RR: Lance's last ride in Socal

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Today was Lance's aka Ecodorks last weekend in Socal.
We had a good sized group and great people.. Lance chose to do the classic luge ride. A must do in the OC. I slept in an hour but I couldn't mis this ride and finally caught the group at 4-corners. Highlight of the day Lance leads the pack down the luge. Lots of riders took pix im sure theyll be posted soon. It was great riding and knowing you Lance. You'll go far and have fun in N.Carolina. The Santa Anas and high ridges of Laguna will call you back to ride again. Good Luck!
Matt aka OCRider

[ECOdork]

Thanks Matt!
The dust has yet to settle--and is barely even "kicked up"--as we gear up to hit the road today, but I just HAD to get in a quick note before we pack up the wireless equip.

Thanks to all of you for a killer ride yesterday! Lots of old faces, lots of new faces.... As I said yesterday, it was a great ride for a final ride...how poetic !

Thanks for the beers and brats afterwards too! It was VERY tough to leave....
You all rock! The signed pic will be framed, the welcome mat will be proudly displayed, the announcments sent out and that video...damn gonz that sucka' brings a tear to the eye watching it!

I'll write more when we hit the NC, but in short, it is hard to believe that I could have developed such strong and meaningful friendships in our short stay in this fine state. ...though it is less hard to believe it when you consider the catalyst that is STR!

You all will be missed, the trails will be missed, the mountains will be missed, and our rides will be missed. I can hardly think of a better way to have spent my time out here...

I still can't believe we're leaving....

[jfromlv]

Lance, I never had the pleasure of riding with you, but I know that if we ever do, either a pre-ride or post-ride hug would be in order! LOL Seriously, have a safe trip.

[CalEpic]

What a great ride! The weather cooperated - it was nice to finally have a ride where we didn't bake our brains. Nice turnout of riders - around 15 I believe. Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures but here's what I have:

Lance pre-ride all smiles

Lance at the STT Flag

Andy and Ann at the STT Flag

Pat enlisting Rob's help with some fine tuning on the new rig

Pat was nice enough to have a few of us over his house for burgers and brats. Bret made another awesome card that we all signed and George outdid himself with a really cool DVD he made with STR footage and stills.

Like everyone else, I hope the next chapter of Lance and Eve's lives in North Carolina bring them the joy and success they deserve. You will be missed buddy. Be sure to keep in touch and keep us up to date with what's going on in NC.

Craig

EDIT - I almost forgot. I believe George and I were the only ones to complete the "no granny ring challenge" Were there any others?

Wow, it is just sinking in that Lance is leaving. Even when he pulled out of his parking space at Pat's place and drove off down the street it really didn't sink in until now. For those of you who never rode with or met Lance he really is one of thee nicest guys around. Always has something positive to say and always has such a great attitude. I'll miss ya man.

Now for the ride. We all met up at the WaMu parking lot and headed out around 8:30ish, like craig said, we had about 15 riders. We all cruised through Whiting, regrouped before the extra credit s/t of Upper Cattle Pond then made our way up Mustard and regrouped again. We all shot the sh!t for about 10-15 minutes before heading out the back to Modjeska and up to the gate to the Santiago Truck Trail. Regrouped again just inside the gate and started our climb. I wish I had a camera, as we all took off everyone was pretty much tire to tire, single file going up the STT, would have been a bitchin' picture to see 15 riders so close like that. We made our way to the flagpole and Andy (sprockethead) had gotten lodged in a rut and went down (i think on the downhill section before the luge) and had some mean trail burger on the outside of his right leg...Gouge got a pic I believe. So we all talked and hungout at the flagpole for another 15 minutes or so, had another rider take a group pic of us and then we were ready to jam down the Luge. A few of us hit that gap jump, (me, rob, craig, and dale) while we waited for the others to start heading down. In honor of this being Lance's last ride here (for awhile, hoping he'll be back to visit) we voiced that he lead us all down the Luge. At first he was hesitant to go first, but then we said, "Come on you pussy" j/k. So, he took off then I did, and Rob was behind me. I hope you didn't feel any pressure to go faster than normal Lance, it was nice to go down at a more mellow pace for once. For those few minutes of descending the Luge, I was eating Lance's dust, lol. We all regrouped at the bottom of the Luge, headed out to Live Oak where we had a mtb pelaton going down the road, lots of drafting and passing going on, it was fun. Back into Whiting via the horse stables and we finished out the backside of it without incident. Regrouped at WaMu, said our goodbyes only temporarily as we were soon to reconvien at the all might Mcgrath residence.

Pat had grilled up some burgers and brats and made a salad too and even had a platter drizzled with Trisquits and Ritz, tastey times!!! After about an hour and a half Gonz busted out his DVD. All I can say is "wow", that was really cool of him to do. A nicely pieced together STR compilation with a really touching tribute to Lance during the last few minutes of it. Not to be a pussy, but it did kind of choke me up on the inside as the song choice was right on the money and the text that appeared on screen was heartfelt. The DVD ended, the time was nearly 4 p.m. and Lance had to hit the road to pick up his moving truck. We all walked him out, Craig gave him a special "wave" and we all watched as he drove away down the street. Right after he gets out of site, Aldo breaks through the front door with a brat in one hand and a beer in the other and says, "is he gone?", followed up with an "awwwman!"

Like Lance said, it was a great ride for a great final ride."

Best of luck to you and your wife Lance!

[TURNERob]

Nice turnout and perfect weather out there yesterday also! Had a great group of riders, good people. After we had to wait a half hour for a certain vato playa bubb riding a rigid SS to show up we finally started J/K Jose! I took a few pics and more video which I'll work on getting some of the vids posted later. Craig, Dell, Bret and I all hit the gap jump at the Luge.......the video taken of me doing it is pretty comical.....stay tuned.

Pat, thanks for hosting Lance's going away bash eh! I couldn't have imagined it would get better until the curly blonde haired stalker started circling your complex on his gizmo machine......gotta get that video posted also!

Of course Lance you are gonna be missed for sure.....why were you leaving us again anyway Anyway, sure hope you enjoyed your going away ride and festivities afterwards.....I know we all had a good time. Sorry to see you go Lance

Gonz, great job on the video once again. Gouge surprised most of us and busted out an STR compilation/Lance's going away tribute video......very well done!!!

Here are some of my pics from yesterday, I'll work on some video later.

[LBmtb]

I'll try not to rehash what everyone else said. It was an awesome ride yesterday. The weather cooperated nicely which was a very welcome surprise. It even allowed me to complete Craig's 'middle gear challenege.' I'll try to list everyone that came but don't shoot me if I miss you: Andy, Andrew, Annie, Bret, Rob, Dell, Craig, Lance, Pat, John, Jose, Justin, Matt, Aldo, Me and Lucas. Thanks to everyone who came out. I had a blast and I'm pretty sure everyone else did too.

Here's my album from yesterday. And here are a few of those photos . . .


Classic group photo @ the flag pole


The new super moderator


Lance reaching the pole


We had a nice surprise when ocrider caught up to us at the top of mustard


Lucas


Lance needs new gloves

[ShinKen]

just real quick to give thanks to all for being cool about being late and all!! I know how much it sucks so I will not say more. Lance well U will be missed!! I know u heard it enough so heck whats one more time right? great times foo sure!! "Ann" thnks for hanging w/my friend! U made his experinece felt a little better. He cant wait for his next ride.


ahh yes Pat can u save my Ice cooler for next time we run into eachother. thanks.

[CalEpic]

Originally Posted by ShinKen

Pat can u save my Ice cooler for next time we run into eachother. thanks.

Me too

C

[sauce]

wow -- what a turn-out! i wish i could have ridden with you, Lance. looks like you will be quite missed! are you going to nc for work? great pics. george, i wanna see that dvd!

[guero]

::bump:: cause these were the good ol' days of str.

[tkblazer]

yup, i remember that ride even though i wasn't able to make it... the bubbs

[Skeeter]

Some good memories, what a reat ride, that's what STR is all about! that smile of Lance's was so infectious

i knew the growth of a place like STR was inevitable but it sure is fun looking back at when there were only a few active members and you knew everybody

[CalEpic]

Way to break out the time machine. I just watched that vid again. Damn. It still brings a tear to my eye.

C