152: una versus the bull

This is Una. This is the bull.Friday afternoon as we arrived in Leesburgh and began to settle into our little compound, Una saw the bull and decided to give it a little what for. Una charged under the electric fence and after the bull. The bull, startled by the ball of fur charging at her turned and ran.

Harlow slipped through the electric fence to grab Una. I jump through as well. Harlow saying, "come here Una.." the Bull realizing the situation started to turn and come back for some pay back. nervously I said, "Harlow we gotta go, the bull is coming back." Harlow calmly collecting Una, "it's okay..." In my more high pitched agitated voice I conveyed the situation, "the bull is coming back!!"

Harlow, Una and I skirted our way through the electric fence and back to the safety of our compound before the Bull could get to us. That was the start of the weekend.

As for the Farewell Tour's race, it went well. Peaches, Buddy and I all did our best. Personally, I was really pleased with my ride. As a team, I am confident we left everything we had out on the course.

Today proved what I have always said, that these races are less about magic, and more about planning. I unfortunately made a bad strategic move and doomed my team in the process. I saw it happening but wrote a check my body couldn't cash thinking "I'll make it up here" I just dug the hole deeper.

About 1/4 into the race, we had gotten ourselves into second place. The other top teams in our class all switched to a single lap rotation. I insisted that we stick to our plan, and work through another round of double lap rotation. What I hadn't counted on was that in heat of the new sun on our second laps, Buddy, Peaches and I all fell off our first lap times 2-3 minutes. In essence we gave away close to 10 minutes with that error. Our team fell back to 4th place with 5th hot on our heels.

In the end, despite our chasing and charging we'd finish in a respectable fourth place, far more than 10 minutes down on 3rd. I think we would have loved to have made a trip to the podium, especially considering this was our farewell tour, but frankly we were all also satisfied with the fact that we did our best. Truth was, we were the 4th best team in our class today.

The finish of the race was somewhat bittersweet. We were excited for the end of the race, pleased with our efforts, but also the reality of "farewell tour" began to really sink in. I was actually a little sad with the very real possibility that this might have been the last time Buddy, Peaches and I race in one of these things together.

As I said above, I was really happy with my effort, I "raced" all my laps, was aggressive and never allowed myself to be satisfied. I just kept on the suffering button and pushing each lap. It was a good effort for me especially during the off season.
Totally proud of Monkey, Johnny, and Kat who took 5th in the coed division, but were the first team with 2 women on it. Monkey and I didn't hang out too much once the racing started but it was cool to watch the three of them working together and making things happen. (that's not johnny in the photo, but Doron)

Overall, our little compound did pretty well:

1st Duo: Wes/Jeb

2nd Duo: Bad Andy/Auer

3rd Duo: Les (international man of mystery)/Elk

5th Duo: Jan/CZ

1st Coed Tri: L-web/Rotten/Slick Rick

5th Coed Tri: Monkey/Bad Kat/ Sweet Johnny

? Coed Tri: Doron/Shawn/Harlow

3rd men's tri: Bilson/Meatball/Hardy

4th men's tri: Fatme/Peaches/Buddy

? men's tri: Norman/Joe/Matt

1st master's tri: Brian B (father of jeb, wife of L-web/Kurtee/ Little Tom (formerly kid chris)

Solos included Mark the Shark, Sven and Melanie Nystrom, and Pete Kennedy.

Props to Mark the Shark, and Cz who made their debuts in the endurance mtb game, and both did very well. I expect they'll both be back. Also to Doron, who made her endurance debut on a borrowed bike, and as I understand it had never really mountain biked before this weekend.

And her dog bit Tom. (no one was injured)

As I was kinda getting all emo, as everyone settled down after the race, Peaches in the manner that Peaches always does, smiled at Buddy and I and said, "you know the Rolling Stones have had like what 20 farewell tours or something ?"

Hope once again springs eternal.

here are some pictures and additional commentary.

Jim came out and although I'm sure didn't plan on wrenching for everyone, he saved probably 4 team's races this weekend; thank you so much for all your help Jim.

Tom's bike was cannibalized repeatably. Parts from his bike are currently on 6 other riders bikes today...

I'm not a bike racer but, I did sleep in the back of a Honda Element last night. If you look carefully you can see Monkey under that pile of sleeping bags.

The calm before the storm.

Rotten and L-Web, coupled with Slick Rick, just 13 hours away from victory.

Slick Rick the ruler and International Man of Mystery Les Leach.

Jan and Bad Andy just before the start.

The morning before the race I had to go back and ride a section of single track that I had followed Buddy through the night before. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to ride the same lines, or at the same speed without his wheel to follow. I don't think I ever nailed it like during the pre-ride...

Jeb leads out the start. Jan is also in that lead group...

respect

fatmarc

151: retrospective

For the final few years that I focused on mountain bike racing, I had really become focused on team endurance races. We had a great core of people, a plan, and we trusted each other. We were a bunch of mediocre experts, who alone amounted to not much more than role players. But together as a team, we were able to do some special things, we were able to win some races, and I know personally I dug deeper for my teammates during those events than I ever could racing on my own. It was a very special time, and part of my racing life that I really cherish.

Often supported by Tom, and managed by Fitzy; Lauri, Buddy, Peaches and I would end up doing 6-7 team endurance events a year, in addition to some solo enduro stuff, as well our normal cross country. Bob, Paul, Keith, James, Dan, Rick, Breyla, Wes, Monkey, Andrew, Ethan, Robert, Les, even some 11 year old kid would often round out our line ups. Most folks never focused on the team stuff, we did. We had a system, we had a plan, and we always knew that we could count on each other. That was pretty awesome.

Coming into 2009, we all found ourselves in different places. 2007/2008 saw us all grow into other area of the sport, of our lives. 2008 was the first year that we as a group didn't compete in a team endurance race together. Buddy has focused on the Michaux enduro series the past few seasons. Lauri is racing while balancing being supermom to Jeff and Meghan. Fitzy moved to Colorado and is working on building a life there. I have been obsessively focused on my cross racing. Peaches has been getting busy starting a family. Peaches has a wonderful wife Amy, two amazing boys, with third on the way.

Registration for Baker's dozen opened up, Buddy, Peaches and I decided to get the band back together and race together for another one of these great team races... Our team name : Reunion Tour.

With Baker's Dozen looming, the name of our team has kinda morphed into something else: Farewell tour.

I realized we won't ever be able to re-capture what we had during that run. Life just doesn't work that way. But I also realize that we have some history, and maybe just maybe we be able to use some of that guile, experience and savvy to find one last solid result.

As we toe the line next week, based on my own google-stalking, if things go well I'm hoping we'll be one of 5 teams that will battling for the win in our class. Peaches, Buddy and I haven't talked about our strategy, the course, or who is bringing what. We don't have too, we have a system and just like it was yesterday will apply it.

Maybe during our little run we didn't realize that what we were doing was kinda awesome. But I want to let all those guys: Peaches, Buddy, Lauri, Fitzy, and Tom and everyone that was a part of it know that I do. I do recognize how awesome it was. And with that, I am greatly looking forward to this weekend, to have fun, and for maybe one last time experience that magic that we were able to conjure up.

Maybe, just maybe we'll be able to find a little bit of that old magic once again...

If not, it's going to be a fun race, and thanks to all my friends who helped make this run so special and really fun.

see you at the baker's this weekend...

best to you.

respect.

fatmarc

150: skellington

"your dogs always seem so happy, like they have a smile on their face or something..."

Layla versus Diane's bike on the trainer... beautiful....

respect

fatmarc

149: Monday, calm before the storm...

I am reading a book called "once a runner". Clearly I am not a runner, but the parallels to the cycling lifestyle and how my days are structured are feel pretty clear to me. Wonderful book, I can't seem to put it down.

I stole this from James:

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Way cool products, way cool time, and helping Sam spread the word about cancer awareness and help find a cure.

148: switcheroo

Congratulations to the The Whiskey Springs Junior Development team, the 2009 Open Relay Champions:

After a closer examination of that picture, I have to admit the Open Championship Cup looks an awful lot like the old MAC Cup Team championship trophy. You know the one that Leech supposedly "lost" or was next to the lost ark that is hidden in the corner of Gunnar's Garage in West by GOD Virginia.

Now, I'm not saying it is the old MAC Cup, but it does have a very similar look. As a guy lucky enough to drink beer from the cup 10 years ago, it's a funny coincident that the Open Cup looks looks so similar. I mean if it was the old "lost" MAC cup I have to admit, it sure looks better in the hands of the Whiskey Springs DEVO team than sitting on Auer's coffee table filled with pennies and house keys...

On the Tuesday night ride I like to try and do, affectionately called the smack-down ride, there is a good little climb that finishes at an intersection with a stop light at the top of the hill. If I have done this loop 30 times in the last couple of years, I can't think of anytime that we ever made that light. We always have to stop and wait for the green...

So tonight, I admit was getting smacked around pretty badly. I mean worse than normal. I really turned myself inside out at the open, and wasn't so fresh today. As the group climbed it's way up the hill that ends at a stop light, I found myself falling off the back. I was getting dropped, and very shortly my night with the smack-down ride was going to be over.

With 200 yards left in the climb, I reached deep in to my stomach of rage and found a little more, as I stood and sprinted my guts out. I figured if I can kill myself for a bit, I can get back on, and then catch my breath as we wait for the light.

I cruised up to the group and figured what the hell, I'd make a cheeky move and I whipped around the group and went to the front. I accelerated for another 10 yards or so, just enough to have a little gap, and then I sat up and let the bike roll as I crested the hill to the red light.

Then the fucking light turned green. Seriously, the first time I can ever remember we actually made that light. I was totally over the limit, seeing double in oxygen debt, and the light turned green. I was so totally screwed.

Karma is a cruel mistress.

respect
fatmarc

147: the open

The Open Relay. One of my favorite events all year.

C3-Sollay.com had a pretty nice contengency:

Director Kris Auer giving us a rousing pre-race motivational speech:

"ride fast you bitches or else you are off the team!!"

Ladies love Sweet Johnny:

Chick Talk:

Breyla-la competing for the first time since breaking her leg. She was rad.

Kim looks good in black. Stoked to have you as a teammate:

here's mud in my eye:

here's Jan:

Here's Jan through the eyes of a chicken:

Love this shot of Monkey after her lap:

Tom the world's oldest junior development team member:

Tom said, "it only took me 30 years of training to make the junior development team. I'm stoked."

My ass is HUGE.

Drew is fast.

Step stakes, caution tape, short hard effort are you sure this isn't cross?

Bike Liners. I was trying really hard to catch JW on the final lap. I failed miserabely. It's spring, I know this because Dan shaved off his beard.

Damned fast kids.
It goes without saying.

My day was pretty much summed up as taste of State Cawledge. Managed by Jimbo, I managed to start each lap with a State Cawledge superstar. First Ferrari handed it to me, next it was Oneal, and for dessert Alcorn. Needless to say I was pretty destroyed by the end of the day.

thanks Kuhn and Visit Pa for another great Open Relay.

respect

fm

146: sloth dance

6:15am Saturday morning, April 4

I stand in the garage looking the pile of shit I need to load into the car as Diane and I are heading out to the farm in Marysville for the 2009 Open Relay Championships. I'm tired.

Perhaps I had one too many Allagash Whites the night before. It has been since early December when Monkey and I have gone to a race. I question to myself if I'm really ready to start all this again. Monkey is upstairs doing her sloth dance.

I'm not really sure what the sloth dance looks like because I have never seen it. We always get up at the same time, I head downstairs and pack the car, including her bag and her stuff, which she packed the night before, but it never fails she come out to the car just as I put the last wheel in, and slam the hatch of the toaster closed.

I have to assume she is doing some sloth dance upstairs, but frankly I have no idea what she is doing, it just seems to be every time I'm loading she is nowhere to be found.

6:30am Saturday morning, April 4

The car is loaded, and the sloth dancer has joined me. I am really tired. Before we pull out of the drive way, I think to myself, "fuck, we should just bag this, I am so beat. I convince myself, "I can't let bad Andy and Kat down..."

I'm not sure I'm into this today, why did I think this was a good idea. Monkey has packed like we are doing a 24hr race not a 4 hour race. I swear she has every piece of clothing she owns packed in her bags. Yes, she has two bags.

7:30am Saturday morning, April 4:

We are speeding along route 30 through Lancaster. We are joking about the world, talking about music, making fun of how many people have done purposely bad covers of Oasis's wonderwall. We hold hands for a bit. We eat a couple of donuts. I am amazed that she eats a powdered donut and there is no trace of powdered sugar anywhere. Amazing. We joke some more...

In the months since cross ending, I forgot how much I loved road tripping with Diane. This part of the day is half the fun. I guess it comes down to that old saying. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. You know I really don't mind that sloth dance so much after all...

Today was a fun day, chicken hats, bike racing, and lot of friends. How could you go wrong?

more on the race later when my brain and my legs stop hurting...

respect

faticus

before

after: