RR: My Own Personal Beek's

[surlygal]

Sorry this is 2 days late: After the ride I had to go and help with our block party, I was very worn out yesterday and had nothing in me to write...Thanks for all the encouraging words, these past few days! it was worth it!

Oh Where to Begin?

First of all, I'd like to thank Gene for posting this ride and putting so much planning into it! Gene you Rock!


I am a “Newbie”...When I say Newbie I mean "New to riding my bike", "New Lifestyle", "New Life"..

That being said................Welcome to Beek's place.....


I was running late, I realized when I was putting my bike in the car that I had platform pedals on it (crap) okay pedals changed (thanks to Neil) on the road - I put the pedal to the metal and made it with plenty of time. Oh great! I have to go potty....I always do, I get anxious and I always drink way too much water before I ride (I can hold it - for a while).I parked at the tree farm, so we ride our bikes down to the gate - That was a nice warm up and a very easy ride....But now I've really gotta go potty ... (I can hold it for a bit longer - I know I can)..It's Marcy, Alyssa, Rachel and myself in the back. We finally stop and take care of the issue on hand a get going again. NOW I feel much better, let’s get this thing started I think. Marcy (Dirt Diva) & Alyssa (not on STR but rides with us often) are up front, Rachel (Wrecker) and I are behind talking and riding everything is good…I’m feeling good…Today is going to be a good day! A really good day!......

I’m pedaling, wow I’m getting tired…My heart rate is high, Marcy and Alyssa are inching ahead, soon enough they are out of sight…Now it begins…Jeff (J_Sims) swings back and now they are officially running sweepers and I am being swept! I could not have asked for 2 better people to sweep me up….They set the ground rules…I will make it to the top, no matter how long it takes…Stop saying “Sorry” when I pull over and start gasping for air, and take your time! We Will get there! We rode for what felt like a lifetime (about 3 miles) and had made it to the last uphill before the valley, I need to stop, again…But wait – is someone coming down? It’s Brian (Necros) and STR “holistic”? (I think that was his name – if not sorry) we talk for a while and I convince Brian he’s gotta turn around and do this…We ride – We take breaks – and we die climbing, we want to turn around..But then our sweepers wouldn’t have done their job, they push us, they cheer us, they wait for us…and they wait for us…Always smiling and feeding us with the your almost there (yea right I’d say – in my head)..

At the beginning of the very small downhill into the valley – I question if I should turn around its 10:30 – I promised my Aunt who was watching Maddie I’d be back by noon.. Do I have enough time? Of course my 2 very motivational sweepers tell me we’ll get to Beek’s in plenty of time. Don’t worry We Will get you to the top. For the first time in the ride I can see people going up the switch-backs, See I’m not that far behind. More pedaling, more positive words, and more pedaling…I want to turn around – how am I going to convince these 2 to let me? What is Brian going to say after I MADE him turn around and ride up? Oh and the people I saw on the switchbacks – well it was Gene coming to find us? Now I knew it was pretty darn far..Gene kept trying to call up to the top I’ve found her and she’s with Brian and they’re still climbing, but he couldn’t connect. I could tell he was getting nervous he wanted everyone to be at the top when we made it…But we stopped a lot. It was hot! Slowly people started trickling down. A few I don’t know, but then a big grey freight train…..All with STR Jersey’s on – they stop – Your not far – your almost there! We thought you’d turned around? IT took everything I had to keep it together…I did and I was getting to the top no matter what! Thanks for the kind words Brett and Nam!

More and more people are coming down now…There goes Carbonman and Shugamama, It got harder and harder to want to keep going, the “your almost there.” wasn’t working anymore..I was done..Music? Who’s listening to Music? Around the bend came Andy – just blaring I can’t remember what the song was, he skidded to a stop and almost made the guy behind him run into the beloved B.O.B. – He looked surprised to see me. Now the tears start flowing. I don’t want to keep going, I don’t! I’m not going to! And no one can make me! (And I wonder why Maddie can be such a handful?).He turned around and we kept going, you are almost there! It’s just around that bend…More people coming down, I’m feeling pretty low…Then I see Marcy – She’s coming down too? She stops, we hug I cry – She tells me she walked all this, she’s hurting, she rode alone and she made it to the top. That’s it! I’m gonna make it! OMR had turned around too, he rode for a few with us and then back up. He wanted to make sure the guys waited with the truck. I could see him above us, boy that’s looks a lot further than everyone says…Gene promised 15 mins at the most…This time he was right! I walked most of this with Andy…We talked, he and Rachel both tried to take my bike from me, NO WAY! I will push my own bike Thank You!...Brian, mind you is riding up what I’m walking. He’s out of water – he too is done…I’m walking he’s riding we’ve gone too far to turn around? I’m not sure about that. It’s still a ways away…At this point Brian and myself have a very impressive bunch of superstars riding with us, encouraging us to make it to the top.I’m not part of any conversation, I’m not listening and haven’t been for miles…I do hear, when you make it around the bend and you see the gate you will get another wind (yea right – I think to myself). I’m a bit ahead of Brian, I see the light! I hop on my bike and start riding..I’m crying, I’m almost there! Hoosierdaddy is on the edge taking pictures of the view and me coming up the last little hill. I celebrate! I’ve done it! I am at Beek’s place! I popped the top off and we celebrated…But wait where’s Brian? He’d better make it? He didn’t turn around did he? He’s with Jeff… I almost got back on my bike to go get him. We did this together! Where is he? Finally I see him turn the corner! Yes I yelled! We did it!

WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT!

I want everyone to know what a sacrifice Rachel and Jeff made. Usually sweeper means pulling up the rear and picking up the slakers..It does not mean being a personal motivator for 3 hrs… This was a harder ride for them than it was for me, they had to ride slow and stop often. They kept each other company and had a really good time behind me…If it was not for these 2 people and their patience I would have turned around got in my car and never pushed myself beyond my wildest dreams….Thank you both for giving up your ride so I could ride!

Gene, thanks for putting this ride together (I don’t think you even knew what this was going to become). This was a huge accomplishment for several people and it couldn’t have been done with a more motivating group of 50 plus people.

Thank you to Nam, Brett, and everyone else in the STR Pack that stopped and gave a few encouraging words. Thank you Carbonman & Shugaman for your kind words…Marcy thanks for the pep talk! Andy thanks for turning around. Another thanks to Gene for turning around and looking for us! OMR thanks turning around and riding back up to have the guys at the top wait. Thanks to Lar Dog, & Hoosierdaddy for patiently waiting for us! And providing very cold BEER! And thank you to the Warriors Society. Please forgive me I know I left people out! I heard everyword as they all were more encouragement to helping me get to the top..I was tired and kinda in my own place it's all still a bit blurry..


Welcome to Beek’s Place! I made It!

[Jordansrealm]

Great RR girl and glad you made it up to the top!

[J_Sims]

Tracey,

I would personally like to thank you for the opportunity to ride with you to Beeks. I found this to be one of the most inspirational days that I have spent on the bike in a long time. Your commitment, drive and follow through were absolutely amazing, watching you work not only through the physically challenging, but emotionally challenging climb of your life. I feel very honored to have been able to have been part of that and there is nowhere that I would have rather been then sitting on the top of that hill with you and Brian. It brought back memories both recent and distant of personal challenges, and really showed that if one sets their mind to something, there really is no limit to what can be attained.

Great Job...


So are we going back up this afternoon???? Bring the SS

[Neccros]

BRAVO BRAVO!!!!

You pretty much summed it up for me as well.... I suck at writing these ride reports, WAIT I never written one before!!!

Once again congrats for sticking it out... The only thing in my mind as i was contemplating going home or going back up was how much S**T I would of taken for not making it, so I decided to keep going...

When you almost made it to the top and didnt see me, I was down the hill with both legs in full cramp mode and I couldnt do anything but sit as still as possible and deal with the pain. that was all I could do...

So we both conquered and my legs and a$$ are sore as hell right now trying to sit here at my desk and write this!!



Overall not a bad day....

[OTHRIDER]

As my son & I came down the hill we crossed your path and I KNEW you would make it. With those special sweepers behind you, it was going to happen. As we got in the truck to get my son to his appointment, he asked as only a 14 year-old can "Hey Dad, do you think the lady with the red shoulders made it?" Oh yeah, I'm sure of it. I showed him the pictures later of you at the top - COOL was his answer. CONGRATS!!!!

[Letyrides]

That was so awesome! You guys rocked and persevered when most would not. Congrats on making it to the TOP!!

[Kid A]

way cool of you for getting there and all the folks who stuck by to assist. always think the first time you hit any trail is the hardest. u never "really" know whats ahead and have no way to "calibrate". I've always taken pleasure going back and hitting a trail again and owning it after initial ride. Hope to see you riding up at beeks again!!! and many others in the future. again congrats!

[allison]

Way to go!! Just think: next time you do the ride it'll feel a little bit easier

Good job for sticking with it! Climbing sucks, but usually it ends with a fun descent

[tkblazer]

wow great RR Traci, very touching story with a truly emotional ending. If you want to go back, i'll ride with you this time and give you the verbal butt kicking that Jeff and Chelle didn't !

FWIW, i was struggling on the SS on a few of the climbs as i had to just keep standing up and mashing. you're not the only one that had trouble that day

[OMR]

Originally Posted by J_Sims

Tracey,

I would personally like to thank you for the opportunity to ride with you to Beeks. I found this to be one of the most inspirational days that I have spent on the bike in a long time. Your commitment, drive and follow through were absolutely amazing, watching you work not only through the physically challenging, but emotionally challenging climb of your life. I feel very honored to have been able to have been part of that and there is nowhere that I would have rather been then sitting on the top of that hill with you and Brian. It brought back memories both recent and distant of personal challenges, and really showed that if one sets their mind to something, there really is no limit to what can be attained.

Great Job...


So are we going back up this afternoon???? Bring the SS

I couldn't have said it better!!!!!

Miss T....Congrats on doing something that 90% of the population couldn't or wouldn't even try. The fact that you kept on speaks volumes of your character. As Jeff so elloquently put it, this was one of the most inspirational days that I've ridden ... and I'm old!

OMR

[jcampbell]

Saw you guys coming up, I was on the 29er white single rigid bouncing down. Good to hear you made it. Don't ever be discouraged. That Beeks kick me in arse many times when I first started riding. I was an amature pillsbury doughboy for a while before I started getting serious and beeks has really helped me in my training.

If anyone needs a motivator, sweeper, or just needs to get bitch slapped when trying to turn around before the top, I will volunteer.

Added comment, forgot to say congrads to all who made it. Hopefully it was a life changing event. Its not easy. Its an awesome thing to know that you have done something that most people wouldn't even dare to try.

[genusmtbkr5]

Traci, you don't have to thank me. YOU ROCK! You and the newbie rides you've hosted was one of the reasons I posted this ride and it would have been far from the success it was if you and Brian had quit! So I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I was so happy to find you back on the "yes" list, but didn't want to jinx it like you said. The crowning moment for me was watching you and Brian congratulating each other at the top.

Like many have said, this was one of the best rides I've ever been involved in. I thank you for that.

[holistic]

CONGRATS ON MAKING IT TO THE TOP!

next time i will surely be there with you guys. =)

i shoulda continued and joined you all in sipping some brews, but instead while you were all sippin your beers, i was moving furniture to my girlfriend's new place... OUCH! haha

but thanks for a great ride STR!