant would tt off the front and see if anyone would chase, if they did I usually disrupted the hell out of it. Jon was the climber who if the race was hilly we'd work for. Aside from being a jam car, I was the sprinter. I was 3 points away from my 3 up grade, when I got sick, spent a week in the hospital and effectively ended my road career, as when I was recouping Buddy and L-Web were like, "dude road sucks, come race mtb with us again" They conned me into a 24hr race at 7 springs, I agreed as long as I could ride my single speed Karate Monkey, and I began riding ss exclusively at this time. We won the race with Matty T, and James completing our team.

The Mighty Spot Brand Jersey. My current mountain bike team. I hope my last mountain bike team. After my 7 springs experience and a couple of other nice fall mtb results, I sent out a couple of resumes. I got a three offers back, which was amazing as I didn't really expect anything at all. I talked to Jessica andMichael at Spot for a while, they were super cool. Thus started my relationship with Spot that has seen me grow as a rider, and grow the team to include the folks we have now. Jessica and Michael sold spot this summer, but I continue to represent the company and them. The new owners are super nice, and I look forward to working with them more and more. My only regret here is that when there was the Trek Classic series, had Lauri not gone to IF and I not gone to Spot, Wooden Wheels would have won that Championship. Sorry Howard, I did have to point that out. The Mighty Spot Team had a great year this year, and I look forward to more greatness next year. Oh and yup that is a penny in the picture. Must have dropped that one. You see how I roll.

The Secret Henry's Team. It's like the fight club, rule one don't talk about the Secret Henry's Team. Rule two: don't talk about the secret henry's team. I might get a demerit for these next lines, but let me go a little. No you can't have race reimbursement, and no not anyone can ride for them. Basically it's a group of folks who love to race their bikes, in many cases have associations with other teams, there is no bullshit, there is no money, there is no meetings, there are no politics. Just guys/gals who ride their bikes. Riders from some of the best programs around, all under the banner on the Secret Henry's team. The SHT remember, there is no I in team. One of my proudest associations for sure.

Twin Six came on board as a clothing sponsor for the Mighty Spot Brand Team this summer. Their stuff is super comfy, super cool looking and I am really proud to be associated with these guys. They are a great compliment to what we are doing as the Spot team, and these guys really get it.

Fort Frames. Stacked line up here, I'm really looking forward to a great season. And after getting my first bike all built up. I can't wait to get my kit, I might just wear it everwhere for a couple of weeks. I'll sleep in it, where it under my clothes too work, ride in it. I'll just shower in it so it doesn't get too stinky.

anyway, thanks for following along and taking this jersey journey with me this morning.

respect

fm