Drafting Jesus

Had to tighten my bike helmet's chinstrap before last weekend's ride, so one of two things is happening: either I'm using less hair gel, highly unlikely, or one of my chins has gone missing.  Pretty sure it's the latter.

Saturday's ride was designed with one thought in mind: Day 1 of riding in Burundi.  Simon told us it was a flat 122 kilometers (75 miles) riding south along Lake Tanganyika, so I was looking to do a similar ride sans Burundi's heat and humidity.  Rides like that mean one thing: Eastward on Altamont Pass Road.  This is the same road my riding buddy took a fall on and broke his collar bone and it's the same road that's flanked by windmills and the wind typically blows east.  BTW my riding buddy is on the mend and hopes to join me on some rides before I depart for Burundi, which, is less than six weeks away!  Looking forward to having him back and healthy!!

So I'm cruising on Altamont Pass Road, feeling no wind, and that means only one thing.  The wind is at my back.  I started looking for clues to back up my hypothesis.  Clue 1: rounding a corner the first set of windmills came into view and all of them were facing me, pointed into the wind, and they were cranked up.  Clue 2:  the cyclists coming toward me were riding in tight single file lines, a technique called drafting, where the lead rider takes the brunt of the wind which lightens the burden for the riders that follow.  It really works and let me tell you when you've done your pull at the front and drop to the back of the line you take a huge inhale and can pedal easier because the other riders are literally pulling you along.  Clue 3:  about half way to the turnaround point, the Mountain House Bar, an approaching cyclist yells out these words of encouragement, "I hope you're not coming back this way".  My thought, I might as well enjoy these last few miles because I was, indeed, ‘coming back this way’.

After a few minutes of rest in the Mountain House Bar parking lot, pictured here, it was time to head back on Altamont Pass Road and find out just how bad this headwind really is.  Having never been inside the Mountain House Bar I'm not sure of the clientele, but I can tell you I was there one Saturday morning on a ride and the Hells Angels were there preparing for an event.  Also there, across the parking lot, bail bondsman trucks.  Hmmm, what might that mean?

Leaving the parking lot, one thing was clear, the wind was an issue, a big issue, and I was riding alone with no one to draft.  Turning around and leaving the parking lot is like flipping a switch on the wind machine.  Amazing!  As I started out I could hear the cyclist’s words in my head, "I hope you're not coming back this way, way, way....".  Well I am, am, am because it is the only way back and I want to get back, so I make myself as small as possible, find a comfortable gear, and start grinding.

This is a six mile stretch with an elevation gain of about 500 feet.  Nothing big but the incline seems magnified because of the wind.  I start thinking about the parallels between life and riding a bicycle.  On my way out to the Mountain House Bar, wind at my back, life was great!  When the wind is at your back in life, enjoy the ride.  Be thankful for who you are, how you were created with unique gifts and talents that benefit you and those around you, should you choose to use your gifts to their fullest potential.

When riding into a headwind I want a riding partner whom I can draft.  It doesn't make the wind go away, it just lightens the burden.  As a Christian, I have a riding partner, more of an advocate I'd say, in the person of Jesus.  He's there whether the wind is at my back or I'm facing one of life's headwinds.  I can choose to go it alone when life is challenging or I can listen to Jesus when the wind is whipping and he says something like, "Dave, why don't you let me pull out in front of you, let me lead, and you draft me?  I know the best path for your life.  Will you follow me?". Always the gentleman, He always asks, never demands.

When I accept His offer and tuck in behind him, the wind doesn't necessarily die down but my burden is always lifted as Jesus is there for me, cutting though the wind.  Like riding outside, I physically take a deep breath of relief when I choose to draft Jesus.  I wish I could state that I follow Jesus 100% of the time, always following His path for my life, but that would not be a true statement.  The good news, whether I follow his path or not, is He loves me just the same.  It's the unconditional love He has for me I spoke of in an earlier post.

His unconditional love is what gives me hope when I choose a path that is not consistent with his plan.  And hope is a good thing.  Sometimes it’s the best of things.  When I don't follow Him he waits.  When I fall, he picks me up, dusts me off, and generally asks something like, "Did you learn anything?".  And then I feel His loving hug.

Won't go any deeper than that but to say Jesus is available to you too regardless of the path you've been on.  Maybe it's time to draft Jesus and let him lead.  I know He loves you unconditionally and wants you to give your burdens over to him.  I pray for you all that time to make a decision like that.

Back to the ride….So I survived the wind tunnel known as Altamont Pass Road and by the time I got home I ended up doing 77 miles!  A good day indeed!

Went out Sunday morning with the intent of climbing to Diablo’s summit.  The only other time I rode Diablo on Easter Sunday was about 10 years ago and when I made it to the summit I was alone.  I’m looking north when I turned around and there is a guy there standing outside his beat up old car.  I did not hear him pull up and my first thought was, “I’m a dead man”.  He was looking out over the valley and said, “This is my church”.  My next thought, “Okay this guy is either an angel or I’m a dead man”.  He walked over to me, handed me a tulip and said, “Pray for someone”.  I turned around and the guy was gone.  I know, strange, but if you want strange, sometime I’ll tell you about the wild stuff I’ve seen in Africa.

So I’m standing on Diablo’s summit with my bicycle, tulip in hand.  I wrap the stem around my brake cables and head home where I put the flower in a vase.  It lasted 3 weeks and was perfect the entire time.  I have no idea who that guy was and I wish I could tell you what it means but I haven’t a clue.  Maybe I need Joseph from the Old Testament to come back and interpret for me.

Riding this past Easter morning I had no such experience but I did learn my thighs aren’t ready for 77 miles one day and the Diablo Summit the next but I did make it to the Junction without stopping which is an improvement over last week so I’m calling it a victory.  Also, yesterday marked day 5 in a row of some sort of cycling.  Three days indoors and two outdoors.  I’ve never done that before so I’m pretty pleased overall.

Also pleasing was yesterday’s weigh-in. Happy to report I dropped 4 pounds last week bringing my total to 92.  Just 8 from the big enchilada!!

Why do I keep referencing food?  Oy vey!

Thanks for your continued interest and have a great week!