FREEDOM TOUR ’17 hit the road for its first event last weekend.
Eight cyclists sporting our spiffy new jerseys joined 7,000 of their friends at the Elephant Rock Cycling Festival in Castle Rock.We began with HELMETS UP on a beautiful morning, then they cranked a metric century (62 miles) through absolutely stunning–and difficult–terrain in the unofficial start of Colorado’s cycling season.
I didn’t ride…too many climbs for my old arms…but I loved the stories. I loved how other riders saw our team together and asked what they were all about, how they got to talk about human trafficking and our kids at the HOME OF HOPE. I loved hearing how the team would spread out on the climbs but always came back together. I loved the excitement as everyone spoke of the interactions within the team and with other cyclists.
Most of all I enjoyed one particular comment. As the team gathered at a rest stop, one guy smiled and said, “This is really fun, taking a little more time to be part of the experience. Look at what we’d be missing if we just went for a bike ride.”
Exactly.
Some folks come to a ride like Elephant Rock with a ride-as-fast-as-you-can approach. I guess that’s okay, but you can do a 60- or 100-mile training ride any time, for free, without the crowds. How often do you get the chance to be with THIS group of folks in THIS environment? What’s the point of rushing, especially when you have a story of hope to share?
The FREEDOM TOUR is more than a bike ride. We enjoy cycling and touring, but community makes all of this worthwhile. We ride together because together changes everything. (Thanks, Kent)
Elephant Rock was Act I. June 10 about 65 folks will ride the Community Prologue. A week later FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR blasts off from Cheyenne on our 500-mile journey. End of July the inaugural COLORADO MOUNTAIN FREEDOM TOUR climbs out of Gunnison.
We’ve planned and plotted and still know it’ll all happen in ways we don’t expect. That’s okay. We’ll be together, reminding ourselves God’s in charge, remembering to look around and take our time and tell each other :
Look at what we’d be missing…
