Pete Beers

[Starduster]

I want to be like Pete when I grow up.

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[Starduster]

@Boomer2U 202145 wrote:

No words other than “The Tree…. R.I.P. Dirt”

Sent from Boomer_Cycles via my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a pilgrimage to make Friday.

[JorgeGortex]

@Starduster 202150 wrote:

I have a pilgrimage to make Friday.

Yeah, I’m feeling the same. Find a way to get some closure of sorts.

[dkel]

@JorgeGortex 202152 wrote:

Yeah, I’m feeling the same. Find a way to get some closure of sorts.

I haven’t decided yet whether I want to be on that spot where it happened…

Oddly, I found telling some coworkers about Pete kind of helped me. It’s great material, because he was such a positive influence. They liked hearing about a cyclist who made all those tough interactions with angry drivers and pedestrians about love and understanding. I still don’t know how he did it; it’s the reason I think about him so much when I’m on the bike–what would Dirt do?? This world will be lacking for that going forward.

[jrenaut]

I haven’t even been able to begin to process this. On one hand I feel like I barely knew him, and on the other he undoubtedly made me a better person. Every singe time I’ve had what could have been a bad interaction with an inattentive driver but instead turned out well, it’s been because I was able to channel Pete’s positive vibes. I hear his voice in my head ALL THE TIME when I’m riding my bike, and every time it nudges me in a better direction.

I’m stuck on my fixie this week while my Bianchi is in the shop and coming home from a work errand, I rode it up the biggest hill in the neighborhood in Pete’s honor.

This photo he took after a 2015 Friday Coffee Club is particularly hard but I’m really glad I have it.

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[JorgeGortex]

@dkel 202153 wrote:

I haven’t decided yet whether I want to be on that spot where it happened…

Oddly, I found telling some coworkers about Pete kind of helped me. It’s great material, because he was such a positive influence. They liked hearing about a cyclist who made all those tough interactions with angry drivers and pedestrians about love and understanding. I still don’t know how he did it; it’s the reason I think about him so much when I’m on the bike–what would Dirt do?? This world will be lacking for that going forward.

Yeah, I feel you on that. I do have mixed feelings too… but going to the shop feels weird and even more painful b/c I’d expect him to be manning his position up front. I feel for all the guys at the shop too because they must be really reeling right now. I sort of want to take them a six-pack of good beer as a bit of cheer and remind them that they aren’t alone in all this.

I have to remember that mantra, and I am glad you reminded me/us of it: “What would DIRT do?” Do you know where that nickname came from?

[JorgeGortex]

@jrenaut 202154 wrote:

I haven’t even been able to begin to process this. On one hand I feel like I barely knew him, and on the other he undoubtedly made me a better person. Every singe time I’ve had what could have been a bad interaction with an inattentive driver but instead turned out well, it’s been because I was able to channel Pete’s positive vibes. I hear his voice in my head ALL THE TIME when I’m riding my bike, and every time it nudges me in a better direction.

I’m stuck on my fixie this week while my Bianchi is in the shop and coming home from a work errand, I rode it up the biggest hill in the neighborhood in Pete’s honor.

This photo he took after a 2015 Friday Coffee Club is particularly hard but I’m really glad I have it.

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I think I am in your position as well. I knew him somewhat from this forum, and from going by the shop in the last couple of years when I found cycling again. I, very regretfully, only made it on one Sunday Coffee Ride he led back in February and it was such fun. I feel like I missed out on a lot by not getting on the bike sooner and getting involved.

And I cheer your fixie and your legs. I admit to not being the fittest right now, and my legs were not feeling it today, but when a buddy suggested we hit some areas with hills during our ride this morning I put one pedal after another and thought of Pete even as my heart beat out of my chest. It felt good.

PS- the only picture I have from riding with Pete from that Feb coffee ride: I’m dead center on orange. I was honored to be included.

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[dkel]

@JorgeGortex 202156 wrote:

I have to remember that mantra, and I am glad you reminded me/us of it: “What would DIRT do?” Do you know where that nickname came from?

I don’t know where it came from, but he was Dirt on the forum when the forum was new, and he also had a twitter feed using that moniker. Someone made up some “WWDD?” stickers at some point, if I remember correctly; perfectly sized for a bike frame.

[rcannon100]

@I_am_Dirt ‘s fundraiser – for his Stupid Ride this weekend – it’s still active. You can still support his support of the Be Good Foundation. He is currently the third largest fundraiser… https://be-good-rebeccas-private-idaho.causevox.com/pete-beers?fbclid=IwAR3M9zWrvaDULPJpeopNghL42jHVlLBy7KNPlccvJpyzstJHTfOsh1lLVRA #bikedc

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(DIRT was a nickname that followed Pete from Colorado. It was such a great nick name)

[Steve O]

@JorgeGortex 202157 wrote:

And I cheer your fixie and your legs.

You don’t have a fixie anymore.

[Steve O]

The hole in our hearts is big. When I say I consider myself one of Pete’s friends, I’m just one of literally hundreds of people who can say that. As has already been stated, you only had to meet him once and you were his friend.

I really came to appreciate Pete in association with the Kill Bill rides. I have been re-reading those threads and feeling misty eyed.
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?6868-2014-Kill-Bill-Century-May-4-2014-at-7am
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?8894-Kill-Bill-2015

Here are lots of photos from the 2014 one:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14186645@N04/sets/72157644102302307/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kayakcyndi/sets/72157644105146147/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrogringo/sets/72157644526367515/

There are other threads, but I think this one was the genesis from 2010: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?95-Arlington-s-toughest-hills-list

It was because of Pete, his rides, his infectious spirit, his social glue, that I know so many of you. My life is richer and always will be because of him.

Peace, friend. Peace.

[JorgeGortex]

@Steve O 202162 wrote:

You don’t have a fixie anymore.

Yeah, but it went to a good home where it is loved. Like Pete.

[EasyRider]

My only encounter with Pete was at the finish of last year’s Disaster Relief Trials. He was helping me, of course, holding my bike steady so I could lift a big water jug out of the front basket without toppling over. Thanks again, Pete.

Here’s a short profile of the man from the Falcon Guide to mountain biking the Washington area. Hope it’s OK to post, it’s a good book and well worth the coin. I’m looking forward to doing the Waterford Dirt Ride shown on the opposite page.

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[jabberwocky]

@JorgeGortex 202156 wrote:

Do you know where that nickname came from?

I think he adopted it on the old (now defunct) MORE forum; when I first met him back in 2003, he went by peterbeers there, but a year or two later he changed it to dirt and went by that everywhere since. He drove a bright yellow GTI with the license plate “Eat Dirt” for a long time (which he still has, though I don’t think he had that plate anymore). He may have adopted dirt as a monicker before that, but thats as far back as I’ve known him.

Pete was one of a kind, a longtime friend, and when I got the call from the hospital my stomach knotted. Theres a Pete-shaped hole in my heart that I’ll probably always feel.

Pete spread a lot of love and wisdom around during his time here. Ultimately he left the world a much better place than he found it.

[JorgeGortex]

@jabberwocky 202168 wrote:

I think he adopted it on the old (now defunct) MORE forum; when I first met him back in 2003, he went by peterbeers there, but a year or two later he changed it to dirt and went by that everywhere since. He drove a bright yellow GTI with the license plate “Eat Dirt” for a long time (which he still has, though I don’t think he had that plate anymore). He may have adopted dirt as a monicker before that, but thats as far back as I’ve known him.

Pete was one of a kind, a longtime friend, and when I got the call from the hospital my stomach knotted. Theres a Pete-shaped hole in my heart that I’ll probably always feel.

Pete spread a lot of love and wisdom around during his time here. Ultimately he left the world a much better place than he found it.

Thanks for sharing Jabberwocky. It’s nice to learn more about Pete. An amazing and special guy. I’m grateful for this forum (and the posts on his FB page) where we can share both our grief and love for him. You are not alone.

[Author]

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