Memorable Moments of 2007

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by el_d00der1n0

How did you know that's my brew pot???? I need to get back into it.

I was tempted to put her on the stove, but I didn't want to give CPS any evidence...

why else would any of us own a 7 gallon kettle???

(yes, I have one- need to get back into brewing as well)

[Evil Chocula]

My father died in September, and 15,000 people showed up to the funeral, making it the largest in Boston's history:




I then busted my face up in Massachussettes on some North Shore stuff 3 days after the funeral:



A month later, some hoodlums broke into my garage and stole my Giant Reign with a car jack:




Luckily, I got a life insurance payment the next day, so I bought this bad boy a week later:




And two weeks later did this at Bootleg:





I'm still afraid of the bike after my Bootleg crash, so I just drag it around now, as was seen at Daley this past weekend:




And in two weeks, on 12/15, I'm moving back to Boston!

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by nappyt

My mom passed away the day before my birthday this year unexpectedly. But I learned to appreciate life, friends and family even more. Nothing last forever good or bad so make the most of it while you can.

On the plus side, I made it through my first year of fatherhood. Without any casualties!



Enjoy your kids while there young because they grow up fast.

Christmas Pictures from 2006


Christmas Pictures for 2007 (taken yesterday)

I wonder who he got that hair from...

[2wheel_lee]

So over the past many years, most all of my mtb buddies have stopped riding. 2002-03 was about the last time having fun on group rides. That was also about the time when DH riding ended at Big Bear (end of 03). After Summit closing and not having any more friends who rode DH, I kind of felt that mtb riding was no longer as fun.

2006 was a crappy year for riding. I crashed on my dirt bike at the beginning of the year, causing me to be in a cast for 5 frickin' months. And about when I was almost good enough to ride, my company shipped me abroad for three months.

At the beginning of this year, Nam (tkblazer) posted a ride at Fontana. I just joined STR. It was time to break out the old - albeit new - Intense VPX, which only had a couple rides on it since new in 05 and head to Fontucky. I had so much fun, as I'm sure Nam can attest to. I felt like a kid again. That was my first introduction to STR rides.

Since that time, I've greatly enjoyed riding with many fellow STR riders both locally as well as remote. My gf has also enjoyed the STR rides.

For many, many years, I've always wanted to race DH. But for whatever reasons, I never did. My real goal was to win an expert-class DH race. Despite my doctor giving me a strong recommendation to not fall (or he may have to fuse my left wrist together), this year, I finally bucked up and did my first DH race. And despite not riding DH for many years, apparently, I misclassed myself in the beginner ranks. For my second race, I competed in expert, and to my surprise, I achieved my long-term goal: I won an expert class DH race. My goal in DH racing now is to have fun. I don't really care to win (uh huh...).

More recently, after more than 20 years, I've returned to BMX racing. Although my conditioning and coordination is still a bit off, it's coming back quickly.

So my most memorable moment this year is basically my rebirth into riding and having fun again.

[sdyeti]

Finding STR has renewed my faith in the mtb community...when I moved to SoCal from AZ in Summer 2005, I was bumming because I felt like I lost my mtb community. I took over a year off from racing (and riding) to get my graduate degree. Then, denmother (in her all-knowing-wisdom), encouraged me to join STR. Finally in Sept, I started riding again. It has been a short time since I've joined, but since then, I'm back on my bike and LOVING riding more than ever.

My memories from 2007: (pics to be posted later)

-finishing my first marathon
-running 2 half-marathons (I do not really like running)
-climbing part of Mt. Rainier (wow...I thought biking could be scary sometimes)

-getting my Master's degree in education
-getting my National Board Certification as a teacher

-losing my grandmother in April after her second stroke...she was so special to me...I miss her
-5 of our bikes got stolen in May

-finding STR and reconnecting with my mtb friends
-finally riding in Moab (Porc Rim rules!!) and Sedona
-getting two new, very sweet bikes
-getting on a new dh team (yay...The Path)
-spending another year adventuring with Dan

Originally Posted by J_Sims

I would have never experienced without finding this site filled with so many amazing people that I am proud to call family... I call you family as you have helped me grow into the prson that I am today, having learned so much from so many.

[ghixon]

My most memorable moments of '07 are both on and off the bike.

The first is watching my son grow up into a wonderful little boy despite me as his father. The best (and worst) part of it all was watching him learn to walk. The pure enjoyment and light in his eyes after he got it down and was able to run around by himself, pure heaven.



The other has to be the fact that I can count myself as a healthier and happier person since I started riding seriously and regularly in January. I had always goofed around with MTB riding, but like a lot of us, never really did much with it for a long time. I had a terrible photo taken of me around Thanksgiving '06 and I hardly recognized myself. Long hours at work and a total lack of motivation we're my demons at that point. I decided that I would make a conserted effort to get my butt back into a shape other than round. I started Jan '07 at 235. As of the STR Daley Canyon ride, I was 182.

Before:



After:



Thanks for listening.

[Drum n MTB]

Good Memories include:

-My bands first real tour, 45 shows in 52 days all over the country. GOOD TIMES!
-First time mountain biking...for real. Now I'm on my second bike, which was purchased from an STR member. Thanks dutchy

[sdyeti]

Wow...what a great healthy change! Awesome!

Originally Posted by ghixon

My most memorable moments of '07 are both on and off the bike.

The first is watching my son grow up into a wonderful little boy despite me as his father. The best (and worst) part of it all was watching him learn to walk. The pure enjoyment and light in his eyes after he got it down and was able to run around by himself, pure heaven.



The other has to be the fact that I can count myself as a healthier and happier person since I started riding seriously and regularly in January. I had always goofed around with MTB riding, but like a lot of us, never really did much with it for a long time. I had a terrible photo taken of me around Thanksgiving '06 and I hardly recognized myself. Long hours at work and a total lack of motivation we're my demons at that point. I decided that I would make a conserted effort to get my butt back into a shape other than round. I started Jan '07 at 235. As of the STR Daley Canyon ride, I was 182.

Before:



After:



Thanks for listening.

[allison]

I'm still planning on doing a YIR (Year in Review) post in about 3.5 weeks, but here are some memorable moments for me:

Finishing Counting Coup, despite being CRASHED INTO about 50 yards from the starting gate.

VQ131.JPG

First STR group trip/weekend - Easter at Hurkey



STR Cram Session at Thunder Mountain



Downieville MTBR gathering/summer kick off









My first bit of Path gear won from the chugging contest:



Whistler





Bunker Creek on our Labor Day UT Trip, quite possibly the most fun I've ever had on a bike



What it is ALL about:





Needs no explanation, but listening to Jeff laugh like a little girl descending Skid Mark will quite possibly be a very long lasting memory, in a really good way





Most I've ever laughed in awhile. Especially after a rough week (fires)



1st place in Sport Womens XC



2nd in Women's Expert DH





I can't wait to have some great memories with all of you next year!

Ann - let's focus on no more DFL's!! It's you and me next year!

PICT0177.jpg

Last but not least... the girl who was my best friend from 1st grade until high school (we've had our rough patches, but still talk) had a baby in August. First of all of my friends to have a kid. He's adorable:

halloween2.jpg

[genusmtbkr5]

I joined STR in March of this year. So many to name. I had alot of none mountain bike related memories, but since this is a MTB forum, I'll just post some that really stuck out.

Finished the CC even with the flu:


Traci and Brian making it to Beek's:



[SIZE=3]The fun rides shared:[/SIZE]
St Paddy's/Brokenman Ride:



Halloween Ride:


Making it OFFICIAL: