Ride Report RR: Hail, Hail the gangs all here (Neil's turtle ride)

gonna keep it short but huge thanks to Neil, Traci, The Path and anyone else who helped put together the newbie/holiday/turtle party today atop b-star!

In short:

Good: Crazy mad turnout and great riding with and seeing some old and new friends. Atop finding and grabbing a donut (okay two) and cold freshie (homer simpson would have been in heaven)

Bad: I have been off the bike for a few weeks now with strep throat and then a sinus infection. Couple that with the wind today so fair to say my journey up was a far cry from any land speed records. (oh, yeah i am a slow pos to start with)

Ugly : While atop Beeks the freaking cold and are you f'n kidding me HAIL that pelted us like it's biatch (yes i was weak sauce and after one beer pointed the bike down and jammed out of there as fast as i could)

Anyway again thanks to all, looking forward to next big arse ride.

Sharing the very few pics i got that didnt include the "santa's little helpers" attached to Gabe's, Kyles, Jeffs, Dave's and the rest of the rigs (ho, ho, ho meets hole, hole, hole)

 

Yeah!!! What a great ride despite the radical change of weather... Started off cool and partly cloudy and then light rain half way up. At Beeks wind was roaring and rain/hail blowing sideways.. Glad to have packed my gortex windbreaker in my camelbak! Thank everyone that helped get this going and the path for all the goodies up at beeks.

 

I definitely had A LOT of fun on this ride. We almost turned back about half way through because of the rain, but soldiered on through.
Here's some pictures I took.






And of course, my favourite picture:

 

Thanks everyone for setting up this ride.

Thanks Samir (SXP) for driving some of the goodies up the hill. I know he would rather ride it with us, but couldn't due to his Thanksgiving ride injury...

I brought my camera but of course forgot it in the car.

 

Who knew Brownie was a Gremlin? One little rain drop and he turns around. I think he was about at the first gate. Weak sauce. My grandma would have made at least to the Indian site.

Even more important . . . I beat Kimmi up B* to Beeks!

 

Did Kyle make it down safely?

 

that last picture of Gabe is gold

 

This was my first ride w/ STR, and it was amazing! Really, seeing all these people on MTBs in one place was some serious motivation to get out there and ride! Great people all around, the whole time. Extra thanks for the crew at the top for providing the recovery station at the top of the hill, that was something worth riding through the wind and the rain for! Some pix put up on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/sets/72157628460938949

And to whoever rode the beach cruiser up... you sir or madam are my hero! I suspect that wasn't a Hammer Nutrition product in the water bottle!

 

My bud and I left early with thoughts of going up to Pleasants Peak. By the time we made it to Beeks, very few had caught up to us. We had expected to be swarmed on the way up.
The sharp wind at Beeks made us change our plans and we headed back down before most people made it up. Great to see such a big crowd - not so sure about the doll thing.

 

THAT was a lot of fun! Gabe, Kyle, Jeff you guys are nucking futs! It was a little harder then I thought it would be with this damn chest cold but it was all so worth it to see all the old crew and to meet a few new folks. I missed out on the donuts, dammit but I'm sure I'll get some on the next newbie/oldtimers ride. Due to my old age thing I forgot my camera.

 

i think Dave, err i mean santa is saying "no i said sit on my lap and tell santa what you want for x-mas"

Gabe on the other hand is clearly emotional, tormented and crying as he was hoping the doll was a dude

what the guy in the top left of the picture trying to pull the melon protector over his eyes is thinking, one can only guess

 

Looks like you all had fun, minus the crappy weather. By contrast, I rode with two other people on trails where we were nearly alone (despite the crowds in the rest of the park), and there wasn't a puff of wind or drop of rain. Both adventures (huge group vs small group) are fun - but as different as the weather. Enjoyed the pics, especially the one that shows the group snaking along three levels of the trail/road.

 

It sucked not being able to ride, but nonetheless my wife, dog, and I had a great time and were happy to be able to give back a little bit. Some pics of the festivities....

 

More pics.....

 

looks like fun!! sorry for not making it! will try next ride for sure!!

 

Weather was prefect except for the wind and I have been in much worse wind on Blackstar. It was excellent seeing everyone.

Dean

 

Yes! Good lookin out... :drunk:

 

awwww.. u didnt miss much- It Was Only the best ride ever!!!! hahaha lol.

 

Love all the pix so far! I was a bit too late to catch you all at Beeks, but it looked like good times were had by all.

I raced over to B* after work only to see riders coming down already. Brownie told me about the hail/wind, but I figured I had all my gear on, so why not give it a shot. I rolled out at 11:15ish. I got to see lots of friends on their way down, and it was great to briefly be able to say hi! By the time I got to Hidden Valley, the sun seemed to be out at Beeks, so I pressed on in hopes that the party wasn't over yet. I finally made it to Beeks in time to catch the last group (TWC, Freddie, Dave/Santa, Letty, and a few others) right as they were about to start down. Thanks so much, guys for letting me join you on the way back down to the cars!!

I was stoked to see Greg and a bunch of friends still chillin' at the cars. Only pix I got were after the ride.
bike decorations

Greg's vest is pretty hideously awesome!

......as is mine.


Hopefully we can do another one of these in the not-too-distant future!

 

Thanks for the fun!