Welcome To Rich’s Ride

I hope you’ll poke around and see what this crazy dream is all about.

See some of our fun media coverage.

This project is the result of a longstanding personal dream. It’s the next chapter in an unlikely story of hope and of God’s faithfulness. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for me, and the chance for you to get involved with a circle of fun, creative, passionate folks who are nutty enough to think that God-sized dreams can change the world.

Here’s the story of Rich’s Ride:

If you’re looking for some basics, you can download an informational flyer.

Story

Rich’s Ride took shape and inspiration from Donald Miller’s book A Million Miles In A Thousand Years. Million Miles is about looking at your life as a story. The content is about the components of an interesting story and how Don learned to edit his life. The challenge is to write a better story with your own life.

A story involves a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it. That notion resonates with me—I’ve been through that cycle a few times.

• I wanted to get my life back after a spinal cord injury caused permanent paralysis. I mostly had to overcome my own resistance and depression to find the path God had in mind. It only took ten years!
• I wanted to exercise. I discovered hand cycling and cranked a thousand miles in one summer.
• I wanted to re-connect with a lady I hadn’t seen or talked to in over twenty years. Fear, anxiety, and distance gave way and made room for a wonderful eight-year (and counting) marriage.
• I wanted to tell my story, so I published Relentless Grace. I was a math teacher with no writing experience—amazing what happens when you get your self-imposed limitations out of the way and let God work.

One thing about interesting stories, though, is that even a string of good ones doesn’t guarantee continued interest. Even the best character has to keep seeking and confronting challenges. So this project is about a new chapter, the next obstacle.

What’s Next?

I write a lot about my hand cycle. Despite physical limitations that constrain speed and distance, I love the freedom and sense of accomplishment of cycling. I’ve set and reached goals that seemed impossible, but one crazy notion has rattled around unresolved for several years.

Ever since the first summer when I cranked a thousand miles on the Fort Collins bike trails, I’ve dreamed of doing some kind of long distance ride. I wrote a post about it more than a year ago, and I’ve actually been kind of puzzled about what’s keeping me from acting. But now I think I get it.

And if you follow along, maybe you’ll get it as well. And maybe you’ll get some ideas about rewriting your own story.

What can I do now that I’m here?

• You can check out The Ride for details about the project. We’ll add more as things develop.
• You can subscribe to free updates via email, follow ride developments, and join the conversation and the fun.
• You can check out our generous corporate sponsors.
• You can learn more about Convoy Of Hope.
• You can send us an email. I’d love to get to know you and have you become part of our circle.
• You can spread the word. Tell your friends. Let people know via Facebook, Twitter, email, or smoke signals. Things are about to get fun, and we want lots of folks involved.

Thanks for your interest. I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you. It’s going to be a blast.