Most summer days I get out and ride anywhere from 12 - 20 miles along rolling, country highways. I love these rides that meander through farmland and past nearby creeks and rivers. It's relaxing and soothing, challenging and strenuous.
While it seems second nature to me now, it's been a learning process.
When I bought a bike back in 2006, the salesman asked me what I intended to do. Fitness? Distance? I didn't know. I just wanted to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Running had lost its luster. I wanted to cover more ground, see more variety when I exercised.
He asked questions meant to help me find a starting point for cycling. He realized that I might become the frequent rider that I am now, but didn't push it.
So, after starting out on a heavier, slower "hybrid" bike, I now have a lighter, faster "road bike." While I first biked only in warm/hot weather, I now have some wind resistant clothing that helps to extend my biking season by adding cold days to the mix. Insulated covers for my bike shoes stopped the 'numbing' that resulted from brisk spring or autumn winds.
A bright light on the front and red flashers on the back of the seat keep me safe when I'm returning at dusk. I've also learned the value of good maintenance, keeping tires up to pressure and the chain cleaned and lubricated. And the speedometer/odometer helps me plan my routes and manage my time. I'm surprised that some of the hardest routes and hills no longer seem so daunting, so I can ride a little farther, a little faster.
At it's core, bike riding is simple, but you can go much deeper into the experience if you want to.
At its core, Christianity is a simple - and liberating - concept of unmerited grace from a loving God, promised for eternity. You can choose a basic Bible and attend church on 1 of the available 7 days each week. But as you dig deeper into it, it becomes helpful to search for certain topics and passages with a concordance or commentary. Bible studies go that one better when you can share your questions and insights with fellow sojourners. Prayer extends your 1 day a week visit with God to every hour of every day if you'd like. And I'm constantly learning that the steepest hills of selfishness, pride and resentment are easier to conquer with God's special Believer's accessory...the Holy Spirit. (Still available for a limited time.)
You can cover equal distances with a heavy bike or a lighter bike. You can freeze in the wind, or protect yourself with effective gear. Either way you might blow a tire and have to fix it on the side of the road. But before complaining about the ride you're having, make sure you're not overlooking any of the available help, or Helpers.
What do you believe?
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