The Grass

Backbone's very own Rhoda and Jimbo Roff.....














Taylor making it look easy at the Firestone NCS race....


















The world's worst lover, seen here pointing to a place he'll never go..heaven.


There are a great deal of things that chap my collective ass on a daily basis, and many of them I do a fairly good job of changing so they don't chap anymore. One of the things I have NOT been able to even clearly define is the use of the term "Grassroots." From my perspective..which to be honest, is the only one I really give two sh**s about...a Grassroots cycling team is one that is loosely organized, has no budget, does only limited and regional races, and receives no free product or press of any kind. Does that sound about feasable to anyone but me? Here comes the ass chapping part.





The hardest working man in racing, Roger, seen here out-working the X-Fusion Titus team mechanic at a ratiio of 3,714 to 1.







I occasionally hear us referred to as a Grassroots team by people (not ON this team). Why does that enrage me so? It probably shouldn't, and I should probably be able to let that roll off my back in a duck-like fashion...but I can't. Everyone on this team or even associated with it...including sponsors...treat us like we are NOT Grassroots. I remember the days when that would have been acceptable (like at CFR) but not anymore.






The team touring the Titus factory with our man, E.vil J.uicy.





The whole thing that spurred me to take over..then quit CFR was the complete lack of support the riders had. This despite the fact the sponsors actually DID send free product to the team owner's house. We just never saw any of it at races..y'know, the place you may actually NEED it? I don't know many Grassroots teams that have managed to produce three of the top five female Pro's in the state of California (Chrissy, Christy, Teri).





Jeff "Tookie" Williams bombing the Lake Hope, Ohio race this year.







As far as I have seen, we are also about the last of the groups who still field a full complement team, with XC and gravity racers. I can't remember a team in the early 90's that DIDN'T do it that way..then somewhere along the line that all split. Grassroots my fat Swedish ass! We are a National team, with riders in every discipline, in every age bracket, and even have a National Champion!





Randy chatting with Olympic MTB hopeful Mike Broderick at Interbike.







So what if I don't charge the Beginner and Sport riders two hundred bucks for a membership fee...I am pretty sure THEY don't mind it. I also like the fact the Beginner/Sport/Expert riders all get equal treatment and respect, and until this year's frame alottment, had absolutely equal distribution of every free morsel we received from sponsors. By the way, how many Expert XC racers out there are getting free carbon full suspension frames? I have three.




How does one not love the support provided by the large breasted Kim?








Oh, and wasn't that Randy's inked up ass on every major cycling magazine's pages (along with many of the rest of us)in the KENDA ad? We had web banner ads at Whistler's website, are featured in several sponsor catalogs, JAY was in a huge article in Decline, etc.




Jay at Firestone trying out his new Royal clothing line...






I'd like to see ANY other teams, Grassroots or not, who can beat that. We have such great support from the riders and their families/friends, many BIG NAME PRO's actually take advantage of our organization to get on that podium.





Mary Mac and I at the Scottsdale NMBS race this year...






I see more Backbone riders and support people at Interbike representing their team and sponsors than I do any other group, regardless of fame or budget. When was the last time you saw anyone else working twenty hour days at Interbike, without pay, to say thanks to the sponsors that give them their very lives from March to October? Grassroots...I got your Grassroots hangin'.





Ed Fonda from Voler holding up our jersey at Interbike...








Backbone riders get support from Roger and the 'Heavies in CA, The Roff's in CA, me in the Midwest, and Tookie and Ryan have anyone's needs covered in the East. How's that for Grassroots?




Bert's National Champ Jersey on display at the KENDA booth podium musuem...





We do all the NCS races, Sea Otter, Kenda-Fest (Crankworx), Cal State's, Rim Nordic, tahoe DH, Southridge, Keyesville, Mountain States Cup, WV State Series, Ohio State Series, Duryea DH, 24hrs, Idyllwild Spring Challenge, National Championship race, etc. etc.....that's a damn lotta races, and we have some Sport riders who travel enough to get a free trip to Bangladesh every month on frequent flier miles. O.K....I'm calming down now....no more coffee.




The Fuzz, after cracking a rib and finishing his XC race at Fontana....






Did I mention we have EIGHT comp'd TOMAC frames coming this year? If I hear anyone else mention us in the same breath with the term Grassroots, I'll tattoo a naked picture of Star Jones to their eyelids. Douche Bags...

C





World Class team support crew chief, Stikkity-Stakk hard at work...