Your Neighbors Vacation Slides

Dear Reader,

First- There is no bike related content in the post. Not that all my posts are bike related, but this one is definitely not.

Diane and  a Minion. I'll let you decided which is which.

Monk and I spent the past few days crashing at my brother and his lovely wife’s timeshare in Orlando. It was really an amazing trip. The bulk of the trip was spent poolside reading a book (the Iron War), drinking some Bud Light Limes chasing my niece and nephew around the pool, and just relaxing. I don’t think either of us realized how badly we needed some real downtime, but man it was glorious.

Editor’s note on the Bud Light Lime. While not my beer of choice, but for a quick, cheap, light pool side refreshment- I’m not going to argue. It’s not like we were drinking Coors Light or something…

But I digress…

Monk and her "Hangover Baby Glasses" with the Missy Tilly (the ship at the center of the story shipwrecked at the top behind)

always someone looking over your shoulder...

Our final day we went to the Disney Typhoon Lagoon water Park. Let me say that generally speaking, we are not theme park people. Further I think I've only been to a water part once before- like 20 years ago. So my expectations were pretty low. BOOM! Mind Blown.

We got there right when the gates opened, set up our little spot on the beach and proceeded to hit all the water-slides in the park. Maybe twice.  It was so much fun. We chased each other up the stairs, and raced down a variety of slides with tubes, drops, waterfalls and lots of smiles.

I drank a milkshake each day of the trip. I did not share with Captain Hook!

While the slides were fun, my favorite moment of the day came a little after lunch when Monk and I waded out into the wave pool with our nephew Farticus and his sister Taylor. The waves were coming out steady, but at a predictable pace, and we wandered out to where the water was about 5 ft. deep or so…  We hadn't noticed initially, but there was a red line on the floor of the pool where we stood. Hmm, isn't that interesting… We goofed around a bit and then noticed that the waves stopped. Again we played with the kids, really kind of oblivious to anything that was happening. Suddenly, out of nowhere a loud horn sounded, and then we heard a loud thundering clapping noise. We noticed a big wave had just been launched. Kids behind us began to scream in anticipation. The roar of the wave and the screams were amazingly loud. Monk looked at me with great urgency as the Typhoon in Typhoon Lagoon was quickly bearing down on us. She said, “Grab Farticus!” as she grabbed Taylor. The wave quickly rolled up on top of us.  My feet were swept off of the bottom of the pool.  I felt the man-made current carry us toward the shallow end. As I was released from the wave, I stood up with Farticus in my arms looked for Diane. I saw her a few feet over from us looking a little disheveled with her hair in her face. My niece was smiling  ear to ear. I looked at Farticus and asked him if he was okay.

The Pools did not suck...

Young Farticus thrust his arms in the air victoriously and yelled, “THAT WAS AWESOME!!! CAN WE DO IT AGAIN!?!?”  We all laughed because it was awesome, and the fact that we had cluelessly wandered into the big wave was silly, and really fun. So of course we did it again, and again, and again….

All Smiles! 

  It was really a great day. While I admit I’m not a huge theme park guy, this was done so well. Tons of fun slides, a great atmosphere, and beach boys/dick dale inspired music piped in all day- plus that amazing wave pool… And just when I was cracking a bit, a gentle tube ride around the lazy river was just what the doctor ordered. Such a great experience, and just one of many high lights from this amazing trip…

Thanks for reading.

respect.
Vanderbacon

Bees Knees

Dear Readers,

As many long time fatmarc readers know, Diane (my better half and favorite riding partner) has been battling with knee issues for almost a year now. This of course after 2 years of not having knee issues, and having bad issues for the year before that... It has been a long road and a 5 years from a knee injury standpoint.

Diane started riding again a couple of weeks ago. The rides have been very slow, and very measured. She started with a 20 minute ride, and has slowly built up to 50 minutes. All of these rides have been flat, on the road and again very measured. While the initial feedback here has been positive, Diane says that the knee just feels very weak.  Again, she is smartly taking this very slowly...

Diane's first couple of rides she only relied upon a stop watch to track her time. Last week she broke out the Garmin.  This morning, I got this phone call.

Me: "Thanks for calling the Clog Factory this Marc speaking how can I help you?"

Diane: "I'm gonna have to stop riding with the GPS, or at least keep it in my jersey pocket."

Me:"Pardon me?"

Diane: "I just can't help myself. I know how fast I have been going, and I look down and I think, I can go just a little faster, even when I shouldn't I feel myself pushing just a little..."

Me: "Well, what did you think of the new SRAM GPS holder I put on your bike."

Diane: "Hate it. I mean it's right there, so easy to see. I find myself checking it too much.. I look at the speed and I think I can push a little more..."

Me: "Well what if we changed the screen so it just showed time?"

Diane: "wouldn't help, I'd change it to a screen with the speed and distance. I just can't help myself. I see that data, and I push... I think I'm just gonna keep it in my pocket. I mean, I think I could have made an hour last night, but I kept pushing and going faster [she averaged 12 last night for the first time since the injury] and I was afraid that I might have already done too much. Yup, it's gotta go in my pocket."

Me: "if that's what you think is best. This is going to be a slow process, you are already doing better than I thought you would..."

Diane:"yup, going in the pocket, can't help myself one bit. thanks for talking me through this..."

Me: "no problem.."

Diane: " Love you, gotta run"

It's going to be a long slow road. Diane's knee is very weak. There is still some weird swelling. That is still very frustrating.We expect some set backs, but I know how excited Monk has been to ride at all, and how excited I am to be riding with her again. That said the Vanderbacons are not known for our patience. We are also known for pushing ourselves even when maybe we shouldn't. We are working on it.

thanks for reading.

respect
FMVDB

Not Creepy at All

Dear Readers,

Last night I was taking a little stroll around Fairhill and doing a couple of efforts. I crested out of the park and turned on to 273, headed for home. I was wearing my C3: La Vie Claire kit as seen here:

A dude in big ole Lincoln slowed down and drove up beside me. The driver was mid fifties maybe a little heavy set. "I want to play checkers on your checker board suit!" he said to me as he drove past.

That was a little weird I thought.

We were coming to an intersection and I moved to the left turning lane passing the Lincoln again. I didn't think anything of it at first as we sat at a red light and then I heard him sing to me, "I want to play checkers on your checker board suit!"

Now, I was creeped out. I didn't know what to do, so I awkwardly smiled, stood on the pedals and took off like a banshee as his light turned green and our paths took different directions...

that's something that doesn't happen on every ride (for me anyway).
respect
vanderbacon

Summer Junior Cycling Camp

Sideburn dividend

Dear Reader,

Last weekend I was at the pet store buying food for the pups. The clerk was a young man, early twenties who has always been very friendly with me. He has an amazing set of lamb chop side burns. Seriously, they are a thing of beauty. I have always been a fan of sideburns. I recognize that as I have grown a bit older, my sideburns may have become a bit more tame, but I also recognize that as long as I can grow them, I'll  probably have them in some version.

As we went to check out, Diane rushed to the counter with toys galore for the boys because, well as she says, "the dogs can chew toys, or they can chew your stuff!" ... But I digress, the young man with amazing sideburns looks at me and says, " that's a nice set of sideburns sir. Because you have good sideburns, and I'm a nice guy- I'm gonna give you 10% off your order!"

SIDEBURNS SELF HIGH FIVE!

SCORE!

Okay, he didn't have to call me sir, that was a little weird...

Diane just laughed, and I thanked the young man, as we schlepped our haul of dog food and toys to the fit...

Good Style. Good Sideburns, always pay off!

thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

I love this picture...

everything about this shot is perfect...

respect
vanderbacon

I declare this this best weekend this year (thus far)...

Dear Reader,

At long last spring has sprung. This weekend was amazing weather wise and pretty much what we have all been waiting for... it was GLORIOUS!

I got in some really good rides both days. I'm pretty stoked...

In the third hour of our ride Saturday- an amazing road ride with TedLogic, Tom Mc, Buddy, Consorto and I, TedLogic's phone went off. He was pretty excited as his phone picked up his verbal cues.

The phone started: "302.867.5309 calling. Can you answer?"

TedLogic responded "No. I can't right now"

The phone asked, "would you like to send a text?"

To which Buddy yelled, "Can't talk now watching porn!"

Everyone started laughing, and I almost crashed off the road...

It always get's strange in that third hour...

Longtime readers know that Monkey has been battling a knee injury for a very long time. She hasn't ridden a bike since the Providence Cross Festival. It has been a long hard road, and it's going to continue to be a long road. I was very stoked to get to ride for half an hour with Diane both days this weekend. It was a ton of fun, and frankly made my weekend.

These rides were very measured,  (well except through the 180 at the end of main street- she rolled through there and leaned the bike over pretty good there)...She was all smiles after that corner... Both of those rides were awesome, and highlights of the year for me sure... My favorite riding partner.

exhaustion and smiles at the vanderbacon home this weekend.

thanks for reading

respect
Vanderbacon

the greatest picture ever, pivot tables, and a lot work to do...

Dear Readers,

A little more follow up on the International Relay.

First, I'm sure you've seen this amazing shot:

Abe did a great job with that one. I have to be honest- work was pretty busy on Monday. I took a quick glance at Abe's shots, and didn't notice this one. And then... Then my phone just started to blow up, first my friends at Kelpius, then my local riding friends, then the MASS Face book page...  I'll just share this about when she passed me:

"she gave me a little elbow in the ribs as she passed. then she winked at me and said, "what!? you wanna go?" I wasn't sure if I was at a hockey fight or a bike race! I gave all I had, I just couldn't keep that wheel..."

I sent Abe a note, and I bought a copy of the picture. I like it that much.

Also wanted to share this video of the start from Andy Bloom because it's rad:

Now that the results have been posted... Let's fire them into a pivot table and do some serious nerding out on these laps (because that's what a mid-pack masters rider does! )

Team rank by laps:

I threw all the laps into a pivot table and while I wasn't totally stoked to have the 39th fastest lap on the day, I was pleased that my laps were pretty consistent:

no negative splits, but given where I am right now, I'll take it...

BTW if you're interested in checking out my pivot table and geeking out on data, I'm happy to share- just drop me a line...

best to you...

respect
fm

The International Relay

Dear Readers,

Anne Rocking!

Last weekend was the International Relay put on by Mike Kuhn and his crew on the Farm in Marysville. I know folks always think I'm joking, but I am very serious when I say this is my favorite race all year. The course is tight and fun, and the racing is always close. This year was no exception. The event is very social in nature, and in some ways it feels like the first day of school, seeing friends who you haven't seen during the winter break. Lots of smiling faces:

Dave and Joe- who I am lucky to have slap me around each week!

Johan- crushed solo despite a first lap flat... my favorite cross rival!

My C3 Teammate Gary will probably get a uniform fine, but the unicorn outfit is worth the fine...

Anne Rock; Jimmy Rock, Damien who rode a trainer all day, and Carolyn the nicest person in the world.

Matt M looked good. 2/3 of the fastest team on the day- Nick Sears, Chris Consorto (my traveling companion), not pictured Adam Erb... 

My teammate Ginny and her Cool Mom... She was flying today..

Brian K and Chip waiting to get on course!

Eric Roman- doesn't own a bike, but was here to shoot in the biathlon!

Anne Rock and World Famous Stacy Gold in the background..

Guy I don't Know, Brice, Mike K the man who makes it all happen, and Matty  BEE!

 I drove up with Consorto, who was teamed with Adam and Nick. I was teamed with Wes and McGill. I haven't seen lap times (other than from strava) as the results aren't posted yet. I think the timers were a new crew who had a bit of a tough time. When they post them I'm throw 'em in a pivot table and geek out on the data. Overkill? yeah, but I'm a mid pack masters racer, what else would you expect?

Transition area. Who is the dork with Hi-Vis booties- talking to Alan the cleaner? yeah. it's me.

Transition area...

Buddy and Kita asked how my day went. I started by saying that I thought the talent pool was as deep or deeper than I can remember at the International. Next,  I will admit I was a little disappointed with my performance, but very pleased with my effort. I haven't really found my legs yet, but I'm working on it. I believe I'm doing the right things, and the form will come around. I'm also confident that I didn't leave a single second out there on any of the laps that I completed. I was very happy with my ride. It was my best effort. It was really fun. I kept my head when my race bike front derailleur got derailed during my pre-ride. It was getting close to race time so frankly, I put my amazing carbon fiber dream bike on the roof of the fit, and grabbed my B-bike. The one with a new to me frame I bought from an old buddy, complete with a sweet rigid fork. Maybe, I had only ridden it once... But end it worked wonderfully.

McGill's butt...

Wes, me, and Chris

I was honored to race with Wes and Chris- two guys who I think are pretty amazing human beings, and that's not considering that they ride bikes pretty damn well too!

anyway, 363 days until the 2015 International relay. I gotta tough up a little.


Anyway, thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

Pre-Race Jitters...

Dear Reader.

On the eve of the MOST IMPORTANT RACE OF THE YEAR, Lupine's International Intergalactic Global Open Mountain Bike Relay of the Multiverse p/b NoTubes.. I find myself nervous with anticipation. While my preparations have not been flawless, and the form has not yet come around, my spirits are buoyed by my outstanding teammates and training partners. Sensations in the legs this week have been good. Hope springs eternal.

Respect
Vanderbacon