Relaxing in Philly
Pat — one of Team Fatty-Philly’s finest — has been shuttling me around the city today. Showing me around, helping me pick up a bike, and just making the day in general great.
I tell you what: it is so great to have a local who’s worked as a bike messenger in the city show you around. Now a chemistry teacher, Pat is also a history buff and told me all about the city as he showed me all around town, weaving through traffic comfortably and effortlessly.
Pat is a great guy.
After picking up my bike, we swung by Philly Jen’s — co-captain for Team Fatty-Philly — house to pick her up.
Until I met her in person, all I had to go on to figure out Jen’s personality was her email. And from that, I had figured that in person she’d be a ball of energy.
Boy, was I wrong.
As it turns out, “ball of energy” is far too mild a term. Jen is more like a supernova of energetic happiness. Check out the photos I took and see if you can notice a pattern.
Here’s Jen in front of her house as Pat and I picked her up:
And here’s Jen doing the Rocky pose at the art museum:
And here’s Jen, Pat and me, not doing the Rocky pose at the art museum:
Yeah, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something … consistent about Jen’s expression.
Teasing aside, Jen deserves huge props for the incredible amount of work she’s done to get Team Fatty Philly together and organized, as well as for the remarkable fundraising job she’s spearheaded.
One More Thing
I saw this in the hotel parking lot:
Whoever did that, thanks.
Team Fatty is so awesome.
Comment by Redbird74 | 08.22.2009 | 1:42 pm
Elden, you’re so right about Jen. Though we haven’t met her, we so appreciate the effort she’s put forward for organizing this team and everything around it! I know my family and I are looking forward to meeting all of you at the dinner tonight.
We picked up our packets today and found our bibs with the ribbons on them, thanks to those who worked on that! The volunteer at check-in said:
“Oh, I think there was already someone from your team earlier today.”
I told her there would be a lot more, about 190 actually. She then asked:
“How much did your team raise?”
I told her: “About $267,000.”
She didn’t have much of a response to that! :)
Go Team Fatty! Fight Like Susan!
Comment by jimmieknuckles | 08.22.2009 | 2:17 pm
asied from all the great things you just mentioned…
pat also has the dopest dog in the city
Comment by jimmieknuckles | 08.22.2009 | 2:18 pm
…. ps. and the dopest wife as well
Comment by Heidi | 08.22.2009 | 2:28 pm
Well, whoever owns that truck just made me cry…
Comment by Clydesteve | 08.22.2009 | 2:33 pm
Told ya Philly would be special with Jen! Have a great time. (And, heaven help the hotel wonks that started shipping her team off to other hotels because they overbooked!)
Comment by Carla | 08.22.2009 | 2:51 pm
The neat thing is – you don’t have to know someone in person to be their friend. Fatty you have true friends around the world. Philly did an awesome job in fund raising. WTG
Comment by Janneke | 08.22.2009 | 2:55 pm
Aw, that truck makes me completely well up again!! What a great guy that must be! Um… I think I see what you mean about Jen!! Have a great time out there on the other side of the world. Wish I could be there!!
FLS! LiveStrong! Allez Fatty!!
Comment by Jenni laurita | 08.22.2009 | 3:04 pm
We’re looking out for ya Fatty! We’re sporting our jerseys and staying at the same hotel as you-room 345, stop by!
Comment by Linda | 08.22.2009 | 3:10 pm
I just lost it looking at that truck too. Wow. Even at work last night I was so very tired and the phrase popped into my mind to FIGHT LIKE SUSAN. I think those words will live with me forever.
Comment by MattC | 08.22.2009 | 3:26 pm
Ahhh..the stories are starting to come in….can’t WAIT to meet Jen (and the REST of team Fatty) in Austin…have a BLAST this weekend ya’ll! And report on it! And BE SAFE!!!
Comment by jamieson | 08.22.2009 | 3:36 pm
Hope to see you in the hotel tonight!
Comment by 100poundsago | 08.22.2009 | 3:59 pm
Well did you run up the steps and do the whole shadow boxing thing at the top?
Comment by RobB | 08.22.2009 | 4:15 pm
Met Jen and Elden at the hotel this afternoon. I am so thrilled to have the chance to meet them both. Jen has been an amazing captain, exhorting us to such amazing heights. And after reading Fatty for so long–and having laughed and cried more times than I can count–I was actually nervous to meet him in person; but, he was the coolest easy going guy. I am so excited about tomorrow and so motivated to continue the fight beyond tomorrow. So, I just want to say thank you to both Elden and Jen for all of their inspiration, motivation, and love over the last year. It is a real honor to ride with you. If you are ever in SE Tennessee, come ride my roads and trails in Sewanee.
And one last shout out to Ray for an awesome cake!
Comment by curtis | 08.22.2009 | 4:23 pm
i saw that truck at the hotel too. that’s how I knew i was in the right place. from utah, all the way to philly. pretty awesome!
Comment by Bob | 08.22.2009 | 4:29 pm
Your teasing about Jen and the accompanying photos is just hilarious! Thanks for that great laugh.
Comment by Haven-KT | 08.22.2009 | 4:59 pm
I ride in full Team Fatty kit today, in honor of Team Fatty Philly.
I’ll be riding tomorrow in another of my Fat Cyclist jerseys on a much longer ride, to ride in spirit with the Team Fatty Philly.
You guys rock…. Let’s show Livestrong and the rest of the country how we roll!!!
Fight Like Susan!!!!
Comment by Charisa | 08.22.2009 | 5:18 pm
Team fatty rocks!!! Have an awesome livestrong ride!!
Comment by USARMYCPT | 08.22.2009 | 5:46 pm
It is amazing the drive that you have! Keep up the fight Fatty!
Comment by Surlyrider | 08.22.2009 | 6:24 pm
Eldon is on stage at the livestrong dinner. Not a dry eye in the house. Thanks for the kind words about our trip today. It was an honor to spend the day with you.
Comment by leroy | 08.22.2009 | 6:44 pm
Have a great ride tomorrow!
Comment by Bruce Bebow | 08.22.2009 | 7:40 pm
I hoped someone taped Elden’s speech. Please post a link if you taped it!
Hang in there, Elden. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Comment by asmathews | 08.22.2009 | 7:50 pm
Philly Jen has done an amazing job. Her emails have been so entertaining, and very informative.
I’m very happy to be a part of such a great team.
Comment by Jason Crane | 08.22.2009 | 7:58 pm
See you tomorrow, man! Your sister told me to give you a high five, and Julie from Team RocBike told me to hug you. So if you see an Xtracycle, I’d go the other way.
Here’s a slightly different (but still fun) view of today in Philly:
http://www.rocbike.com/2009/08/22/the-bald-chubby-eagle-has-landed/
Comment by Dad2BJM | 08.22.2009 | 8:26 pm
Hi, I know that where I live is hotter than hell, cause I live in Phoenix and as I finished up my mission years ago in the former East Germany, we visited a nature park called Die Hoelle (the hell) and it was snowing, and when I returned to Phoenix the following week it was in the 90s…..which today (many years later) in Aug, we are hoping the over night low will get down to.
Comment by Aaron | 08.22.2009 | 11:18 pm
Have fun on the ride, Go Team Fatty!
Comment by sarah | 08.23.2009 | 12:33 am
enjoy philadelphia! best wishes from oakland.
Comment by buckythedonkey | 08.23.2009 | 3:47 am
Dopest?
Comment by Andrea | 08.23.2009 | 3:49 am
Glad you are here Fatty! Hope to run into you today!
Comment by buckythedonkey | 08.23.2009 | 4:05 am
Jen has a smile that could light up a room! Looking forward to the report.
Allez Team Fatty!
Comment by Mike Roadie | 08.23.2009 | 5:19 am
That’s better than “Dopiest”!!!
Have fun with and in Philly…..enjoy the “LiveStrong” experience!
FLS
Let’s go Team Austin…..our day is next!!!!
Comment by buckythedonkey | 08.23.2009 | 6:00 am
Or “doperest”… ;-)
Comment by MattC1 | 08.23.2009 | 8:16 am
What? No pics (or video) from the dinner yet?? Dang…making us wait! And NOW everybody is actually ON THE ROAD for the last few hours..(it’s just after 7am here in CA as I type). Guess we have to wait till tonight/tomorrow to start getting the ‘good stuff’. And Surlyrider, thanks for the quick update from the dinner (I am assuming that you are Pat). And we wait…tick tock…tick tock….(I’m at work today, and for a change, I’m not extremely busy at the moment…so have some time to kill). Ride strong Team Fatty Philly!
Comment by dawn from Houston | 08.23.2009 | 10:37 am
Sounds like Philly is well represented. Austin has to get our butts in gear to not get shown up! :)
Oh, and Fatty, I loved you in Julie/Julia!
Comment by Donna | 08.23.2009 | 11:09 am
Go Team Fatty! I hit the curb with my bike… still trying to relearn to ride. Love the site!
Comment by Becca from DC | 08.23.2009 | 12:31 pm
Long-time reader, never commented. I lost my mom to breast cancer in 2001. I wore my Team Fatty jersey in today’s Iron Girl triathlon. (Team Fatty – not just for cyclists anymore!) I did not realize how much of an opportunity it would create to tell people about your blog, fundraising programs, etc. I saw one other Team Fatty jersey and we both just smiled.
Comment by Onan the Barbarian | 08.23.2009 | 1:26 pm
Wish I could have been there, it sounded like a fabbo time.
I rode a bit around Minneapolis in my FC gear just to feel like I was in Philly.
One month ’til my Chequamegon Fat Tire 40 in Team Fatty gear.
Fight. Win. Ride
Comment by Robin from Ok | 08.23.2009 | 2:03 pm
Wow, what a fantastic smile:)
Fight like Susan…how cool!
Comment by Kathleen@ForgingAhead | 08.23.2009 | 2:55 pm
I just knew PhillyJen would have a great smile!
Cannot wait to hear all about the amazing day.
Go Team Fatty!
Fight Like Susan!
Comment by cattio | 08.23.2009 | 5:08 pm
Heya! I was coordinating traffic at power stop 2 today(trying to, anyway) – saw SO MANY Team Fatty riders. You guys are so awesome – you should all be very proud of the work you’ve done. Give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done today!
Comment by Nick | 08.23.2009 | 5:44 pm
This was an awesome weekend! Fatty’s speech last night was truly moving, the new jerseys look great (yeah, he showed us!), and for anyone who’s wondering Fatty definitely puts those massive quads to good use. The man is a machine.
Fatty’s description of Jen is spot on. Her energy at 5:30 this morning was like having a cup of coffee!
Everybody I met/rode with on Team Fatty was really cool and I got compliments all day about our team and jerseys.
Comment by Jamieson | 08.23.2009 | 6:11 pm
Great ride today, the team was awesome, and Elden – my hat is off to you for greeting the team on the way in, every *last* ones of us.
I’m incredibly proud of Philly Jen, my riding partner for most of the ride. Her efforts were amazing in coordinating the team.
Allez Fatty!
Comment by Lizzylou | 08.23.2009 | 7:33 pm
I think I have a photo of Philly Jen that looks somewhat similar.
Jamieson, thanks for riding in with me at the end! Fatty it was really awesome that you were still there waiting for the last of us to ride through the gate.
Comment by Mir | 08.23.2009 | 8:13 pm
I’m watching you in “The Devil Wears Prada.” You’re fabulous!
Comment by Carl | 08.23.2009 | 10:04 pm
It was great finally meeting some fellow Fatties today. And for all you out there who have not had the opportunity to meet Fatty yet, he is just as humble and nice as you imagine he is.
Team Fat Cyclist Fought Like Susan – 08/23/09 – Philly
Comment by buckythedonkey | 08.24.2009 | 2:34 am
New Fatty kit at T6:
http://www.twinsix.com/gear/the-stuff/fat-cyclist
Fab!
Comment by powerful pete | 08.24.2009 | 4:13 am
Have a great ride today, guys!
And thanks to bucky for the tip on the jerseys. One white/orange short sleeve for me, thanks!
Fatty & Twin Six, we know all about the jersey design now! Hah! ;-)
Comment by Born 4 Lycra | 08.24.2009 | 6:23 am
Make sure you grab a new tee shirt as well all the proceeds from the tee shirts go to FC and Family. Bum the shirt is white still you can’t please all the people all the time.
Comment by Maggi B | 08.24.2009 | 6:54 am
I think Jen has that same expression in every photo I took of her! Meeting her was seriously awesome, one of MANY highlights in an absolutely mind-blowing weekend. Elden, it was so great to meet you – and I’m just thrilled you had a good ride! I’m so stoked for next year. And hey, buckythedonkey, thanks for the heads-up. I can’t believe T6 has the new kit up!! I love it!
Comment by mc | 08.24.2009 | 10:48 am
ugh I feel cheated. I finished the century at about 3:45…no fatty to greet me at the finish?? were we supposed to go somewhere other than the finish line to see other team fatty members?
Comment by surlyrider | 08.24.2009 | 11:10 pm
Hey mc,
I am sorry that you feel cheated. I think you may have just missed him, as he needed to get back to the hotel for some food before he passed out. He really wanted to see everyone come over, and he was back at the finish line to see everyone just after getting some food in him. I think there were a few fattys hanging out at the finish line for a good part of the late afternoon.
Comment by mc | 08.25.2009 | 8:02 am
Surly
I was there at the finish area from 4 to 5:30..and saw the other fatty riders hanging out but not fatty. Maybe he was there talking with the other riders and I missed my opportunity to talk with him???My sister in law was the second to last finisher (in at 5:30)..
Hey MC, I’m sorry I missed you — I did ride my bike back to the hotel to get out of the bike shorts before full-grown toadstools started growing out of my chamois, as well as to get something to eat because I was in fact starting to get lightheaded. I got back as fast as I could but I must have missed you. Sorry about that! – FC