The Year is 2000...

Dear Readers,

This is an email I originally sent to my teammates in 2000 during Iron Hill week. I thought it was relevant and folks might enjoy it .  As a point of context at that time I was directing the Wooden Wheels team  and we were in a really good battle with Guy’s for the MASS Team Championship. There was only one team title offered by the MASS in those days. They would win in 2000, we would get our MASS Title in 2001. 

Iron Hill continues to be one of my favorite races. It's place in Delaware Mountainbiking is pretty special.

first sport race circa 1995 maybe? up slime hill.

Anyway, hope you enjoy :

Friends,

This week is perhaps one of my favorite race weeks each season. Iron Hill week. This race is at the center of Mountain Bike racing here in Delaware. This is where it all started. I remember watching Ben Smith, Bob Reuther, Greg Fergusson all battling it out week in and week out.

Doug Mills, director of Wilmington Velocity, was a mountain bike king. Dennis Smith was my ultimate hero and king of the world. Everyone had Vulcan bar ends and was clamoring for purple anodized parts. Nick Riddle had hair down to the middle of his back, and used road rings on the front of his Wicked Fat Chance.

Andrew  (Mein) was among the first with a rock shox fork, and swore he was 5 MPH faster on the DH with it. I remember when Jim McGroetery- "Muncle" himself, was king of the junior experts. Iron Hill is tradition.

It was a 6 week series that was run by FSVS. Each week a different local shop would provide prizes and a name. Races were named " Mudd, Sweat and Gears", and " Curse of the Gravity Cavity" For me Iron Hill brings back memories of my first race, a cat 5 ( that's right folks it was USCF at that time) race that was the end result of a beer bet. Me on my brothers huffy, I had about a lap and a half in me, the bike only lasted a lap.

I had my first win as a beginner at Iron Hill ( back when there was a beginner A and beginner B), and my first win as a sport rider, ( thanks for the great lead out 'Tuna (John Caltuna). For me Iron Hill has been the place to move up as I graduated from beginner to sport, and from sport to expert. (I finished 18th in both move up races). I remember meting a strapping young lad named Justin Thompson here. It's Gumby (Brent Godwin) on a freeride bike, and Lynn (Shaffer) getting a podium  with broken ribs. It's days so hot and humid you can't breath, and trails so muddy that you swear you never race in the rain again. It's the Phantom trail (Now appropriately known as Fuzzy’s Trail), the Mega Dip, the Bone Shaker, the yellow rock, Slime hill and the ugly ass log at the bottom. It's miss and outs on the whoopee do's and getting stung by bees on the 896 climb. It's where it started for me, and where Mountain Biking Racing in
Delaware was born. I love this place. I love this race.

Iron Hill is the final stage of the Delaware leg of the Super Series. (It used to be in early August) We have been successful holding court at both Fairhill and Granogue, and although the team points have not been posted, I have it on a couple of our teammates calculations that we have closed in on our Friend's from Philly: Guy's. This weekend we welcome Paul Gassler to the expert ranks.

The weekend we get to celebrate mountainbike racing at it's birth place here in Delaware. History, Tradition, Honor.... This is what Iron Hill Racing means to me.

Let's have a great week.


Thanks for reading.

respect
Fatmarc

Perhaps I'm a better cheerleader than bike racer...

Diane and I were both feeling pretty tired this week, so we opted out of racing Fairhill and went for a ride and then dropped into Fairhill  to cheer for some friends... I think people were stoked to have us cheering for them.

While I was cheering for a lot of friends, and wishing a lot of friends well, I might have been cheering loudest for this guy:

Go Todd, Go...

I wonder how many people have gotten fast chasing this dude around for years?
Count me in that posse.

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

Breathing With My Eyes...

Dear Reader,

This morning was dawn patrol ride for me.

It was pretty warm, and I felt good on the bike. I had some efforts on the agenda, and  headed out to one of my favorite trails: 5 bridges. I charged up the trail feeling good.  Near the first little peak, I came around the corner and there was a tree down. It  was about 8 inches off the ground, and the log itself was may another 8 inches in diameter. This is exactly the kind of log that I enjoy trying to ride. But not this morning. Without any thought, when I came around the corner, I unclipped my right leg and swung it around the back of the bike seat, dismounted cyclocross style, jumped over the log, and then was back on the bike, out of the saddle moving at what felt like the an instant. Damn that felt good. Smooth...

As I finished my effort, wiped the spit and droll off of my chin and thought about that trail, and specifically that log. Part of me wanted to go back and ride the log, but another part of me was so stoked about how that corner unfolded. I didn't expect the log, but there wasn't any hesitation, and as far as I can tell, no loss of speed or momentum. What if the log had been on the ground? What was the decision process in my head to dismount and run it, versus trying to ride it. In mid-effort oxygen debt, at speed it just happened. No thought, just action. It was weird.   The entire thing unfolded in a few seconds, I don’t remember thinking through the process, just jumping off the bike, running and speeding away. It just happened. It was automatic. It was rad. Deception and guile? 20 years of hacking around these trails? Muscle Memory? Mad Jedi Skills? nah... I was just lucky...

anyway, thanks for reading.

respect

Fatmarc

I'm a two beer lumberjack...

Dear Reader,

Diane and I cut a bunch of trees down today. Did a bunch of yard work. I think that I remember our wedding vows including something about me not having to do yard work, other than cutting the grass. Some kind of violation is in play here.

Friday I ran another 5k. This was a road run. I started too hard, tried to draft off of a tall skinny dude, but by the time we hit the half mile climb at 1.5 miles, I was pretty much dropped. I pushed hard and finished up with a 22:45. I'm pretty pleased with that time. Frankly, I think without the 1/2 mile climb in the middle I might have had a my personal record for a 5k.

Running is hard. I'm not sure I enjoy it. BUT I know I love to race, and 5k's are really kind of fast and fun, and battling in groups and... Shit it's great racing, and I like to suffer. No matter how much it hurts, and I suffer, I kinda love that competition, and pushing myself.  Got another one on the calendar already. Never mind that I still can't walk from Friday's 5k as of the writing of this...

Ugh. glutton for punishment...

Sunday

Monk was up for her next crit the lower providence crit. she has been working really hard, although I know her bad race at NYC was on her mind. I don't think either of us slept so great the night before. When I went down stairs to load the car, and her bike had 2 flats. I'll admit, I was worried. Perhaps a bad sign. Forget it. That said, I just changed the flats and loaded the car. I didn't tell her a thing until after the race.

At the race, we were happy to hang with our teammate Anne Rock. Anne is on my short list of favorite people in the world.

Anne and Diane

In this video Diane rides rollers, and Anne is in the background.

I went out to warm up with Diane, but she jumped in with a couple of dudes who were also warming up and quickly dropped me. She didn't need me to warm up with her.

I don't have any pictures of the race other than this one because

the camera battery dies and I'm lame.

She raced well, and stayed in the group. On the last lap with things got all strung out, one of the ladies in front of her kinda braked checked her as she was letting her teammate into the line. Monk had to grab a fist full of brakes, and then start jumping to try and get back in line. She fought to get back on but the race now had a small gap. She rolled in with the main field in the mid pack. She was bummed about the last lap, but really happy with her ride. It was a good day.

Saturday Charlie, Buddy the leg breakers, Dennis and I did the Mr. Belvedere hates you loop. It was hard, but fun.  Great group.

Very fun ride Saturday. Mr. Belvedere hates you.

Thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

This side of disaster...

Dear Readers,

I'm pretty confident that someday this could be me. Perhaps not such a bad thing:




This morning I had some efforts to do on the bike. I felt pretty good about them, picked out one of my favorite segments, and frankly felt pretty good about my chances of pulling down my PR.

I got a good start felt good, who am I kidding- I felt great, felt like I was flying. Yeah it was dark, and the darkness can sometimes fool you into thinking you're going faster than you are, but I felt good. Then I turned on to a slight short down hill and my light died. The darkness that moments ago I felt like I was cutting through now completely swallowed me. I hit the brakes as I couldn't see a foot in front of my face... effort over... Blah...

I finished up the trail- slowly and carefully and headed for the barns. I had some sprints to do. In the barns I sprint up one side, down the other, through one barn, through another, generally pretty fun stuff. 2 sprints left, and I jump out of the corner, enter the barn, and standing shift to a harder gear, I accelerate, shift to another harder gear, just as  I have done god knows 10 times previously this morning, when the gear jumps. My weight is thrown forward, I slam my knee into my stem and worse off, I'm on my front wheel not quiet over the bars yet, but rolling quickly towards the barn wall. At the last second I get my ass on the top tube, rear wheel down and veer to the right...narrowly avoiding impact with the barn wall.  I was bruised but by the grace of god, I didn't crash into that barn. I rolled out the other side, turned up the road, and pedaled home.

good way to start the day- just this side of disaster.

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

Brandywine Valley Association Trail Run

Dear Reader,

My name is Fatmarc Vanderbacon. I am not a runner.

Strangely, I have found myself in a few trail runs this year. Weird, I know.

I do consider myself a racer. Today I raced. It was fun. I will admit, I killed myself, and although I had no expectations of my effort, I was bummed with the final result.

Mother Daughter Kit? Very awesome for my niece...

Here's why:

One of the golden rules of racing is to know the course. There have been plenty of times when I haven't been able to ride a course, but I still know to check out the start, check out the finish. I also try to find were the tough climbs of a loop are, and know where I am in the race.

Today, I didn't follow any of these rules.

The start was good, I started fast not going with the fast real life runners, but cruising comfortably in the second group.  It was fun. I felt pretty good. Heck, I felt rock star...

Up the first little climb I saw one of the dudes from the Lums pond race. He's Matthew McConaughey hot. He did well at the 10k at Lums, so I figured I'd try to hang with him as long as I could. We passed through a few other groups and into the final mile or so of the course. We started up the first of two final climbs. Matthew McConaughey hot guy gapped me.

He was gone. One climb down, one to go. I kept a steady pace, as I could see the next climb coming and while not as steep it was much longer. I knew there was a guy right on me. I ran steady, but I won't lie, I run uphill worse than I climb on a bike. I was deep in the hurt in the box.

The dude passes me and kicks it up a little. He's putting in a solid surge.  I can see the top of the hill and it opens up to a field. I am also hurting, and thinking there's still a bit to go, so I don't counter for fear of totally blowing myself up. Stay steady, finish the hill.

Once I get to the top of the hill and into the clearing, I can see the finish 500 yards away. I pick up my pace trying to get back on terms with the dude who just passed me. He's got too much space. He takes me. I trot in 10 yards back. Damn I just fcuked that up.

With the trail run and 12hr races at Granogue this year, it's possible these two could meet. That much hotness in one place could be radioactive.

I was happy with my run, but hate giving up a spot at the end.  Insult to injury in the 40-49 class, I missed the podium when I lost that last spot. In the world of knowing how to prepare for a race, you know like checking out the last 1/2 mile of the course or so, I blew it.

But you know, I gotta call the day a win. That course was wicked hard, and really fun. I'm already looking at the next in the series.... While the bike is where it's at, these races have been really good.

Saturday, we had a nice group of us out for a ride.

these are the butts of Kurtee, Nancy, Mike K, Monkey and CONsorto.

We picked up Juan. Juan is from Columbia. He is 22 and is at the University. He asked if he could follow us on our loop. At first he didn't know how to integrate into the group, but the end of the ride he had figured it out. Nice kid. Juan was a natural climber, "that's because I'm little!" he told Monkey. Cool stuff. I'm not sure that at 22 I would have had the ability to just join a ride on the road, in a strange country, riding where I have no idea that I am. It was really cool. A nice surprise.

anyway, MGT610 studying awaits...

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc vanderbacon

2014 maybe a year without cyclocross

How shit gets done.

I write an angry blog, UCI  postpones enforcement of the rule for a year. the power of bacon.

Let's get this sorted out in the next 8 months or so okay... Make this right USAC....

respect
fm

a year without cyclocross

Dear Reader,

My name is Marc Vettori. I love to race cyclocross. I think about it all year. I dream about it. I serve on the MAC Board. I have helped promote races, and taught clinics. I am a recruiter for the sport. I travel to different regions every year to race cross. Cyclocross is one of my passions. I am a cross evangelist.

For me, 2013 may be a year without cyclocross.

Anyone who rides a bike and is connected at some level to social media has no doubt become aware that USAC  and UCI have taken an aggressive position on rule 1.2.019. The rule basically says that anyone holding a UCI license is forbidden from riding in races not sanctioned by USAC or UCI. The intent of the rule is to make sure that professional cyclists, cyclists earning contracts and their living on a bike, don’t poach local/grass roots events. The current application of the USAC is nothing more than an imperialistic move to assimilate all road, mtb, cross racing into their organization. I can’t contribute to that machine.

This enforcement of this rule is nothing more than a cash grab on the part of USAC.

I find this offensive on two primary levels.

First, I note the number of  riders (many friends)  that currently hold UCI licenses because while not contract holding professionals, they have grown to the level that UCI races are their appropriate cyclocross class. Also in this group are the UCI masters racers, who raced UCI worlds last January who now risk fine and or suspension for participating in non USAC races.  The Mid Atlantic, as much of the country, is heavy in non-sanctioned races in the mountain bike discipline.  Non USAC races are often the meat of the calendar for regional  mountainbikers. We aren’t talking about professionals trying to earn a living, but passionate bike racers that just want to race their bikes and go home to their families and their day jobs at the end of the weekend. The very riders who support USAC, pay the bills and really take very little back from the organization are potentially going to be fined and suspended? It’s sickening.

These bread and butter locals and masters who raced UCI worlds in January risk fine and/or suspension for racing  events like Marysville relay, baker’s dozen, Patapsco 100, any of the Michaux races, the trans epic  or the 12 Hours of GRANOGUE! The 12 hours of Granogue! The current application of the rule in no way fosters the growth, or develops mountain bike or cross racing. This is about cashing in for USAC and gaining assimilation.

I can’t contribute to that machine…

Which brings me to my second point.

Our promotion team had promoted a UCI/USAC cross race for years. We were UCI/USAC because it brought value to our riders. It was a benefit to them and in the long run raised the level of our cross race.  At the same time we have and continue to promote a non-federation mountain bike race. Initially the mountainbike race was a cross county event, and now is an endurance race. Our choice to be non-USAC is because USAC brought no additional value to our ridership. Our promotion team,  Velo Amis, is a 501 C3 nonprofit. Our goal each year is to cover our  race budget- have enough in the bank to promote the race the next year, and give away everything else. We have donated to Delaware Special Olympics, the Hera Foundation, and The Livestrong Foundation. We have given money to numerous individuals in the mid atlantic that qualified for worlds/Euro Camp including Laura Van Gilder, Kerry Warner, Gunnar Bergey, Harlan Price and Sam O’Keefe.  So when I read this response from USAC on cyclingnews :

“Some of the mountain bike events that haven't been sanctioned by USA Cycling in the past are boasting significant prize lists, so the USA Cycling permit fee does not seem to be a financial burden for those events. “

Who the hell are you to tell us what’s good for our ridership, or how we should direct our finances?  Answer the question that my regional rep has not been able to, and tell me the value add for my riders? Additionally, is our money better served going into your pocket or to the charities we choose to support? USAC can only see money they want in their pocket.

USAC continues to say

“The only reasons not to sanction an event with USA Cycling are if the organizer is: 1) under-insuring the volunteers and/or participants, 2) avoiding the requirement to have USA Cycling licensed officials at the event and the athlete protection policies they enforce or 3) avoiding the USA Cycling RaceClean program.”

A quick look at their points:

1.     The point about officials is pretty valid. I like our USAC officials- good people. I always appreciated their feedback. That said we’ve been doing mtb races for over 10 years with no issues without a USAC official on site.

2.     No one is promoting a race w/o insurance. It has been my experience that we work closely with our brokers to make sure they understand the scope of our events, and  the proper level of insurance is acquired.

3.     And this is where I lose my shit a little : is USAC really going to tout their brand new ride clean program? Fucking Seriously!!?? Because USAC has shown such success catching dopers, that supporting this brand new for 2013 program is reason enough to affiliate with USAC.  You have to be kidding me. It’s disgusting.

.      

I just can’t support that machine.

My team director, was one of many who was attending the UCI promoters conference at Colorado Springs when the clarification regarding UCI Reg 1.2.019 was released. He has assured our team the kind folks at USAC are working to provide a tenable compromise for everyone. I certainly hope that they do. I am after all a pretty positive guy. That said, the quotes from above are from 4/9- after the conference.

Cross in our region is an all USAC/UCI affair, and while I love it, I am so frustrated right now as a promoter, a racer, and a fan that I just can’t support that machine. As much as I love racing cross, I’m just not sure I can fork over another $60 for a license to an organization that’s actions only reinforce they don’t really care about this sport as much as our wallets. Prove me wrong USAC. Prove me wrong.

Who knows, maybe once nationals are out of the mid atlantic, our promotion team  starts up the Fatmarc.com MTB Series… of course– a Non-USAC series.

Wonder if I could get any traction there? What about in 2014?

As much as it saddens me, I can potentially see 2013 as a year without cyclocross for me.

Thanks for reading.

respect

Marc Vettori

Sun's out legs out:

Dear Readers,


Wes's leg 1 day sun:

My leg 1 day sun:

no other comment needed.

thanks for reading.

best to you all.

respect
fatmarc

Naval Yard Crit

Dear Reader,

Diane's race did not go as planned. It was her first crit with hard corners, and we didn't do nearly as well as we had hoped. She's been working very hard. The Vanderbacons are a resilient people, she's already back at the lab and continueing to work hard.

While she was upset after the race, today's weather has her quite giddy.

I took a pretty good beating from Buddy, Nick, Stu, Mike, JW, and Rombach sunday on a nice little 4 parker. Hopefully the warm weather will help to loosen up the old joints today!

best to you all.

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

NO CAPES!

Dear Readers,

True Life Text Exchange:

Chris:  You going to Great Valley tomorrow?

FM: Yes, leaving work around 4:40 or so, want to ride with us?

Chris: Cool, I’ll bring my front wheel.

FM: Front Wheel!? Hell. Bring a road bike!

Chris: If all goes to plan…

Chris is one of my favorite teammates, and training partners, but he might have forgotten a thing or two over the years. Like the time we drove to a race, and he forgot his front wheel. Or last year when we went to great valley, a training crit that he had done with us previously, and brought his cross bike because he thought it was a cross practice. It didn't really slow him down, as he had no trouble staying in the group on his cross bike, complete with freshly glue tubies. Chris is awesome. Chris may have over dressed a little last night, and when he opened his jacket is flapped in the wind like an awesome yellow cape.

every time I would rotate past him I would say, "NO CAPES!" 

He would just smile and laugh at me.

last night was so much fun. It was a little faster, a little more argy bargy, a little more sketchy, but freakin' awesome. I woke up this morning still stoked. It was so much fun.

I whiffed a bit on my exam this week. My worst exam score since I started school. 10 question test, got 2 wrong. One I just didn't know (confused Fayol and Follet), the second I knew but didn't read the question right, and got it wrong. Sloppy mistake. The good news is that each test had a individual and group part. We crushed the group part.  What was frustrating was that I felt really good about the material, I think I was doing a bit of over-thinking  I’ll do better next time.  Working with my counselor at school, I think I have devised a plan to wrap up my time as a student in a little less than a year. Still feels like I just started. I have really enjoyed school to this point. I will enjoy getting back 10 hours or so a week for other things however…

Anyway, that’s where the world lays today.

Thanks for reading…

respect

fatmarc

Legs Happily Destroyed

Dear Reader,

A freakin' wonderful weekend of riding. Put together some great rides, and great efforts. Got slapped around a bunch. It was a great weekend. Here are some shots from the 6 hour race that came out this weekend...  Exam tomorrow night. Interesting Material. School is good right now. A little more spring in the air this week? Let's hope.

Buddy, breaking legs...

This was my favorite shot of all of them from Swim, Bike, Run... Nice stuff

you can tell a master's racer based on the number of layers they wear. One for every decade.
Like counting rings on a tree..

yeah, I used my cross skills to scrum my ass to the front row.

BTW- someone please slap Sagan around a bit. I want to like this guy, I want to like his celebrations, but how about a little respect for anyone- women, cycling, the podium...  Lame....

Happy April.

respect
fatmarc