Bruce_Yates
Jun 12th, 2009, 10:22 am
For those who've never attended a CCR before, it's hard to explain why it is such an amazing and unusual experience, and so different from a typical bike rally. But so many attendees have said exactly that in various ways that I thought I'd start a thread for them to try.
I'll start - with just 3 great things about CCR. Like most of you, I found this website before I ever met any of the people on it in person. I became quite active, soaking in the collective knowledge that is so freely shared here, enjoying other people's trip reports, and "getting to know" (virtually) a bunch of folks who are prominent fixtures - many of whom you all recognize by their first names: Randy, Barrett, El Jeffe, and so on. But I knew them only as online personas.
GREAT THING #1
So the first thing that was great about CCR was getting to meet in person so many of those folks I knew only virtually via this website. It was weird at that first CCR welcome reception, as I met person after person I "recognized" from their names. I felt like I already "knew" them, and discovered that most of them were even nicer in real life than their online personas! I now count several dozen of them as true friends. I've often commented that, as much crap as the internet has spawned, groups like this (and this one in particular) are one of the truly positive things the internet has added to my life.
GREAT THING #2
I had never seen so many LTs in one place as at CCR, and never dreamed there were so many mods & bling on which to spend money! Seriously, I not only got numerous great ideas, I was able to actually see them in practice. Not to mention attending workshops on how to do them to my own bike.
GREAT THING #3
My wife had only been to a few bike functions before she attended a CCR, and didn't particularly care for them. Too much testosterone, too little of any interest to her as a "non-biker"/occasional pillion passenger. CCR has an unheard of percentage of attendees who come as couples. Of course, partners who both ride have plenty to do and discuss, but it is one of the few bike rallies where a non-riding partner can not only enjoy herself (sorry to be sexist, but that is usually the case), but have a great time with others. Both Cheri and I have made life-long friends at CCR. I'm guessing that a lot of you can't say that about any "normal" bike rallies you've attended with your spouse or S.O.
I can think of lots more great things, but I'll let others fill those in. The bottom line is that if you haven't already signed up for this year's CCR in Rapid City (what a GREAT place to hold it!), get off the dime! You won't be sorry!
I'll start - with just 3 great things about CCR. Like most of you, I found this website before I ever met any of the people on it in person. I became quite active, soaking in the collective knowledge that is so freely shared here, enjoying other people's trip reports, and "getting to know" (virtually) a bunch of folks who are prominent fixtures - many of whom you all recognize by their first names: Randy, Barrett, El Jeffe, and so on. But I knew them only as online personas.
GREAT THING #1
So the first thing that was great about CCR was getting to meet in person so many of those folks I knew only virtually via this website. It was weird at that first CCR welcome reception, as I met person after person I "recognized" from their names. I felt like I already "knew" them, and discovered that most of them were even nicer in real life than their online personas! I now count several dozen of them as true friends. I've often commented that, as much crap as the internet has spawned, groups like this (and this one in particular) are one of the truly positive things the internet has added to my life.
GREAT THING #2
I had never seen so many LTs in one place as at CCR, and never dreamed there were so many mods & bling on which to spend money! Seriously, I not only got numerous great ideas, I was able to actually see them in practice. Not to mention attending workshops on how to do them to my own bike.
GREAT THING #3
My wife had only been to a few bike functions before she attended a CCR, and didn't particularly care for them. Too much testosterone, too little of any interest to her as a "non-biker"/occasional pillion passenger. CCR has an unheard of percentage of attendees who come as couples. Of course, partners who both ride have plenty to do and discuss, but it is one of the few bike rallies where a non-riding partner can not only enjoy herself (sorry to be sexist, but that is usually the case), but have a great time with others. Both Cheri and I have made life-long friends at CCR. I'm guessing that a lot of you can't say that about any "normal" bike rallies you've attended with your spouse or S.O.
I can think of lots more great things, but I'll let others fill those in. The bottom line is that if you haven't already signed up for this year's CCR in Rapid City (what a GREAT place to hold it!), get off the dime! You won't be sorry!