Originally Posted by Mayonnaise

Damn Rob, now you've got me all sentimental.

My memory goes back 20 years but it's unreliable.

Says I started here in '03 and you in '06. Certainly that was our first awareness of each other.

But I'm trying to remember our first "in the flesh".

Remember the old "Proving Grounds" stage during SuperWeek? We were both newbie Cat 4's. DIdn't we race together. Sorry, but wasn't it your left foot that turned inward while pedaling? I know that sounds silly but that's what I remember. (which suggests the unspoken intimacy cyclists have with each other. How closely we must watch each other during a ride, searching for weakness, strength, and tiny tells).

Then, of course, came Cyclocross. Remember how it exploded like a Newtron (Cole) bomb? I think of that Luke Seemann photo on Heckle Hill as ground zero.

What a joy to watch the ChiCrossCup develop into such an enviable series that compares to nothing in the country. So delighted to think of the many architects that cobbled it together and how we're all so close to this day. As and aside: didn't you get punched because your heckle game was so good (insert favorite emoji), likely fueled by the "margaritas (or tequila shots depending on how you want to call it) Rebbeca was serving on the backside of the course?

I love how the PSIMET and SCW tents have now merged on race day. I could care less about a race result, it's the hang in the tent that I love best.

Now look at us. From an era before smartphones and Facebook we came to this nerdy place trying to make it cool (Cool? Ha, after this I'm logging back onto my Rush Forums account) we've gone beyond a shared interest to creating Family; people I would do anything for if called upon. So many people that I don't want to start mentioning because I couldn't stand unknowingly forgetting someone.

When I was in college the Jesuits would say human happiness comes from a balance of Family, Work, and Community. When I see all of us and our families in the cold dark night (I'm looking at you, Woodstock) tearing down the course then heading out for dinner together afterwards I think those Jesuits were right.

It's not a rush of happiness, rather it's a quiet nod of yes when I think, there's no place I'd rather be.

Brother Rob, Thank You (and Julie and Andrew and Parker). I'm so delighted we've built Family together and have and enduring friendship.

A friendship I'll always cherish.