Some Kind of Wonderful

A few years ago I was having a conversation with my friend Cheryl about the cyclocross movie Transitions. I said that I didn't really like it because I had a lot of respect for Myerson, but couldn't handle seeing him whine so much. Cheryl looked at me and "well, isn't that the point? I mean isn't that what cyclists do? complain and whine? Isn't that why everyone has a blog?" I was speechless. She was right. Sometimes the truth cuts close to home sometimes...

So that being said, I had a brutal week, which I'm stoked about but I'm also stoked is behind me. Here some of the stuff that happened this week:

• I got my final grade for my first class. It was an A+. I got 2 A's in my entire undergrad career so to get an A+ in my first grad class, I'm pretty stoked. I worked my ass off, and I'm very pleased.
• Started my second class, (micro/macro) which I really enjoyed.
• I went to a Phillies game with Monk, Travis and Blake. Yup, they lost but it was still very fun. I love hanging out with those guys. 

• I went to a ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) Conference in Washington DC. The conference was awesome. Working for an ESOP company is pretty damn rad
• My brother Craig is now  on Facebook. You should totally friend him.
• While in DC, got to go on a sweet bike ride across town, which was cool in of itself, and then met up with Mr. Wes Schempf who I followed around on the Goon ride. Let me say, I don't know why but the Goon ride is soo much fun. This was my second Goon ride ever. It ain't the safest ride in the world, but man it's soo fast, and hell, I feel like I have to watch where I am in the pack the entire ride, and really have to pay attention to everything that's happening. When it's over I'm physically and mentally worked, but so stoked.

• Even better than riding with Wes, was getting to have dinner with his awesome family. Benner is so rad. It was great to see Savanna and Regan too.  Regan made an amazing dinner. Benner barfed on me. It was the perfect night.
• Diane cut off the top of my ear when cutting my hair. Okay, maybe that's a little exaggeration. But really not much, the haircut looks good, but who knew that getting a haircut would be a blood sport.
• I got lost in a parking garage on my bike in DC. That was awesome. I rode around 2 floors before I finally found my car, and could but my bike away and go to bed. Small dart of fear thinking my car was stolen
• Sadly, I will not be racing French tomorrow. I had kinda planned on it, but this week has been exhausting. I just can't see that ending well. 

And so, that's how it went. Didn't feel like I had time to catch my breathe. But that's okay... It was a very good week. 

thanks for reading.

respect

fmv

Iron Hill...

Didn't race today. In a year where I planned to not race, I realized that I've raced 3/4 of the last weekends. So I didn't race. I'm cool with that...

that being said, Diane and I were among the many folks that came out Saturday to help set up the course that was the vision of Dennis Smith. It was a beautiful day...

Race Day, Monkey and I had the pleasure to get to run the kids race. It was rad. Thanks to Blake and Peaches for their help...

Photo Blog Starts here:

Diane in the recovery room. Don't tell her I posted this.

Setting up the course w/ Dennis and Charlie

L-Webb and Charlie

Monkey

packing bottles for the kids race.

very good bottles.

bacon. not in the kids bottles, but in my belly.

cheering for the racers!

Blake! 

Ryder.

Lemans Start for the final kids race.

kids to their bikes...

blake and monkey

staging one of the age groups

HEY KID EVERYONE IS ONE THE FRONT ROW!

really the front row...

respect
fatmarc
Vanderbacon
(not racing this year)

Pavlovian

Rewind.

About 100 years ago, when I was in college when you wanted to get your grade on an assignment or a test, you had to wait for the professor to pass it back to you or, perhaps go to the department office, look for your score posted to a bulletin board somewhere. Generally speaking, you didn’t expect those grades quickly, and at the end of the semester, I usually just waited to see what the final grade was as it came in the mail. It was generally a C.

Fast Forward

In my new school experience, everything is on line.  Simply logging into school website I can plug into my grade up to the moment. This is pretty cool. I liked being able to see my grade, and play with the calculations to see what was left, and how I could improve my overall score. Totally geeky, but I doubt any longtime readers are surprised at all…

My professor to his credit had our first exams graded and posted before I could drive home from class the night we took them. This created an unrealistic expectation and desire for instant feedback. Now since that first exam, the professor has continued to post scores timely, but not immediately. Despite this fact  I have been unable to stop checking for a grade update, you know  two to three times a day this entire block. I’m like a test animal pressing a button to receive a snack. I can’t help myself.   I am a victim of classical conditioning.

My first class just wrapped up, and while I have done well, I have a few papers that I’m waiting to get the grade on. I’m not saying class just wrapped up last night, and I’ve checked for my grade 4 times today, but… Okay, that’s exactly what I’m saying….

I am predictably lame.

Respect

Vanderbacon

Return to Michaux

I have raced in Michaux probably 10 times since I started racing bikes in the early 90's. I'll admit in the past 10 years, I haven't made the trip. Today, I headed out to do the Michaux Maximus 20 miler. When I did my normal google stalking of the registrations it looked like there were 3-4 guys who I knew would likely beat me. Foremost of those was Jason from Eastern Woods Research. Jason handled me pretty easily at Ironhill last year, and previously to that  beat up on some of the local guys that pretty regularly  beat up on me.

I have to be honest, in my past 10 races at Michaux my best results were 2 top tens. This is based a few factors:
1. I suck at point to point races
2. I don't ride rocks all that often and not always so well
3. fatmarc is not the world's greatest climber.

TedLogic joined me for the trip out, which like the last time I came out, turned out to be quite a bit of an adventure. Let me say this, downtown York is beautiful in the morning, and we had at least 25 minutes to get ready to toe the line.

Ted Logic finishes up his race..

So the race started off on a fireroad. TedLogic took off the line, I was a little more conservative in my start. I looked up and TedLogic was clear of the group. I made sure that no one went with me, and bridged up to his wheel. Ted nodded when I made contact, and I felt him ramp up the pace. As the road rolled up TedLogic flicked his elbow looked at me and said, "get out of here Faticus!" I took the lead.

I kinda figured that I'd get reeled in at some point. I focused on riding smoothly through the rocks, and not making any mistakes early. In the back of my head, I knew Jason was coming. I was running scared. I stayed focused on what was in front of me, and never looked back.

About a third into the race, I caught up to Dan also from Eastern Woods Research. Dan was the leader in the Single Speed class. Dan and I would ride the bulk of the race together. I can't speak for Dan, but it was awesome to pace off of him, and keep me honest as the race wore on.

Dan (the pickle)  was awesome to ride with on this day.

As we came through the first road crossing and towards Dead Woman's Hallow climb. Dan pulled up along side of me, and said, "the is a long one, stay steady". Dan crushed it on a single speed. I was impressed.  I'd also point out Lance from Adventures for the cure, who we had passed in the single track with a flat flew by us on this on this bastard long climb. We were about half way through, and I admit I was running scared. As I crested the Dead Woman's Hollow, for the first I thought that I might pull this off... but still he was out there...

On the three mile trail, known for it's big gnarly rocks, I almost launched myself over my bars and onto the to ground. I felt myself going over, and just when I was about over the tipping point, my seat hit me in the ass and the rear wheel went back to the ground. Disaster averted. "keep your head in the game, don't blow this now" I said to myself.

Dan and I continued to pace each other, and drive the pace as we slipped through the trails. At mile 15 or so I started feeling like I was cracking. I took a couple of drinks from my camelback, and focused on staying smooth, Dan was right there and we were still rolling pretty good. But I was getting tired, and I knew he was back there...

We rode past the final road crossing and looked up at our final 2 mile climb that would twist its way back to the finish. I never felt so excited to climb 2 miles. I got a little gap on Dan, and bit my lip, and focused on keeping a good cadence and finishing thing off. I was feeling good again, I could taste it and for the first time today, hell the first time this spring I allowed myself to look back, all the while thinking, "please don't be there, please don't be there..."

He wasn't... I crested the hill, and roll up the finish straight into finishing gates. I'm not sure how, but I had won the Michaux 20 Mile Old Man Race (35+)...

Dan and I after the race..

Yeah, I'm pretty stoked. Wins are hard to come by and this guy doesn't see too many of them, so I'm all smiles today. It's been a pretty crazy spring since I started school. A spring that I didn't expect that I'd really be able to race much at all. I'm riding less than I have in years, and well. It's the strangest thing...Sometimes it's best to not question these things. Lord knows I not gonna...

respect
vanderbacon

Buck and Company greeting us at the end !

Great to See Melanie out today!

Great to see Jerry and Todd- 2 guys I've been chasing around for 20 years.

Have you heard about this race?

more info here:
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15202

respect
fatmarc vanderbacon

A Good Day...

As long time readers of this blog may ready know I come from a wrestling family. My Parents, spent the better part of 25 years chasing my brothers and I around gyms, getting us to practices and allowing my brothers and I to be successful. My parents became very active in the wrestling community and although  none of us have wrestled in many years, they remain active in the community.

Last Friday my parents were honored at the Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame for their service over the years. They received a Spirit of Service Award. My Parents didn't know they were getting an award, and certainly didn't know that my brothers and I would all be their to join them for the evening. I gotta say it was a pretty wonderful night. I am super proud.

my favorite parts of this is the first 45 seconds or so...

video can be found here.

As my Father says, "get involved, and have fun."

I'm about to get involved in some homework and try to have some fun.

respect
fatmarc

Cranky Old Man

I had to wear a shirt and tie to the office the other day.

No big deal, a little out of the ordinary, but really I kinda like it once in a while.

I guess the only downer was that I had to wear it to class after work. I mean I guess I could have changed, but it just didn’t seem like a good use of my time.

So I sat in class and one of the younger women came in wearing a Nirvana shirt. She looked over at me and kinda crumbled up her face. Now, I cannot know why she crumbled up her face at that moment that we made eye contact. It is completely possible that she had and itch on her nose. It is possible that she saw the old dude in class and scoffed. It’s possible she saw the old dude in class in a shirt and tie and thought, “he is the man holding us down. He is the devil”

Now I will admit, in my own douchey way, when I saw her wearing a Nirvana T-shirt, I remembered that I had actually owned an original of that T-shirt back in 1993. I had gotten it from Nick Riddle in some sort of T-shirt swap, and in fact traded it to my brother for a sweet cobra commander t-shirt some years later. When I noticed, the younger woman crumbling her face up at me, I’ll admit the first thought that sprung to my head was, “nice shirt, where did you get it, hot topic?”

In full disclosure, I bought a led zep shirt last year. I got it at JCPenny , which is pretty much the same thing, maybe worse.

Since I appear to be in cranky old man mode, I have to say that culturally there are few things I find funnier than young children who throw up gang signs in every picture that is taken of them. Take a picture of a group of kids from the richest, most privileged, best school in the country, and I promise you someone will throw up gang signs.  I’m not sure they know what they are doing, but I always find it amusing.

In that same vein, and perhaps more amusing to me is dudes on bikes that cost maybe a mortgage payment or two giving the finger to photographers at bike races.  Look I admit, I race with a bit a angst. My best training efforts come from dark places. That being said, why in the hell would you want to give the finger to a guy, who on his own time has chosen to come out to a bike race and take pictures. Pictures, I might add that make us all look much more pro than we are.  What's the mindset:  “ I hate that I’m on a sweet ass bike, doing something I love, FUCK YOU!” or better yet, 'FUCK YOU I told you to only take pictures head on! No Profiles! You're making me look Fat!" ... Oh wait... Crap that one landed a little close to home.

Fucking Photographer making me look fat.

Yes, I get that you’re suffering and we're all rad but really? And, yes in the interest of full disclosure I have told hecklers to fuck off before. The Rutgers kids only on the cross team to heckle are lame. There should be a rule that you can't heckle if you are in the Cat 4 race. And no I don't care if you are the Cat 4 champion of the world. But I digress... Why would you hate a photographer...

Who knows maybe their mother ran away with a photographer and they have a life time hatred of the guys. Maybe their father was blinded by flash that is too bright. Maybe someone sprayed acid in their faces with a gag camera? I don’t know.

You know, over the years, I have bought a picture or two from these guys and Monk and I have a few up around the house. I wonder if somewhere someone has a picture of them racing their bike, giving the finger to the photographer hung in their kitchen or maybe living room?

maybe it's their kids throwing up gang signs? Fuck, I'm cranky...

Okay, cranky old guy rant over.

I’m going to try and ride a bike tonight. We’ll see if the legs are down with that program. We’ll see if we can’t turn the cranky old dude stuff back to 8 on the cranky meter.

respect

m

Bakers...

Before.

Baker's dozen went really well for me this year. I was partnered with Travis and Dennisbike. Course was super dry and superfast. We got an early lead, which it seemed we could never grow to more than 4 minutes, and with the top 5 teams all separated by 12 minutes it made for some good racing. At 6:00pm we finally had stretched our lead to 7 minutes, but you could see the efforts in all of our faces. A little after 8:00 our lead was ten minutes. As I was heading out, Dennis says to me, "we got this, just go out and be solid no need to risk anything. Stay consistent." Dennis has been racing bikes for a long time, he knows how to play this game, and frankly with that bit of advise, I headed out on to what would be my last lap and for the first time felt confident about us bringing this one home. Dennis was super smooth all day, and brought a zen to our team that was pretty rad. All of us are pretty strong night riders, and thankfully that paid dividends as Travis rolled across the line a little after 10:00pm, sealing the deal for us. I gotta be honest, I can't think of anyone I would have wanted to close this thing out more than Travis. He was awesome today.

 I was really stoked to get the win. Frankly, on paper I had us coming in 3rd, but thought that there were easily 6 teams that had the ability to win. While I was pleased that my prognostication was incorrect, I think it did show the depth of the class. While Dennis, Travis and I had not been teammates on one of the relays before, they are both two of my favorite training partners.  Two of my favorite people, teaming with them was rad. I was lucky to have two such strong, and smart teammates. I'm pretty stoked this morning.

Sleeping in the back of the Honda Fit? Yeah it Fits.

Cheers to the Geezers who made this race so freakin' hard: Benny, Paul, Russ(Classic Heavy Metal), Shawnee  Joe, Bill(C3: Crankaholics) , Chris, Shane, Thori,(Juggernaut), Jonathan, Tim, Trevor(Family Bike Shop) and Jay (who slapped me around all cross season), Matt and Steve (AFC- DREAM TEAM).

I was really proud of our entire C3 compound as on the whole we really had a super successful day. This clearly was not my best race report, but I'm still pretty fried, and I have homework to do.

after...

Dennis survey's the compound...

Breyla-la in transition between laps...

Anne rock clearly having a "WTF" moment.

Bike Racing is like Dancing...

Daytime Compound.

me half way through this beast.

Bill O stacked it pretty good on his last lap. 

Neither Bill nor the foliage were injured in the altercation.

Barry was the honey badger of the day.

Shawnee and Joe L. partnered with Bill O, battled for the podium all day.

Jen, Harlow w/ Bad Kat won the women's 3 person. Shawn holds the light.

Anne looking a bit less "WTF"... Bad Kat savors her second victory in 2012!

Gary relaxes after finishing his 14th lap. To answer Caitlyn he is wearing our 14th different kit.

I guess the last thing is Benny da Jewlar, who I've been racing the better part of 20 years, paid me a pretty solid compliments. Frankly, it was unexpected, and really appreciated. When your peers/rivals/friends pay you a compliment, out of the blue, it was kinda icing on the day for me. Class act the Mr. Jewlar. Class Act.

best to you all.

respect
fm