Sharks, Grass Track and Stuff...

Dear Reader,

My name is fatmarc vanderbacon. I once dreamed of being an underwater photographer and getting up close pictures of sharks and saw-fish and stuff.

Went to grass track yesterday. Perhaps in spite of my better judgment. A very strong yet small group was there. No one took the warm up sprints too seriously, as the wet grass had everyone being extra cautious. With my reduced fitness, and reduced cross schedule I was kinda questioning myself as to why I was even there…

Then it happened.  Then we were racing.

I went too hot into the corner, the front tire sliding out as I had too much weight on it, I threw out my left leg, dabbed it on the ground as I felt the bike sliding out from under me. By the grace of god,  I kept the bike up right, and came out of the corner, clipping my foot back in and standing to accelerate, and not let any of the gentlemen in the group I was riding with pounce as they saw me flounder…. I held my spot, but lost some momentum. This was going to hurt. Out of the last corner three of us were going for it, digging deep. The line. is. right. there. Chappy took the effort, I might have edged Dennis, but maybe not. Crossed eye, and breathing heavily, I rolled up alongside my peers after the effort. Chappy said, “that was a good save, thought you were going down for sure.” nodding barely able to reply, I acknowledged his comment, “so did I” …

Next effort, everyone decided they wanted to slot in behind Anne Rock, who stole the holeshot with a killer start, and explosive acceleration. I was in the middle of Dennis and Chappy, as we headed into the corner. Chappy leaned on me a bit, I leaned back as we sped into the bend. It was subtle and maybe silly considering what we were riding bikes in circles in the grass, but it was awesome.  We entered the corner, my tires dug in. I held my ground and  I had half a wheel at the apex. We rolled through cleanly, packed tightly, and still fighting for position. I stood and jumped out of the corner claiming my spot behind Dennis, who had slipped ahead as Chappy and I did our impression of a hockey match at a bike race. 

Not one second after finishing one small battle, my mind raced and began trying to figure out a plan to get around Dennis, in the next three laps of the effort. I would be unsuccessful in that attempt, but the intensity, and attempt would be it’s own reward on this day.

 

at the end of each grass track we do a 4 lap ITT. I can never understand how a 1 minute 20 second effort can hurt so badly. Lisa goes sub 1:20 here... Photo From DennisBike.com

It was a rad time. Maybe it was just a few friends riding around in circles in field (literally) but it was racing.

It was fun. Racing bikes is fun.

Thanks (i)Paul, Lisa, Blakely, Anne, Travis, Jimmy Rock, Chappy, and Dennis…

thanks for reading.

respect

Vanderbacon