I can’t say it enough—dreams don’t happen through the efforts of one or two people.
In our media-intensive culture, we frequently don’t look beneath the surface. Too often we place credit or blame on whoever happens to be in front of a camera.
When you listen to athletes reflect on their careers, most of them go back to high school coaches, family members, and team mates who deserve much of the credit for their success. They recognize that they stand on the shoulders of others who didn’t receive the publicity or financial rewards.
That’s how Rich’s Ride works. I get this incredible opportunity to fulfill my dream because countless folks joined the circle and sacrificed something to make it happen. I hesitate to attempt a list because I’ll surely miss important contributions by remarkable people. However, I want you to have some notion of what’s going on in preparation for this epic adventure.
I got this really cool new bike. It’s amazing, but it has lots of really new—and somewhat untested—adaptations. As any mechanic knows, new and untested means a lot of adjusting and messing around to get everything in order. And since the dealer is in Evergreen, I can’t exactly drop by
whenever something needs a tweak.
The friends who’ve helped won’t get much press. Bob (and his cool dog Mochie) helped me figure out a steering issue. Dennis fiddled patiently with the footrests until they were just right. My curly-haired buddy Tom has adjusted and problem-solved just about every aspect of the new machine.
My good friend Jim Haywood (I forgot to get a photo) spent an entire afternoon modifying the pedals to make them work perfectly for my not-so-strong hands. And then there’s my poor wife, who hates mechanical stuff but helps because she loves me.
I wish I could do this stuff myself. I hate asking for help, and I’m still not good at it. But I know it’s part of the journey, and when I stop grumbling I know I’m being a friend by asking friends to help.
I just wish I knew better how to say thanks.
Who are the folks in your life who sacrifice to help you? Do you need to thank one of them?
Want to get involved with Rich’s Ride? Check here for some ideas. Send us a message, and consider riding along.
It’s going to be fun!
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