episode 005: beer or icecream- my baker's report

Does it make sense to plan your entire spring around a silly mountain bike team relay event?

no.

probably not.

well maybe. Let me explain...

For me Mountain Bike team relay racing is at the core of what I enjoy about mountainbike racing.

One of my first races I ever competed in was the 1993 24 hours of Canaan at the Timberline Lodge in West by God Virgina. This was when there was no solo or duo, it was all teams. Four and Five person teams, battling it out for 24hrs. Additionally, This was one of the events to do, it was the first, and the biggest, and a must do every year. Think 500 teams, selling out big. Think names like Gunnar, Ruther, Landis, Stamsted big... Sure we were beginners, what did we know... But I was hooked, and this style of racing was hardwired into my bike racing character.

My favorite mtb racing experiences have always centered around this style of team racing. It's one of the things I love about the sport. These experiences have taught me a number of lessons. The are:

1. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
2. Treat each lap as it's own race.
3. ABC- Always be conserving off the bike.
4. Race with people you love.

That last one is the most important. For me it makes the experience, it makes these team races special. I'd tell you that I know I'll put myself deeper in the hurt locker more for the people I race with, than I ever would for myself. And when I have those dark thoughts, those dark moments during these events, it's the thoughts of those people that help me HTFU and keep driving.

Having done a few with people I didn't know, and having someone bail in the middle of the race, or give up on the team, or poison the campsite, is well... horrible

For me xc racing is kinda of empty now a days. I just doesn't hold the lure, or the love for me. Compared to what I get from one of these relays, they just aren't as interesting or fulfilling.

So I'm a crosser and a mtb relay guy, what can I say... yeah, it's lame...
This weekend I was fortunate enough to be surrounded a number of my wonderful C3:Twenty 20 teammates (Sven, Melanie, Harlow, Shawn D, Matt B, Kennedy, Meatball, Bill Father of the Hammer, Sam the Hammer, Sweet Johny, Auer, Breyla-la, Tom McKay who I refuse to call t-mack) as well as having Norman and Hardy come out for support. The Delaware crew was also well represented with DLB from team DRT, Michigan Matt from Henry's, Blair from Canada, Hattie from Bike Line and DCCoCers Mark the Shark and Benny the Jewlar. We were also joined by Mayhew, Tille, and Rusty. I always appreciate having on site coaching!

Our line up for the weekend had me join two people I hold in great esteem, in Kim and Wes (see rule number 4) . Our team was formed at the MAC prom, and I'll admit I targeted my teammates when they were perhaps a little inebriated. "13 hours, it will be fun!?"

So if you see me coming at the next MAC prom, run.. Run Away... Who can say no to Fatmarc after a couple of beers? It was pretty much a perfect strategy from where I was sitting.

To make this long story short- Wes, Kim and I won the 3 man open class at the Baker's Dozen.
We made a plan, we worked our plan, and things all came together for us.

Plan was simple: jump on it early, do three full rotations, then look up, see how things looked, see how we felt, make any adjustments that were needed, and go again.

After 3 rotations, we had an 18 minute lead. We all felt good, so we stuck to our guns. In the end we had 22 laps, with Wes pulling down 8, Me pulling down 7, and Kim pulling down 7.

Once we got a lap on second place, we rode a little more conservatively, and focused on recovering, not cracking, crashing or having a mechanical. We accomplished all of the above, and walked away with a little green for our efforts. (that was a nice surprise!)

the course looked like this:


you'll notice this was my fastest lap of the weekend 29:47... I was pretty proud of that, especially after that 41 minute implosion the final lap at Fairhill last week. (Really I don't suck, I promise) My lap times went from the sub 30 as my fastest to my final lap a night lap of 34:24.
Wes was running times a little faster than mine on the single speed, while I never came out of my big ring. I shutter to think what he would have done on that course with gears.

I also always felt like he was saving something in case something went wrong, like he always had something else in the tank, as demonstrated when he offered to take my last lap for me. I appreciated the offer, but happily did my 7th lap... He must have been worried after I dropped a couple of "I love you mans" on him once it got dark.
Kim was running very steady 40-45 minute laps. Her bike handling and racing skills really shined. She is methodical in her approach, and the mental toughness she brought to the table was unifying focus for all of us.

On the drive home Kim and I were sharing stories from the race. She asked me, " Did you know we were going to win? Cause I really had no idea what to expect..." I responded, " I felt like we were prepared, had a team that gets on well and we are all strong starters so we should be in thick of things. Crazy stuff can happen in a long race like this, I felt like we'd be in the hunt, but nothing was a given. Wes, I conject, knew were were going to win. You could see it in his eyes this morning..."
It was a pretty outstanding weekend, and maybe it's silly to focus your spring season on a mountainbike relay race, but I'll live with it.

Thanks again to my great teammates from the weekend, Wes and Kim and to all the DCCoDers and C3-twenty20 cycles who helped make this weekend great.

Sharket and Shark.
Wiser gave me the finger every time he saw me during the race. I asked why, he said, "It's your fault I'm here, freaking mountain biking..." I also comment that the Shark made fun of my pre-race bacon, which might have had a little cooler water contamination, but the shark sure didn't turn it away. All the boys in the school yard want fatmarc's bacon... Shark did a great job in the solo class turning 17 laps...

thanks for reading.

respect.
a pretty destroyed Fatmarc
(champion of the obscure)