Category: Notes From The Road

I started Monday with tears. We were invited to speak to about forty guys at Teen Challenge Phoenix. Before we began we got the honor of watching two men graduate from this phase of the program. These guys made the courageous choice to confront addiction. Several months ago they walked into an unfamiliar environment with […]

You’ll need to grab a cup of coffee for this one. As I told you last week, I was honored to deliver the message yesterday at Faith Assembly Church in Phoenix. We had a great time, and I hope I said something worthwhile. If you’d like to watch, the link below shows a streaming video […]

We’ve met some really special people on this trip. Friday morning our lives were enriched by a group of men at Teen Challlenge New Life Ranch in New River, Arizona. If you don’t know about Teen Challenge, it’s a highly effective residential program for men who want to resolve substance abuse issues. We did a  […]

I learn so much from these rides. I try to share the important stuff here because I hope you’ll learn something as well. In the last couple of days I’ve learned at least three lessons that might serve all of us. # # # Stay open to the opportunities God places in your path. Thursday […]

This has been a spectacular ride. I thought today might be a good day to share some of the sights. I hope you enjoy the scenery as much as we have. Ever feel like you’re about to ride off the edge of the world? This place is called The Chapel Of The Holy Cross. I […]

In cycling, and in life, there’s a big difference between hills and climbs. Riding an incline is part of nearly every tour. In the long term, there’s no such thing as “flat.” As I’ve said before, a big part of life is just grinding up the hills. Climbs are different. In cycling, a climb is […]

Today’s post is sort of a non-post, because yesterday got sort of long. I’m sure there’s a more majestic place to ride than the south rim of the Grand Canyon, but I haven’t been there yet. We got a perfect fall day to enjoy this incredible treasure, though it was just like the rest of […]

This ride involves more hills than I expected. It’s been slow going, which is just part of the deal when you’re touring. The hills have me pondering a metaphor. I’m curious about your reactions. Friday we rode about 52 miles, starting at less than 5000 feet in the desert of Winslow and ending in mountain […]

I have a question. Since we left Taos about a week ago we’ve received at least 100 comments, messages, and texts telling us our efforts are inspiring. I really appreciate that encouragement, and I love the word “inspire.” Inspire means to breathe in life. It’s the opposite of “expire.” As a teacher I sought to […]

“Biking on the road doesn’t seem safe.” I heard it again yesterday. It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. If I’ve learned anything doing this crazy thing called RICH’S RIDE it’s that bike touring on roads with cars and trucks isn’t entirely safe. It would be great if there were dedicated […]

I’ll bet no other cyclist has had this sort of encounter. Like most riders, an occasional motorist objects to me biking on his road. Usually there’s honking, sometimes yelling, and once in a while I see a juvenile hand gesture. But today I got a one-of-a-kind reaction. A twenty-something kid in a pickup pulled up […]

This is a really nice family we met in Albuquerque. They claimed to be curious about the ride, but it’s pretty clear who attracted them. I’ll tell you about them in this video that shows a bit of what it’s like handcycling on historic Route 66. It’s really not a very good video, because I was […]