|   It's Dalerider Day. | Mike T.
Jan 14, 2004 4:18 PM | | Yes folk it's four years ago today that the greatest person who graced this site passed away - Dalerider.
He's still linked from the top of this forum but the volumes of his posts, poems and stories are lost. The link with his picture is to my site linked above.
I posted it here in Old Passion for two reasons - this was his second home plus the fact that the new forum isn't working at the time of my post. Ironic eh? He'd see the humor in that.
In the past his wife Sue has called in on us on this day. I hope she arrives tonight.
I had the privelidge of meeting him three times.
Mike T. |
| How time flies....... | celly
Jan 14, 2004 4:26 PM | | I miss him.
Thanks for the reminder, Mikey. |
| 4 years? | JimC.
Jan 14, 2004 4:29 PM | | I hope you hear from Sue. DR1's passing sure was a blow here. I trust his family is doing well in spite of the loss.
And I know he's still doing this.....
Jim |
| Not lost, held hostage... | Fast Eddy
Jan 14, 2004 4:58 PM | |
...on a hard disk that Gregg keeps in his desk.
Twas the outpouring of passion due to his loss that attracted me to this place. I never met him, but I thank him, and wish him peace. |
| It's been that long? | Mellow Yellow
Jan 14, 2004 5:07 PM | | I never met him in person, but spoke to him here, by phone, and via email dozens of times. This was a much better place with him around. He's greatly missed. |
| What a guy... | cush
Jan 14, 2004 5:29 PM | | I was fortunate to spend 3 great days riding with him.
Thanks for the reminder, can't believe it has been four years. |
| Wow................... | Mike T.
Jan 14, 2004 6:06 PM | | .....I saw your name Cush and immediately thought of that pic from Jim Thorpe PA of myself, Mary Ann, Dalerider and you. I thought "I'll post that pic!"
I clicked on your post and it saved me the job. Thanks Cush! Man we had some laughs that hot, sweaty weekend.
I just e-mailed Ma to remind her of the day. |
| wow! | moschika
Jan 14, 2004 5:38 PM | | I never met him but did have a few email exchanges. Was very nice and helpful. definitely made an impact on this site. i'm glad we've kept the flame alive.
many have come and gone from these forums, some keep coming back but DR1 still shows up in posts even after not posting for 4 years. that's amazing. |
| This one's for you, Big Daddy! | cush
Jan 14, 2004 5:52 PM | | Mt. Snow Gathering 2000. |
| dang.... | chewbacca
Jan 14, 2004 6:35 PM | | ...the nicest guy i never met, what a bike addict!
here to ya big man!
bryan |
| Very nice tribute Mike T. - a true friend you are... | Ebo
Jan 14, 2004 6:58 PM | | Thanks for sharing. Although I visited Mtbr back then, mostly for the "marketplace" and "general discussion", I never had ventured into Passion. I can see he touched many of your hearts. God bless him. |
| re: It's Dalerider Day. | Mary Ann
Jan 14, 2004 8:32 PM | | Thanks for the email Mike. I have been away from the computer all day and probably wouldn't have thought of today's date until tomorrow.
Wow, I can't believe it's been 4 years. I still think of Chris often. I'm glad Cush posted my pic of us all. I have such fond memories of that gathering. DR and I spent a lot of time bringing up the rear together on the rides, a tradition we started at Waterdown.
I still miss ya Big Daddy!
Mary Ann |
| I still............ | Mike T.
Jan 14, 2004 8:48 PM | | ....have the pic on my wall where DR's checking out your bum while riding through that wheatfield at Kelso. |
| Life is but a vapor the Christian faith states.... | Jaybo
Jan 14, 2004 9:19 PM | | You can be gone tomorrow! I remember his posts. He seemed like quite a character...would have been a fun guy to ride with and meet.
Jaybo |
| Remember "Old Pharts @ MTBR.COM" Aheadset cap? | Herb
Jan 14, 2004 9:27 PM | | I was just explaining the origins of my "Old Pharts @ MTBR.COM" stem cap to my buddy this past Sunday. I have a 2nd one on a bike I gave to my friend, which I plan to reclaim as a keepsake.
Can't believe it's been 4 years.
Herb |
| Yeah Herb............ | Mike T.
Jan 15, 2004 3:13 AM | | ....when he was taking orders, even though I'm well into OldFartdom, I didn't order one. When the orders were being shipped out I got a small package in the mail. Upon opening it, out fell an Old Pharts top cap and a note which I stll have: 12/3/99 - "Mikey! Ya OLD PHART! Add to your collection. DR Uno.
Then there was Missy (now Bikerchic) who thought "top caps" were to be worn on the head. She ordered one (or more maybe) to get the surprise of her life when she opened her package! She was slightly embarrased. |
| Still got mine and it's installed with pride. | Bikebreath.
Jan 15, 2004 6:20 AM | | Ahh, those were the days, eh Mike? I have a note hung in my little shop that came in a "Bikebeath care" package.
Bb, [ *sigh* ] |
| I got............. | Mike T.
Jan 15, 2004 6:50 AM | | .....a few care-packages from him too. He owed me one and I reminded him via e-mail. He said he'd get it out later that day. That was the day he died. It never arrived. I still have the e-mails. |
| heh heh... I remember that. I still have mine... | MtbIrv
Jan 15, 2004 2:16 PM | | proudly displayed on my Loco.
Miss you Chris. |
| Yeah those "top caps"............ | bikerchic
Jan 16, 2004 9:03 PM | | ......I'm still embarassed about it, but I guess it was sorta funny. All I can say is I've learned a lot more about bike's since then. :-\
Here is the email DR1 and I exchanged, it was sent to a few other people too, got lots of replies and laughs back to be sure! Can you believe it he offered to build me a bike, we exchanged several emails about what kind and ect...he died before I got my mountain bike but many rides were done with that Old Pharts cap and a little picture of DR1 on the stem in his honor.
rom: dalerider1@revealed.net Add to Address Book
To: "Missy"
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 12:42:31 -600
Subject: Re: Top Caps
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaa! And, I say again, Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Feel free to
return them
Missy...I havn't cashed a check yet and I know some of these other OLD
PHARTS
would buy them. If that doesn't work...can I build you a bike? I'm a
rep for
Edge Cycles (Sarah and Troy's company). Be happy to do it!
DR1 (juss lemme know if you wanna return them)
>Hi All,
>
>I just got my Top Caps and I gotta tell ya I am so
>embarrassed!!!! I'll explaine and you can all have a
>laugh (or cry) at my expense! I am like sooo lame!
>
>I'm fairly new to all this biking "stuff" and barely
>know which end of the bike is up let alone where
>"parts" go. Sorry I know I can't even use the "it's a
>girl thing" cuz most of the girls at mtbr know how to
>build bikes, it's just me!
>
>Well when DR1 and the rest of you were talking about
>these Top Caps and then it finally happened and we all
>ordered them (I ordered one in each color) the price
>was so cheap why not! This package came over New
>Year's we were gone so my Hubby said he would go to
>the PO and pick it up and I told him to open it and
>take which ever one he wanted......the package was my
>Starbuck's Coffee, hummm. Next day when I got home
>from work there was this largeish envelope from
>Chris...I'm thinking "how did he cram those caps in
>that little envelope". Boy was I surprised to see the
>"Top Caps" cuz I thought we were getting HATS!
>
>After much explaining to and from my Hubby and sons,
>lots of laughter.....yadda,yadda,yadda! Yep I now
>know what a Top Cap is and where it goes and that
>these don't fit on my road bike!
>
>But they are really great looking and I love 'em and
>now I'm seriously thinking maybe I should get a "real"
>mountain bike to put one of 'em on! They weren't so
>cheap after all!
>
>Well I'm learning......who says ya can't teach an
>old.........yeah you know the rest!
>
>Missy(red faced)
>
>--- DaleRider1 wrote:
>> All top caps have been mailed out. Some of you have
>> let me know you've received them. If by next week
>> you DO NOT have your cap(s), let me know, otherwise
>> I'll assume they all arrived safely. Thanks.
>>
>> DR1
Chris you were such a wonderful part of MTBR and are missed by many.
Kate |
| Yeah those "top caps".....don't keep much rain off, eh? | AK Ken
Jan 17, 2004 8:31 AM | | Thanks for sharing the laugh with us.
Didn't know Chris, but he sounds like a heck of a guy who's gone way too soon.
Ken |
| Remember "Old Pharts @ MTBR.COM" Aheadset cap? Ha ha.. | zilla
Jan 15, 2004 7:23 AM | | My wife thought I was getting a baseball cap!. I remember her face when a small envelope came with the cap.. |
| Missed this yesterday | radair
Jan 15, 2004 6:55 AM | | Chris' wit and humor are certainly missed.
RIP big guy. |
| A poem by DR1. | Rocket Boy
Jan 15, 2004 9:12 AM | | I never knew DR1. I think I might have talked to him once in mtbr chat back in 98 or so when I was going to college. He posted this poem one cold winter day and I printed it out and stuck it under the glass of a display case at the shop I worked at. The poem is still taped to the glass to this day in Upstate NY. I usually post it every winter in memmory of DR1.
Enjoy the poem,
RB
Posted by DaleRider1 on February 22, 1999 at 08:58:35:
Patiently Waiting
I'm patiently waiting for weather to turn,
for the cold and the wet to abate.
I'm patiently waiting for clear sunny days
and long evening rides that last late.
I'm patiently waiting and taking due care
to tune, and to tweak, and adjust.
I'm patiently waiting as lube drips off freely
and all of my thoughts fill with lust
For single track days, and cool morning haze,
and the bugs and the ivy that's poison.
For spring's storm leftovers, and high banked rollovers
that hustle the heart and the senses
I'm patiently waiting for those doldum days
when a ride will cure all that will ail you
To sneak out of work, go riding, not lurk,
And return damp and heaving from pacing.
I'm patiently wating for summer to come,
and my body and bike is left yearning.
For it's months left to go, before this winter goes.
But for now, I'm left patiently waiting.
Damn it! Come on summer time! Now! |
| Thanks for sharing RB.......... | Mike T.
Jan 15, 2004 10:32 AM | | .....another keeper for my DR1 collection. I didn't have that one.
He'd be soooo proud to know that his poem had been in a bikeshop all these years. His family would be too. |
| Spirit of Mercer. | Mike T.
Jan 15, 2004 10:42 AM | | This appeared at mtbr on Jan 14th 2002 - author Chef -
"The Lot was barren..."
Covered with drifts of powder, it stood silent and empty as the cold sun climbed into the sky. It's always like this at this time of year the days are short, the cold sharp as knives. No one wants to venture out. Yet, strangely enough, cars started pulling in, disgorging people in ones and twos; greetings were muted, as if something besides the cold was acting upon the arrivals.
More and more cars arrived. I noted some from my home, others from strange-sounding places like "Connecticut", "Pennsylvania", "New York", and "Maryland". The people all had bikes with them common enough, but not for this time of year and rode around the lot for awhile, keeping warm, as even more cars arrived. Finally, the cars stopped coming, and the people gathered in a group. They stood there for a good bit of time, even though they must have been freezing, and they all seemed to be either looking straight up or straight down. I felt something then. It was faint, and I brushed it aside, concentrating instead on this strange group of bikers.
At last all seventeen of them pedaled off along the paths created for them, whooping and hollering there, but still subdued. Curious. I followed their progress, watching as they rode over the log piles, through the streams, and around the trees in their path, riding through the snow and cold as if possessed. They rode as a group, taking frequent stops, shouting words of encouragement as the larger obstacles were reached and overcome, or laughing as someone went headlong into the snow. The faint feeling from earlier was much stronger, and I kept hearing someone laugh out loud, the joy in the deep voice obvious I looked, but saw nothing.
Turning back to the riders, I let myself be drawn in by the energy coming from them. They seemed to warm the very air as they passed, as if they were pouring out part of themselves as they rode. I started wishing I could join them, riding around the trees, falling down the hills, getting stuck in drifts. It looked like so much fun. I floated along with them as they approached the lot again, breath steaming in the air, watching as all eighteen riders gathered again in the lot, shaking hands, laughing and joking.
They all got back in their cars, finally, and drove off except one. He waved to them, and stood in the lot next to his bike for awhile. I realized that he felt like the energy that had come from the people who rode that day, and was just like me.
I finally got up the courage to go over, and ask him why he didn't leave with the rest..? He turned to me, gave me a big smile, and said, "Well, I think you have a really nice place to ride, here. I'd like to stay awhile, if you don't mind.?" I welcomed him, and asked him his name.
He smiled and stuck out a big hand, saying "Call me Chris." |
| What a great man...and a new beginning. | Roß
Jan 15, 2004 11:35 AM | | Unbelievable. It's hard to imagine that four years have passed since DR1 left us. I was fortunate enough to meet him at the Jim Thorpe gathering and have participated in my share of DR1 tribute pictures over the years (mine's the blue Brodie in the back of the Mt. Snow shot...tallest bike in the middle). I was also on the group ride mentioned in "Spirit of Mercer". Chef got it right...Chris was definitely with us that day.
I would probably find myself in sadder spirits if I wasn't able to announce that January 14th now holds a new, much happier, meaning for me. Yesterday at 2:33PM, my good buddy Mike (also known as "Dookie" around these parts, for you old-timers) and his wife Heather gave birth to a son, Matthew Francis. The little guy was a preemie, weighing in at only 4 pounds 6 ounces, but he's a fighter and the docs say he'll be just fine. I'd like to think that DR1 was smiling down on him yesterday. :^) |
| a new beginning. | Mike T.
Jan 15, 2004 12:08 PM | | Hi ya Roß. Long time no see, man. It's great to see some of the "oldies" here on this thread. I wish there had been more though but nothing stays the same.
Your story of l'ill Matthew was heartwarming. Yesterday was the date that my Mother passed away back in '92. That's why I can't forget the DR1 date.
Yep DR would be smiling yesterday. |
| It takes a lot to get me outta hiding... | Brad Trent
Jan 15, 2004 12:13 PM | | But DR-1's a pretty damned good reason...
.jpg)
I had the pleasure of riding with the big man more than a few times...despite myself, he still liked me! Go figure...
I think this was taken by either celly or Mary Ann at Waterdown while I was shooting the above picture of Chris. While everybody who logs onto mtbr.com sees my shot very few have seen this laughing version of Chris hoisting that big-assed 'Dale of his...
But this has to be my fave shot of me and Chris...Jim Thorpe...about 130 degrees in the shade and we're taking a shower together...it don't get no better than that!
BeeT's |
| Thanks!...what shop is it posted in?.... | cush
Jan 15, 2004 2:51 PM | | I live near Albany. |
| Mike's Sport Shop - Rome, NY | Rocket Boy
Jan 16, 2004 6:44 AM | | It's under the glass of a display case at Mike's Sport Shop in Rome, NY. They're a Schwinn and Gary Fisher dealer.
Cheers,
RB |
| Wow Mike... | Ska!
Jan 15, 2004 6:16 PM | | Seems like only yesterday.
I had the fortune of speaking to him several times, though, only through the site. I never had the opportunity to ride with or meet the man.
Sad.
Ska! |
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