I’m fond of the phrase, “The FREEDOM TOUR is a community.” It’s my way of emphasizing that we’re followers of Jesus and relationships matter. It’s also a way of clarifying that fundraising is not our primary focus, which is a curious thing to say since we raise funds to support a group of kids who’ve […]
Continue readingCategory: Freedom Tour
Next Year
Ever notice how quickly “next year” seems to show up? We just completed FREEDOM TOUR 2023, and 2024 deadlines are already creeping up on us. FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC, COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR, HOPE & FREEDOM CHALLENGE. Altogether, our team will donate more than $115,000 to the kids at the home of hope, enough to support the […]
Continue readingOne Mile At A Time
Our Hope & Freedom Challenge concluded Saturday. Since the beginning of the year, more than 80 people have run, walked, and cycled, and recorded their miles in our tracker. Thanks to a generous donor, those miles are matched $1-per-mile. We began with a lofty goal, hoping to accumulate 60,000 miles. When the dust settled on […]
Continue reading2023 Classic Video
The FREEDOM TOUR is a lot of fun. It’s serious work, because we’re always mindful of the kids we support. But when we finally get together, everyone has a blast. Here’s a short video to give you an idea of what FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC 2023 was about. I hope it makes you smile, and I […]
Continue readingRoundabout
Northern Colorado is great place to ride bikes. Miles and miles of wonderful trails, great climbing nearby in the foothills, and lots of bike lanes. For the most part, drivers are aware of, and courteous toward, cyclists. For the most part. On Saturday, my route took me through a semi-busy roundabout. I waited my turn, […]
Continue readingFree!
Except…freedom isn’t really the goal. Freedom implies a lack of constraints or consequences. Sounds great, right? Do whatever you want with no repercussions. In the grown-up world, that’s not how it works, because actions have consequences. Those who declare absolute freedom are really claiming they should be free from the consequences of their choices. They’re […]
Continue readingRisky Or Hard?
When you talk to people about bike tours, there’s a lot of conversation about what’s hard. My friend Jim says riding a bike for a worthy cause really isn’t a big deal. What’s hard for Jim is taking time away from his family. Some folks look at the route and decide it’s impossible. Others think […]
Continue readingOn Changing My Mind
When I first started riding my handcycle, I didn’t care much about the results. Good thing, because the results sucked. I was slow. I couldn’t ride very far. I couldn’t climb hills. I rode my bike because I enjoyed riding my bike. For a long time, none of that other stuff mattered. I simply loved […]
Continue readingBike Trails And Judgment
On my ride yesterday I realized an urban bike trail is a good place to practice these words from Jesus. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” On a […]
Continue readingHope And Where’s Waldo
Last time I shared a cool picture and talked about how hope can be hard to find among the boulders of a difficult life. My friend Mike sent this picture of a little trail side rock garden near his house. He said he contributed his Hope Rock and wondered if I could find it. I […]
Continue readingLooking For Hope
Last week a post included this picture taken by one of our mountain tour riders. I thought it was just a cool picture, but after looking more closely I realized it made kind of a profound statement. We don’t often find hope easily. Sometimes we have to search among the rocks and boulders of difficult […]
Continue readingAbout Traditions And Truth
I read a quote the other day about institutions, traditions, and truth. I didn’t copy the quote, but the idea was that institutions use traditions to prevent change and conceal the truth. The FREEDOM TOUR has developed a few traditions during eleven years of cycling. Handprints. Hope Rocks. Helmets Up before the start of each […]
Continue reading