F3 Gears Attacks Tanglewood, Survives

by | Sep 16, 2017 | Backblasts | 0 comments

Not listed above:  WMD, The Bus, Creme Puff, Dirtbag, Usher, Ginsu, Geezer, Dinghy

19 men descended upon Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC to participate in Bike MS: Attack on Tanglewood, an annual charity ride supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The challenge of the weekend was to ride a ton of miles on two wheels with your ass resting on a narrow piece of rawhide. The F3 Gears team was comprised of 15 road riders and 4 mountain bikers.  Stumpjumper Q’d the mountain bikers, while YHC Q’d the road crew. 

This is a CSAUP for sure, but unlike most CSAUPS’s, this one has a purpose.  The guys hard trained all summer, but they also fundraised like wild animals. In classic F3 form, the men embraced the challenge to raise as much as they could for Bike MS.  As of press time, F3 Gears has raised $27,222.  The feat did not go unnoticed by Bike Organizers, who awarded our team the coveted “Spirit of the Ride” trophy. This annual award goes to the team that best embodies, well, the spirit of BikeMS through training, fundraising, events (think Summit), and all-around likeability.  And, because I know you’re wondering, YES! there’s still time to contribute to Bike MS.  Make your contribution to our team fundraising effort, here:  https://goo.gl/7Wn3sV

Our inspiration for the weekend was Usher (FNG Brian).  Usher, a childhood friend of YHC, traveled all the way from Maryland to ride with the team.  Usher, a husband and father of two, is 39 years young and has MS.  Usher does not run from his disease, but rather chooses to confront it head on, and on Saturday he rode 50 strong miles. In a Friday night COT meant to introduce the group, he shared his personal story and why our participation in BikeMS is so important to him and others.  It was a powerful moment.  YHC had a tough time holding it together after that.   

As with every CSAUP, the weekend produced many great stories – some to be recounted in the moleskin and comments below, while others are best passed from generation to generation via the oral tradition. 

Road Team

100-milers:  The Hangover, Costanza, Moonlight, Swampthing, Das Boot, Devo, Cream Puff, Ginsu, Dirtbag, Geezer

50-milers: Duvall, Mind Freak, WMD, Bada Bing, Usher 

 

Mountanbike Team

54-milers: Stumpjumper, Pipedream

35 miles: Dinghy

26 miles: The Bus

 

Back at basecamp – a secluded country palace resting on 10 acres – the PAX reveled in their accomplishments and in true F3 fashion aggrandized their stories from road.  We feasted, we drank, we passed out early from exhaustion. 

I’ll close by saying how deeply grateful I am for the men who participated in this event.  On Sunday mornings, while others were drinking coffee and enjoying the company of their families, these men were hard at work training for the ride.  They embraced the challenge to fundraise and surpassed all expectations. In F3, we talk about making a difference in our community.  These didn’t just talk about it.  They did something about it.  They made a difference in the lives of many.  Thank you.  

 

Moleskin:

  1. We welcomed and nicknamed four FNG’s this weekend.  Please say hello to Dirtbag (Dominic Lepore), Crème Puff (Dan Drayer), Usher (Brian Frank), and Dinghy (Brunson Russum)
  2. T-claps to The Hangover, Costanza, and Swamp Thing for completing their first century ride.  Extra credit goes to Swampthing who made a wrong turn that cost him an extra 4 miles.   
  3. T-claps and a “What were you thinking” for WMD, who rode 50-miles on the road course.  Solo.  On a Mountain Bike.  WITHOUT STOPPING.  Upon crossing the finish line, WMD received a well-deserved medical escort back to the team tent.
  4. T-claps to Moonlight with assists from Usher and Mindfreak for an amazing post-ride BBQ that featured Italian sausage and a half-rack of ribs for each man. 
  5. Swamp Thing was so excited about his accomplishment that he decided to take home a souvenir from Tanglewood Park – a parking cone he dragged underneath his vehicle for 8 miles from the park to our basecamp.  
  6. If you’re towing a trailer and find yourself in a tight spot, call WMD.  Dude, backed Ginsu’s Airstream down a steep driveway blindfolded.  
  7. Get yourself a Naipo Shoulder Massager with Shiatsu Kneading Massage and Heat.  Trust Bada Bing on this.  Hot lava balls!  Am I right, gentlemen? 

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