Life is just full of new beginnings

After twelve extraordinary years, Team Tania is retiring.  This past weekend's ride was nothing short of amazing as the weather held out for us.  Just a bit warm on Saturday and overcast on Sunday.  If you want to see the team, please visit Team Tania where you will see our mission, our accomplishments, and, of course, Tania.


That said, it's time now to take what we on the team have learned and start again.  Being the nation's largest Friends and Family team, there will no doubt be several spin-offs.  After all, isn't that the way we grow as a family?

For me, its been quite a ride with the team.  We started with six people and grew to over 400+ members.  Overall, we raised nearly $1.6 million, and we're quite proud of that accomplishment.  We won all sorts of awards and national recognition.  So, why is the team "retiring"?

Because, it's not about the team.  The charity ride we do is for people like Tania and for those that care for them.  It's about giving hope, encouragement, and some joy.  It's time for the team to move on to the next step -- move on and grow some more.

But, how does that relate to you, the reader?  "Sure," you say.  "Your team did a great job, but now what?"

Here's my challenge to you:  No matter where you are in life, you're at some point where you can say that you've accomplished something.  Even if you say that you're a failure, you've at least accomplished that much.  Now, move on and grow.

Yes, it's been nearly two years since my last posting here.  Probably no one in the world even noticed.  However, since then a lot has happened to make me reconsider why I started doing this small bit on the net.  I finished college and am now working on my MBA.  I have a wonderful daughter now in her second year of college.  My wife is healthy, which is to say a lot.  And most importantly, God is working on me and my stubborn, self centered personality.

There is going to be a lot of change in the near future.  Not just for me, but for a lot of people in the United States and around the world.  The pace at which it has been happening has been increasing each year.  Where will we fit in as Christians?  Or should we?  Jesus taught some pretty hard lessons.  He was able to succeed with this mission.  So can we.

Are we perfect all the time?  Obviously not -- just take a look at the news.  I would love to be able to ride like Lance Armstrong.  I can study the videos, read his books, read his commentators.  But, when I get on the bike, I'm stuck with my legs and not his.  On the other hand, everything I've learned makes me a better cyclist.  It's the same when following Jesus' teachings.  Although I'm stuck with this body and mind, when I study his, mine gets better.  Not absolutely perfect, but better.

So, again, here is my challenge to you:  Are you going to move on and grow?  Life is full of restarts and new beginnings.  Take a chance and do it.  I'll bet you have desires and dreams.  Until you put some steps into them, you're just daydreaming.

For me, yes, I'm restarting here again.  No one may ever see these writings, however, I believe that I should start up again and keep to it.  If you are one of the few followers here, perhaps you'll keep me to task as well.  Along the way, perhaps we can learn from and encourage each other.

Benefits of Drafting

During the weekend of the MS150 City-to-Shore tour, my wife and I met two other couples on tandems. What a treat to finally be able to draft not just one, but *two* tandems! (Now I know why we find so many riders sneaking up on us!) Dave & Darcy and Bud & Renee were great riders, and we hope to see them again next year.

I'm sure you all know the benefits of drafting behind another rider. The pros do it - and yes, even in NASCAR. The biggest reason: you can save up to 40% less energy while drafting in a group. Believe me, I quickly noticed it when we were riding at a good clip and found that at times we just coasted. We were actually being sucked in behind them. We would switch off, each taking a turn at the front. It was easy; after our turn we pulled to the left and slowly let the other two pass. When it was safe, we pulled back in behind them. We did this for miles, each taking our turn in the circular pattern.

Then came the pine barrens on Sunday. That road has always been a mental chasm for me. I was simply not strong enough to keep up and found myself struggling to beat that road. The gentle, but ever present uphill slope was bearable. But because I couldn't take advantage of anyone's draft, the headwinds were my downfall. I found myself struggling to the next rest stop where we found our new tandem friends.

My poor wife! She couldn't even pass me to say, "See you at the next stop." She was stuck there behind me as I blew up. By the way, if you ever want to see how good your relationship is; ride a tandem. She was the perfect partner. She was encouraging and kind. And of course, quick to remind me if I was doing something that I shouldn't.

Why do I mention this? Because I think it's a good analogy of working together as a team. Sure, we could have done the ride on our own. But, by working together, we each take some of the burden making the entire effort easier. When one gets tired, another steps up and helps.

Sure, we probably would still make it on our own, but it would be a tougher ride. When riding in a group, learning to take advantage of draft can make the ride more enjoyable.

It's the same in life. Sure, we could be social hermits, isolating ourselves from all those "bad people" out there. But, in the long run, we usually find ourselves becoming isolated from everyone. Riding solo can be beneficial, but we were meant to be part of a group.

There will be times when you're the one blocking the wind and setting the pace. Which means there will be times when you need to learn to step to the back of the line and let others do the work so that you can be refreshed. The strength of the leader becomes the strength of the group. That also means that if you wish to lead effectively, it is required that you take time to step back and let another set the pace for awhile. We all need to rely on each other's strength.

And what if you feel like you're all alone out there? You might be thinking that you're on the steepest hill with the fiercest headwind you've ever experienced. There will be times in our lives that we feel this way. It could be hours, months, or even years. Take it by faith that Jesus has already been there, and he can set the pace. His strength will be your strength. How do I know? Because, I've been there, too.

Follow these steps: First, read the promises in the scriptures. They will remind you of His ever present love and guidance. Second, continually pray. You may not feel up to it, or even think that He's not listening. Go for it anyway. Third, keep in mind that the past is done and your future starts now.

Here are a few scriptures to start you on your way:
Psalm 9:9
II Corinthians 4:8,9
John 14:13,14
Romans 5:9,10
Hebrews 2:17
Matthew 7:7,8,11
Revelation 3:20
John 14:16,17
Romans 8:15, 26, 27
Hebrews 11:16
Titus 1:2

Trust me, you can make it. The hill isn't always a hill, and the winds aren't always a headwind. And if you're in a group already, remember to step back and let others take their turn. In the end it makes everyone strong.

Climbing the Hawk - Be Careful What You Wish For

Saturday's ride turned out to to be a bit more than I imagined. I was hoping that one of these Saturday's the guys would want to take a long ride and include some hills. We've been doing brief stretch of short rides in order to get back in time for other weekend tasks.

But this Saturday, my wish came true. The four of us decided to climb Hawk Mtn.

It started out ok leaving from Trexlertown just across from the velodrome. The usual Saturday morning groups assembling and milling about. The weather was overcast and slightly on the balmy side of the lower 80's.

It turns out that one of our favorite roads was recently tarred and cindered. For those of you that don't have this wonderful technology of roadwork, it consists of laying down a layer of hot tar across the road surface and then dumping tons of small stone across the entire road. Yes, both lanes. So, riding for a few miles on small sharp stones makes one hope that all of the claims the tiremaker spouted were true. I use Gatorskins on the advice of my brother who knows a ton more about equipment that I can dream of. So far so good.

By the time we reach the base of the Hawk, there's a mist at the top of the mountain. Peeking above the trees, you get more of a sense of what you're about to encounter. So we climb. The eldest of our group today, Bruce, is the strongest. Even though he's 69 (yes - you read it right) he's got enough in his legs even a young 20-something would be amazed. He tells me that as we get closer to the top, it will get steeper.

Scott's another one that's got power hidden away. He's a tad bit older than I and a cancer survivor. He and Bruce take off and disappear up the road. Glen, who's older than me and Scott, takes a needed break behind a tree from all the water he's been taking in. So, he's way behind me.

Don't take me wrong, I love a good climb. I even go looking for them. But, I'm not that fast. Just keep turning them cranks, that's all I hear.

After awhile, the road definitely gets steeper. Bruce and Scott are gone out of sight, and Glen is somewhere behind me. I look ahead and all I see is more climbing (it must be two miles already!) and more trees. At this point, I think my lungs are going to jump out of my chest and quit. So, I do what I hate -- I unclip, stop, and put my foot down to get a breather. Yep, the Hawk beat me today.

Glen meanwhile spins by me (I need to get a triple crank!) and says, "almost there!" Really? I get back on the bike and slowly start climbing again. The speed picks up more since I believe Glen must be right. Sure enough, just around the bend is the top. Why did I stop!??! I was almost there! Glen teases me at the top.

"We must be pretty sad. A 69 yr old and a cancer survivor beat us up here!" he says. Thanks. Just what I need to remember since we're only half way home now.

It's the same way in life, isn't it? We think we're beat and we quit. Only to find out that we were so close the goal. They say that the best things in life are free. I say maybe, but sometimes those things taste sweeter when they're mixed in with some sweat and tears.

Your mountain may be your job, school, a test coming up, girl-friend, boy-friend, spouse, whatever. If you quit, you may be really disappointed to find out how close you really were. Sometimes I think that I if I were God, I may have given up on some things long ago. I'm glad He doesn't.

Psalm 138:8 reads, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands." (NIV)

God doesn't abandon His work. He isn't even intimidated by what many would think are unsurmountable odds. I think sometimes He even looks for them. You may think you're one of them. A time was when I thought I was impossible.

The next time we ride up the Hawk, I'm not getting off. If the guys I ride with can do it, then so can I.

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No hill so steep, no wind so cruel, as a mind set against itself.