Most Awesome Cycling-Related Gift. Ever.
The Leadville 100 race is all about tradition. One of the traditions every racer looks forward to is getting their sweatshirt at the awards ceremony, complete with their name and finishing time. After doing this race ten times, I of course had ten sweatshirts.
The thing is, though, I don’t wear sweatshirts. I’ve got a subcutaneous layer of fat that keeps me warm; a sweatshirt would be overkill.
So I gave my Mom all my LT100 sweatshirts, and asked her to make me a quilt out of them.
And for Christmas, after roughly 19 gazillion hours of work, she gave me the completed quilt. Check it out (click on the image below if you want to see a larger version — an easy way to see what my times have been like through the years):
I tell you what: My Mom totally rules.
PS: True trivia fact: A photo of me, riding in my Dirt Rag jersey, appears in the 2002 edition of the poster and sweatshirt. Of all the race posters I own, this is the only one I have had framed.
Comment by KT | 12.27.2006 | 10:34 am
Your mom so totally rules! :)
But my mom runs a close second: I asked for knitty stuff for Christmas, and she spun 4 skeins of beautiful wool yarn for me! Now I need to figure out what to knit. She said she’s spin some more when I figure out what I need. Cool.
Comment by BotchedExperiment | 12.27.2006 | 11:15 am
You took 2 hours off your time from ‘98 to ‘99. What’s the story there?
Comment by bikemike | 12.27.2006 | 11:35 am
Moms are like that. Makes you wonder what in tar nation (i got the Andy Griffith dvd set for Christmas) they did to deserve the punishment that is us.
Your mom and my mom and his mom and her mom all rule.
Comment by barry1021 | 12.27.2006 | 11:38 am
Moms rule. That is way cool. Just think, 60 years from now, that quilt will go for about $Jillion on EBAY, and pay for your great great grandkid’s education.
b21
Comment by Gary | 12.27.2006 | 11:39 am
When I used to run I had a huge collection of race t-shirts. I remember seeing an ad in the back of Runners World or Running Times for a company that would take your shirts and make quilts out of them.
At the time I thought it was a neat idea – now, 10 years removed from my last race I regret not having done something to better retain those memories.
Kudos to your mom and contrats to you on one of the best gifts I have seen.
Comment by SyracuseStu | 12.27.2006 | 12:01 pm
Completely non-cycling related…but my Mom helped my 7 yo son make me an Xmas quilt. He worked diligently with her for 8 weeks choosing fabric, and photos of family vacations to make into iron-on decals, and helped cut and sew and tie knots.
Like I said…completely non-cycling related…but I am really proud of my son and it made this big wuss tear up a whole lot. Plus…it is more positive proof that Moms, in general, rule.
Comment by Rick S. | 12.27.2006 | 1:32 pm
It would be cool to have your Mom make you a belt with all those belt buckles. Imagine the conversations you could have with people while standing in line at the grocery store.
Comment by Terri | 12.27.2006 | 1:47 pm
I am jealous…that is THE best cycling gift anyone could get
Comment by LMouse | 12.27.2006 | 2:11 pm
I really shouldn’t be commenting on your blog, fatty, because I’m so far out of your chosen demographic it’s pathetic, but I just had to say this one thing.
Ahem…As a former Stake Relief Society Homemaking Leader (admittedly very former, as in a long time ago) I am suitably impressed by your Mom’s handiwork! And I’m nothing if not a good judge of handiwork, (not to mention really great moms.) She must be very proud of you
Comment by LMouse | 12.27.2006 | 2:54 pm
Sorry, fatty, I am told by my coworker that I must clarify…when I wrote that I am out of your chosen demographic, I was referring to my age (54). Didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings or hurt feelings.
Comment by The Weak Link | 12.27.2006 | 3:34 pm
LMouse, it’s nice to have someone around here who is my age. Demographics, Adam’s ought ox.
Anyway, there is no doubt about it. Fatty’s mom rules. Fatty gets some credit, too, for acquiring and saving these sweatshirts. I would have done something monumentally stupid like lube a chain with one of them by mistake.
Comment by The Weak Link | 12.27.2006 | 3:36 pm
I meant Adam’s OFF ox. I love that line.
Comment by DrCodfish | 12.28.2006 | 12:12 am
Pretty Slick, … or too slick?
Wow Fatty, the metamorphosis appears to be complete. Fat Cyclist now looks almost exactly like Bycyclingdotcom or Veloneuwsdotcom, or any of the hundreds of commercial bicycle focused websites. Pretty slick!
As I’ve watched this evolution I’ve been waiting for you to tell us it’s a big joke, but I guess not eh?
consider taking a long solo ride to think about what Fat Cyclist has become. I miss the old, more home grown Fat Cyclist.
Comment by T1mm0 | 12.28.2006 | 12:23 am
Just asking… What does one do with a quilt when one recieves one? Is it something that is hung on a wall? A bed???
Comment by barry1021 | 12.28.2006 | 1:16 am
FC transcends demographics. He is transcendent, not to mention luminescent, and post-pubescent.
b21 (54 and climbing)
Comment by Uncadan8 | 12.28.2006 | 3:45 am
Hmmm. Looks like Dr. Lammler has a brother. Welcome to the site, Cad, er, Codfish.
Comment by BotchedExperiment | 12.28.2006 | 7:41 am
T1mm0, Emily Post says that there are only three appropriate things to do with a quilt one recieves. 1) Re-gift it. 2) Cut it into small pieces for use as oil rags. 3) Burn it.
Of course there’s always those one-in-a-million quilts that are worth keeping. I guess you hang ‘em. I’m guessing Fatty will hang this one in refrigerater where he can gaze at it for hours each day; he’s got a BIG ‘fridge.
Comment by Jon James DNA Cycling | 12.28.2006 | 4:11 pm
Yo Fatty, Nice quilt. My wife is an avid quilter so I like to think I can appreciate your piece of art. I would like to join in on your weight loss challenge. But I have a twist to throw in. How about the bet be that the one with the best finishing time in Leadville wins. You win I get you a DNA cycling jersey. I win you set me up with a Fat Cyclist getup. Fear not it shouldn’t be too hard to beat me as I am no mountain goat at 190 lbs.
Comment by Jay | 12.28.2006 | 7:07 pm
FC – unrelated comment, but did you see that Lance is now bagging Leadville? “A scheduling conflict”. Oh well, Floyd may still go.
Comment by barry1021 | 12.29.2006 | 6:35 am
“Scheduling conflict”, bull!!!! Lance does not want to share the limelight with anyone as well known or as beloved as he believes he is. THat’s right, He is jealous of the FAT CYCLIST!!!
And I bet his Mom never made him a cool quilt neither!!
b21
Comment by regina | 12.29.2006 | 6:59 am
or is standing there with a cold can of chicken and stars(gag, sorry) for him either!
Comment by Terri | 12.29.2006 | 9:34 am
FC—did you hear the news? Lance chickened out of the Leadville 100. Something about a scheduling conflict. I think he heard about your preparations and got cold feet.
see the story at thepaceline.com
Comment by Susan | 12.29.2006 | 11:00 am
FC, as I am both a cyclist and a quilter, I know your mom rocks. This can be hung on a wall, but make sure you find out the right way to hang it up or it will be pulled apart by it’s own weight.
Comment by Born4Lycra | 12.29.2006 | 3:22 pm
I was just wondering when completed does the quilt for the next 10 years hang in the same room? To FC’s mum well done on this piece of art not the easiest subject to work with I’ll bet.
Comment by Anonymous | 10.26.2008 | 6:28 pm
thuis is gay mother fuckas