The Microsoft word dictionary defines "outstanding" as "unusually excellent, and superior to others in the same group or category". I can think of no better word to describe Lisa Vible and her 2006 racing campaign. Now I can not pretend to know all the details of her road season, but based on the stars and bars she picked up with Paul Curley in Pittsburgh, I'm going to assume it went pretty damn well. To follow that up with a sensational cross season, highlighted by the MABRA series championship and the women's 35+ MAC championship. Yeah, that's pretty outstanding. Lisa is a great sport, someone I cherished training with during the cross season. Aside from being the only person in the world who says "dude" more than me, she is always fun to ride with. She took a lot of flack from some of the guys for an interview she did on some website, and Jan named her " BIG DEAL". Although that was funny, it couldn't be further from the truth. Lisa is a friendly, approachable and incredibly humble individual. One of my strongest memories of the cross season was Lisa riding around Granogue with Diane, showing her the lines, and helping her to get the course totally dialed in. Perhaps my favorite memory of the year was at Hagerstown when she kept her pimp hand strong yelling to a wheel sucker, " hey if you're just gonna sit back there all day, I'm just gonna sit up, you gonna do some work or what" 2 laps later Lisa attacked and shed the rat f-ck. A national championship, and 2 series victories, that's palmares that could make a career. Lisa pulled it off in one season. That was beautiful. I hate when they have an outstanding male or outstanding female. How outstanding is it? Fuck that shit, in my cycling family, outstanding is outstanding, and Lisa Lisa is clearly outstanding. Congratulations on a great season Lisa.

Hon ment: Wes the conqueror winning the MAC, Dieter’s nationals…

Tom McDaniel Spike Myself in the Ground Award.
Matt (run forest) is one of the fastest guys in our community. He is a cagy bike handler, smooth descender, and has shown the ability to pull out his best efforts when it is toughest. Unfortunately, this past season Matt was unable convert any of these abilities into the success on the race course, which he is so deserved. Example one: Running of the Bulldogs, with one to go he storms to the lead, only he has to finish after 1:00 to win. His pedal breaks, and he crosses the line at 12:58, unable to continue he has victory snatched from his grasp. Example two: 12 of Lodi, Matt was arguably the strongest rider in the field, he came to the race in fantastic form, and perhaps the fastest I have ever seen him. After three laps he withdraws, falling to a horrible allergy attack and inability to breath on the bike. Example three: Top 5 finish in the bag at Neshaminy expert 30-34 field, and he flats with half a lap to go. And finally the biggest spike yourself in the ground. One week before the 18 hours on the farm, Matt is again finally back to form, killing all of us on our rides, and ready to kill it as part of a four man team with Spot Paul, Buddy (the leg breaker), and Myself. What does he do? He impales himself on the big ring of his bike, opening what has become known as "the leggina" and effectively ending his season. Matt (run forest) congratulations on having your best races this year, on our group rides. Here's wishing you the best of luck in 2007, I hope you have a four leaf clover tucked under you seat, a horse shoe over door, and a lucky #7 tattooed on your back. You are do for a great year, may it happen in '07.

Hon men: Dan the man’s achillies, and aborted cross season

Sportsmanship Award.
Have you ever met someone who loves to ride so much that he makes you want to ride more? Have you ever met someone who makes every ride you go on with him fun, whether that means ripping a piece of single track or stopping for a couple of brews? Have you ever met a rider talented enough to drop everyone, but works hard to make sure everyone stays on? Have you ever met someone who coined terms like "big bird bike" or "baby bike"? I have and I am a better person for it. I guess it was 3 years ago, Delaware gained Maine's favorite son Les Leech and his charming wife Kathleen. Les is a one in a million guy, to look at him, he is unassuming, and to speak with him he is kind and funny, telling incredible stories. I count myself as lucky to be able to ride with him, sections I thought difficult he makes look easy. But his incredible riding prowess aside, this isn't what makes Les special. Every group you pass, Les greets with a smile, every ride I go on is fun, people are always genuinely happy to see the guy. Les brings people together; he reminds the most dedicated racers why riding mountain bikes is so great. My favorite rides this year have been with Les, Kathleen, Diane, Buddy, and Amy getting lost around Fairhill for 2 hours. My favorite game I played this year was death uno at the leech home. I am happy to count him as a friend, and we in the Delaware cycling community are lucky to have him here.

Hon ment: Spot Paul and Buddy (the leg breaker) might be the best team mates on the planet. If you ever get to be their teammate, jump at the chance.

come back of the year
About a year ago I went on a road ride from peoples. It was supposed to be mellow and right out of the parking lot two guys were arguing about tactics or some shit. Truth be told, both were both super cocky and talked like they invented racing. I remember saying to myself, “what a bunch of dicks, that’s why I don’t road race” I didn’t want anything to do with of those tool boxes.

One of those guys was E-town, who was on his bike for the first time in 5 months. I knew E-town years ago when he was a hot shot college kid from New England super cocky, but he didn’t quite know how to make it all fit. He was young and good, and nice, but something never really clicked, it’s hard for me to describe.

This year, E-town made a huge come back as a leader on the road for FSVS. When I started training with him I remember him saying to me,” I love to work for my teammates” I was like, “wow, I wouldn’t have heard this from the old E-town.” In the past E-town would have been described as cocky, self centered, but this year E-town came back to the community, working hard to contribute, he didn’t ask what was in it for him, but what could he do to help. He has assumed a leadership role in the dccod, making sure we all had hotels for nationals as well as collecting money for our sweet, sweet pit. In short, E-town grew up. That was pretty awesome. I can’t even begin to talk about the success he had racing this year after a 3 year lay off of cross, and 5 months of the bike. For whatever reason, E-town gets it now, and even though we don’t own the same kit, I am proud to say he is my teammate. I expect huge things from him in 2007, as he continues to grow and develop his potential. Yeah, he’s still cocky, and had the best mullet anywhere, but I am also glad he’s my good friend.

Hon men: have you met the monkey? How proud am I of her?

rookie of the year
This one is a tie, and to be honest based on stronger facial hair it almost went to Rob Thomas (not the no talent ass clown from MB20), however, it’s a tie based on strong performance by Amazin’ Andrew.
Rob Thomas not a new bike racer had his first cross season this year, after borrowing one of Fitzy’s bikes for a practice he was hooked. He worked his ass off, and put together one hell of a season in the c class. Top 5’s in both of the mabra and mac, with a trip to Taiwan in the middle, resulting in a couple of missed races. He traveled to NY over thanksgiving, racing in the B class and finishing with a top 10 ride. Awesome stuff, great guy, proud to be on the dccod with the kid. When he first got his Henry’s kit, he smiled like a Cheshire cat. I was happy to witness it. And his roommate is a stripper. (so sweet) Next year he’ll be in the B’s, I expect big things from him. Rob was the inspiration for my nationals trucker ‘stache.

Tied with Amazing Andrew, who is a very accomplished mtb racer, and after battling a year of travel to Sweden, texas, the south pole, and injuries I know he didn’t put together the mtb season he wanted, so he invested in a cross bike. All Andrew managed to do was go out and out suffer the bulk of his competitors each week. I remember after Granogue Andrew telling me how hard it was , how awful he felt and then how much fun he was having. In just his first year of cross, Andrew was successful in finishing 2nd in the MAC 55+ class, racing against a number of riders with far more cross experience (Nuzio (tough dude), national champions rob lea, as well as Joe saling) Andrew is one of my favorite people in the world for his frank and honest assessment of things, I was super proud to have him in the DCCoD, and stoked to have him racing cross. I love that he is own our Spot Brand/Twin Six team. Next year, one more step in the rankings okay?


Kerry Combs nicest person I met this year
If I offered this award last year it would have gone to Steve Shultz, formerly off IF now Titus. The endurance master is a super good guy, I’m always excited to see him.
The winner hands down is Besty Shogren- have you met Betsy? Never a kinder, more genuine person have I met. Every race I did this year, she asked me "do you need me to pit for you?" Betsy a pro mountain bike, national champion on the road offering to pit for me. I have to admit it was pretty cool to have her hand off a bike to me. Besty is the glue that helps keep the FORT Factory team together, anytime I had a bad race, or was a little grumpy a word from Besty seemed to make everything okay. When I’d cheer for her during her race, she’d look up at me and say. “hi marc” and go back to laying the smack down. I am so impressed with how kind and thoughtful she is. I am proud to ride on the same team as her. Besides, she wears great clogs. You know Kerry and Besty were gonna have a wrestling match to decide who was going to win the award for being the nicest person, but they were each holding the door for each other, and neither would enter the gym to actually wrestle for it. In the end, it was called a draw, the award was named after Combsie and Betsy got the nod for 2006.

Hon men: spanky, greg lindstrum, matt Ferrari, susan gerlak, ben yoder, rob lamb, mary fetrow, kim dubeck, bad kat, bad andy, dan from hvb, roger at henry’s , zach

Dangerous Dan Award for Disorderly conduct:
Jamie (the world’s foremost expert on rip currents). If you have ever hung out with him you know what I’m talking about. One night after consuming a few frothy beverages, I donned a Gore-Tex rain jacket and pants. I looked something like the Gordon’s fisherman. Jamie screamed something to that effect and proceeded to hose me down with a full bottle of beer. I was horrified, as I didn’t own the suit, and laughing my ass off at the same time. This is just one example or the many things that went on that I can’t write about. I will miss Jamie when he moves back to California. He is a super good guy.

Hon ment: FFA, John Williams (the Todd of Bike Line)

best team effort
Twelve of muchy with Buddy (the leg breaker) , Spot paul and matt (run forest) . These are my favorite guys to do team races with. We have done so many over the years that we just know each other and know our routine. I know with all of these guys, that we will give our best, and no matter what leave it all on the course. In this event we had two duo teams. We kinda said the plan was to stay together and work over the other teams. I think everyone says that and at one point of another over 12 hours things happen, and teams get separated. Not this day. Although my teammate was Paul, although the way it worked out Matt and I rode the entire race together, pushing each other, when one of us was tired we motivated the other, when our bikes broke, we waited for each other. It was truly a thing of beauty. Buddy and Paul functioned the exact same way. Buddy and Paul consummate team players, both are probably underrated as riders, and on teams, they just seem to elevate their game like nothing I have seen. On this day, while Tom was busy molesting our women, the four of us rode perhaps our best race all year. At the finishe the promoters didn't know what to do when the four of us all finished together. "we only have 2 awards" we calmly replied, 'it's okay, we share really well"

hon men: FORT Frames team (we rule), howard brown from bike line finally getting his MASS Championship, and the beans guys who just seem to get it.