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View Full Version : Most improved rider of the year??


manual63
10-22-2006, 08:17 PM
If there was such a thing, who would you vote for?

For me, it would be a toss up between two people.

Maura is certainly one of them. She started out the season struggling on our spring group road rides and leaving the group early. She didn't give up!! Seeing her go to Leb, do trailwork, and ride the group rides showed she was dedicated to the sport. She also would go out on her own and ride. Last weekend at Levis she rode all the way to the furthest loop and back. Levis is not an easy trail and when she showed up after the group was worried about her for awhile, she was beat. But it was an impressive thing to see and impressive to see such determination to ride. Maura has come a long way since spring and she is evolving into a great mountain biker. I hear Fruita calling you Maura.....:)

mara would be another rider who has improved her mountain biking skills greatly over the year. She went from not liking anything elevated to riding boardwalks and bridges in Whistler and Duluth. In Whistler she rode a double teeter and many other technical trail features. Her ability to conquer rocks and rock gardens is amazing. I have seen her crash and get up and try again multiple times until she cleans something. This year she rode Jan's rock for the first time, along with cleaning Lebs XX-Loop log pile entrance and riding the Camelback there too. Also, don't tell her she only has 10 minutes to get to food during a long day of patrolling or she is likely to go down the steepest ski slope to get there quickly. She cleans Teds famous new rock garden and even the turn he has trouble with....:) mara has cracked a frame and bent a fork....along with doing in many other parts. She is trying to beat Bob Shephard at his game of breaking the most bike parts. I think Bob still has her beat, but just wait.....she will catch up someday, especially if she keeps all this up.....:) Keep in mind, she is doing all of this on a fully rigid singlespeed!!

Okay, so I admit I know these two riders well and it's easy for me to see their progression throughout the year. So my opinion might be a little biased. But that is why I made this thread. I want others to post up about who they think rocked the dirt this year. I know there are others out there, some may be new to the sport, others may not be. Let's hear it, who do you think progressed a lot this year?

Sometimes riders just ride and don't realize their great achievements, let's give them props.

gopherhockey
10-22-2006, 08:43 PM
Two very good candidates that I'm totally on board with. Props to mara and maura!

I could see Greg Hawes getting a nod as well. Man has he stepped up his game this year. I tend to either be in front or just behind Ted on most of our group rides, but we always re-group and although we could care less how long it takes everyone to catch up it is fun to see certain people who might have taken longer last year being right on our heels this year.

soupboy
10-23-2006, 07:22 AM
Dude, keep your sweet nothings to yourself. Ick. :sick:

stoneage
10-23-2006, 07:29 AM
Dude, keep your sweet nothings to yourself. Ick.
Soupboy has shown some real growth in mastering the sport. I nominate him for most improved, mainly for his ability to ram those big wheels through Wirth and to keep social irresponsibility at the forefront. Hearts and smooches big guy.;)

Magic
10-23-2006, 09:18 AM
My vote would go to Greg Hawes. He has come a long way since we started biking together. Each year he has stepped it up. I don't ride with to many others and I'm sure there are others that could be lumped into this, but I say Greg is the most improved rider.:shocked:

Wolfchimp
10-23-2006, 09:35 AM
Greg would be my vote too I think. Although that may be biased because I have ridden with him more than the others that have been mentioned.

bigwheel
10-23-2006, 09:41 AM
I agree about Greg Hawes. It used to be nice to have him along on a ride, because I knew I'd get a nice long rest. Now, he's turned into a hill climbing machine, that ends up having to wait for me.

Maura also is waaaay improved, and I have the feeling that she's going to keep getting better.

Sorry Shad, but I can't vote for Mara because she already was an awesome rider.

manual63
10-23-2006, 10:40 AM
Sorry Shad, but I can't vote for Mara because she already was an awesome rider.

Yes she was, but I saw such huge improvement this year. You are just worried she is gonna break more parts than you if she keeps it up....so you don't want to encourage her.....:p

gopherhockey
10-23-2006, 10:45 AM
I bet there are a lot of people out there that we don't even know about that have improved greatly in 2006. This is a vote for all of you who maybe haven't shown up at group rides or events but have been out there riding, having fun, and improving your game.

If this is you, I would encourage you to come on out to a group ride or event and join in the fun!

KleinCrazy
10-23-2006, 11:29 AM
Ok...

I have to put up someone no one knows but I am sure will be riding with us alot next year.

Lacey, A co-worker of mine got her first mountain bike a couple of months ago.

Since then I have riden with her at Salem, Battle Creek, Lebanon, and Wirth.

I watched her climb the switchback at Battle Creek on her 3rd ever ride. along with railing through most of the rest of the trail.

I watched her hammer away and really push it around Salem on her 4th over ride.

My jaw dropped as I watched her ride the monster log pile on Dream, get air on both the Joey and Dream logs on her first lap ( and crash spectaculary on both logs on her second lap) all the logs in the Expert loop, have no problem witht he ladder bridge between the trees, and even attempt the Ted Mans Curve. Though she didn't clean it, niether did I and she almost made it clean through the old rock garden.

her 5th ride was at Theo Sat during the Homey, she kept up no problem with all of us, rode the concrete skinny without a problem, railed the berm, and even got a we bit of air on the table.

I am kinda nervous about getting passed by her come late next summer.

So for a first time rider I have to vote for her for the most improved this year.

mtnbykr
10-23-2006, 04:42 PM
i'm gonna vote for myself. after getting a new back, my balance has improved and because i can now ride more than 10 miles, my bike likes me...

manual63
10-23-2006, 04:44 PM
i'm gonna vote for myself. after getting a new back, my balance has improved and because i can now ride more than 10 miles, my bike likes me...

That is awesome!! Glad everything is working out good for you.

soupboy
10-23-2006, 08:10 PM
XOXOXO yourself hoss!:kiss:

I continue to devolve as a rider but have more friends than ever since I began divulging my romanticisms on random internet forums.

Soupboy has shown some real growth in mastering the sport. I nominate him for most improved, mainly for his ability to ram those big wheels through Wirth and to keep social irresponsibility at the forefront. Hearts and smooches big guy.;)

nord0306
10-24-2006, 04:28 PM
Keep in mind, she is doing all of this on a fully rigid singlespeed!!

it's not like people weren't trying to remedy that