Category Archives: Ride Reports

Kick back and enjoy reading the exploits of fellow cyclists

Stephen Battles MS With His Bike

This article originally appeared in the Motlow State Community College News

Motlow Employee Participates in MS Event with More Purpose than Others

LYNCHBURG — November 8, 2011

Stephen Ray’s first day of work as a watchkeeper for Motlow College was in the fall of 2007. It happened to be the day of the ‘MS Ride to Jack and Back’ event. Ray said, “Before that day I had never heard of the bicycling event and I really did not know what ‘MS’ was.” He added, “Actually I was a little nervous about so many visitors on campus while I was supposed to be learning my new job.” Two years later he would realize the irony of his first day and he would learn firsthand about MS (multiple sclerosis).

Stephen

The next fall he and his fiancée, Rose, were planning their wedding. Stephen, who normally weighed in the 180 pound range, had been an athlete all of his life. Growing up in Manchester, he played football and baseball and had always managed to stay in shape. He began noticing his muscle tone was fading and he was losing weight. Feeling very tired, he attributed his physical changes to stress. He and Rose continued with their wedding plans. By the time they married in January of 2009, Stephen’s weight had fallen to 119 pounds. He knew something was wrong.

Continue reading →

Missing Goals (But Maybe It Is Better That Way)

At the beginning of the year, I laid out two new goals for myself.  In my first year of riding (2010), I rode 4,000 miles and did 4 century rides.  This year, I simply wanted to ride 6,000 miles and do 6 centuries.  To date, I have only 4,100 miles and it looks like the best I will do will be somewhere around 5,000. Besides that, I have only completed 2 of my 6 planned centuries. 

When I started to reflect on what has caused me to miss my goals, I soon began to realize that missing them has brought me to a closer realization of what is important in life and has helped foster stronger relationships with those I care about.  Some of my fonder memories that resulted from chasing and missing my goals include:

Helping bring a new cyclist into the sport and riding his first century with him on a cool Summer morning.  One week later, my friend and I rode alongside each other with tears in our eyes as he had just discovered the day before that he had cancer.  Continue reading →

Like a Kid Again…

It is Fall Break in our little town, this means the kiddos in our neighborhood are out and about on their bikes. I see them riding in one’s, and three’s, and five’s. What are they talking about… Where are they going…

I sit on the back porch and hear them ride through our “natural area,” a little woods beside our home. I made a path so they can ride through here without disturbing my native plants and other plants I’ve planted for my enjoyment. But I have to say, I made them a path so I could enjoy seeing and hearing these children at play too. As they talk, and laugh, as they travel through, it reminds me of simpler times when you just road your bike for the fun of it.

Twice last week, I did just that — I road by bike (mountain bike) through a few fields, just for the fun of it. I rode it off the road and off the side walk and up and over the hills and dales where I usually don’t go. It was a blast. I loved seeing all the pretty little plants and dodging the ruts and roots that nature provides. I also loved the freedom…the wind whipping about…holding on for dear life…and me and my bike just having a grand ole time.

I challenge you… This fall, ride your bike and feel like a kid again. I think you’ll like it!