Instead of riding my bicycle, I am taking long walks to get back to good health. In my 68th year one finds out the hard way that good health is a blessing and not a given. At least I am upright and looking forward to each new day and working my way back to sitting in the saddle and pedaling my way around town.
Every time I join the group of bicycle riders who decide to ride across Iowa; I find myself surrounded by people full of joy, hope, fun, kindness and goodwill that I start to think: “It’s not so high a bar to reach for.” So why not lift up that hand and think: “I’ll be better…” Everyone have a good day… thank you for being…
People have rode bicycles across the state of Iowa yearly for 50 times now. This year 20,000 signed up (add another 9,000 who only signed on for a day instead of weeklong). More showed up (some say 60,000 the first day). It was 500 miles in 7 days. Lots of hills… along the way you could eat that sweet Iowa corn. You could even have a picture taken with a Camel (I did not, he was on break at the time). I rode the 25th ride and thought how could I miss the 50th.
It’s a new year… I feel that it would be great to think positive thoughts at the start and strive to keep along that path throughout the year and on for infinity.
On a bicycle I get to see things I would have missed had I been driving a car.
The last time I looked at bicycles knew of road bikes, hybrid, city, adventure, dirt bikes as well as mountain bikes. Today I find “gravel” and even “CGR” (cross, gravel, road) and then I recall “touring” bikes. I also ran across cruiser, endurance and the list went on. All I wanted was something to ride without much thought. The more I looked the more I wondered about speed, weight limits, gears, brakes, and comfort. Seems that comfort for some is second to speed…. and it seemed that while everything changes by name… you still pedal to get where you wish to go… so what’s most important remains the same.
On the bicycle ride across Iowa a person rode past me with an electronic device that spoke out loud Speed, Distance Traveled and total climb completed. The voice said: “You have traveled 4.5 miles, at 6.3 miles per hour and completed 500 feet of climb.” You have traveled 4.6 miles, at 6.2 miles per hour and completed 510 feet of climb.” “You have…” I’m not sure I could stand having such information for long… I saw bikes with GPS that told them where they were and what route to follow. When someone wanted to SAG (get picked up) the first comment was to use a cell phone and call for support… back in the day it was put your bike (wheels up) on the left side of the road and wait. Putting this in perspective I had a person ask if plastic water bottle’s existed when the ride first started… (seems the plastic water bottle was invented in 1973).
In a corn field far far away… in the summer… on a bike… that’s where I will be!
For three decades I have ridden my bicycle across the state of Iowa. If the ride was a “go for 2020” I could say four decades. I miss that I will not be able to say this until 2021. I think of the world today and the world only one year ago. So much taken for granted, the ease of being together and able to visit; travel, shop without thought or mask. I also felt that the divisions would fade; and ways to goodwill would rise like a morning sunrise with ease… all would simply have a new beginning.
No Iowa ride this year… but in my thoughts and mind I see and reflex on all the kindness and fun I found in Iowa each year. Each year people from all over the United States and the world would ride bikes. It seemed to me this was “America at its Greatest”. The rider’s from the Air Force would be offering a helping hand. Bike repair workers, police, fire department, health care workers, people ready at all times; to support all. As sure as the sun comes up in the morning a good time could be found on the ride. Regardless of what is happening today I know that the best of America is in people’s goodwill and kindness to others. Just thinking about it makes my day hopeful.
As I ride my bike the things I notice and reflect on; differ from those I experience in a car.
