Geppetto wished Pinocchio could be a “real boy.”
We know Pinocchio for his long nose, but a cool part of the story happened when The Blue Fairy granted Master Geppetto’s wish and transformed his lifeless wooden puppet into a real boy.
Sometimes I wish I could be a real cyclist. By “real” I mean riding a real big-boy-2-wheel bike and actually being able to keep up with other riders. I’m not expecting the Blue Fairy, but if I somehow became a real cyclist I hope I’d be as good as my friend Newman.
His name is Brian, but nobody calls him that. He’s an accomplished rider – fast, strong, sits easy in his saddle for long distances. As we cranked 60 miles from Cheyenne to Fort Collins with our friends from Harvest Farm, Newman could have been lead dog, fastest guy on the road, first to the finish.
He didn’t do any of that. Instead, he rode in back with some of the weakest riders, the guys who struggled and needed encouragement. He laughed and told stories that distracted from aching legs and sore backsides. He offered nearly imperceptible riding tips, a shepherd nudging and guiding his charges down the road while making them feel great about their progress. For a rider like Newman, riding that slow isn’t comfortable or fun. He’s the servant leader, the guy who inspires and leads with humility, the guy who sets aside his own comforts and desires to meet others’ needs.
Bike trouble…he stops and reassures the guy (it happens to everyone). While others go ahead Newman waits patiently, makes sure the guy can continue and complete the ride when expediency might have dictated “give up and get in the car.” Other riders chose a more comfortable pace, got done sooner, enjoyed the shade and the watermelon.
Newman finished last.
If I were a real cyclist, of course I’d like to be fast. But mostly I hope I’d be as good as Newman.