Hey, Let’s Do The Rockwell Relay Together
You’ll have to excuse me for being a little slow with posting today. See, I found this really good race writeup about this really great race, and I got caught up in it. You should check it out: Parts one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven.
Oh, did I forget to mention that this is a story I wrote? About last year’s Rockwell Relay? Silly me.
The thing is, though, that was probably the highlight of my racing career. My favorite installment of my favorite annual race.
Because The Rockwell Relay is an incredible adventure. Ask anyone who’s done it: it’s equal parts race, road trip, and experiment in interpersonal dynamics.
And you ought to come race it. This year. More to the point, you ought to sign up today. Cuz if you do, as team captain you’ll score an extremely awesome Fat Cyclist / Rockwell Relay jersey:
What Is The Rockwell Relay?
For those of you who don’t know what the Rockwell Relay is, allow me to encourage you to go read my race report (yes, all eleven installments). Or watch this beautiful video (see how many Team Fatty sitings you can identify) to see the kind of incredible terrain you’ll see.
But here’s the short version.
The Rockwell Relay is a 520-mile road bike relay race along the backroads from Moab, Utah to Saint George, Utah. Each team is made of four people, each of which takes turns racing specific segments of the course. Segment lengths vary, but are generally 40-50 miles long. The rider order stays the same throughout the race, and you take turns being the racer, the driver (unless you’ve got a dedicated driver), and the support crew (unless you’ve got a dedicated crew).
It’s intense. It’s fun. It’s brutally hard. It’s exciting.
It’s beautiful.
It is — completely honestly and truly — my very favorite cycling event.
So, clear your calendar for the weekend of June 13 – 14. I’ll grill you a bratwurst.
We’ll hang out, and then we’ll race.
It will be a weekend you never ever forget.
Sign Up Now
Because I love this event so much, I’ll be talking about it more in the next little while. And I’ll be encouraging you to sign up. Because I’d love to see as many Friends of Fatty do this race as possible.
And because I love this race so much, I’ve partnered up with the Rockwell Relay guys. If you sign a team up by the end of this month (February), the captain of your team will get a very nice Rockwell Relay / Fat Cyclist jersey, made by DNA Cycling. And these guys make very nice jerseys. Nice enough that the other three people on your team will want to get one too — and at only $60 / jersey, that’s about the best deal you’ll ever get on a DNA jersey.
So, sign up here. Now.
Oh, One More Thing
For the past three years in a row, Team Fatty — Kenny, Heather, The Hammer, and me — have won the coed division. We intend to win it again.
That said, our cumulative age this year will be 189 (that’s an average age of 47.25, and our youngest rider will be 45). And while a coed team can be three men and one woman, we always have — and always will — race in the true spirit of co-ededness: two women and two men. And we always have been — and always will be — a self-supported team.
So if you’re going to come after us, you may want to take those things into account as you build your team. You know, so you don’t blow us out of the water too badly.
Comment by Dave T | 02.10.2014 | 12:07 pm
We had so much fun last year we sign up again Yann, Steve B, Chris D. and I. This is really a fun event through some of the most breath taking scenery you could hope for. It would be great to see many more team fatty’s this year, Greg C. are you coming this year?
Comment by PNP | 02.10.2014 | 1:25 pm
You can’t imagine how much I want to do this thing. Which is sad, really, because at the moment, I can’t ride at all. And I’m staring my 60th birthday right in the face. In fact, I’ll be 60 years and 5 days on the first day of this year’s Rockwell Relay.
Oh well. I’ll still read every race report as if I’d been there myself!
Comment by yannb | 02.10.2014 | 1:26 pm
I’m looking forward to this again.
Comment by Jeremy | 02.10.2014 | 2:26 pm
I wish. It’s always the wrong time of year for me. I can’t depart during finals and grading. Instead, I’ll be racing locally for the first time as a licensed racer in the great state of Oregon. Gotta find something to do now that we don’t have Davis.
Comment by SteveB | 02.10.2014 | 2:59 pm
@jeremy…
Red-Bell 100 – same weekend as Davis was last year.
Also a fairly flat century.
WBR fundraiser.
at least 2 FoFs will be there.
Comment by Christina | 02.10.2014 | 3:59 pm
“Things an announcer may say about your team”=That is way too wide open.
Non-competitive team is very tempting.
Comment by Kukui | 02.10.2014 | 4:48 pm
Awww – Re-reading the 2013 Rockwell Relay posts, and dreaming of warm, sunny summer cycling days… ^o^
@jeremy @SteveB @FoFs – If you’re in the Seattle area at the end of June, Red-Bell 100 is a blast! It would be awesome to see a FoF presence at that ride. =)
Comment by zeeeter | 02.10.2014 | 5:04 pm
. . . thinking about it . . . . :)
Comment by GregC | 02.10.2014 | 6:32 pm
Still contemplating entering- it was a ton of fun last year- a lot of living happend in 36 hours. The major downside for me at this moment is the big expense. Will see how this plays out…
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 02.10.2014 | 9:50 pm
@ZEETER! If your in I’m sure I can convince Wife#1 (definitely something sparkly, or that 68 camaro she saw required….or both?)
Mark in Bremerton expressed interest last year,
Noodle are you game?
AngieG, you know if you go the Chapeks are a slam dunk!
Leigh Anne Davis?
Levi(?) I choose him, in a wig, as our ringer.
Others????
Thanks for the invite Fatty….we may need more PIE!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 02.10.2014 | 9:58 pm
Just reread your ‘boast about age’. Pretty sure if I can get MarkinBremerton onboard we would almost be 2/3 of your total with the first two riders. Probably the ONLY thing I could beat you at. That and basketball.
Comment by Mark in Bremerton | 02.10.2014 | 11:26 pm
Still a great read, and on my list! Unfortunately, my early interest for this year got preempted by a little less strenuous bike ride in Vienna (Austria), along with a visit to my kid there. I’ll be lurking and enjoying, though.
Comment by wharton_crew | 02.10.2014 | 11:27 pm
Fatty, that is a STELLAR jersey design! Tempted to do the race for the jersey alone! I doubt I could cobble up the courage (or the team) to do this, as I’m in Texas.
Keep pushing, though! I’m sure I’ll cave someday.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 02.10.2014 | 11:47 pm
@WhartonCrew
Moab can’t be much farther from Texas than California. Since MarkB will be out drinking beer and eating strudel and singing about ‘lively hills of music’ you are officially invited to join the team not yet named…or coalesced.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 02.11.2014 | 12:02 am
@
Comment by Diane | 07.4.2013 | 4:04 pm
@ Davidh & Clydesteve
So, apparently I’m not old enough for Team PieSTRONG, and I’m probably not fast enough either, but after reading the amazing epic of Fatty’s 2013 Rockwell Relay, I have not stopped thinking about what a life-changing experience this race would be.
If you find team PieSTRONG in need of a member, while I’m not near 60, I do have up to date insurance.
Diane- is the insurance still up to date, and Clydesteve now that you’ve had a year to think about it……..????
Comment by Christina | 02.11.2014 | 8:20 am
I’m 34 and slow. Is there room for me on a team?
Comment by Davidh-Marin,ca | 02.11.2014 | 9:36 am
@Christina
S L O W. is PieSTRONG’s. motto! You are definitely welcome to join this incubating team. So far this team is just advertising for interested fools…I mean riders!
Comment by zeeeter | 02.11.2014 | 12:02 pm
I’m reaching out to a couple of SoCal friends to see what we can arrange, but I have to say a) I’m getting the same stomach reaction to this that I got on my first Century at Davis, which is a great feeling and b) based on Fatty’s write-ups it has to be done doesn’t it!?
Comment by gingyh | 02.11.2014 | 12:17 pm
I wish. This is right after my birthday, but we’re facing a move across states (to Utah, actually!) in July so any extraneous travel is out this year. That includes races for the husband and me. *sniff*
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 02.11.2014 | 12:30 pm
@Zeeter
Reach out to Nic Grillo (Palos Verdes) Very STRONG rider. You can reach me at homerhouserugs at yahoo dot com if you want to help start the PieSTRONG Team.
Comment by Dcorry | 02.11.2014 | 1:48 pm
Definitely the most fun I’ve ever had in the course of 36 hours (ok, so we were slow). Doing it again this year, but what if we’ve already signed up? It goes to show just how motivating the eleven part saga was.
Comment by Corrine | 02.11.2014 | 2:36 pm
Oh man, I would LOVE to be on a team doing this but this year I get back from a 3 week vacation earlier that week so wouldn’t be able to get MORE time off work and wouldn’t be in biking shape. Maybe next year. I’m not fast but I’m stubborn and I don’t give up and I love to ride my bike. Of course, I don’t even start riding my bike until mid April due to snow so it could be hard to get training in. Although cross country skiing is great aerobic training also.
Comment by Don | 02.11.2014 | 4:21 pm
Same race new team. Unfortunately, I’d love a coed team to give you guys a run for your money, but alas not. Happy to be a part of this cool race again. This year the team (Friend is Friend – homage to Rwanda National Cycling Team) will be competing in the competitive group. I’ll take a large in the jersey since our team is already signed up. Awesome jersey.
Comment by Nic Grillo | 02.11.2014 | 4:59 pm
Davidh-
Thank you very much for the STRONG recommendation. Unfortunately I have to pass this year (brother’s wedding). However, I look forward to joining Team Fatty at Levi’s!
Comment by Davidh-Marin,ca | 02.11.2014 | 7:46 pm
Oh Nic, you can miss this one. Just promise to be at his next one. :-)
Comment by Annette | 02.12.2014 | 10:18 am
I have been reading “fatty’s blog” for over a year now but this is my first ever comment. . . kind of scary!
What if we have already registered for this year???
I guess no jersey for us early risers? I have always been told that the early bird gets the . . . I guess I have been mislead all these years :(
For you fence sitters, we did this ride last year for the first time and had a BLAST! (even though we came in dead last) we are a “true” co-ed, “self supported” team with a median age of 51.75 (207 cumulative years) and we are working hard this year, we have been talking, discussing, planning, and getting the logistics ironed out about what to do differently as we look forward to finishing before dark this year. . . We will see you there, and of course we are looking forward to the Brats :)
Comment by yannb | 02.12.2014 | 12:23 pm
@annette, send the rockwellrelay guys an email and they can set you up with the team fatty jerseys at extra cost. We are in same boat as you.
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[...] up with this incredible race by watching this video or reading one of my race reports. Or the summary I put together earlier this [...]