benkrieg

Ben Krieg 1976-2006

Racing in Iowa

I have to say thank you to all for your wonderful emails over the past year about my Bro. Today is the first time I have posted in Months about Ben. Just coming back here makes me cry and remember the friend that I have lost. So many times I have just wished that things would have worked out different, and Ben was still here. I am heading to Iowa at the end of the month to race some Cross and leave some ashes at Sugar Bottom. I have only ridden there once and it was back in 95' with Ben. I couldn't even come close to hanging on his wheel. He was always faster than me at just about everything we did.
This will be my 2nd time to Iowa since Ben passed and I can't even tell you how much more I feel I have lost when I can't call him and tell him I will be in town. I know he will be there cheering and ringing a bell on every lap. And with one Lap to go I will giver all I got knowing that is what Ben would want me to do.

A letter from a friend

I owe a great debt of gratitude to Ben and I grieve over his death. I met Ben at the University of Iowa in 1997. He is the person who really got me into riding (road and mountain) more seriously. I spent a lot of time riding, climbing, and just joking around with Ben and the incredible circle of friends who we shared. Ben entered me into my first mountain bike race at Sugarbottom and was so interested in me riding more (and more seriously) that he paid my entry fee. The photos in this posting show scenes from the same roads and trails that we rode together. I know many other people share these same thoughts and feelings.Many nights we would townie around Iowa City for hours. Ben knew all the sly paths and alleys to rally around. He always knew of some new street feature or had a new discovery to share. It was always a thrill and always at maximum speed. It made me feel like a kid again.This posting is mostly to offer up my thanks to Ben for how he influenced me and my life for the best. My love and frequency of riding continues to grow. And I often hear Ben's voice in my head telling me to "breathe" and "don't make mistakes;" and I can see him pointing to the top of his rear triangle prompting me to draft closer and to watch his rear wheel.It is a great loss to me personally and to all of us that he had to leave this world so soon. Fortunately for us and for Ben, I think he would be able to say he lived his life without regret...or at least not many. And he milked the most out of each and every day he was alive. My days were richer, interesting and great fun when I spent them with Ben. My personal condolences to you, Sam, and to your family. Kind Regards,Aaron Suzuki

White Owls and Ben's Ashes

So last night I grabbed a beer and headed up the hill to drop some of Ben's ashes. I don't know why but I decided that it was time to start sprinkling Ben all of the places I love. I am planning on taking him as many places as I can. So, I thought I would start with a place that I love to go. This overlooks my house and all of Pocatello. I am up here almost every day with my pups. I run here all winter. The craziest thing happened on the way down. Right after I took this picture........2 White Owls started circling me and the dogs for a few minutes. They were so close. I have never seen an owl this close, and have never seen a white owl in the wild or ever really. They circled and then landed in a tree just 50ft away I approached them and one flew off but the other stayed and just watched me. I have to say it was one of the odder moments I have ever experienced. Diesel(my black lab) in all of the commotion had run off........ Which in 7 years she has never done, and ran all the way home about 6 blocks and waited for me on the front porch of the house. It was getting dark and I couldn't get the digital camera to take a picture. Bummer................What a night.

A LETTER FROM A GOOD FRIEND

A letter to Ben... one of his friends wrote and asked me to share.

Ben,
It’s been a long time now, about 6 years I think. I hear about you from time to time, and I think about you a lot. Even before last week. I can’t hear a Dinosaur Junior song without thinking of you. It’s hard for me to say how much you’ve impacted my life. There is no doubt I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you. I remember years ago, you would always tell me “one day one of us is going to be a pro racer, I know it”. I always thought it would be you. Somehow you knew it would happen and you made me believe. I wonder if you knew where you would be January 2006. Maybe you did. Maybe that’s why you lived life the way you did. You got the most out of every moment, every day, every friendship. When I start my first pro race this spring I will be thinking of you. I hope some part of you will be there on your pink and purple Klein riding with me.

I am happy to think that I was your friend. I like to think time was one of the more fulfilling and happy times of your life. I enjoyed the time we spent together, racing bikes, training, rock climbing, and always having fun. I wish those days could be here again. I wish I could see you again riding with the guys Champy, Ruddick, Jason, Cory, and Kenny. Racing with Iowa City traffic after night riding at Sugarbottom. I wish we could go back to that happy time in Iowa City racing bikes, seeing you at peace.

You were a good friend to me. I wonder if I was as good of friend to you. I visited you in the hospital when you fought through Guillane-Barre, I hugged you as you cried at Chris Lillig’s funeral but in the end I wasn’t there when you needed a friend the most.

I’m sorry I am writing you only now. I’m sorry I didn’t write you two weeks ago or two years ago. I always thought you would end up at my doorstep one day. Dragging me along to go snowboarding or tackle some ridiculously hard road ride. It truly saddens me to know that will never happen now.

I will carry on with your smiling face in my heart forever. I take comfort in knowing that you will greet death in that same way you greeted life with a big smile and a warm hug.

I’m sorry.
Your Friend

Please fwd. any photos to me.

Please continue to call and email. Your emails and stories of Ben have been wonderful.

sam@kriegcycling.com please send me any photos of Ben.
I will post any images or content you wish me to AD.
208-232-2054 Call me at home. sam k
Your calls and emails have meant more than you could know. Some have made me cry and others laugh. You have made me remember things I have forgotten and a witness to things I wish I would have seen.

My mom can be contacted at rivercity2620@hotmail.com
Katie Krieg
743 Lockefield Ct. Apt D
Indpls, IN 46202
My dad can be reached at dkrieg@mchsi.com
Dave Krieg
195 Fremont
Dubuque, IA 52003
563-556-5559

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made in Ben’s name to the
Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition. PO Box 22156, Lexington,KY. 40522-2156.

January 18th 2006 "I can't believe he is gone"

On January 18th 2006 my big brother Ben passed away. I just keep looking at these images and I can hardly believe it. So many things to say and so many feelings. I just wanted to post some pictures for everyone to remember him. He had the most wonderful smile, and I will miss him more than he will ever know. I just can't believe he is gone. Here is BEN hanging off a cliff with Half DOME in the background. We were on the climb HEAVEN. It was back in 98' right after he got out of the hospital with GB. I have spoken with many people and we all agree the world lost so much energy on the 18th. I just keep telling myself it can't be true. Please keep a bit of Ben in your heart. sam k

please scroll down and enjoy......

A quote I just thought was fitting.
"keep on living life the Krieg boys way"
Sincerely, matt hughes

"One thing you could always say about Ben was that he was 'Unforgettable'. He'll remain that to me and I'll miss him. " Brad Smith Fort Collins, CO