Amazing friendships develop during bike rides.
The first day of FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR is different. In addition to our team we invite some guests to ride with us from Cheyenne to Fort Collins. Among this year’s special guests were some men from Harvest Farm, a substance abuse recovery program located in Northern Colorado. These guys commit to fixing up bikes, training, and riding 58 miles. It’s a big deal, for them and for us.
I talked to JC in Cheyenne. He was nervous, said he really wanted to complete the ride for his daughter. He’d never done this many miles and he rode a heavy, less-than-optimal mountain bike, but he wanted his daughter to see this commitment and know how much he loved her.
Phil’s been part of the FREEDOM TOUR for 4 years. He’s an incredible cyclist, fast and smooth, and he rides a really nice, sleek road bike. Oh, Phil also has a heart as big as the Colorado mountains he loves to climb.
At lunch, about 30 miles into the ride, JC shared his story with several folks. Phil decided to ride the next few miles with JC. He could have cruised along at his own pace with familiar riding partners, but he chose to ride a bit slower, start a conversation, and encourage JC to keep cranking.
At the final rest stop we witnessed an unlikely exchange. Phil handed over his delicate, made-to-fit road bike and climbed onto JC’s clunky mountain bike. For the last 14 miles JC flew down the road and arrived with an enormous grin splitting his face.
Phil lumbered those final miles and feigned collapse at the end. Everyone chuckled when JC pretended to sneak Phil’s bike onto the Harvest Farm trailer.
These stories are why we do all of this. We love riding bikes, but the bikes are a tool, a way to bring folks together and transport us to these kinds of moments. I don’t believe they’re accidents. I believe they’re appointments arranged by God. They’re all around us, all along the journey.
We have to slow down, be aware, and be willing to tolerate interruption. Phil sacrificed his schedule and comfort to create a story of love and grace.
We weren’t designed to go it alone, to do our own thing. We were created for community.
