Whirlybird

Dear Readers,

My name is Fatmarc Vanderbacon.  I am that dude that loves racing in the mud. So I will admit I was quietly stoked as a Nor'Easter dumped on the region Thursday and Friday. I will also admit I was shocked at how not muddy the course was when we arrived at Bensalem High Saturday morning. With the exception of a couple of corners, and the one off camber section, the course was really fast and dry. Frankly, I blame Ryan Leech. Yup this guy:

Leech has been one of the guys in mid atlantic cross since I started racing cross. He's always been very kind to me, and always offers a smile at the races. I am happy to see him racing in the region again.  But I should have known when Leech posted this

That the course was going to be dry and fast. It was. I'll also say the course was really fun, twisty and raced really well. Hell, they had a spiral of death, I usually hate these things, and they totally jumped the shark, but this one was placed between 2 big power sections, and was frankly a beautiful piece of course design.

My race was fun. I was really happy with my ride. Had my best start of the year, made my group. I was stuck on the end and eventually got popped off the back of my group. I was out in no man's land for a bit and finally got on a nice couple of wheels. I collected myself and made a mad dash at the end of the final lap to pick up a couple of spots. I was pleased. My best ride so far this season...

At the end of the day, I won't complain about the lack of mud, I mean, the course was fun, and day was really fun, and heck, I got my take home final exam down Saturday evening...

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

The Gift

Dear Readers,

My name is fatmarc vanderbacon. I have been heckled a few times this year that "you're racing too seriously." I will admit that frankly, I do take my racing pretty seriously. I love to race. Especially cross, it makes me really happy. It is one of the passions of my life. I don't fault folks who approach cross differently, but I know how I care about it, and frankly how I want to approach it.When I ride my best, and leave it all out there regardless of result, I feel like I'm getting the most out of this. That's the enjoyment for me at this point.

Look, I get that I'm not the fastest kid on the block. That I'm not really in the race these days in terms of placing. I'm your team's mid pack masters racers. I'm racing for a top 30 most weekends, and apparently with the juniors top 50. At the end of the race, if I suffered the entire time, if I rode clean, if I battled in my group- I'm happy with that. Somewhere along the line I saw this:

The gift is the ability to go out and train. The ability to pin on a number. The ego to get my face kicked in and come back the next day to do it again. I feel honored to ride for the team I do, I am proud of my teammates and to be associated with them. I am proud of the community and friends I have because of this sport.  I love this game. For me, frankly that's where I am. I just want to go out and race my best, as long as I fight, I battle, and I race smart, and leave it all out there... then I'm cool with that. Maybe I am too serious when I race, but I work really hard to be able to battle for 30th place. And frankly, I wouldn't want it any other way.

my brother Craig and I warm up last weekend

Note: this isn't a post against bacon suits or beer feeds or single speeds or anything else. Lord knows I have taken my fair share of beer feeds and participated in jackassery at cross races. I love that I'm being heckled. It's a wonderful thing. The beauty of cross is that on some level it offers something for everyone. It's truly the beautiful battle.

Two years ago, I lost a brother. From that experience/coping/healing/having a mid life crisis I've grown and learned a lot. One of those things that I keep coming back to is this if I'm gonna do something, I have to give my best. Either that or don't do it. I also learned that I don't always need to be the biggest jackass at the party either. That however, will be the subject of another entire blog...

So yeah, I'll continue to take it seriously and have fun and smile afterwards. Thanks again for heckling. I do appreciate it. I just want to leave it all out there.. For me, anything else is well... wasting my gift...

thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

Providence Cyclocross Festival

Dear Readers,

My name is fatmarc vanderbacon. I am pretty stoked after a pretty amazing weekend. I also drank more beers last weekend than I have in the last month. My brother, skinny-craig vanderbacon believes that was his influence. That or the case of beer that Nick put in our cooler. These two factors probably align at some-point.

Really the weekend was amazing. Dinner Friday night with friends, and dinner Saturday night with some old friends from out of town.

The courses were amazing, and the fields huge and competitive. For me, for me watching Monkey get to race was by far the highlight of the weekend.

As regular readers of fatmarc.com know Monk has been battling a knee injury since early May. While she's not in any racing form and the knee is only maybe 75%, and she hasn't done an effort since May. She had an opportunity to do the Madison with Anne Rock and couldn't pass it up. She was amazing.

Check out this video from the weekend- Diane in green helmet, Craig and I make cameos too


In the course of her race, she was about to be lapped by the leaders. She heard Manny coming up on the left, and so into a wide corner she went right, to give him lots of space. Low and behold who should be on the right of Monkey, but Tim Johnson, as he was trying to squeak by on the right. So yeah, my wife took Tim Johnson to the tape. It was pretty awesome.

Craig and I, THOSE FABULOUS VANDERBACON BOYS,  had a pretty good day ourselves finishing 10th over all. We were all pretty stoked and that race was really fun.

Craig and I start together on Saturday... He'd drop me shortly...

Diane, feeling the high of friday's race toed the line Saturday because she didn't want to pass up the chance to line up with 130 women. She lined up near the back and fought a great race, having to help one of her rivals with a hand assist over the fly over...

Monk's hand assist photo by velocb..

I was pleased with my rides both days. The courses were super fun, super fast and flowy and technical... Really a good time....

we had a pretty packed and fun team spot

post race debrief- we're swapping recipes

Benny has no idea that Jimmy is behind him..

Now I will say, I left the venue very frustrated. Saturday we weren't told the juniors were being scored with us, then they were scored with us after the fact. Thank you dropping me back 5 spots. Lame, but not that big of a deal.  Sunday, well they decided to mix the juniors in with us, only they didn't use any rhyme or reason that I can tell of... All of the juniors were mixed in but seated together. In a field of 108... We were pushed back 4 rows from the previous day as all the juniors were seated before us. In the wet conditions, not only was this unfair, it was unsafe. I won't dwell on this too much, other than to say that it did but a damper on the weekend. I don't like having this juniors mixed into our field, but if they are going to do that at least stage us in some kind of fair fashion. Yeah, I'm a dicky masters rider, but I'm also a paying customer. I believe they'll get this worked out, and that they put on a great show. I'll also say that maybe I'm not the customer they want, I can understand that too...A good business model is always to keep your paying customers happy.  Don't worry Providence, I still love you...

Nick, Craig and I were totally stoked with change to the program Sunday.

I want to thank all of my great teammates and friends who came out and raced and hung out... really a fun time this weekend...

big time...

thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

the skinny on Craig Vanderbacon

Dear Readers,

My name is fatmarc vanderbacon. I have been dipping my toe in the pool that is this cross season this fall. Happily my brother: craig vanderbacon has been doing cannon balls into the cross pool this fall.



No, not that kind of splash more like this kind.

okay this was a bummer for last weekend, but still finished in the top 1/2

Craig has been putting in super solid rides this fall, and I'm excited to announce that the Vanderbacon boys, dare I say those Fabulous Vanderbacon boys, will be racing together this weekend. Starting Friday night in the Madison at Providence, and then fighting to prove Cross-results wrong!
I am  SUPER stoked to get back to racing this weekend at Providence, one of my favorite venues/races anywhere. It's been tough sitting out 2 of 3 of the race weekends thus far but it's gonna be a fun one!

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

This Charming Man...

Dear Reader,

My name is Fatmarc Vanderbacon. I raced cyclocross at Charm City Cross this past weekend. It was glorious. I am happy to report that for the first time in 2013, I have done as many bike races as 5k runs. I am a bike racer. I am a cyclocrosser.

Highlight of the weekend for me by far is when I was pinch tested. That's right the old european cycling practice of pinching a rider to assess their weight and fitness. Further, I was pinch tested by a local rider who is Italian, and 65 years old, and your current National Cyclocross Champion. I have been lucky to be in a community with Leo, and when he came up to me the weekend he said in his awesome Italian accent, "goddamn Fatmarc, you look skinny." He looked at Monkey and said, "you need to feed this man something!" And then he gave me the pinch test. First time ever in my racing career. That was awesome.

Now, I will comment, I am a stress eater, and I have struggled most of this year to stay south of 180lbs. (82 kilos for the euros) School, work, life... I just have had a tough time. The past 2 months, I have really tried to be more disciplined. I am proud to report I am finally, at long last south of 175lbs. (79 kilos for the euro readers). Now don't worry, I'm still plenty beefy.

courtesy of Erik Annis

No one will accuse me of being svelte  anytime soon. But I'm not gonna lie.. Getting the pinch test today, one of highlights of my riding career.

Races went well. I was pleased. Saturday I worked my way up to my group, but burned too many matches to make is stick. I drifted off a bit, with Eric Morgan. I sat on him for most of the last lap, fully planning to jump him in a sprint. We caught two more guys, and the dynamic of the group changed. I lost position in the sandpit, which I struggled with all day, balled it all up. My position was awful  and I blew the sprint on the road. It was really fun racing with Eric all day.

Sunday, I felt a bit better. Made my group much earlier in the race, and was able to make it stick. Another large group of say 10 or so caught us, and we blobbed around the course as a giant super group. I was on the back, and really unable to move up. I was pushing it hard, got tangled up in the tape a couple of times, never had that happen so much. Final stretch, I got pinched around a lapped rider heading on to the asphalt. (a very good move by the riders in front of me), and I sprinted in at the back of the group. Got series points both days, and will hope for better starting position at Whirly Bird in a few weeks. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

Just after finishing my race, someone congratulated me. I was clearly still on the vomit comet. I raised a fist salute as I was stoked with the effort and the race. photo by Dennisbike.com

So good to race cross again. I suffered my eyes out but had some great battles both days. Really stoked right now...

thanks for reading.

best to you.

respect
fatmarc vanderbacon

West Chester Cross Practice

Dear Readers,

My name is fatmarc vanderbacon. I like to drink coffee. I also enjoy sugar in my tea.

Bob kindly extended an invitation to the weekend cross practice to me last week. I was stoked to take him up on it. It was a good time. I got slapped around pretty good. Mid Pack Master, Mid Pack on the day... I can live with that... Fun times...

20+ years ago when I started racing mtbs, these two guys were my heroes. I have been lucky to follow Dennis around for most of those 20 years, and learning a ton from him.I have enjoyed connecting with Bob in the past few years. Getting to chase them around today was pretty amazing. Thank you gentlemen.

Thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

Guardian Angel

Dear Readers,

My name is fatmarc vanderbacon. I am your team's mid pack masters rider. Today, I got up early wrote a paper, drank a cup of coffee and took off to ride the weekly Angry Man's ride.

My legs did not feel good. I struggled. I bit my lip. I told my legs to shut up. I told myself to HTFU.
Then I died a million deaths, and rolled off the back and headed home.

along the way, I was really bonky. A little dizzy. I thought I might have to call Diane to pick me up.

Then, then I felt like I had a Guardian Angel over my shoulder looking out for me. Someone to help push me along and help me get home.

Just a weird feeling. Nothing I could Substantiate. I got home safely, exhausted.

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

One Monkey Story Imagined, One Monkey Story Real...

Dear Reader,

My name is Fatmarc Vanderbacon. I recently skipped a weekend of racing to write a paper, prep for a presentation and study for next week's exam. It was a hard weekend of studying and watching twitter updates of the races. Painful but true. I'm sure it's the right call, but I'm feeling the outside for sure...

Friday night.
We were out to get a quick bite and a drink. I'm a little bonky from my ride. Diane orders a Framboise. The waiter says,"very nice, that's a great selection." Monk smiles, and responds, "I know it's a good choice, I made it. I don't drink swill. If I wanted to drink the swill that he drinks, " Monkey pointed at me," I'd ask for that crap, but I want something that tastes good. That's why ordered what I did. But you know I don't want to talk about my drink, I want to talk about..."

'FATMARC!!!" Diane yelled at me.  I looked up. "What are you doing dude? are you going to order a drink?" Diane said to me. I was totally day dreaming. Combining Diane and the coffee scene from pulp fiction. None of it was real. It was all a bonky haze. Bonking out of my brains. "Sorry babe, I'm a little bonky... may I have a responders ale please?" Diner was alright. My beer was nice.

Sunday.

Monkey was riding one of her favorite trails. A couple of dudes came up on her. They didn't say anything. It kinda freaked Monk out a bit, and then.. then the dude buzzed her back wheel. Still, said nothing. Now, Diane is still recovering from a knee injury. She hasn't been riding much, and it's been really careful riding. But this, this tire buzzing was over the line. So she did what any reasonable person who hasn't ridden without pain since May, would do.

She got pissed and attacked.

She opened up a gap pretty quickly. Through the technical section she got through faster than the dudes and started to get away. She's Ruddy the Rabbit,

 Down the decent, they made up some ground and clawed back.Gravity always wins. As the trail pointed up, Diane stood and accelerated again. Up the switch backs she got clear for good.

Now any normal sane person, would have just finished up the section and gone home. But we Vanderbacons are hearty lot. Sane might not be the first word that comes to mind. So Diane made to the end of the section, and stopped to wait for the dudes. She took a drink from her bottle and when they rolled up, she smiled and said,"hey, good stuff, have a good ride!" As she put her bottle back in it's cage, and she rolled home. Smiling ear to ear...

Layla Digs the Car.

When Monk shared this experience with me, I asked her, "was that smart?" She smiled at me and said, "do you know how long it's been since I could make my bike go fast? since I've been chased? I know I can't help myself, but that was awesome. so. much. fun. She walked to the freezer and got a bag of ice for her knee.

I smiled. I wished she had just taken care of that knee. You know been smart. But, I understand, and yeah it was totally awesome. "be careful babe..."

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

Not Opening this weekend...

Dear Faithful Reader,

My name is Fatmarc Vanderbacon. This one time, I got totally geeked out about racing cross, stressed out over at crossresults.com. and went through the entire mental process and panic of a big racing weekend, but them realized it was for naught, as I'm not racing. Totally weird.

Had my first exam at school this week. It went well. You know how you shouldn't over think things, and generally speaking you should stick with your first answer on a multiple choice test, and not change it. You, know not make a change at the last second before you turn in your test. Yeah, apparently I forgot all about it. Damn it. One question away from perfection.... Next time... Next time...

Paper due on Monday. It's coming along nicely.

This is caused me to spit coffee on my keyboard this morning.


thanks for reading.

respect
vanderbacon

That time Monkey Puked in the Parking lot...

Dear Readers,

My name is Fatmarc Vanderbacon. I once rode my bike around in a circle in a field for over 10 miles.
I then shotgunned an omelet and took a nap, and it was awesome.

Thursday night. 9:00pm. Diane was not feeling well after her ride. She had taken a nap. At 9:00 she woke up, was really gray and dizzy. Something was not right. Diane isn't one to rush to doctor's but she was clearly not right and a little scared. I was too. I hoped that this was just dehydration, but feared that it may something much worse. She looked that badly.  We get to the ER and Diane proceeds to barf all over the parking lot. I did hold her hair back. In the end,despite our fears that something very serious was happening, thankfully it wasn't anything serious. With all that said, when we stopped at our local Hardware Center and I saw this, I figured I had to take this shot:

perhaps we were over reacting a little...

The final round of Grass Track was in full effect this weekend. It was one of the best groups of the year, with some really fast and fun racing.

D-Lowe was in the house Sunday!

racers waiting for the next effort...

One of the races that (i)Paul run each week is the three person TT. It's probably my favorite race. So essentially first rider does 1 lap, second does 2, and the 3rd does all three, with the clock stopping on the final pass of the third rider. We had an odd number of riders, and frankly I knew this was the last week of grass track, so I got to take a few runs... First with Diane, and Anne,

Next I got to go with the Super masters group with Kelly and Blair, and rounded it teaming with Dennis, and Nick. Super fun stuff... How can a minute and seconds effort hurt so badly?
Of course there were some larger group efforts too:

pretty stoked on the weekend to be honest. My cross season doesn't start for a few more weeks, school allowing, but riding circles in the grass today, was super fun...

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc