So back in the day (I feel really old now), we had a pretty good core group of folks that were heading out doing 12/24 hrs races. We did pretty well. Then that bubble kinda burst, and we got old, and well life happens.

Peaches, L-Web, Buddy and I were all a part of that group. Peaches, who's ass I have busted a number of times on this blog, is one of my favorite people in the world. He is an amazing father, funny as hell guy, and one of those guys who is more natural on a bike and then walking.

But, I digress, Peaches, L-Web, Buddy and I were trying to get our shit together and head out to state college for the Roth Rock race next week. While I, I won't make it, this was the email that Peaches sent, that had me laughing so much that I felt compared to share.  Bruce Springsteen's glory days might have been playing when I was reading this:

RE: Getting the band back together

So I hear we are ALL making the trip north to State College.  Man, it's like the good old days.  Back when I had no kids.  Lauri's SS weighed 42 pounds.  Buddy still fit large jerseys.  Fatmarc actually trained and never got on a podium.   God, I miss those days.

I will drive the Mannyvan.  We can all fit comfortably with the bikes.

Matt

I am off to "train".  Which these days involves diggin' holes and chasing kids on the beach.  Followed by heavy drinking.

Sent from my iPad

respect

vanderbacon

The Window Slams Shut

As this year rolled around I was excited to start school. To be honest, I had no expectations of being able to race this year, and frankly really no expectations of racing well this year. School has been great, and while it makes my time a lot tigher, I am really enjoying it. Surprisingly, I was able to squeeze in a number of races, and low and behold I raced pretty well.

I admit, I got a little greedy. Doing well in school, keeping balance at home, job going well, racing well… Where I started the season not planning on any races, in the past couple of weeks I did begin to plan on racing, and focus energies there… Frankly, I had planned on racing the first 3 weeks of July on the MTB and maybe hit on one of the local Chesco Crits along the way…

And then, then reality hit and window slammed shut. I got my course information for my next class, ACCT 644. There’s a lot of work in there for the next 8 weeks. 4 exams, 2 group projects-  Group Projects=Kryptonite for weekends…. And so, and so with that.. with that I believe the window on my  season has slammed shut. No stress, no regrets- I’m a college kid, and that’s the hat I’ll proudly wear.
The hat of mid pack masters racer will have to wait for another couple of weeks.

Here’s to hoping that after the next 8 weeks I'll have some legs for some cross racing…

Respect

vanderbacon

Two Done...

I took my second final of my new school career tonight. This is my fourth exam, and maybe 8th  test in my now 16 week grad career. My second class has been really good. I'll admit I was disappointed with my grade on my midterm this block. I made some sloppy mistakes. I knew the material better than I showed. I still got a strong grade but I wasn't happy. In a weird way,  I feel like I'm playing with house money, and I care less about the grade then getting the most out of the class that I can. I guess to some extent I'm measuring that by the grade, so yeah, I do care about the grade. That and I fucking want to get everything right. I spend too much time studying to expect anything less. I wanted to do better on the final.




Tonight, sitting in class waiting for my final, I felt myself sweating. Despite the classroom being very well air conditioned, I was nervous. Sweating, I felt the first drop roll across my brow. Then, I pitted out my shirt. The professor passed out the exams, I felt my heart rate spike. I smelled myself. The smell was not my best. Oddly, once I smelled myself, I felt myself relax. I took a deep breath... Is this my test routine? Can it get any easier?  Knowing me probably not. How come none of my classmates seem to be freaking out? I don't get it. How did I end up the oldest, dorkiest, most freaked out guy in the class?






I was the first one finished the test. I hate being the first finished. I turned in my exam, thanked my professor and went home. Another strong grade. Better than the mid term, but still a couple of mistakes. I can live with that....


Two classes down, ten to go....


On to the next, next week...


respect.
vanderbacon

50 riders for Anne Rock's 50th...

Have a great one Anne. Thanks for sharing a great day...

Granogue Cross 2012

Dear Friends of Granogue Cross,

After a lot of deliberation and heartfelt introspection, we have decided to not host the Granogue Cross Weekend for 2012. Our team has worked tenaciously over the years promoting the Granogue Race as well ascyclocross in the general. We are very proud of the fruits of our labor, the growth of our event as well as the growth of cross in our region. That being said, the effort of putting on any race, let alone an event like Granogue Cross is not an easy undertaking. We have always been our toughest critics, and held ourselves to our own ridiculous standards. Our goal has always been to put on races that we would want to do. This spring we came to a realization that after of years of trying to better ourselves each year- it has taken a toll on our team. In short, we need a break. We need a year off.

We are keeping our options open for returning for 2013 and beyond.

We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us over the years- volunteers and racers.

Thanks to the volunteer army that makes it happen every year, often times sacrificing their results to support the event.

Thanks to the local bike shops, teams and companies that have supported us with swag, support and adult beverages.

Thanks to the racers that traveled from all over the country, heck the world, to come to our event and race with us.

Thank you for spreading the word of about our event. Your word of mouth has always been our best marketing.

You could have raced anywhere in the world, you chose to be with us, we appreciate that.

Best to you all.

respect

Tom McDaniel

Lauri Weber (L-web)

Marc Vettori (fatmarc)

Peaches!

At the Todd Forrest benefit my good friend Peaches was involved in a terrible pixie bike crash.

I'm afraid a long and fruitful Pixie bike racing career may have just come to a close. Let's hope for a quick recovery for Peaches.

down Elk Chapel and to the Todd Forrest Benefit

pouring out of Crack Head...

fixing a flat... that's that elbow...

respect
vanderbacon

2 teams - night time trial...

Bikes are cool. Check out these videos from last Friday's night time trial.

Emily dragging me around.

Jeffy dragging me around...

I'm really proud of the riders on my Thursday night group ride. Tonight they pretty much crushed my soul. In a sick sad way, I was ridiculously proud. Despite my ego hurting... Besides, I always have cross season...

respect
vamderbacon

12 hours of Granogue

First and foremost thanks to all the volunteers,  and all the racers that came out and made this weekend such a success. It was a pretty amazing. We are a community race, and it takes a community to make this event happen.  Thanks. so here are a few of my thoughts:

Kurtee making it all happen.

Friday:
get to the venue at 12. Meet Tom, Charlie and Benny shortly there after ... the adventure, and years of planning is finally coming to fruition.... Potter had a vet appointment and makes it to the venue with me... Let me say this, he may have had the greatest day ever...

Potter had a great day Friday!

Monkey wanted to know how Carlos made the toughest climb look like a downhill in this shot.

Night Time Trial... one of my favorite races ever... 30+ riders, great racing... I teamed wtih Jeffy ... he was crushing and had to wait for me on the hills, and after all the single track sections too. Crap, I think I held him up a lot. We had the 4th fastest time over all barely edging out Buddy the leg breaker and Dennis.com bike in the duo division. It was rad...

I'm about to take a 20 minute ass beating...

Clearly one of the highlights of the weekend for me is the TT. I like riding as a team, and I like rolling with Jeffy. This year, I was lucky enough to get a second run. My second run was with Emily White. Much like my partnership with Jeff,  she needed to wait for me on the hills, and then she waited for me on the single track. Frankly, I think I held her up.

Had a rad video, but it wouldn't up load, so here's Em crushing it!

Climbing up around the field climb, I looked over Emily's shoulder and saw a set of eyes starring at us coming down the trail. "Look out for the cat up on the trail." Emily calmly replies, "that's not a Cat, it's a raccoon!" I instantly scream like Jamey Lee Curtis.  Emily was cool and calm...  We rolled into the finish, and frankly if the night ended there it would have been a success...

the calm before the storm Saturday morning...

This kid came over asked if he could have a  cup of coffee, and after assuring us he's allowed, he made himself a cup sat down read his book. He finished his cup, set it on the table, thanked us and walked away.

Dennis and Buddy head out for their smokin' TT run.

11:00 came, and we called it a night...


Saturday:
300 runners greeted us and headed out on our running course. They are freakin' nuts...
the bike race started with the awesome le mans style start... It was very cool. I gotta be honest once the race got going things were a blur for me. I loved working the transition area for both the first 3 hours and the final hours.

The Night Time Trial results: class winner highlighted

Blake and Anne clearly up to no good...

 The day was a blur, people racing hard, kids races, even getting out for a lap. Our team really shined I thought. The weather was beautiful, and what we had dreamed about for years unfolded before our eyes. It was pretty amazing. I've have had the privilege to promote races on the Granogue Estate for just about 20 years now. This was without a doubt, my favorite. 

Kids race Chaos

10:30 we had awards, and surprised the racers and support crew with pizza and recovery drink.

I think the surprise went over well.

To the ARMY of volunteers, marshaling, setting up, tearing down, helping people- thanks none of this would happen without your help. A community is only as strong as the people who are willing to do something for the community... good on you all... thanks...

Props to Buddy for a great vision of the course, and to his team of section leaders that made it happen. Thanks to Tom for running logistics, and his masterful view of the venue. Thanks to Charlie for making the run happen, and all his efforts on multiple fronts, the least of which is having the gator on sight and talking me off of at lease 6 cliffs. Blake saves the day, and takes the term liaison to another level.  Finally,  Lauri is frankly is the queen of all of it. I'm pretty convinced that without her none of this would happen. She is the bond that holds us all together. She gets me excited to do these things...

Ryan Sears crashed out...

Tom made sure all the racers were cooled off after their laps...

Monk and I working the transition area for the final shift. Lights mounted at 7:00!

I'm still pretty cracked, I'm guessing this blog isn't going to get any better, so I'll wrap it up

Looking for something to do next Saturday? Check the Poker Run to Benefit Todd Forrest. You can find more info here: day of reg too!

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

Mid Term Exams

We had mid term exams at school this week.
I got  94%. The highest grade in the class. I am totally stoked. I have been studying hard and the class has been really tough. I am very pleased.

Then a funny thing happened. A guy I have seen around campus, who I always thought was a good guy, came over and told me about his mid-term. While we weren't even in the same class he went out of his way to tell me that he got a 94:08 on his test. Further, he went to tell me that if he was in my class he would have had the highest grade in the class. Wow, that was weird. No worries, I'm gonna enjoy my grade, it was hard earned.

You know, I have always prided myself in being happy for others when they are successful. I know some students have an ego problem and need to tell everyone how great they are all the time. I enjoy watching people I respect and know do well. Some guys need to beat on their chests to feel good about themselves.  These guys might be good students, but frankly they're like school in the summer: no class.

Who knows maybe someday we'll be in the same class, maybe he'll get :08 higher than me. That will be just fine, and I'll wish him well. After all his intellect is clearly superior to mine. Being a scholar is more than just getting good grades. Sometimes it is being a good person. Not everyone gets that. I feel bad for those people, because they are kinda missing the point. I mean, it's only masters rac... I mean grad school.

good on you all.

respect
m

The Ying and the Yang....

Saturday morning I did the Philadelphia Amateur Time Trial in chorus with the big Philly bike race. I rode 8 miles in 19minutes and 15 seconds. I averaged 25mph for the 8 miles. It would appear that the other 18 Cat 3 racers in the Time Trial all rode 26 MPH (and better) as I finished dead fucking last. Dead Last. While I was pleased with my effort, I was dead last....

Sunday morning I lined up  with thirty-five other 40+ cat 1's. I'm an old school cross racer, so I'm pretty good at the scrum and lined up on the front row between my teammate Joe Lillibridge and Bob Ruether. (holy shit, I lined up next to Bob Freaking Reuther). Gary Grim busted me a little saying, I wonder who is going to get hole shot? pointing at me. Of course the gun went off and I totally missed my pedal and was instantly in like 20th place. Gary's Jedi mind trick had worked. So I panic, I thrash around a bit and I attack to try and get back to the group. Good news, I made it, bad new as we crossed Appleton road, I was pretty sure I just popped.

the gentleman on the right here demonstrates what popped less than 2 minutes into a race looks like...

Martin Mrugal, Joe and Reuther charged to the front, and I held on for dear life.  As we crossed the creek I saw Martin pull up in the exact place were I flatted last year, He had flatted. Good news Marty, if karma repeats itself you're gonna have a great ride next year! Into the single track and a couple of other guys get in front of me including Bob Eichlin,  Peter Phillips and John Cleary who works his way to the front.

the first 7-8 of us continued to drive through the course pretty much nose to tail.  At the base of Randall's Revenge I could hear Linda Pipes ringing her cowbell. At that little creek crossing Joe's chain dropped and there was a little pile up. I slipped up the side and made contact with Eichlin and Reuther (Bob Freakin' Reuther!! I'm riding with Bob Reuther!!!) Cleary powered his way up Randall's Revenge and on to the Twilight zone...  I passed Eichlin and sat on Reuther's wheel for a bit, but Cleary, who like myself is local started to get a gap. I slipped by Bob fulfilling fantasies of racing with a guy who has been a hero over 20 years, and bit my lip to bridge up to John Cleary.  I made contact just before the little up hill rock garden. At the garden I had a full on head of steam and came around John.

I don't remember attacking, but I do remember pushing it hard there. John is a much better climber than I am, and I think I ride tight twisty a bit better than him. I thought if we got to the fireroad at the start finish together, he'd destroy me. So I got a gap. And I never looked back...

"shit, I've gotta gap... now I gotta go.. this is gonna hurt..."

On lap two I buried myself to build up my lead as much as I could.

On lap three I just stayed steady. I told myself if I could get over Randal's Revenge and hear Linda Pipes ringing that sweet cowbell just one more time with the lead, no one was going to pass me on the twilight zone trail.

And that's how it ended up. Complete with a nice little soft pedal at the end to take it in.

Dead Fucking Last on Saturday, and top step of the podium on Sunday. Unfuckingbelivable.

Monkey finished 4th in the 40+ women's today. A super solid results any day, but considering her rollercoaster of wellness lately, I know she is pleased. She truly amazes me some days. today was one of them...

In 20 years of bike racing, I have never won 3 races in a year. It just doesn't happen. I'm a mid pack masters guy, and in a year where frankly I didn't expect to race at all, where my riding has really been cut back, and moved down the priority scale, my only thought is... well fuck, I should have gone to grad school a long time ago!  I also know that a ton of people have to really pushed me this year:

"When you get done the race can we go to the bar over there?"

Monkey- who is my best friend and partner in crime. I come up with some crazy idea and she usually nods her head and says, yeah we could make that happen... We sat at the kitchen table this afternoon trading stories from our races, and she says, "man today fuckin' hurt, but bike racing is so much fun..." Coincidentally, she had similar comments after saturday's TT "man that fucking hurt, and man we are bad at tt's, but that was fun!"

" I'm gonna drink 3 beers, just three I promise!"

Kris Auer- a great friend, mentor and coach. He has really helped me maximize the time I can ride, and does a great job keeping me balanced when you know, I'm being a basket case...

"so hurry up and crush this lap, I'm really thirsty!"

I started the Thursday Night ride because I didn't think I was going to be able to race this year. I wanted to create a ride were folks go hard get a work out and learn from each other. Based on the success of riders in the group, I have been really proud. I also have to admit, it's helped me. Having a guys like Nick Sears over my shoulder pushing me each week, has been amazing. Having Dennis Smith, one of my heroes there every week just crushing me, has been great fun and helped me improve period. Thanks to Nick, Dennis, Joe, Dave, Jim V, Bill P, Pricey, Chris F'in Jackson,Shane, Easterby,Ted and Matt, Travis H... I hope I didn't miss anyone... When I coached wrestling I told my guys they were only as good as the guys they worked out with. I am lucky to have some of the best...

4. Velo Amis- Lauri, Tom, Buddy, Blake, Travis.... I don't even really know what to say here, but I wouldn't be doing this without you guys.. My sanity check when I need one. My favorite people in the world to ride,eat, promote with...  Thanks so much... You make all make my life better...

the guy who provides the method part to my madness...

needless to say my face hurts from smiling. It's been a strange and wonderful year that's all I can really say...

Hope to see you all at Granogue Next week!

respect
fatmarc vanderbacon

(thanks to Dennis and Linda and Jen Sears for awesome pictures!)