Lilliput Lookout !

Dear Readers,

Monkey and I were looking at race pictures from the weekend last night.

She says to me, "I know you've been watching what you eat. Been working hard, balancing everything. you know honey, I see pictures of you walking around with our teammates, I've seen pictures of you racing your bike, and you look like a bike racer, you look like your peers..."

Monk continues, "and then, once in a while there's a shot where I just say..."

I interrupt, "that I am freakin' Ginormous!That I am HUGE ! A monster among men..."

We both start laughing. "You saw my podium didn't you?"

I hit the podium once in like 3 cross seasons, and I look like Gulliver and the inhabitants of Lilliput.

seriously, my chest is like 3 inches wider than anyone else in this photo...

Can you pick who came from a family of light weight wrestlers?

UGH...

an old coach once told me, there's never a bad podium shot. I'm gonna go with that...

thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

School Blues PT 2

Dear Readers,

Thanks for all the advice on the blog, and in the private emails. At the end of the day, I did email the professor. At the end of the day, I didn't want to wait for the grade and come off as sour grapes. The reality for me is that I didn't think that the question was fair.  At the end of the day, that was my point- yeah I want a good grade, but I wanted to be tested on what we covered.

The professor was cool. He's a good guy. I enjoy this class. He essentially said, he'll grade fairly and make sure that we are held accountable for what was appropriate. He said, let's wait until all the tests are graded and work through it. He also commented that we missed a class with the hurricane, and as such we didn't get into some of the material with as much depth as normal. All of this will be considered.

I read that to mean essentially, he'll throw a wicked curve on the test, and to chill the F out.

So, I'll wait for my grade. Either way, I felt better speaking my mind, because, as those of you that know me, I'm not really great at biting my tongue. Especially when it's involving an issue of whats seems fair...

Anyway, the journey continues, I'll wait patiently for the grade, and see what happens next...

respect
fm

No Music on MTV ?

School Blues...

Dear Reader,

It was inevitable that it would happen. I had a really bad exam. I am frustrated and frankly angry. I'm generally not one to attack the test, but mentally I keep going there.

It was a three problem exam. The one problem was one that we had not covered in class, and frankly when I sought out help, or the opportunity to come into see the professor last week,  we never connected. Fuck that, he never emailed me back. Look I like the professor, he's a good teacher, seems like a great guy.

I own that I should have gotten into his office hours the day of the test, but you know, I have a job that is already very kind to allow me flexibility with school. Just prior to the test, he walked us through the problem. I understand the concept, but also am not bright enough to see a complex problem 20 minutes before an exam, and nail it on the test 20 minutes later.

I recognize that I ain't the brightest bulb, but I work hard. During this journey there have been plenty of concepts I didn't get. Plenty of problems I didn't understand. But if I throw time at them, and have a chance to reverse engineer, and work them- I'd get it. And that's what's got me furious right now. I never had a chance to do that with this problem.

I have no illusions of graduating with a 4.0, that was never the goal. But I put in a lot of time studying, and sacrifice a lot of time with my wife and dogs, family and training, and sleep, and stress, and energy level at the office even. I at least want a fair chance to show what I can do.

I don't feel like I got that fair chance.  I am very frustrated this morning. Not sure of my next step. I'll be honest, I am confident my peers are largely worse off than I. Do I wait for the grades? Do I email him today? Frankly, I am more upset that I don't feel like the test was fair, or that I had a fair chance to answer it as much as I am about the grade.

I don't mind getting my ass kicked if I get to give my best. I don't feel like I was given a chance to give my best here.

I am furious. I am really frustrated, and I love this class. Damn it.

respect
vanderbacon
(doing my best to not send an angry email)

Fairhill and Schooley Mill

Dear Reader,

Two races for me this weekend, with the simple goal of riding cleanly, not crashing or break anything. Kind of a tall order considering the voodoo curse I have been racing under for the past few weeks...

Fairhill was a fun course, I made the initial split at the end of lap one, an at the end of lap 2 I was in with the group of guys I wanted to be racing. The course was really fun, save for the one long climb which busted my ass every lap. I know it wasn't half the lap, but in my mind I would break down loop into the climb, and the rest of the course. I was happy with my ride, had a couple of chances to pick up a spot or two the last two laps, but couldn't seal the deal and I  rode in solo. I did pit on the last lap, as the rear tire washed out on one of the off cambers and I wigged out a bit. In the end it was fine, but with the luck I have had recently, I took a bike to be safe... Thanks to Blake and Monkey for pitting for me...

monk put in a solid ride Saturday too!

Sunday was the single speed race down at Schooley Mill. Auer and Esmonde were off the front. Four of us were left to battle for the other spots on the podium. With two to go Clark was up in third and almost clear, followed by Dimitri the 17 year old wunderkind, Chris (from Bicycle Outfitters)  and me.  I tried to work with Chris a bit, but he wasn't really having any of it. Anytime I went to the front, he'd charge back around. He must have really hated my lines. After burning a couple of matches unsuccessfully attacking him, I sat in on his wheel.

Final lap, I  was sitting 6th through the barriers, pretty much resigned to sprinting for 5th.  Up a quick roller I looked around Chris and see  Dimitri the wunderkind coming back to us. I punched it around Chris and carried my momentum past Dimitri. I kept the gas on across the off camber section, and as I hit the asphalt with 300 uphill meters to go, I saw Clark. He had no idea we were there. I jumped hard. I was closing in, and with 50 meters or so to go Clark heard us and jumped to sprint. Dimitri had jumped to my wheel, and my sprint was almost over. The three of us came to the line, Clark 3rd, Dimitri the wunderkind, and me in 5th...  I'll debate whether I should have just watched the wunderkind, and wait to sprint at a more reasonable distance or if going for Clark was the right move, but either way I was stoked to (1) not break anything and (2) to  have a rad race.

Weekend was a pretty outstanding one, got to see lots of teammates, and I was stoked to race well both days. The season rolls on...

A few BTW's:
1. New Bond movie is rad.
2. Brett and Steevo are excellent house guests. It was rad having them stay with us this weekend...
3. I have a midterm tomorrow, I need to study now, and stop blogging...

thanks for reading...

respect
fatmarc

pictures from Dennisbike.com, Jen Tillman, and Jen Sears

School and Politics

School rambles on at a hearty pace. Midterm exam coming up on Monday. My last class for 2012.  Feels good to say that. I’ve been studying a lot. Managerial Finance has been very interesting, and I really like the professor. We missed a class because of the super storm and the last session was rushed. I’ll admit that’s got me a little worried. I’ve been working the problems a ton. I can do them frontwards and back. One set however is breaking me. I understand the concept, and do lower level problems, but pulling together the long term retirement plan, with multiple cash flows and combined TMV functions, I am failing.

I have reached out to the professor, I haven’t heard back from him. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it into his office hours until Monday. Yeah, a few hours before the exam. It’ll work out. I’m sure if I can walk through a couple of problems, I’ll make it work.

Okay, here’s my election analysis.  The red guys tricked themselves into believing that everyone who listens to Rush, Hannity and Fox News believed exactly what they do, felt what they do. I have to admit, I listen to Rush- I don’t really believe he believes half the shit that comes out of his mouth. On the other side, the blue guys were much more open to a much broader and diverse set of views, set of who was under the tent.  It just feels like they reflect the makeup of our country so much more so. That’s why I feel like the blue guys won. FWIW Nate Silver is probably living the best life in the world right now.

Okay, last time I talk politics here, Maddow kinda nailed it here:

God Bless America.

Best to you all.

Respect

fm

Cycle Smart International and other 70's Sitcoms

Dear Readers,

I apologize that about a month ago, I didn't tell you about my trip to Hawaii. I was able to get a deal on a trip with my neighbors the Bradys.

When I was with the Bradys I found this bad-ass tikki necklace.I put it right on and since then I have had the weirdest luck.

Comes to find out this sweet little tikki is cursed and brings bad luck to anyone who wears it. It would seem that I have been snake bitten.

let's just say the first two laps of my race followed a familiar theme of recent weeks insert dropped chain and pulling rear wheel out of drop out. I have to be honest, I was pretty much ready to head to the beer tent to drown my sorrows, when my buddy GEWILLI passes and says, "race yourself back into it..."

fartecus had a pretty good day...

Taylor "girled" a lot of boys to this spot!

And so I did. Diane has often asked me why I love the CSI race and the Look Park course so much. It's because it's really two kinds of races. Two challenging run ups to the upper section, an upper section that is technical and twisty, and a lower section that is straight up power and group riding. So the last four laps of the race went like this: attack the run ups, be aggressive on the top, pop guys off of my group and or jump to the next group... Get to the barriers and then find a wheel and get in the drops and bleed out my eyes to hang on. Repeat. Just like the last four times I have done this race, I came the final stretch with a group. I won the sprint, and while my result was 5-10 spots back from where I wanted to be, I was actually pretty happy with my effort. I like the CSI course because it forces me to race tactically, it forces me draft and use all my power, at the same time not throwing out all the technical skills that are my strongest suit. I never mind sprinting at the end of a race either to be honest... I felt good about my race.

Craig railing it...

sucking wheel...

Saturday night was a great time at my brother's, as we were joined by Tom, Bad Kat, Benny, L-Web, Jeffy, Monk, and Jess. It was fun. I didn't sleep well Saturday night. I have to be honest I stressed out all night about not being able to get gas from southern Connecticut to Delaware. NJ and NY where hit by the storm badly, and going up, there we passed lines of folks waiting for gas literally 1 mile long. Southern Jersey was okay, and we topped off on the way up. Coming home there would be a ban on cars with even number plates getting gas. Yeah. All night I was trying figure out where to get gas on 84, how many miles I could make in the car, and would Diane and I  end up a victim of the Great Humogous in some Mad Max Post Apocalypse event stranded on the side of the Jersey Turnpike.

Photos taken on the NJ Turnpike Friday Morning

Morning came and I was sick to my stomach with frankly stress. I decided not to start Sunday's race. I have to say  I have had a number of times in my life where I was at a race, but didn't race. There has always been some pangs of desire to be out there. Today, I had no such pangs, and frankly further cementing my decision was the right one. I'll hang the bikes up for a couple of days, spend some time focusing on school and get back to it next week. With the Evil Tikki back at it's proper resting place in the cave on the Big Island, I expect some good fortune to finally come back around my way...

BTW, I got gas just before getting on 684, and worked the tank to average 33 mph, and made it home easily and with no issues. I felt good to have a little more than a half tank getting on the turnpike with 80 miles to go to get home... Stomach finally felt better at that point.... Yeah, I'm a little OCD what can I say...

thanks for reading...

respect
fatmarc

Hurricane Sandy

meant too much of this:

Thankfully we got off pretty much unscathed. Hope everyone made out as well, and best wished for those who didn't...

respect
faticus

no moral victories

Dear Faithful Reader,

HPCX
Monk rode well in a very deep field. strong ride, battled hard. Was proud of her. Despite landing on the dick spot points wise, it was a very solid ride for her. She was pleased. I think she'll take a break next weekend to recharge a bit for the final push. Good on her.

okay that's pretty damn funny.

For me, I wrapped up the worst three weeks of my season. Three weeks of good legs and results below the effort. Frustrating. Cross results score plummeting.   Apparently no good deed goes unpunished. I'm  pretty much done with that. Time to make a withdrawal from the Karma bank. #sillybikeracingmeanseverything.

that's all I have to say about that.

thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

Friday Morning Picture and me trying to win a contest

Fartecus in action

Plus it would be rad to win a Shimano group.  So please click here.

Been a while since I whored out the blog. I was due.

have a great weekend

respect
fatmarc