July 4th is always a family oriented holiday for me, but it’s also always my day. Maybe that is why that day is one of my favorites, a day that I come away from relaxed and regenerated. I love July 4th for a lot of reasons.
Every July 4th starts with a bike ride, usually a long one that gives me that tired and satisfied aura, perfect for the relaxation that follows with my family. My wife has learned to give me my time at the beginning of the day, enjoys what the bike ride does for my attitude. This past holiday was no exception, with a three hour mountain bike ride with two friends early in the morning.
The picture is blurry, taken by my friend Jon as he laid down across a bend in the trail. I growled at the camera as I leaned over the handlebars, about to negotiate the turn in the direction of my outstretched knee. Jon and Eric are experienced riders, much better than I am, but also happy to be out riding with me. It’s great for me to ride with them. They make me a better rider, motivate me to get out and bust my butt.
My riding friends remind me of the truth of Paul’s words, more complicated than one might determine.
“Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.” Paul in his letter to the Romans (12:15)
They are happy when each is having a good time on the bike. Thursday morning, we each took a good spill, one that made my wife happy (translate as “amused”) when I came home and popped three ibuprofen and moaned on the couch with an ice pack on a bruised shoulder. We each enjoyed the good fortune of a good bike with each other, shared in the badge of honor that a good spill can be. It’s not a matter of comparison, it’s a matter of sharing.
I find that very cool. Very relaxing. Frankly, I like to ride with guys like that more than the ones who rejoice in making each other weep. Or those who drool over new bike equipment, wishing they have what the other has more than being happy about the good fortune of the one who just got the nice stuff. Some guys are more about the ride. Some guys are more about having the best stuff, more about being number one.
Oops. I’m preaching. It is Sunday after all. I did do that preaching thing in my previous life.
Yesterday morning I met with the same guys and a few others for a ride on the road. They met me a block away from my house, took that route strictly to make sure I would get out of bed for the ride. It was early — 6:00 in the morning. They pulled me for close to 53 miles, not minding that I needed to take advantage of their strength and not take the front to do the work. There is no way I could have gone that far without the motivation my friends provided. And I had energy to spare when I got home, enough to mow the lawn and function the rest of the day. In previous years, with other riders, that has not been the case. Once again, I felt the satisfaction.
It feels good to be on the bike again, to be out riding. After my foot surgery last January, I really did not feel I would be riding like I am now, even though I hoped I would be.
And I like it.
shenrydafrankmann 
awesome…sounds like you have a great group of riding friends. I had a boyfriend many years ago who was an avid rider and know what it did for his spirit to be out there. He got me out a little, just enough to see him go flying over his handlebars onto the ground and blacking out. Scared the crap outta me (not literally). He came to after a few scary minutes and I got him back to the car and to a hospital, he fractured his elbow. Not fun but he loved to ride and still does at 52 years old.
Guess how old I am? Yep. 52, Still a young pup. My friends and I noticed the other day that most of the guys we saw on the trail were our age. A lot of the better, tougher riders are my age.
It’s a good woman who understands what riding does for their man, who can take him to the hospital when he injures himself!!
lol well honestly, there was no other choice in my mind but to get him to a hospital. But to this day I have a bit of a fear of riding a bicycle. The what if’s get me. What if I get a flat and am out in the middle of nowhere? What if I have an accident and can’t get myself help? What if he didn’t come to? I was trying to figure out how to carry a 6’2″ 220 lb man down a trail to the car lol Panic didn’t allow me to think I could call an ambulance.
It’s awesome you guys keep in such good shape… good on you!
In more than 20 years of cycling, there really haven’t been any issues for me. In these days of cell phones, getting stranded really isn’t a concern for me. Now, carrying a 220 pound man down a trail might be an issue!
Naw, he’s still fat.
I see someone powered up Frankenstein’s bride’s electrodes this morning.
53 miles? My goodness!
I totally understand Mrs. ddupre315 … it’s my fear too, to end up somewhere in the middle of nowhere with a flat. My dad once learned me how to fix a tire but that was many, many years ago … I have no idea anymore.
So, hat tip to you!
Now, now, Riete, where you live there are so many bicycles that SOMEONE would stop to help you fix a flat. Some day I will come to the Netherlands and give a lesson to you and your students on bicycle maintenance!
I’ll keep you to that! 🙂
You will be expected to participate, including changing a flat in front of your students. 🙂
That’s a promise! 🙂
53 miles? You are my hero! (Hi from an old friend from Multiply)
HEY CHRIS!!! You do know that my picture for this blog was taken mere miles from you, don’t you? 53 miles for a lot of the people I ride with is nothing, so I should not really feel so accomplished, but it was something!
I will be down your way this Saturday evening. I am dropping Mir and Alyssa at the One Direction concert. They don’t want to risk getting lost, etc…..