Weekend of Awesomeness

After a few weeks of craziness, and really having my head in the midst of all the things I hate about our sport, my head was spinning and frankly I was kinda bummed out. Reading Hamilton's book didn't help out this perspective. This weekend really showcased all the things about our sport that I love. Reminded me why I'm in love with this silly-assed bike game.

Delaware Special Olympics Cycling Classic (at the Air Force Base in Dover, DE)
totally awesome day. Never mind when I got there at 6:30am there the gate for our entrance was locked and no one was to be found. Never mind that I went to the main gate of the base asking for directions and was asked, "sir can you please step out of your car?"  I smiled, agreed and thought to myself, "this is wear the strip search starts..." Never mind that I finally got my buddy, SO event directer Wiser on the phone and he said, "we got a little delayed with the truck, I'll be right there.." Why would there be an issue bringing a rented U-haul truck on to an Air Force Base? All of this which was all smiles really, was just the beginning of a great day.

Wiser was the man with a plan.

Can you find the Faticus and Jesse in this photo?

The Athletes were racing in a variety of time trials from 1k-20k, with many doubling up. The Air Force base had tons of volunteers, and Jesse P (PhillyCiclisimo) and I were the rider escorts, leading racers around the course, helping pace them, talking to them. It was pretty damn Amazing... Fort James was the chief timer and made sure everyone got off on time, and had a timer working with them... It was freaking awesome.

FortJames made sure everyone got off on time...

I'm not gonna say that I didn't well up a couple of times on this day. I did, but let me tell you this, they were tears of joy. You get perspective really fucking quickly working this event. I think I needed some of it. What was really clear, was that I needed to be at the Special Olympics far more than the Special Olympics needed me.

Tacchino Cross
If there is one word I could use to describe Tacchino Cross it would be Hugs. Lots of them. Like the first day of school, or a reunion, or hell... Lots of hugs. The course was super fun, and I have to admit may have inched it's way into my 5 favorite courses of all time. The racing was great, but more so it was awesome to see so many old friends, and frankly have big fat hugs.

Jim McNeely- Most Hugable man on the Planet?

I attribute that Hugable atmosphere as much to the great weather, as I do the promoter Jim McNeely. Jim makes me happy when ever I see the guy, and frankly, he always puts on a great show and frankly beyond the race, it's just a great time. Good food, drink, a funk band, and Schieken on the mic was rad.

Jen and Monk debrief..

Let me digress. In my adult life, there have been 2 people that can talk me into doing things that I hadn't planned. Worse, things that frankly if you ask me, I'd say, "no freaking way am I doing this..." My brother Craig, and Auer. I have to be honest, we are planning on racing a lot in the next few weeks, and I hadn't planned on doing Tacchino. But Auer gave me a call, and "come on down, we'll do the singlespeed race, have a couple of drinks, it'll be fun!" and thus I was there, never mind that I didn't have a single speed cross bike (until last wednesday), little details.





So Monkey, L-Web and I fit all our bikes, all our wheels, all our stuff, in the Fit and hit the road. It was a really fun, hard day. Thanks to everyone for making it happen.

Which one of these kids has gray in their beard?

Special thanks to Jon Seibold and Chip Baker who helped me get my gearing set up on my single speed cross bike, which I will now be referred to as "the C bike".... The single speed race was fun, and I might toe the line with the one gears again this season...

Jon Seibold beard of awesomeness.

Lauri charging in the Vandessel kit.

Two quick stories...

Jim and I standing by pit, handing out dollars in the dollar primes. Monkey was coming by and I was pretty excited, I was gonna hand her a dollar, stuff it in her jersey. She made eye contact at me and said, "I need a bike!" Shit. I run across the pit, grab her bike and get her out with no trouble. Not our smoothest pit, but she wasn't delayed at all. "whew"  a lap or so later when Monkey finishes up, she rolled over to the pit and asks, "hey man, where's my dollar?" we all laughed...

Dennisbike

Finally, Dennis Smith, one of the two guys that I followed to my first cross race ever, and a guy whose been helping me out along the way ever since won the 55+ race today, we were waiting for the podium and David from Arrow bikes, who I worked with at the Powers/JBV Clinic last year, said, "thanks for all the coaching last year it really paid off." I told him he was welcome, then pointed to Dennis, and said, "this is one of the guys that taught me how to do this stuff! David and Dennis (1st and 2nd) shook hands and David thanked Dennis... It was a cool moment...

Then Monkey and Lauri, who both had fun days, but not the rides they wanted, and I loaded up the fit, and headed home with all smiles....

Later, Matt M and Jaime were driving through and they joined Monk and I for dinner as we re-hashed the awesomeness of the day, as we ate food that was horrible for us, and drank beer. It was good stuff...

It was an awesome weekend.

thanks for reading.

respect
Vanderbacon