two more in the bank...

Let me start by saying I love Kevin S. Phelps school is a beautiful venue, and they do an amazing job of putting on that race. Now I'll have to admit, the course Kevin put together this year was the best at this venue yet. Cheers to you Kevin and your Crew. I am a Kevin fan.

That being said the Phelps School Cross Course is like fucking fatmarc kyrptonite. I started racing cross in 1997. I don't think a single skill I've learned in almost 13 years of cross racing gave me any advantage on Saturday. Course had flow, but ugh...

Three laps in I found myself essentially with a group  with Featherman at the head of affairs and Breakenmaker riding caboose on our train. I was really frustrated, and frankly my mental attitude was bad. I tried to stay positive, but that was sinking faster than the Titanic. I just didn't have the impetus to battle through. I came off the back and basically rode around the rest of the race by myself. Had fun, but I admit a frustrating day.


 I went home and Monkey had to deal with me being Mr. Grump Dick Guy the rest of the day.

Sunday I was off to Kutztown Cross and what promised to be a completely different style course. Bob took essentially a flat field and turned it into a maze of twisty, tight, on the gas, hard cornering bliss. I was stoked.

I got a good start for a change and may have burned up a couple of matches trying to stay with that lead group.  Laps 3-4 Harshman, Larino and Culbertson came through. Acura Matt and I had Piccalo and my teammate Morali dangling for a couple of laps. They would make contact with Morali continuing to move up.

I'd dangle off of Piccalo's wheel the rest of the race, with Matt breathing down my neck. The last two laps were a combination of staying really focused, knowing if I balled up a corner I'd give up two spots, and trying to stay on it in the hopes that Piccalo would bobble and I could get around him. We all rode in cleanly.

I suffered a lot Sunday. There was not rest, no time off the pedals, lots of out of the saddle jumping out of corners. I was pleased with my ride...

Watched two cool movies this weekend too. The Time Traveler's Wife and Push. TTW is a good romanticy date movie. Just the thing to watch with your wife or lady when your being Mr. Grumpy Dick bad day at the races guy. Push is an X-men rip off that is set up for a super sequel that will likely never happen. Still worth the watch... In hindsight, we should have reversed the order of viewing here. Just saying...

not the greatest post, but frankly it was kind of a mellow weekend. Much needed this time in the season...

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc
pictures from Scott H. (facebook)

last run

Way back when I was skateboarding, there was this rule that developed. No one ever says, "one more run", "last trick" or anything indicating that the next pass would be the last. Inevitably, this resulted in who ever was taking the last pass to eat shit. It worked like clock work.

Last night, as I met a few friends to ride my bike around in circles in a field, someone said, last time around.
Not two minutes later, there was a pile of dudes in lycra laying on the ground.

Luckily no one was hurt seriously, and we could all laugh about it a few minutes later.

I propose that we adopt the "no one says last run" rule, when riding bikes around in fields.

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc

pilgrimage to the motherland

If you consider yourself a crosser... If you love this game, then you owe it to yourself to race in one of the New England Verge Series races. It needs to be on your bucket list.

No,  I don't think that the New England Series is superior to the MAC. I think the product delivered in both arenas is very comparable. But what Granogue and Charm City don't offer is the history and reverence that you feel all around in New England. The fields, the crowds, they know cross, they've been racing it for years. They know the riders, local and not so local. The Chip Baker led Hup guys have a party that runs from the cat 4 race all through the elites. There is a history that any cross lover can not deny. You see the Corner Cycle boys warming up together in their stars and bars kits. You see Tom Stevens, the man who was the visionary course designer and I know is the guy whose style we try to incorporate in every course we design. Paul Curly, the guy who brought cross here, and set the stakes that the foundation was build on, riding around, mirror on helmet, aero wheel on the rear. I got to shake hands and BS with Gewilli. If you love cross, if you care about the history of our sport, New England is an experience you can't deprive yourself of... For a Cross Nerd like me... It was simply amazing...
I've done the CSI race probably 4-5 times over the years. A number of years it was on the U Mass Campus, and it as fun, but the course was the best they could do with the terrain they had. My last time to the Cycle Smart International was 2005. It was a Look Park, and I have to be honest it was the most fun, the best course I have ever ridden. And for the last 5 years, I have told anyone who asked the the Look Park Venue, that course, was my favorite ever. With that backdrop, I was a little worried that the course wouldn't live up to my expectations, that it wouldn't be as amazing as I remembered it. Hats off the JD and Adam and their crew, because very frankly the course was better than I remembered.  A hard run up, tight bike driving technical stuff on the upper deck, fast pedaling corners on the lower, and a sandpit that was the most fun ever.
Amazing venue, amazing job pulling together what remains my favorite course... So Much Fun to race...  I can promise you this, it won't be another 5 years before I get back...

my bro skinny craig through Sunday's sandpit... yup he's in a 7up jersey...

Also making this trip really special and fun for me is the fact that my brother (skinny craig) and his family is very local to North Hampton. Craig started racing cross this year, and frankly getting him racing cross might be my proudest achievement this season. Craig and Beth were kind enough to welcome; host; feed; treat Monkey and the C3 crew that stayed with us like kings. It was so good to see them, and I have so much fun racing with my brother. Thanks for everything, this weekend kinda made the year for me. It was an awesome weekend.
Racing wise, it was a bit of a downer for Monkey. The Amphitheater of Pain at Beacon has seemed to re-irritate her knee. The run up on day one was a similar painful motion, and really balled up her knee pretty good. Monkey's going to take some time off the bike in the hopes that if she can rest it, and baby it up, and hopefully avoid any courses with steep run ups, she'll be able to salvage the year. She commented to me, "it's been a good year, the doctor told me I wouldn't get to race at all this year, I didn't have good legs this weekend anyway, but I gotta think long term... My knee is kinda balled up right now..." Smart Cookie this one is. She's had a great season... I am really proud of her...
As for my racing, it was pretty much the story of season: start in the back, hang on for dear life through the start, and try to keep clawing my way forward. Race hard and see where the chips fall.

back in black.. nose to tail in this race...

Saturday
I rode in a group of 6 or so for most of the race. On the final laps attacks and accelerations happened, two got away, I was dangling off of Jerry as we headed into the sandpit. He bobbled a bit, and I was able to make contact. I moved into the drops and sat on him until we hit the pavement, where I jumped and was able to just edge around him on the line.

Sunday
Start was long and fast, and I felt like I was really far back. Couple of dudes laid it down in front of me maybe 1/3 into the lap. I heard the crunching of spokes as I rode over his back wheel, doing my best to not get caught up in the pile up. I spent pretty much the rest of the race chasing Steve Roszko. On the lower deck he'd power out a gap, I'd get back in the sand or on the upper deck and sit on his wheel hoping he couldn't light it up again. With 2 to go, David H was coming back towards us and I got a little greedy, I tried to power through him and hoped to bring back Roszko too. I burned the match a little too bright, a little too early as both got away from me in the end.. Last lap I held off a hard charging Jerry, who was looking to reverse roles from our sprint the previous day. I didn't want it to come down to that...

J Rock (Mauer) had the best race I have seen him ride. he really pushed himself. The snot on the jersey is BAesque.

Interestingly, my result from both days was pretty similar and the same dudes were one spot in front of me (David h) and one spot behind me (Jerry). Hmmm...

It was an awesome weekend.

Birthday boy chillin' in the toaster

respect.
Fatmarc

The Fat Storm Trooper...

Whilst riding around the fairhill course last night, I had a number of conversations with my friends regarding the C3 Halloween kit this year. Folks asked if I liked it. To which I answered "I love it". Dennisbike.com commented that it made taking pictures tougher, it washed out  the pictures a bit and it wasn't nearly as flattering as our black kits. I agree with everything he said, but it just doesn't matter... (ed note Dennis really likes the kits...)

dudes running, me riding... that's the force... Photo Dennisbike

I can see how on a larger fellow like myself, I appear to be "the fat strormtrooper" or if you didn't know it was a stormtrooper, perhaps you'd mistake me for the Staypuft Marshmellowman.


me in my new white kit that I love.

But at the end of the day, despite how bad I may look in the kit..

It's a freakin' Star Wars Uniform. A Freakin' Storm Trooper !!!

me using the force again... photo cyclingcaptured.com



Vanity Be Damned!! There is now an army of C3 StormTroopers racing in the Mid Atlantic!

Yup, I'm the fat stormtrooper, but heck Luke was the short stormtrooper right?

I can live with that...

Fairhill course is coming together very nice.  Benny da Jewlar does a great job pulling together the flow of the course. CZ has done very well rallying the troops. It's gonna be a fine race.

I'm not a huge Journey fan, but damn I have to admit this is pretty cool. I mean you go to a Giant's game, they start playing a Journey song, everyone is singing along, and then who should be in the crowd?

I kinda got goosebumps watching this...

thanks for reading.
respect

fatmarc

thanks to

Dennis, and Anthony  for photos

fat stormtrooper- dennisbike

 



a weekend in New Jersey...

A Fat Storm Trooper ?

On the way to New Jersey Saturday Morning, we stopped at Duncan Donuts, where Monkey had a Samuel L Jackson moment, while trying to pick up my bacon, egg and cheese bagel:

Monkey: Bacon, Egg, Cheese Bagel please. Standard Fare.
Dunkin' Donuts Guy:  Plain Bagel?
Monkey: No, Bacon, Egg Cheese Bagel.
Dunkin' Donuts Guy: Plain Bagel?
Monkey: No, a bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich
Dunkin' Donuts Guy: Plain Bagel?
Monkey: On what planet do they speak Plain Bagel?
Dunkin' Donuts Guy: What?
Monkey: Say Plain Bagel again motherfucker. I dare you.

Dunkin' Donuts guy: Bacon, egg and cheese bagel coming up.

benny da jewlar

Beacon.
Beacon is one of my favorite races. The venue is so unique, the racing so fun and fast. I always look forward to what Wade and crew have in store for me. Cheers guys.

Beacon was a fun race. I locked in on Chris Long's wheel, and frankly planned to sit on him the entire race if I could. With 3 to go, I botched the run up the Amphitheater of Pain, and he gaped me. I'd never get back. Brad Ford and Chris Samuel were dangling just in front of me, but I couldn't seem to get across. Last 1/2 lap  Fryberger came out of the pit. He's stronger than me. I told him we could get those two guys. He drilled it and I hung onto his wheel for dear life. Up the Amphitheater of Pain we drew even. At the top, Kevin bobbled getting back on the bike, I let him know I was coming around on the right. Kevin put me in the tape. I would have done the same to him. We didn't catch the two, and I rolled in following Fryberger. We laughed about him putting me in the tape later...

Monkey had probably her best ride ever at Beacon. When you 5 feet tall the 2+ feet tall steps on each level on the Amphitheater are extra challenging. She ran it the best, and had a pretty epic battle with Jill Neuman, and she actually had to make her final move on the final run, to lock up the group. She was pretty stoked.

Saturday night we had dinner with Bad Kat, Bad Andy, Auer, and Breyla-la. We had Thai and sushi. It was very good.

Highland Park.

Highland park hates me. 5 years racing at the Jamesburgh venue, and 5 years of misery. The course has more elevation change than normally suits me, but it's also technical and a good drivers course should be right up my alley right?

I got a good start today, I was riding in the top 25, in with the group of guys I want to race with.  The front of the race was largely still together. I was sitting comfortably on Auer's wheel when I laid it down hard. On one of those dirt to road transfers, I took too tight of a line and was on the ground before I knew it. The race was quickly riding away from me.. Chris Samuels, total class act stopped to make sure I was okay, and made sure that the race behind me that was closing in, didn't run me over. I thank Chris, who sacrificed his race to check on me to get going.

I picked myself up, and started going again. There was a group of 10 or so hanging out in front of me. I couldn't get to them. Auer had some issues, and eventually came back to me with 3 to go.

Did you ever see the Speed Racer episode when Speed gets temporarily blinded and Racer X rides shotgun and gives him instructions the entire race? Along with my good start, apparently when I went down my bike handling skills went out the window too. Auer gave me instructions as I sat on his wheel and followed to the best of my ability. "accelerate out of this corner..." " stand up and power this section..." "rail the off camber..."

Clearly I wouldn't have had the effort I had without Racer X, I mean Auer driving me along.

Monkey struggled at the start a bit. When I cheered for her, she shook me off, and told me she just didn't have it today... Then about 2 laps into the race, something clicked, she started to move forward a bit, and drive her bike. She fought really hard the last laps. In the end she was ambivalent about her result, but was able to smile knowing she put in some good work, and that will pay dividends down the road. I was really proud of her effort, and how she fought back.

So I got a sweet raspberry on my leg and and ankle and feel a little beat up but really got off easy. thanks to Chris  and Kris for being a class acts. Halloween Observation: Kids much more patient this year, and only taking one piece of candy. This versus last year when kids would take heaping handfuls of candy without asking... respect. fatmarc

dog days are over...

One of the challenges of cross season is the travel and the time away from home. Going from race to race each week is exciting, but honestly I miss my dogs as we don't get as much down town with them during the season.  As a result of this a weird little tradition has developed with Riley and Layla.
The Monday night car ride. I don't know maybe a month ago, I was cleaning out the car, and the bikes and the dogs were outside with me, and well, they ran and jumped in the back of the toaster.  I yelled for them to get out of the car, but they refused. They stood on the tail gate and barked defiantly at me.

So I did what any parent who spoils their kids would do. I took the kids for a ride in a car. The dogs were totally stoked. So now, each Monday night, when I'm cleaning bikes, and cleaning out the car, the dogs jump in the back and start barking at me. And we go for a ride...

They love the ride, and frankly so do I...

everyone in said picture slapped me around sunday.

yet another weird tradition of cross that I have grown to love

my legs feel awfully heavy this morning...

respect
m

my new hat

With the guidance of our teammate Arley, Diane has been able to take her knitting to the next level, with the creation of two knit hats. Monkey made me one in our team colors. When she finished she asked if I wanted a pom pom on top. I told her hell yeah, but go big or go home.

I think she accomplished the goal.

We spent the day racing in Washington DC, at the DCCX. The DCMTB team, lead by Matt Donahue and Mark Gwadz really put on a great show. The race course was super technical and tons of fun. I started in the 4th row and survived what was a chaotic start. I was on Mayhew's wheel when bodies seemed to be laying all over the place. "through the smoke Mayhew, through the smoke!" I said to him as I followed him safely through the carnage.

After two laps I found myself in a nice group with Mark Kutney, Keith Rohr, and Big Time Glenn Turner. Big Time started moving up and charging out of our little group. My brain said "go with him" my legs thought the better of it.

Through the final two laps our nice group of three would trade positions at the front. I don't think Mark, Kieth or I was really trying to dump the other two, just keep working together until the final lap. At one point I came around Mark, and he said, "and I thought those cheers were for me!" I replied, "Marc Gwadz is chasing off our group, the cheers were for him for sure"  Mark got a little gap on the final 1/2 lap, that I thought I could bring back through the barriers. I was wrong. I got a little jump on Keith up the finishing straight and rode that home. It was a good race. It was super fun racing with those two.

Monk had a good day too. She started the furthest back probably in her cross racing career. She battled through and kept moving up. We were both stoked. She was caught on her final lap by the our teammates Dee Dee and Arley. Monk knew they were coming and tried to stay out of their way. She said next thing she knew they were right there. "oh my god, guys sorry just trying to stay out of your way..." Our teammates, gave her a nice cheer and moved on through to the finish.  Aside from some gearing issues, and a possible mohito hangover burning off on the first lap, Monk was really pleased with her ride. She looked good. Then again I always think she looks good.

DCCX does a great job creating an event, and Muffy VanShagsalot knows how to pull together a hell of a tailgate. That made enjoying the remaining races, cheering for teammates even more fun than usual. Working pit with some frothy recovery drink I am reminded that I am such a two can Sam.

good weekend for sure.

cheers to DCMTB.

respect.
fatmarc

bathing a tauntaun

I was in Long Branch, New Jersey for a couple of days this week for a conference for work.
I headed out this morning before the sun had come up, riding south with the beach to my left.
45 minutes south into a headwind. Winding along the neighborhoods that lead to Asbury Park, wrapping past
the Stone Pony as the sun began to creep over the horizon.

It was misty, and gray and cool.

I have a pretty great job, and it was an amazing conference. But I have to be honest, this morning, this ride, was one of those it's amazing to be alive, and a little slice of zen moments for me.

that's all. Too many hours in any conference, even a great one, can wear on a man a bit.

riding bikes is awesome.

respect.
fatmarc

the flow of the season

Add caption

trying to settle back into normalcy.

whatever that means during cross season is up to your own interpretation.
the flow of traffic to my email box as returned to a normal level too.

I'm happy to help, but it does take some energy.

had a really nice ride on the bike this evening. Kinda pegged the heart rate and just held it there.
it hurt, but in a good way. I know, you know what I mean.

I'm looking forward to getting back to racing this weekend.


respect.

fatmarc

So when are the rest of those fuckers on Papp's list going to be released?
usually I ignore the doping stuff, but cat3's and masters peaked  my morbid curiosity I must admit.
Talk about a giant tease... I rarely read the boulder cycling news, but in last
month I check looking for the list... and there's nothing... blah...

Granogued... Thanks to everyone...

Brothers and Sisters,





Thanks to the just over 1250 riders that came out to race around in the grass with us this weekend.

Thanks to the army of volunteers who pitched in and made this weekend such a success.
 2 completely different courses, cyclocross expo, beer truck... awesome...

a little hard to believe that 10 years ago we started this small race with a few guys and gals riding circles in the fields at Granogue.

From all accounts this year's race was a huge success. It's not possible without the hard work of the local and C3 community.

we are beaming with pride right now.  exhausted but beaming...

thank you all for your support.

much respect.
fatmarc/Tom/Lweb