RR: My Own Personal Beek's

[Tighe ridr]

I'm glad you made it. What an accomplishment!!! Next time you go, hopefully sooner than later, it'll be a lot easier. I'm so proud of you and your post was really a great read. Usually when people put that long of a post up I stop reading after the 1st paragragh. Not yours, You kept it exciting and I just wanted to keep reading to see what you would say next.
This was my second time up and I was extremely disappointed in myself. My back started hurting soooo friggin' bad and I just wanted to lay down in the shade and go to sleep. I was so tired, I only slept like 16 hours in the four days prior to the ride and 3 and half the night before. I thought about hiding in the bushes until everyone went by and then ride down by myself so I didn't have to go on. I got passed by everyone!!! I'm so glad that you just kept going and going. That is soooo awesome, I'm sure you felt great!!!! We should climb something again in the real near future so we can get used to climbs and get better at them!!!!
Tighe ridr

[GeorgiaOfTheJungle]

Traci,

You did awesome, both on making it up and on the write up!

I think that Jeff put it best, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to ride with you. You are an inspiration, for sure.

I think that everyone has gotten to the point at which they wanted to quit, and could think of nothing else, what defines us is where we go from there. You went on--you are nothing shy of a winner. I didn't give anything up by riding with you, I gained a great deal.

Good job!!

[Sprockethead]

Traci,

Your ride report was truly inspirational. To keep going in the face of so much pain showed your will and determination. Kudos to you and Brian for sticking it out. Blackstar to Beeks is not an easy ride for a newbie or someone who hasn't been riding regularly.

Way to go!

[ShugaMama]

Traci-
You should be very proud of yourself! That is one hell of a tough ride. It is not a very exciting place- a BIG A$$ED fire road climb!! The view from the top is usually the only saving grace. I was kind of skeptical myself, but Patrick signed us up, saying "well- it'll definitely be trailer-friendly"- YES-ADAM DOES DICTATE WHERE WE RIDE! (just like we discussed at the beginning of the ride) This ride was different, though, because of all the comeraderie and great folks there. Jeff, Rachel, Gene and others are truly special peeps. I was a newbie in the not too distant past, feeling like I "had to get in shape" in order to ride with anyone, and luckily found some cool and patient peeps to ride with. It's so important to have folks like them show new riders the ropes. This is what keeps us interested enough to push ourselves to the next level and stick with this FANTASTIC SPORT

[ezzyride]

Traci,

I hope you don't mind. I shared your write up on the ODC Message board under the "General" section. It's a great write up. It motivates and it's so honest. You can view it on there (outdoorsclub.com). If you mind let me know I can remove it. Hopefully you won't mind. I think alot of us are looking up to you.

Hope to ride with you sometime soon.

[Neccros]

Originally Posted by ezzyride

Traci,

I hope you don't mind. I shared your write up on the ODC Message board under the "General" section. It's a great write up. It motivates and it's so honest. You can view it on there (outdoorsclub.com). If you mind let me know I can remove it. Hopefully you won't mind. I think alot of us are looking up to you.

Hope to ride with you sometime soon.

Was there any ODC people there?? I barely met anyone... just too many people!!

[Pain Freak]

Tracie, what you wrote there is what has kept a lot of us coming back. To persevere, to conquer our demons (very steep hills and other techy spots). I found something of myself in your rr, I can remember those days well, and to tell you the truth I still cherish them. People like you are my hero's.

The rides never get any easier, you just get faster.
Lance Armstrong

[Rob]

Great RR! Wish I could have been there, I probably would have been back there with you guys and suffering just as much

Gave this thread 5 stars

[andy aka rut]

Very nice Traci! As everyone has said... truly an inspiration! I'm glad I was able to help a little bit.

Kinda funny. I still do some climbs and think I want to turn around. In fact I anticipate doing just that tomorrow at The Oaks. While the same climbs do get easier the goals get higher. Before too long you will be climbing to Beek's Place with the only goal being attempting to better your time. Then you will start riding out to Motorway. Then next year you will be attempting the Vision Quest on a rigid singlespeed.

[carbonman]

Traci, that was a great ride review straight from the heart. Thanks. You and Brian should be proud to have made it. We have all been there at one time or another and it does get easier. Like anything in life worth a damn if you keep at it you will only get better. When Adam does his first Blackstar to Beeks ride I'll tell him your story. I can't wait for the next newbie ride. Maybe we should hit up Bonilli????

[Neccros]

Originally Posted by carbonman

Traci, that was a great ride review straight from the heart. Thanks. You and Brian should be proud to have made it. We have all been there at one time or another and it does get easier. Like anything in life worth a damn if you keep at it you will only get better. When Adam does his first Blackstar to Beeks ride I'll tell him your story. I can't wait for the next newbie ride. Maybe we should hit up Bonilli????

I'd be down for another newbie ride just to get back in the groove! maybe a new trail as well...

[surlygal]

Wow - I am at a loss for words...I truley appreciate all the kind words from everyone!

Originally Posted by Tighe ridr

We should climb something again in the real near future so we can get used to climbs and get better at them!!!!
Tighe ridr

I'd love to do some climbing with you!

Originally Posted by carbonman

I can't wait for the next newbie ride. Maybe we should hit up Bonilli????

I went and did the loop tonight (man were my legs tight) and we were talking about Whiting (sp?) for our next challenge. Mustard is calling our name

Also, a few of us were tossing around the idea of going to Summit (same day as Demothers DH ride), and doing some of the easier downhill singletrack. To practice riding a bit more technical stuff than the loop.

[Waldo]

Best RR I've ever read.
Congratulations on a well-earned achievement!

[dstepper]

Way to go girl!

Dean

[maxwell]

Traci, what a BEAUTIFUL way to share your ride!

You and Brian, and all of the others that made it for their first time, should REALLY be proud.
And I'd lay a million bucks on it that Neil is even more proud of you than the rest of us! (is that possible?)

Anytime you want to go and ride Whiting on a Sat morning, you let me know, and we'll watch you OWN Mustard Rd.!!!!

[jcampbell]

Just got back from the b's this early morning. My mind was playing tricks on me this morning. Going up the second b, I stopped at the closed old single track entrance and turned around cause I was over it. I get down to the bottom of the second b and I wake up. "What am I doing"... for a second I think about this story and turn back around and hammer the second and third b's and complete the ride.

I have ridden the b's a couple of hundred times in my life. Why would I give up, I don't know. Anyway, thanks for the story of victory, it helped me today. It amazes me how easy it is to give up.

[Winger]

Originally Posted by jcampbell

It amazes me how easy it is to give up.

Just 1 week earlier and this story could have inspired a white SSer to finish his maiden voyage.



...Great RR of the Blackstar ride. Very inspirational. I wish I would have joined the fun.

[CalEpic]

That was a great read. Traci and Brian - Congrat's on finishing. It was really good to see you guys determined to finish as we were descending. No way I can ever bail on a climb after reading that.

C

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by CalEpic

No way I can ever bail on a climb after reading that.

C

no kiddin... thanks for nothin Traci

yesterday as i was climbing STT, the climb is affectively known as "puke hill" i was about halfway up and my lower back was on fire and i really wanted to stop and stretch it out a bit... i thought about this thread and all the crap you and brian had to put up with during the ride and i thought to myself, "freakin great Traci, if you didn't quit then there is no way in hell i'm stopping"... so i pressed on and kept going...

[BrewMaster]

Great RR Traci. You and Brian kicked ace.