YES, the season has officially started with the 14th annual Bandit/Deadhead Marathon ride, which takes off a little early and typically is a little chilly. Prez. Hale and Mr. MBA were the only non-bandit riders and Mr. MBA missed the ride all together, not reading the date when he registered. A little trip to China was not worth canceling. (Go Figure) A fairly new PCR wanted to join the team, but as you will read/see he missed his T-Time. BIG MAN was feeling pretty good as he got to do a little singing before the ride even started and was hoping to post a PR. little Indian got lost a couple of times, but the OLDER tribe members waited to make sure he made it to the finish line.
BIG MAN started his sprint to the finish line at mile 26, with 0.2 left thinking he might have a chance. However, Prez. Hale had a different thought. As the two of them continued to increase their speed, reaching the narrowing finishing line with barricades on both sides, Prez. Hale thought a little right shoulder nudge make help. BIG MAN's quick balancing act of avoiding going down proved to be too much for the now 60 YEARS OLD!
As always, one of the BEST part's of the ride was the chatter and Prez. Hale introducing the group to a Kouign-amann (pronounced <kwin'aman>) a Breton cake. It is a round crusty cake, originally made with bread dough, containing layers of butter and sugar folded in....... TO DIE FOR! YIPPY SKIPPY
"Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal and new life"
- Janine di Giovanni
This week's ride on Easter weekend was full of hope, great vistas, lively chatter and a renewal to get into better shape. A plan was set in place to depart a little later this Saturday in HOPE of luring a few PCRs we haven't seen for a while, but that didn't work and leaving later, ALSO didn't work. BIG MAN sent the email out on Wednesday for all to read and put in their calendars and by late Friday night, the "pirate" of the group had changed the plan. One of the riders even went as far as saying, "I'm going to leave earlier, because I know I can't stay up with the group" (Second violation of PCR by-laws)
So what are you HOPING for this season? Here are a few to consider:
To NOT bonk
To keep the 2 lives left of 9, unused
To be KOM for one ride
To ride with little man & Dr. J.
To ride with Mr. T and not just have him show up on the downhill
To ride in warmer weather
To NOT have a flat tire all year
To have someone stick around when you do have a flat tire
To avoid leg cramps because you're not drinking
To avoid weekly visits to the bike repair shop, knowing everyone now greets you by first name
To see more cows
To not tell certain people when you ride across state lines
To tell more stories and actually have riders listen and not just pretend they are listening
To see Sexy Legs again
To ride with Dr. O
To ride and play golf in the same day with SMOOTH and EASY
To sing more while riding
To ride more with your wife
To ride your first century
To ride 206 miles, 3 states, in 1 day!
What ever your dreams and hopes are may you continue to stay healthy, happy and safe. Riding is not about how fast, how far, how steep. However, it is about the memories, friendships, food, vistas, conversations and anticipation for being in the outdoors and LIVING!
The TATS this week was given by Mr. T, who had the PCRs raise their water bottles and toast, Mark A McLaughlin, who passed away this week, at a young age of 42. Our LOVE and SYMPATHY goes out to the Romney family.
On this Easter weekend let us all pause and give thanks and have more hope!
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.... For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive"
Yesterday's ride with the PCRs was met with great anticipation as BIG MAN spent a lot of his energy, early, to make sure the team made it to the train station on time to ride the 7:11AM to Orem, UT. (In a previous year, they did miss the train due to a flat) Once in the train, Prez. Hale lead the group to the car designed for bikers. (It's much earlier riding your bike to the bike-car "outside" the train) BIG MAN did it.... and now the question was can the team do the route planned without any problems/delays... NOT!
The FIRST little error was the excitement BIG MAN had as he lead the team off the train one stop early and realized, this is American Fork, not OREM....... GET BACK ON THE TRAIN! The SECOND, delay was when Pastor Dunn said he needed to check the landscape for Lions and Zeb Ras and took a little detour to a vacant construction site. (Growing old is not for wimps and bladders) As the PCRs started their ride towards Provo canyon, the sun shone bright and YES, BIG MAN couldn't resist in leading the group in a couple rousing verses of, "OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING" The snow capped mountains, as you will see, were breathtaking.
The team rode up the Provo Canyon trail to Vivian Park and took a right turn and went to the top of South Fork Canyon where they were all inspired by the TATS from Prez. Hale, who by the way was riding on a couple of hours of sleep coming back from Italy. (Now, that's a whole different story for another ride) Prez. Hale shared a moment at a recent retirement ceremony for one of his partners, who was "adamant" about, not only telling the truth, but LIVING THE TRUTH and by memory, as he always does, quoted the following from Lt. Colonel Frank Slade:
"There was a time I could see. And I have seen. Boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are.... executin' his soul."
Now, if that doesn't get you pumped to make a quick descent, I don't know what does. Three of team got to the bottom on South Fork Canyon and turned around to see where Prez Hale and Pastor Dunn were and waiting, and waiting, and waiting... Number, THREE delay, Hale flats on the descent, As the PCRs exited the canyon and refueled at the gas station with water and "nut rolls", Pastor Dunn was starting to feel his oats and when introduced to the Murdock Canal Trail for his first time, he picked up the pace to see what these boys were made of. A 25 mph pace started to wear on the BIG MAN and so he dropped back to hear the highs of Prez. Hale's trip to Italy.
The team made its way to Alpine, and again the snow capped mountains caused BIG MAN to break out in song, "THE HILLS ARE ALIVE". When they arrived at the base of SunCrest, Pastor Dunn, graciously said that if he gets to the top before the rest of us, (that's a given) he might continue on. BIG MAN's ride was going a little longer than originally advertised. The climb took it toll on BIG MAN and after stopping a couple times to get his bearings, he stumbled into the Suncrest Summit Cafe, where he was rescued. Can you say, BONK! Number, FOUR! After a water bottle of Cytomax, Cliff Bar, Snicker Bar, Tiger Bar, the BIG MAN felt like he might make it home,
Remember, It's not how FAST you START, but how STRONG you FINISH!
YIPPY SKIPPY
We Made It!
Here Comes The Sun
little Indian, thanks for STOPPING so BIG MAN could take a picture, he's DYING
In many cultures/clubs their is an initiation required to become fully vested. Initiation is a rite of passage marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components. In an extended sense it can also signify a transformation in which the initiate is "reborn" into a new role. A spiritual initiation rite normally implies a shepherding process where those who are at a higher level guide the initiate through a process of greater exposure of knowledge.
Many of you that ride with the PCRs have experienced one initiation ritual, "THE HEAD DUNK", but not all have earned their feathers by "mapping and leading" a Saturday ride. BIG MAN thought it was time for "little Indian" Hicks to do this. Last week he extended the challenge for yesterday's ride and little Indian, YES, pulled it off. He was very nervous during the week as he contacted BIG MAN several times to get his input, but finally after wise words from BIG MAN, "choose and lead", little Indian was inspired with a ride for the history books (blog).
The weather was perfect, the traffic was not, the vistas were often and the distance just the right amount of miles. Congratulations to little Indian in becoming fully vested in the forever growing PCRs
Yesterday's ride was one met with great anticipation as Prez. Hale took charge. When asked earlier in the week what the route was going to be, he said, "Show up, Shut up and Follow!", which for some is almost impossible to do. "It's a SURPRISE and will be FUN" As you will see, it was not only a Surprise, but Spiritual and YES, always FUN!
The quote of the day came from the youngster of the group, Brian Queen Wrap, "I knew I was a few years younger, but I realized how young when I was the ONLY ONE embarrassed as we all sang in Starbucks to the direction of Prez. Hale. These geezers will do anything for attention."
A couple of U-Turns, flat tires, inspiring TATS and rousing verses of Oh, What A Beautiful Morning, made for another epic Saturday morning ride.
TATS:
"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that creates the weather. I possess tremendous power to make a life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be.... we help them become what they are capable of becoming." - Goethe -
YIPPY SKIPPY!
Strong leadership is needed on all PCR rides
Best Hair
Best Car
Best Animals
Young Man, I'd help, but you don't learn unless you do
Yesterday's ride was a tell-tale to see how bad the winter months have taken their toll. For a few, it reminded them it's early in the season. For last's year's KOM, he still has hope he can repeat even though the entire group is trying to bring him down and there are still some that think a new bike is the answer.
Mr. MBA wanted to test everyone's legs and took them to 7 To Heaven At 7. As you will see from the pictures, the PCRs are still enjoying the beautiful snow capped mountains and it's going to be a while until they summit Big Mountain. However, getting outside, hearing lively chatter among the riders and feeling a stiff head-wind as they descended Emigration canyon was all worth it.
On this President's Day, the history textbook picture of Washington crossing the Delaware easily comes to mind.
But how about these other pictures???
It was Christmas Night, 1776. The great Revolutionary War was considered to be nearly to an end and all but lost. The British Redcoats, trained, warmly clothed and large in number, had been deemed undefeatable. The American Patriots, on the other hand, were a sad lot of untrained farm boys and young men in rags led by military leaders, many not much older or more experienced than the soldiers they led. (Often forgotten is the fact that George Washington himself was only 43 and though he’d served as a noted soldier, was not a man trained in military warfare.) Though all were passionate about their infant nation and their cause, they were sick, freezing, under-clothed and demoralized. Historically speaking, The Battle of Trenton that turned the war was a last-ditch, fool-hardy effort to save face and win the glorious cause of freedom. The dangerous crossing of the river on a late December night in freezing, stormy conditions was followed by a march of nine miles through the night. Says McCullough:
A northeaster was blowing, but was beneficial to our cause because it muffled the noise of the crossing and the noise of the march south. But it also increased by geometric proportions the misery of the troops. It was very cold. What the wind chill factor must have been can only be imagined. It was so cold that two men froze to death on the march because they had no winter clothing.”
All odds were entirely against them in the battle that took place the next morning, but they won. It brought renewed confidence and determination, and they went on to win another battle in the next few days, and soon the war itself.
David McCullough eloquently states: “Character counts over and over. Personality is often the determining factor in why things turn out the way they do.” How easy it is to forget these many years later, that it was faith in God, gut-wrenching determination and sheer white-knuckled grit dredged from the bottom of their exhausted souls when things were at their worst that won the war!
With equal drama, high stakes and considered by many to also be doomed to failure, was Abraham Lincoln’s great battle in convincing Congress that the soon to be freed slaves should have full rights as citizens. His personal commitment that this be a Constitutional right (as the 13th Amendment to the Constitution) before the Civil War ended was a battle that was also nearly lost, and won only at the very end through his personal, relentless perseverance and dependence on God. The award winning movie that tells the story leaves one in awe of his power and vision.
How grand are the pages of ultimate victory! How desperate are the days and years of tears, sacrifice, humiliation, heartbreaking failure and crippling hardship that precede them.
It’s strange, isn’t it, how the Lord’s greatest blessings for individuals, families, communities and nations come only as a result of conquering and persevering through the longest of nights and darkest of days. It was true for Washington and Lincoln. It was true for Moses and Paul. It was true for Nephi and Alma. It was true for Joseph Smith and the pioneers.
Will it be true of us? What, indeed, will be said of us when we, the Lord, our families and history look back upon our own lives and how we’ve fought our own life-altering battles?
The season is here, the snow is melting and the temperatures rising. Some PCRs even bought new kits, gloves and booties to stay in shape. Did it work?
