the bike ride

since the century bike ride i did last saturday, i have sat down a couple of times to write about it, but haven't known quite what to say, there is so much there. it was so surprisingly different from what i thought it would be like.  i can't say it was easy, but i wasn't miserable like i thought i would be.  i didn't expect for it to be so beautiful, so comfortable, so much fun.

the worst case scenarios I had imagined were either passing out and/or keeling over dead somewhere around mile 83. Or crashing into another biker and causing a whole line of bikers to go down like dominos (have you seen those unfortunate scenes on TV from the tour de france?) and having to hobble across the finish line, bloodied and bruised, with possibly a broken bone or two, dragging my bike behind me.  (i did not think these things would happen necessarily, but I was aware that they could happen, and that was enough to cause me to toss and turn in my bed the few nights before the ride.  having no experience of my own to lean on, i was the victim of my own, overactive, anxiety-ridden imagination.)

the truth is, the race was an amazing experience, one of the most fun things i've ever done in my life.  it was so very beautiful.  we rode through 100 miles of farmland near UC davis, and then through the rolling hills and vineyards of napa valley.  for several miles, we rode under a canopy of trees.  we could smell the fall grasses and trees, see the bright, blue sky and hear the sound of water flowing alongside the road.  it was never too hot, and never too cold.  over all the miles, as our hearts pumped blood and our legs pumped the pedals, it was a time of worship for me. 

i loved being with luke, gabe and dianne.  it was dianne's first century too, so we shared a common, bond.  the last 25 miles were fairly flat, so we road them together in a line, and we took turns "pulling."  one of the coolest things about biking in a team is that if you ride right up close to another biker's back tire,  find the sweet spot and lock into it, you can actually, immediately feel your work load diminish--and almost coast for awhile.   when "drafting" in the back, gabe loved to yell out, "i'm just back here readin' a book!"  

what a beautiful picture of what we do for each other in Christ's body, we take turns breaking the "wind" of each others' burdens at times so that a struggling brother or sister can be carried, and can rest.

there is so much more to say.  i am so glad i was able to finish the ride.  i learned a lot about the process of training for something that at one time seemed impossible and even undisirable.  i learned not to look at the whole overwhelming thing, but to break it up into small, manageable chunks, and to accomplish them one at a time.  i am so thankful that i was able to finish without passing out, crashing or dying, and that i was able to finish with a full heart and a smile.

   "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights..."

donna and me, before the ride started, still in the dark

dianne and me, the first-time riders

me and gabe, saluting our faithful support crew--alan and donna

alan and luke

across the finish line--how sweet it was!