Why I ride...

About three and half years ago, I started to ride and haven't stopped since. I have been asked many times why I do it. Typically, I respond something along the lines of "because it feels so good when I stop." This is partially true. I thought I would write a bit more tonight and explain myself a little better.

I weighed about 243 pounds and was very inactive. I was an angry person with no outlet. All my life had been around sports or outdoor activities. At the time, I had none, no participation in sports or active outdoor activities. There had been several of the "Biggest Loser" contests at work that I did not join. A good friend at work, Cole Trickle, got under my skin and challenged me to join. Hey, I am always up for a good challenge. I was determined not to lose. I started eating differently and running. After a month of running, my knees, ankles, and shins were not going to make it under the pounding. All the years on the football field, basketball court, and Army games had taken the toll on the body. Running was not an option for me. I had a mountain bike and took inspiration from my Pops. I started to ride. I remember that first, dark morning well, 5 AM and I am doing laps around our neighborhood. I felt proud that I rode 3 miles and my legs were sore but not hurting. It felt good. I soon raised my mileage, getting to 20 and 30 mile rides on the weekends after about six weeks. The pounds started falling off. I felt better about myself. I felt healthier and had more energy. Best of all, the anger seemed to diminish after the rides. I told myself if I ride this mountain bike for six months, I'd buy a real road bike. I kept at it and bought a Trek 1500 with my Pops while they were in SA. Thanks Dad for the inspiration. Partly, I ride to show my Dad appreciation for the help.

I began to talk about riding with everyone I met. I told my Home Teaching companion and it opened up further conversations. He got a bike. We decided to ride together and he did some searching for a route. I was not adventurous and stuck to the 1604. I still remember that grey Saturday morning going up Scenic Loop Drive with JD - riding, talking, sharing. It was the start of wonderful friendship that continues today. We went on to ride all over them hills. We even set a goal to ride our first century together in Texas in August at the Hotter 'N Hell 100. We should have known it would be torture by the name. We decided to skip a hotel and slept outside in the 90+ degree heat and rode a spectacular first century. We have since rode more together. Thanks JD for the friendship. I ride and remember all the good times together, waiting for more down the road to come.

Cole even got interested and rode the HH100 the next year with us - a grueling century in 105+ degree heat that we all wanted to quit. I lost to him in the wieght loss contest but he got me on the bike since I could not run. Thanks Cole for the competition. I ride and remember another good friend.

Finally, I do ride because it feels so good when I stop. One and a half years ago at my first One Day STP ride in which I put down 204 miles in 11 hours on the bike, I put my foot down in Portland having accomplished the goal I set for myself to do it. It boosted my confidence and self-esteem. I could accomplish difficult things if I applied myself, set intermediate goals, and stuck to it, even if it really sucked from time-to-time. On the long rides, when there seems to be no end, the mind turns to family and loved ones. In those times, I thought of my family, my wife, my children, and was able to look deep inside me and come face-to-face with who I was - I didn't like it but I was able to slowly make some changes. I am no where near perfect but I am trying to be more loving and kind daily. I ride to look deep inside me in order to change to be who I should be - pain and suffering does that to an individual. So when I say I ride because it feels so good when I stop, I really mean to say it has made me a better person - a better friend with some great friends, a better son, a better father, and a better husband.

It really isn't about the bike...