I had three bad things happen to me today- and it was awesome. (Philly Pro Race)

Dear Readers,

Sunday, Diane and I went up to Philly for the Philly Pro races. As it always is, Sunday was an incredible experience and as a bike racing fan, its like a Philly Celebration of all things bike. We couldn't stop smiling all day! If you ride/race/love bikes and are in the region, and you haven't done a day at the race, I would strongly encourage that you do it.

Our morning coffee run in Manyunk.
GURSKY!!! is all smiles...

I will also admit, that I am very lucky to have so many kind and generous friends who have shown Diane and I around  the city, the race and the ropes of the day. I am grateful to the city of Philadelphia for a great day and to all of our hosts that guide us through out the amazing day. We are truly lucky to have Anne Rock as our most gracious guide. We are so lucky to have so many amazing and hospitable hosts: David and Liza who let us crash on their front lawn, Eric and Maureen on the kelly drive, Gary the driver, Dave Lowe and the Philly Ciclismo crew over on Lemon Hill. Thank you all for helping make our day so freakin' incredible.

David and Liza's front yard on the wall...

But on to the 3 bad things:

1. Pulled into Anne Rock's place a little late. I crushed the curb in front of her house, and shredded my front tire. We were running late, so we charged off to the start to see the women stage. I figured we'd just change it when we got back. (we did and it was actually pretty funny too).

2. I have a specially designed townie bike that I set up with chasing the Philly Pro Race around with Anne Rock in mind. As we raced to the top of the wall to catch the women's start,  I crushed a pot hole and my seat shifted up abruptly punching me in my nuts. It hurt badly. Like bleed out the eyes badly. Once the pain subsided, I was lucky to run into the SRAM neutral support guys who happily lent me a wrench so the seat would stop punching me in the nuts. Yeah SRAM.

Can you pick out the Vanderbacon townie special?

3. I lost my phone. Gary Thorton gave us a call and asked if we wanted to ride around in the secruity car with him following the race caravan. We were all stoked.

We weren't having fun at all!

Four of us getting ready to get yelled at by a UCI commissar. 

After two laps around the course, getting a warning from a UCI official for Anne and I hanging out of the car, Gary dropped us off.  We jumped out of the car in a rush so Gary could get back to the caravan. Sure enough I had dropped my phone in the car. Gary had to stop back and there it sat right on the seat. (thanks Gary!)

The entire day was so much fun. I couldn't stop smiling all day... As usual the day, and everyone around was super cool. The ride in the car in the caravan was the cherry on the top. Coming down the from the top of the wall in the car was more fun than any roller coaster I have ever done...

This was totally outstanding. Thanks so much.

So here's what a day of chasing Anne Rock around Philly looks like on Strava:



Yeah, I'm that guy. I'm your team's mid pack masters rider. I am a huge cycling fan/groupie. Today was bliss, and we gobbled it up. An amazing experience despite having 3 kinda bad things happen to me today. We were resplendent as we drove home at 55 mph on our donut tire. Today was pretty much perfect, you know despite 3 little things.

Thanks for reading.

respect
Fatmarc(still stoked)