Baltimore Rock City- Charm City Cross (what's a couple of dinners)

Dear Readers,

I had dinner with my super hot cool ex-girlfriend this week. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking right now, but the truth is you gotta eat right? Why eat alone? Okay, okay I didn't really buy it when she said it to me over the phone either, but I went to dinner with her anyway. Twice. Conversation was good, she really gets my sense of humor. We went to that cool hippie place in town. After dinner she offered me a hug, but I think she was almost gonna try and kiss me. Maybe not.  I'll say, her hair smelled outstanding...

Charm City Day 1

Full Gene Simmons or Hasselhoff at your service

Friday night doing a prep ride with my buddy Dan, I mentioned that I had been on 1x10 with a Wolf's tooth front ring for a year with zero drops. Which pretty much cemented the fact that on the first lap of Saturday at that crucial time when groups were forming, that I dropped my chain. karma's a bitch...

Not a picture of Nick's head but of Monkey Photo Bombing his run through the barriers...

Once I got it back on I will admit I probably burned a match or two too many trying to get back to my place unsuccessfully, Then I started to settle in and ended up in an excellent group of 5-7 guys with Vinny S and I battling back and forth. Vinny was awesome to be in a group with. He is an excellent bike driver, so I was happy to sit on his wheel when I could, and when I'd come through I'd wish him well. When  he'd  come back past he'd pat me on the but and say, "good stuff, keep at it"  Final lap, Vinny went off the front of the group, and the group picked up the pace to respond. I was dangling.. I held tight, and as we came into the sandpit the final time, I attacked burning my last match.

The guy to the right missed Sven on Svenness sand riding video clearly...

Picked up 4 spots and rolled into the finish mid pack, totally stoked and big smiles...

Charm City Day 2

It was fucking hot. Course was tough again, and had a killer climb on the back side. I switched to a white summer jersey. By the end of the first lap the jersey was zipped way down and I was going full Hoff or Gene Simmons. I was committed to getting a good start, and for the first two laps, I was rolling good, felt really good.

if you heard a loud boom on the 3 lap of the Killer B race, don't be alarmed, it was just me.

Third lap, I dropped anchor. Up that steep brutal, out in the sun climb to the mansion, I started to cramp in my quads. As I cleared the top, I felt chills and had goosebumps everywhere... I was pretty much dead in the water at this point, and frankly circled the drain the rest of the race. With one to go my buddy Chuck offered me an awesome beer feed with ice in it, and I'll be honest, I took the feed, and it was the best beer ever. Now, I haven't seen the results yet, but I think I got away with this one, now if I was DQed, well I'll own it.

the real reason I keep runkel levers on my bike...

I would say that I was DFL, but on the last lap I did come upon a poor soul who looked much worse than me. Perhaps the beer feed energized me. I charged over the flyer over and held him off through the sand and to the line. If I could find this guy, I would have bought him a beer...I'll say one of the things I love about cross no matter where you are, you're racing someone. That was a super fun course, just sorry I couldn't do anything with it...

 I came to a stop and I sat down on the ground next to Monkey, Jenn, and Hailey. I was covered in goosebumps and my legs continued to cramp up. Ugh. I'll be honest, that might have been my worst cross race ever. disappointing. not representative of what I can do. I think I have decided that I'm not racing cross above 80 degrees again...

Notes:

Thanks to Paul and Lisa who pitted for me both days this weekend and made sure I could take water. Paul gave me great encouragement including the best of today, "dude, come change bikes, this one can't possibly be slower!" I laughed...

A number of folks came up to me and told me how much they dig my blog and what I'm doing here. That was super cool, and I appreciate it. I've always have fun with the blog, and while I know many awesome blogs have died, I love blogs and blogging. Thanks for the kind words. Totally stoked.

If there is ever an Andy Gorski fan club-I was to join... Dude made my weekend..

So despite feeling like total ass Sunday and being totally disappointed, it was an amazing and fun weekend. I'm bummed, but really had a fun time. Great to race, and hang out with so many of my great teammates and friends and to be a part of one of my favorite events. Charm City Cross. If you missed it, you really did...

Stoked to have Mr. Bowman and Mr. Morrison has house guests Saturday night. My apologizes for my overly vocal puppies and for Logan stealing all of Bowman's socks!

aw crap, my phone is ringing. I think it's my super hot cool ex girlfriend. I probably should take this...

thanks for reading...

respect
vanderbacon

thanks for Jennifer Sears, Joe Bothel and Rick DeLoys for photos...