A new way to ride

Today woke up feeling sore. Mild whiplash from a fall, swollen hip and knee. I got going slow... just wanting to give myself plenty of time to warm up.

At the first water stop I shifted into my lowest gear and promptly broke off my derailure. I didn't just break it off though. It jammed into my spokes, got all bent up and split into pieces. Not fixable. Jacob let me use his bike. Terrel is just one size different from mine so we just switched my pedals over and adjusted the seat. These last couple of days have been eye opening. I feel like I've been pretty self contained for the tour so far. I'm not as I take food and water like everyone else, but I've not really had people waiting around for me. I've not really had any bike problems or anything like that.

Yesterday that changed. I crashed early in the day and the van had to stop to get me bandaged and check out my bike. I couldn't use my lowest gear because it would catch my spokes. The entire day day I was feeling drained and sore. Others on our tour had mentioned various aches and pains, problems with shifting, braking or frequent flats. None of these were problems I'd been experiencing. It was a struggle of a day after my tumble. At first I felt fine, but after an hour of riding I started losing energy fast. I felt like I couldn't keep riding, that I was going to hold up the team. As I was thinking I started to fall back from Karl and Brian. It was too much. I couldn't keep up the pace. They immediatly noticed and slowed enough for me to keep with them. I finished the day, greatful to have such great friends on the team.

Then I broke my derailure today. With my bike fully disabled, Jacob immediately offered his bike for me to ride. I was supprised. I was expecting to hop in the van and ride until we got to the next bike shop. It's not that continuing to ride is a big deal in the grand scheme of what we're doing, but it meant the world to me. In two days time I became one of the more needy persons on the trip: I needed bandages, my bike was unusable and needed to be taken to a shop for repair, and I was using someone else's bike. Every day this group of people becomes more important to me. We're all so different, but everyone stands together to make each day happen and climb each mountain as they come. I am so happy to be a part of this team.


(I'm feeling tons better tonight and I'm sure by Monday's ride I'll be great. We just got back from the shop and my bike's ready to rock)

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Comment by Brian Elliott on June 22, 2010 at 8:39pm
Terrell is a great bike! And Jacob is an even greater friend! Last year when I broke a spoke Jacob let me ride Terrell the rest of the day since he was already in the van. He is VERY protective of that bike and cherishes it dearly and takes great care of it. So allowing someone to ride it is a huge deal. We all need people. We're not supposed to be lonely hermits and we're not supposed to be completely self-sufficient. Of course we all need God, but we also need other people in our lives. Helps keep the pride and ego in check ya know? I definitely thrive just being around people and struggling through life together. Sometimes the help we need from someone is obvious and sometimes what we need is the chance to help someone else. On a trip like Ride:Well our need for our teammates, hosts, and complete strangers becomes completely apparent. It makes us more vulnerable and, oftentimes, we don't like to be vulnerable. It makes us feel weak, but that's not true. It makes us stronger. Keep on fighting Ian! Keep on pedaling! The people in Africa NEED you this summer! The team is in prayers...
Comment by redheadkate on June 21, 2010 at 9:08am
I was reading something last night that said often we prefer to give rather than to receive. But in order for others to give, sometimes we have to be on the receiving end. So exciting to see how the team works together. At the end of the trip, all of you will finish because you helped each other.
Comment by Erin White on June 20, 2010 at 12:25pm
Ian I am SO GLAD you're with us this summer :) great post
Comment by Criselda Vasquez on June 19, 2010 at 11:47pm
Isn't it crazy how God can use the silliest accidents to show us new things? I loved the sense of community that could already be felt with this year's team. You guys rock.

 

 

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