tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post9199310266514198372..comments2023-09-06T09:03:37.613-07:00Comments on Marco Off the Mark: Top Talent from SBMarco Fanellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-37876304285208658732015-11-08T09:40:49.455-08:002015-11-08T09:40:49.455-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.AlBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02601150583486963782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-19428702131321291942015-11-08T09:40:26.207-08:002015-11-08T09:40:26.207-08:00Miss the SBBC...great entre into racing for me. A...Miss the SBBC...great entre into racing for me. Always amazing that world caliber riders (wayne, Kent, Rory, Larry et al) would take time to coach up us scrubs. Its what made me love cycling to this day. I would add Kent Bostick, Bob Meeker, Kevin Cox, Daryl Abrahms to the list as they all contributedAlBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02601150583486963782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-56177896659109602902014-05-12T11:07:25.182-07:002014-05-12T11:07:25.182-07:00Hmmm No one mentioned Kent Bostick? I believe he...Hmmm No one mentioned Kent Bostick? I believe he was there with SBBC circa 1980 (+- 5 yrs) Monster strong sprinter, used to break bottom brackets on the Nishiki frames!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-83271201130544516892012-06-16T13:12:07.947-07:002012-06-16T13:12:07.947-07:00All great names there. Larry Shields and Rory O...All great names there. Larry Shields and Rory O'Reilly were probably some of the trail blazers in the area. One for helping put SB on the map, and the other for putting it on the track map! <br />On a related note, you need an expert to recognize talent and I think that Doug Knox can be credited for being the biggest contributor in recognizing talent, having coached countless young talented riders (mostly in the SBBC/Centurian team). I remember getting hammered by the likes of Rick Pepper, Chris Jordan, Tom Hodges, The Stockton Brothers, Steve Frank, Dave Huang, Ed Philbrick, Wayne Stelly, Peter Boberg, Tony Vincenti, Hrach Gevrikyan (though he wasn't from SB), and let's not forget some of the amazing ladies like Dara Rogers and Janelle Parks.<br /><br />TJEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-81107182823747232192012-02-19T10:53:12.749-08:002012-02-19T10:53:12.749-08:00Dale- Thanks for commenting and sharing your piece...Dale- Thanks for commenting and sharing your piece of the SB cycling history. I had to laugh when you mentioned the Wed Research Park crits and Monday TTs because THEY STILL HAPPEN!!! Wed nights are not like they were when it was at their biggest and fastest a couple decades ago (!!!) but still a cool mid-week opportunity for those who want it. I did not know Larry Shields ran XC at DPHS. Not surprising though, as a good aerobic engine can move from running to cycling pretty easily. (I'm finding it more challenging going the other direction however!) Take care, and enjoy Portland ...another great town) --Mark (aka marco)Marco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-41634807084292321702012-02-17T21:42:31.151-08:002012-02-17T21:42:31.151-08:00Greetings Marco...I just stumbled upon this blog w...Greetings Marco...I just stumbled upon this blog while thinking of a few names from my past(I don't know if it's still active or not). I was raised in Goleta and began racing in the ancient Santa Barbara Touring club (Yellow and blue jersey that's hanging on the wall behind me!!) in 1971 or so. I was a classmate of Larry Shields and could never escape him! ;-} We both ran cross country at DPSHS...did you know he was also a champion flite runner also? I frequented the Wednesday Research Park Crits and the Monday Time Trials on cathedral Oaks Road. I nearly won the final stage of the Tour de Santa Ynez in '73, but in the final descent, I was in a wild break with the Mexican Junior Tean when the rider in front of me left the road and fell---my front wheel went right into his seatpost and over I went (what spared me worse injury was that many riders were popping collarbones that year...Rory included! and told me if ever in that situation to curl-up into a ball). Broken collarbone was all I got. The next year, I went on a tour around SB county with Larry, Paul Stoufles (sp?) and Chris Pauley---yeah, the frame builder guy! I really miss a lot of info from back then (I still ride for fun and fitness on my '74 Falcon San Remo(!) here in PDX). It was real fun to read these comments and see that Larry is still around and doing well. Many thanks for hosting this! Blessings to all!Dale T. Ratesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-84701027953844404092010-07-27T21:17:28.387-07:002010-07-27T21:17:28.387-07:00I'm flattered to have been mentioned in the sa...I'm flattered to have been mentioned in the same breath as some of these other riders. Tom Hodges and Chris Jordan, my associates of the day, were powerful and strong riders for sure. Chris had a flying 1 km jump that was astonishing. He won many races with that trick. Tom was very well-rounded, as I recall was a top-3 at Nationals, won the (then venerable) Willows Road Race. In fact, for several years Santa Barbara athletes won that race seemingly every year for several years running.Rick Pepperhttp://www.elevengear.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-24059351126637967412010-06-20T21:59:54.868-07:002010-06-20T21:59:54.868-07:00Marco= Having competed as an Intermediate, Junior ...Marco= Having competed as an Intermediate, Junior and Cat 1 against Rory and Larry, I'd have to say that for pure strength-Larry and pure speed Rory (or Shannon on occasion)We had our own group of guys from the South Bay that were not too shabby as well. Ralph Therrio, Gibby Hatton,etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-85069465642015380112010-01-21T10:18:56.608-08:002010-01-21T10:18:56.608-08:00Larry,
Thanks for commenting. Yes indeed, some ta...Larry,<br /><br />Thanks for commenting. Yes indeed, some talented riders have come along in the years since your time. No surprise since we still have such excellent training options around here.<br /><br />I would be interested in riding when you swing through in March, depending on schedule constraints, etc. Mostly it would be enjoyable for me to hear much more about your racing exploits back in the day. My email is somewhere on the upper right of the blog.<br /><br />Mark FennellMarco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-18168983819962494432010-01-20T09:50:04.731-08:002010-01-20T09:50:04.731-08:00Marco, interesting list. This was sent to me by a ...Marco, interesting list. This was sent to me by a friend that I ride with here in SLO.<br />Glad to see such good talent come from the SB area over the years. <br />Will be in SB the first week in march to escort some of former bike riding friends from Seattle. If you are interested in riding with some old guys (some are really good -- me excluded) let me know.<br />Larry ShieldsLarry Shieldsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-43827175955719309162010-01-17T23:25:41.224-08:002010-01-17T23:25:41.224-08:00I have to say that Cody is an extremely talented c...I have to say that Cody is an extremely talented cyclist. However, as far as natural athleticism goes, Nieko was a more rounded athlete. Cody is awesome but he has only focused on cycling. There is nothing wrong with that. Stick to what you know you are good at. Nieko, however can also haul ass as a runner, and he has tried other sports as well. They are both very personable people that are friendly and polite. I wish that I could have had the natural tallent that these two possess.<br />Everyone else mentioned are also fantastic cyclists and we are all very fortunate to have such great cyclists and people come from our little village.<br /><br />I wonder if I would have made this list if it went 25 deep, maybe top 50?coureurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-32919840034519964632010-01-17T13:11:45.098-08:002010-01-17T13:11:45.098-08:00Dear Mr. King:
Thank you for your nomination of: ...Dear Mr. King:<br /><br />Thank you for your nomination of: <b>TED KING</b> for the Top-Talent-From-SB award. We take all nominations seriously and perform a thorough analysis to whittle them down to the widely-publicized top-10 list.<br /><br />Unfortunately, our distinguished panel of judge has determined that you do not make the list. On the one hand, your completion of the 2009 Giro d' Italia does weigh in your favor. Unfortunately this was offset by your lack of any noteworthy results in either the prestigious Mothballs Criterium in Goleta, as well as having never won the Santa Barbara Sunday group ride. Our research department notes that you had ample opportunity to attempt these events. In 2009 you elected to skip the criterium the day after the Poor College Kids RR, in which you put in a respectable ride by the way. Further, while in SB most recently, you opted to go riding with a Mr. Lance Armstrong instead of participating in the group ride. Our panel interprets those decisions to mean that you do not take the award seriously, nor do you give it the respect it deserves. Besides, you were disqualified from the outset because you are not actually <i><b>from</b></i> Santa Barbara.<br /><br />Be advised, however, that we are considering a secondary category, "<b>Top Talent Among East Coast Snowbirds Who Come To SB For Winter Training</b>" and you are a solid candidate should you choose to resubmit your nomination for that award. Thank you.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />The Panel of Judge<br /><br />ps. I hope your Euro training camp is going well. Give a shout out if/when you return to SB.Marco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-64845999184411168982010-01-17T07:57:47.833-08:002010-01-17T07:57:47.833-08:00Ted King. But that's just me.Ted King. But that's just me.iamTedKinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145752484101047641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-55000038470576639992010-01-12T15:18:06.899-08:002010-01-12T15:18:06.899-08:00Cat5Pro-
You are SO right! But just to set your m...Cat5Pro-<br /><br />You are SO right! But just to set your mind at ease, I <b>DID</b> incorporate the Mothballs and Sunday Worlds victories in my complex equations and computer simulations that produced this top-10 list. All those riders list those prestigious events on their palmares, I mean, who wouldn't. In fact I think KS probably values some of his Research Park victories more highly than that race in Philly.Marco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-92140903028181396302010-01-12T10:16:51.068-08:002010-01-12T10:16:51.068-08:00Hey let's get real here. You've omitted a ...Hey let's get real here. You've omitted a VERY big and VERY important element here about who was the best then, who is the best now, and who will be the best in the future day's SB cycling. <br /><br />What am I talking about you ask? Oh come on... we all know that Sunday Worlds and Mothballs are the two DEFINERS of SB cycling. You haven't taken the sprint at Worlds? You ain't jack...jack. Never taken the V at Mothballs? Sorry pal, move to the back of the lineCat5 pronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-70357234260710419062010-01-09T13:06:59.032-08:002010-01-09T13:06:59.032-08:00Jake & Ryan-
That's a cool story JP told ...Jake & Ryan-<br /><br />That's a cool story JP told you guys, but I need to correct one thing... Kurt didn't win the field sprint, he was 3rd (behind Paolo Cimini and Laurent Jalabert) but of course he was first US rider, thus the jersey. Pretty awesome. Looking at the results, it's fun to see the names from yesteryear, in particular good ol' Dave Lettieri down in 36th (and a few groups back @ 2:39)!Marco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-55792834718344743822010-01-09T12:14:55.642-08:002010-01-09T12:14:55.642-08:00Jake, I remember that story too and have re-told i...Jake, I remember that story too and have re-told it a few times!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-48151937184850829222010-01-08T08:28:54.823-08:002010-01-08T08:28:54.823-08:00If I recall, Jamie Paolinetti told us how KS won t...If I recall, Jamie Paolinetti told us how KS won the USPRO jersey. Jamie always told us to never give up at Philly. At one point KS was 14 minutes behind the field. But they kept easing up and easing up and KS apparently clawed his way back and won the bunch sprint. good story.<br /><br />JakeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-36938155918371303842010-01-07T19:59:05.704-08:002010-01-07T19:59:05.704-08:00I think Gary D-velo in his "pink" phase ...I think Gary D-velo in his "pink" phase gives Pete a run for his money...Tom Anhalthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08175472546482777614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-63695118524918366072010-01-07T13:09:07.327-08:002010-01-07T13:09:07.327-08:00Best style? Oh that's an easy one... surely ev...Best style? Oh that's an easy one... surely everyone agrees that it's Peter Boberg, aka, Tee-shirt Pete!Marco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-48475581905724079452010-01-07T08:52:56.855-08:002010-01-07T08:52:56.855-08:00hey marco. here's a idea for a new topic. wh...hey marco. here's a idea for a new topic. who has the best style on their bike out on the current SB groups rides?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-53674253903991620562010-01-06T21:22:08.119-08:002010-01-06T21:22:08.119-08:00Steve Frank had a bright bright future... but he c...Steve Frank had a bright bright future... but he could not focus and to be honest did not try and fix his knee issues, girls and cars sucked him in. He raced 3 months as a senior with great results and quite....I challenge DK big time on this one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-35320643601128502932010-01-06T19:26:56.823-08:002010-01-06T19:26:56.823-08:00> ask around, ask Doug Knox, Wayne Stelly,
>...> ask around, ask Doug Knox, Wayne Stelly,<br />> Hrach Gevrikyan and Rory<br /><br />Funny timing...<br /><br />Doug just called me and we had a nice long chat about all this. He told me about Steve Frank, a name I had honestly never heard before. Apparently he was as physically talented as Nieko, having once spent a solid hour otf of the junior nationals field, only to be caught near then end AND STILL SPRINT TO 5TH PLACE! Sadly, knee problems ended his cycling career all too soon in the early 80's.<br /><br />But yeah, I agree with your point... it's good for the new generation to be aware of who and what came before them. Of course that goes both ways... lots of old retro grouches who do group rides and talk endlessly about the good old days when bike racing was fast and they rode through the snow, wind, and sleet... but those retro grouches never get out to the CURRENT high-level races to see the today's generation in action.<br /><br />There should be a mutual respect. Whether in the 70's, 80's, 90's, or now, top riders make HUGE sacrifices to be as good as they can be. Total bad-asses, all of them.Marco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-73927728204385766682010-01-06T19:05:04.997-08:002010-01-06T19:05:04.997-08:00This is great historical record..only trying to ma...This is great historical record..only trying to make it better... like a wiki<br /><br />I bring up the late 70's early 80's because they played on a different field. Most would be pro Europe now. Some road the Zinger and Coors...ask around, ask Doug Knox, Wayne Stelly, Hrach Gevrikyan and Rory who should be on list for 70's & 80's. I think some 90's riders had no clue how good the riders before them where<br /><br />I always thought is was sad that most of each SB generation has no respect for the pioneers before them. I also say this to triathlete (when they ask) they should respect cycling pioneers in the states..LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35529945.post-84801481116752711612010-01-06T09:38:03.098-08:002010-01-06T09:38:03.098-08:00Good talk all! Thanks for the comments.
To me, th...Good talk all! Thanks for the comments.<br /><br />To me, the issue is the distinction between "<i>talent</i>" and actual accomplishments. My logic was to think of riders who made it at least to a level where true talent was clearly visible, and in my mind, that meant riders who were at least cat-1 or UCI pro and reasonably competitive at a national level. My comments about Nieko were meant to be somewhat controversial. Clearly, if results were the only criteria, you'd need to pick somebody else. KS? Rory? Cody? A case can be made for them and others.<br /><br />It's true I have a bit of a blind spot for the time between around 1982 to 1989 since I was mostly off the bike then. I knew Bob, and he was certainly competitive regionally, but in my opinion doesn't rise to the level of the names I listed. I certainly heard of Tom Hodges' climbing prowess, but again, was he a cat-1 competitive on a national level?<br /><br /><i>...A funny side story about Chris Jordan: I didn't really know him, but one day he was visiting the girls who lived next door to us on Del Playa (inc. Dara Rogers and Mary Gastil) and his bike was out front. My drunk roommates and I were tossing a baseball around and one throw went wild and smacked his wheel taking out some spokes as I recall. Like irresponsible idiots, we kept playing and ignored him when he came out and found the damage. Sorry.</i><br /><br />...But anyway, again, was he and/or Rick Pepper competitive on a national level?<br /><br />Part of what prompted me to write this post was an argument I had recently on a bike-racing newsgroup about top <b><i>women</i></b> riders from SB. Using the same criteria, I had trouble thinking of many. Certainly Cherie Turner was very good. Are there others?Marco Fanellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747163770738442254noreply@blogger.com