232: steamroller

Friday evening, I was a splendid ride around the Gallagher sections of Fairhill. It was kinda my way to unwind from a tough week. The play list included the Cramps, , TSOL, Led Zeppelin and Jay Z. When I came home, I found that Diane and I would be having some unexpected overnight guests in our nephews Justin and Jake.

So when the kids arrived, we loaded up the car, headed into town, played on the bikes at Bikes at Bike line, picked up a wheel from F-James and of course ate some ice cream.

When we got home, it was time for bed. We finally got the kids to sleep, and an exhausted Diane and I settled down for a much needed night of sleep. Or so we thought.

2:00 am

"Uncle Marc?"

"yes, Justin."

"I'm hungry"

"we'll eat in the morning buddy"

"uncle Marc?"

"yes Justin ?"

"I'm thirsty.."

"Justin if you drink you'll whiz the bed, we'll get a drink in the morning..."

"Uncle Marc?"

"Yes Justin?"

"I'm hot."

"Justin, pull the blanket off and go to sleep buddy, it's the middle of the night."

This went on pretty much every other hour. Super Sweet.

The next morning it was a quick round of cereal and then the boys cleaned my bike.

I gave the boys a bath as Diane did the Icicle. I sat the boys wrapped in towels on the bed. I said, wait here while I get you clothes. I came back to find two naked boys bouncing on the bed. Beautiful.

I get them dressed, sit them on the bed and say, "wait here while I get your shoes." To which I come back and find this..

Two clothed boys bouncing on the bed. lesson learned, if I leave the room with them sitting on the bed, they will be jumping on it when I come back.

Diane got home, and I slipped out for a ride. Then later that day we took the boys to the playground, where their grandmother who took them with her.

Diane and I rushed to find the biggest cups of coffee we could.

Needless to say, Saturday night we were out like a light.

On Friday I had swapped emails with my friend, Matt Doyle (DOYLE RULES!) He's our local king of the mountains, and he was trying to see what rides were going on this weekend. My theory is that Matt likes to ride with me, because he likes to see the fat kids suffer on the climbs.

Well, I told him I was doing a time trial Sunday morning to which he responded, " tell you what, why don't you come to my house, give me the entry fee, I'll beat you with a baseball bat, and then we can go for a ride."

I spit water on my desk after that one. Although it was a temping offer, I passed on the baseball bat beating and did the time trial anyway. (user: mikeburkephoto password: capemayTT_album) I had fun, I was a little bummed that they shortened the course without telling me, and that I missed the average speed I was hoping to hit. Still it was a very fun ride, and I was very pleased with how things went overall. Seriously I think I was the only kid in the cat 4 race that didn't have a freaking TT bike. Now I am lusting for one...

counting crows still suck.

respect.

faticus

231: letting go

This is my favorite T-shirt.

My 1999 Iron Masters Classic race shirt. This was the last year that the MORE group ran the race. Those Michaux races were the beginning of the season for me.

For something like 7 or 8 years I never missed one of these races. Funny thing is that I never really did well there either. Prior to 2001, my best finish there ever was a 16th and a 37th.
I was stoked with that top 20 let me tell you.

In 2001 I finally broke through and took a third in the single speed class. For whatever reason I haven’t made it back out to Michaux since.

But this is my favorite T-shirt, and over the past year, small chunks of it have begun to disappear. The entire Iron Master Classic race course used to be mapped out on the shirt. Now it’s just a giant hole that demonstrates that my back is not hairy.

Saying good bye to an old t-shirt that has been worn and washed so much that it is softer than any blanket or towel I own, is a sad day for me.

The memories are bitter sweet. Good bye old friend, you have served me well.

BTW my 1997 Iron Master's Classic Shirt is still pristine.

Lunch Time Ride Play List

Zen Guerrilla
TV on the Radio
Smashing Pumpkins
Agent Orange
Black rebel motorcycle club
TV on the radio
Stevie wonder

Met up with a nice crew for a ride at middle run and white clay last night. Monkey lead the way with Breyla-la, L-Web, Elizabeth , Jeb, Wes T. Conqueror and myself. The pace was nice and we rolled around white clay, my first time in that park, I think since the fall.

Trails were superhero good, and flowed very well. I can't say I love the bastard son, but every day I learn to ride it better.

Afterwards we went to the old deer park for some 1/2 priced nachos and libations. The food bill was $11, the alcohol bill was $60. Yup, it was a fun night. Jan was in rare form. He even had Rotten speechless at times.

Jeff has the right idea for sure.

Ate a bunch of yogurt today. I love yogurt, but itdoes make me fart.
They tend to be noisy, but not smelling. So I have that going for me, that and a 1997 Iron Master's Classic T- Shirt

Respect
faticus

230: chicken little

The reports called for snow and destruction, the end of civilization as we know it. I looked at the radar, saw the green, but it wasn't that big. I saw that it was also kind north of us. I'm not meteorologist but usually the stuff from the west, trends north up the coast. But if I wanted to ride Saturday, I better get it in early...

But god damn the weather channel, accuweather.com and the new journal's forecast, all proclaimed the end of days, or at least the end of trail riding for days...

So as the sun barley creeped it's head over the horizon, I was in the parking lot at Fairhill meeting up with JDUB and Dan MC. (far right) Oh yes, when most of you were rolling over and fluffing the pillow, I was trying to hang on to JDUB's wheel in desperation. I said to him, "why you going so hard John?" He'd say to me, "because you're on my wheel."

We both knew this was going to be a chicken and the egg thing, because clearly I wasn't going to let that wheel go, and he wasn't going to slow down..." Nevermind the slight hangover I was nursing, we were getting in a ride that everyone else would miss because today was Armageddon weather wise. We were bad asses sacrificing sleep to get one more trail ride in, while all you suckers were fast asleep. The sleet, snow rain. It's all coming...

We threw down a couple laps on the Fairhill course (spring edition not summer). By 10:00 we were done, by 11:00 I had eaten at the post house and was ready for bed.

Sadly, I had some real world responsibilites to tend to. So I drank a huge cup of coffee. I don't usually drink coffee at all. Later that night, Buddy the Leg Breaker, let me know what a great ride he had at 12:30pm. How warm and how beautiful it was. ARRRGHHH foiled again !!

No Snow, No Rain, No Sleet. A fucking beautiful day...

At midnight, when I lie in bed exhausted yet unable to sleep, from the huge cup of coffee I drank, I kept think of Buddy sleeping in, then frolicking on the trails in the warmth. fuck you weather man. fuck you very much.

Sunday was the PEEPS ride. 50 miles, flat windy, amnesty pace. The group pulled Diane and I around for most of the day. It was fun, and then we all ate candy after the ride. Perfect easter celebration...

respect

faticus

229: bad meat

Are you there god? it's me Faticus.

Thursday was a day of hustle and bustle. Racing around trying to squeeze in this and that. Just felt very hectic. The entire day rushing around, but I never let it get me down. First I saw this:

Sometimes, it's good to swim with sharks. And perhaps more importantly, it was the first day of spring, and I knew there was free water ice today. As I drug my but around the fire roads of fairhill, which kinda counted as a mountain bike ride, I just kept my thoughts on that tasty free water ice I would be soon eating. Jeb had texted me earlier in the day, he had gotten a mango. Me, I was dreaming of cherry, or maybe root beer, or maybe i'd up grade and make a giloti out of it.

But alas, my hopes and dreams would be crushed when we made the turn into Newark shopping center and saw the line for free water ice wrapped all the way around the building. Being a school night for the monkey, we spun the are around and headed home. Sans water ice, I went to bed a little sad. The line seriously was like star wars cira 1976.

Friday morning I had the pleasure of sleeping in. Good Friday. Nope it was going to be a great Friday as I was meeting a great group of folks and heading out for a wonderful ride at a not so local park. Jeb loaded up in the toaster with me, and had some sweet sweet brownies courtesy of lweb, and we met Wheelie Ted, Breyla-la, Dennisbike, Zach, Bad Andy, Miles and international man of mystery- Les Leach. Wheelie Ted took us on a wonderful loop, steady on the climbs ripping the descents. I was smiling ear to ear with joy. Wait a minute, LWeb sent brownies with me!? What was she thinking? That's like locking me in a candy store. How will I resist? I love brownies like, well like a fatkid love cake! The entire ride all I could think about was "brownies in the car... brownies in the car..." Thankfully everyone helped finish those bad boys off. The riding was wonderful...

Les made it look easy:

Miles, who doesn't get a ton of time on the rocks, had a style I liked to call "cannonball" as in he'd cannonball into sections, much like a kid jumping into the local swimming hole. Mile's style reminded me a lot of Dangerous Dan, busting out little tweaks in the air over every log he'd bunny hop. Just thinking of that make me super happy.

At the end of the ride we chilled out and and talked some smack, as we waited for the lock smith to come and rescue BA , who had locked his keys in the car... All in all a pretty spectacular day for sure. Good Friday ? I'd say, it was a great Friday!

Are you there God? It's me, Faticus. I has a pretty wonderful day today. I rode rocks, and I rode proficiently. Why do the other kids shoot spit balls at me?

let's hope I can score some ritas today ....

respect.

faticus

228: misty

Hello my little chickadees.

I know many of you were worried as we pulled down the Granogue race flyer was pulled from bikereg.com

Many of you emailed me concerned perhaps about the MASS points you might be missing out on, and many more emailed concerned that arguably one of the toughest, most fun, well run races in the mid Atlantic might not be happening.Some of you shared the stories of your past races here. That was cool.

Well Babies, I’m here to tell you that everything is cool man. Cool like Winston Wolf. We had a small hic-up. A little land use issue. No worries kiddo.

As Ruler Supreme of the Granogue Racing Society, I got together the other two parts of our leadership triumphant, and we were able to get everything straightened out. John Miller was a great support too…

So my friends, and fans of the Granogue Race, a celebration of the Life of Andrew Mein, the new race date will be Saturday May 24, 2008. Race Bible is posted at bike reg. Thanks for your patience. So go register already...

I have had an ear ache for about 5 days now. I went to see my new doctor. My old doctor didn’t see sick people on Tuesdays. Oddly enough I often found myself sick on Tuesdays, and as such ended up going to the local med clinic.

For me this worked great, if I was sick, they gave me meds, and bounced me out quickly. Problem is I kinda developed a scattered medical history. And as I am getting older feel like I need to have a relationship with a doctor, versus just getting some antibiotics when I get an infection.

So today I went to my new doctor. He rides, and is a strong racer. I’ve been on rides with him, I respect him. He checked out my ear and told me I had a mild case of something or other. I think he could see from my face I had no idea what he was talking about. He smiled and said,

“basically you have a little cesspool in your ear.”

He gave me some ear drops and I’ll be good to go.

He also ordered some other tests. Just general maintenance stuff. My old doctor never did that shit. I totally appreciate it. I’m not 25 anymore. At some point all my Drunken , stupidity and general laziness is going catch up with me. Don’t be sad my little butterflies, we all get older.

Last night the ride started pretty fast and furious, I hung tough, luckily Mother Nature offered me a reprieve as she opened her skies and poured on us. The shark wisely called an amnesty treaty. Except for when President Ryan and Lamont Sanford tried to kill me up Wey road. Cold legs just don’t turn over that fast. It was another very nice night. Fun ride. Amy (Sharkette), and McCunney rounded out our group of six.

You know, I’m riding about ½ as much as I was this time last year. For what it’s worth, I’ve been feeling pretty good. I mean, cross Doesn’t start until September, but it’s nice to feel good on the bike. I mean, I just want to be able to do the local group rides, which Have been fun.

Monkey and I have both had a lot of stress from work lately. We had an argument this morning that any other day, wouldn’t have been an argument. We had planned to ride together today and to do some prescribed efforts, I wanted to do them at the ticking tomb, she wanted to do them at Gallagher road. Mother Nature settled the argument as she rained on us all day, and we’ll both likely have to ride the trainer or the couch tonight. Karma my friends, karma… I won’t even go into how our discussion of setting up a living will, and or when we should have a truck load of mulch delivered… Luckily we can laugh at ourselves and kiss and make up over a nice dinner.

Anyway, I’m done with my meandering post…

Daddy-o

Respect
faticus

227: I was a teenage werewolf

Monkey and I started riding bikes together in 1991. Since that time we have done many, many get aways with bikes involved. However, it has just been the last month since we ever took a roadie with our road bikes. Seriously, it's just been the last month since we ever took both road bikes on a roadie together. I wonder what that means...

Thursday night loaded up the toaster, and headed to New England.

Once we arrived at my bro's house we were greeted by the kids:

the next morning we all headed out for a ride.

Skinny Craig and Monkey let me have it good. I was chasing all day.

the winter was hard on me, I feel like I'm pulling around an extra 40-50 pounds.

precious cargo

We had talked about catching up with Mega and doing an incline work out, but swim lessons didn't help that fit into the schedule. When out on the road we actually saw an Incline van, which was pretty cool. Next time we'll make it.

Watch out! Wide load!

Skinny Craig had wrenches and pipes in the pockets of the trailer.

That night we went to the People's Pint. It sucked. Save your money.

The dirty hippie waitress wasn't even nice. My nephew protested by throwing his food and some of mine on the floor. beautiful. damn dirty hippies.

back at the homestead we discovered that necessity is the mother of invention

Beth read "Bike Snob NYC" and Diane got tickets to yet another Hippie Show.

We had some awesome meals this weekend, none surpassing the wonderful breakfast Craig crafted for us;

we went to lunch with Mega and JD

and Han Solo

We walked around NOHO which is a cool town.

I bribed my niece into good behavior while Diane and Craig shopped for guitars.

Saw hot chicks with douche bags

later that night was a spread of sushi.

and Skinny Craig and Monkey jamming a bit

all in all an awesome weekend, very tiring. I think I'll go to bed now.

respect

faticus

226: client # 9

god bless day light savings time. Curse the politicians and their flandering ways, their cozying up with special interests, their war mongering, their public service gone wrong. But when they decided to extend day light savings time, well that my friends, was a beautiful thing.

Last night I met up with boys at AI. Shark lead the group that had e-town, Jeb, Tom, John h, McCunney and myself. We met D Dub in transit. I was pushing near max, and Dan was cold chillin'. I was in the drops hyperventilating, D Dub was on the tops chatting. sweet.

Rode well, felt good to be outside and to ride fast. I think I'll do it again sometime. Tom said after the ride, "I looked up and you were on the front, Jeb tucked in behind you, E-town behind him... Felt kinda like cross..." I love my road bike. Hard for me to say it, but Slick Rik worked hard to get me on the right one. He always said I hated road because I didn't have a bike that I loved. I really enjoy riding this bike...

I would have had pictures, but Diane set the camera on macro and they didn't come out to well.

I'm seeing a lot of hippy bands this year. Diane lined up another show yesterday. What is she on hippyband.com or something? Diane says I haven't been aggressive enough in finding shows I want to see. She just keeps piling the hippies up. I did enjoy last weeks hippies, and I'm totally looking forward to seeing the Black Crowes again... I was sad that I missed the foos this year...
oh well.

respect
faticus

225: boot

This is the boot that Ethan and Wes lovingly placed in Diane's tire last Saturday during our ride in Annapolis. Thursday night Diane and I were out doing a neighborhood crawl. Whilst out on a private road, now closed to traffic, I remember seeing her new tire on the kitchen table, you know just sitting there. I asked Diane, " Have you changed your tire yet?" She answered, "no, not yet" I ponder for a moment, then ask, "this is like the third or fourth ride you've done on that booted tire right? I mean a GU wrapper is holding your rear tire together..." She smiles at me, it flashes in the dark under the lighting of her helmet light. "yup" I respond coyly, "Beautiful..." All the while thinking how fucked we are if that boot explodes as we are out in the middle of no where at night on a road closed to traffic. Doesn't a Friday the 13th movie start out this way?

So now I see the tire sitting on the table. Do I just change it ?Or should I worry about her, because I know she won't, and likely she'll be out while I'm at work, or worse I'll be on a ride with out my phone, and it might blow out on her. Is it worth the stress and worry, or should I just change it? yeah I'll change it.

After a night with the bike liners Friday, I woke up a little hung over Saturday. If I was tough I would have slipped out then and gotten some saddle time in. Diane asked me what I was going to do. I usually would just go ride in the rain, I'd get sick and bitch about it, I'm trying to learn from my mistakes, so I decided to wait until the afternoon when the rain would stop.

Well, the rain never stopped, Diane, she is a tenacious rider, and she rode the trainer. I couldn't bring myself to get on the rollers, in my head I just couldn't do it. So I just sat there an watched her ride.

Sunday was a different story. I met some friends at the local park and we did my new favorite road loop. Head wind sucked ass, it was so bad that Jan was blown off of the group because his 12lb road bike just wouldn't track in the tough winds. Dennisbike, joined us up through west grove and then called it a day. Ted Logic, Slik Rik, Leg Breaker, LEO LEO, Rotten and myself were the final selection. You know I haven't been exactly sitting around on my ass, and when Rotten and Buddy are talking about suffering, and how they aren't riding much but then storming the climbs, it's hard for me to have sympathy for them. Fucking Strong Bastards. It's good to see Buddy's ribs finally coming around.

It was a very good ride indeed. Rule number 4 of the DCCOD dictates that I must say, "I have a lot of work to do..." But frankly, for March 9th, I was very pleased with how I rode today. Clearly I have a lot of work to do, but today was good, very good.

after the ride a bunch of us went to a peep show...

I fucking hate peeps.

go here register for this. (on Monday) It benefits Hera. It's a great race. celebrate a lost friend.go here buy this, it'll make you cooler. I mean it didn't really work for me, but you'll have much better luck.

respect.

faticus

224: cheap suits

standing in line waiting to see a dirty hippie.

the dirty hippie : Matt Costa

wheelie ted is joyous.

Gavigan finds out what happens when you pump a Stan's tire up to 60lbs : Stan's facial.

registration opens monday.

L-Web and I worked on the race bible. Similar to last year with some subtle changes. How'd we do ? You should come. YOU SHOULD. Don't want to race, that's cool, hang out, support HERA, work the kids race, celebrate life. It's always a great day.

my underwear is fitting funny. Monkey usually buys me medium old navy boxers. They fit nice around the waist, acting a little like a girdle, and prevent chaffing in a sensitive area. However, recently she picked up some AE mediums that aren't working out. I have to fold down the waist to make sure the waist isn't up by my nipples, but my legs are too big for these mediums and the bottoms of the boxers creep up over my thighs, creating a very uncomfortable mankini/wedgie combo. very unpleasant. I think I should go back to commando.

I got carded for water tonight. sweet.

respect

faticus

223: super sweet gloves

So at 3:30 of a 4 hour ride today, I was pretty shattered. I was in a nice small group, and we were headed for home. The roads had been pretty clear of traffic all day. A pretty great group with the Shark, Sharkette, President Ryan, Doc and DC Dave.



The I heard the noise behind me that every cyclist fears. Loud honking of a horn. I was stunned at first, then I realized the horn was getting louder and was very close. I saw my life flash before my eyes. Then I saw a blur to the left of me, heard a voice yell at me, and then a pack of mid life crisises flew by in our lane, mind you this is a two lane back road, road with no other traffic, and these a-holes are screaming at us, trying to push us off the road.


Usually, I let these bad traffic cyclist situations roll off my back. Usually I just wave at them and offer up a "Americans love their cyclist" blast. But this day, I yelled, I screamed, I was stoked to not have on lobster glove because I wanted this pack of 12 gold wingers to know that I was flipping them off.


The Shark and I both increased the pace, I hoped for a quick stop sign, or that our paths might cross again. I was furious. Now I'm not that tough of a guy, but the fact that Shark could also be known as the linebacker of the peloton, probably boosted my toughness rating. (think big like maggie b..)


What really pissed me off was that it was totally unneeded. The road was clear of traffic, there was only 5 of us. They were just being dicks. Furthermore, I always found that motorcyclists kinda got the plight of the cyclists. Traffic doesn't see them, they are killed in senseless accidents.

Basically I may not understand the leather of a Harley dude, or the day glo suits of the bullet bike guy, but I always thought there was a kinship there or something. I can't even count the number of times I was waved to or waved back to a motorcycle guy. Then the gold wing assholes with their stupid microphones. "honey, I see 5 cyclists, lets really give it to them!" Fucking assholes. Hope your mid life crisis goes well for you.


Other than that ugly turn of events, and counting my blessings that I'm still alive, it was a pretty great weekend. Friday had us get out of dodge and head down to Annapolis to hang out at Miss Behavin's family place. We had a nice group down there with tough cookie, rotten, Zayne, PMO, Monkey, E-town and I. E-town did a great job with dinner.




Early Saturday morning I got out to the beach for a bit. It was beautiful.


Auer came by to check on his pupils, and see how 4 of his team riders were doing.



fun ride.



I gotta say I am very lucky. I love my wife, I love my life.


BTW, I mentioned above that I wasn't wearing lobster gloves today. First, aside from allowing me to give the metal sign, which I do quiet often...


these gloves also allow me to tell someone they are number one.



or number one.



best of all is the snot guard nose wiping section is the softest, best I have ever had. I'll admit I've had some pairs of gloves that rip your nose off when you try to clear the remnits of a snot rocket being launched from your nose. These bad boys are a like having a box of puffs with lotion on every ride!

The gloves are by sugoi.


respect.
faticus