I’d like you to meet two friends.
These two happy folks are Brooke and Jim. They joined us for the first day of FRONT RANGE FREEDOM Tour ‘14—57 miles from Cheyenne to Fort Collins.
In most respects, Brooke and Jim weren’t much different from the other 40 riders who joined our core team that day. But a few details make their story remarkable.
- Jim rode the entire FREEDOM TOUR in 2013.
- Brooke and Jim never met until the morning of the ride.
- They rode the entire 57 miles together—on a tandem
- Brooke can’t see–she’s blind
When we heard about Brooke’s desire to ride with us and her need for a suitable partner, I immediately thought of Jim. He’s a really strong cyclist who I knew could handle the physical demands of the project. But I know lots of strong, capable riders.
Jim was the perfect guy to be Brooke’s partner because he lives to serve. He absolutely “gets” that our tour is a bike ride that isn’t about riding bikes. I knew he’d understand that riding with Brooke was about much more than moving a bike down the road.
Brooke and Jim had a great day together. I cranked a few miles with them and marveled at their easy conversation as Jim matter-of-factly described the surroundings. Everyone remarked at the amount of trust required to do what they appeared to do so effortlessly. As Jim’s long-time friend, I frankly wasn’t surprised. That’s who he is.
As they laughed and joked, I realized she and I had a lot in common.
On that day we both needed a little help, but neither of us felt like projects. Because of the kindness and generosity of others, we could both participate in, and even serve, this incredible community.
Maybe you noticed that tandem Jim and Brooke rode was a relatively heavy mountain bike rather than a skinny-tired road bike. She wasn’t just a passenger–she had to do her share of the cranking.
And that’s exactly what she wanted. Like me, she wasn’t seeking a free ride. We both simply wanted to use our abilities–like most folks, we just needed a bit of assistance to get past our inability.
Brooke and Jim inspired me. I’m wondering what lessons you find in the story of two strangers forging a friendship under these circumstances.
Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
Love this!
Thanks for sharing this beautiful part of the story. I had assumed they were father and daughter, as you said, they worked together naturally. I applaud Brooke for her independence and her courage in putting her trust in a stranger. I think most of us could learn from her in this area. So often we think we have to go it alone, but I thank God for guys like Jim who are willing to help out where needed. Everyone who participated in the ride had that very attitude and it was a beautiful site to behold.
I’m stunned to hear that they met for the first time that day. They talked and laughed like they were old friends and they rode the tandem like they had done it many times. I knew of Brook through a co worker and she has done other amazing things for people in need. It was nice to meet her and put a face with a name. I met Jim at last years ride from Cheyenne and I instantly liked him.