September 25th, 2010 All for One, One for All

Saturday we made our annual fall pilgrimage to Spirit Lake, Iowa to take part in the nineteenth annual Oktoberfest Ride around the lakes of Okoboji. Our thoughts as we drove over were entangled in a web of optimism and disappointment that the rain seemed to be following us all the way with not an apparent end in site. As Bruce drove I kept very close watch on the National Weather Service Radar on my phone and kept encouraging everyone with my analysis that predicted the rain to end before our ride began at 10AM. I must say I was not winning them over very easily as the outward signs all indicated no end to the rain in sight. Well for the sake of keeping this article short I will only say move over Jay Trobec. The rain ended at about 9:45AM and we headed out on what was to be a beautiful fall ride. One thing about rides like this one that I love is the diversity of people they attract. As I was standing there straddling my bike waiting for our police escort to start the ride I could not help but look around and smile at the individuals making up the riders. Next to me was an elderly lady dressed in her sweats and in front of me a young man, obviously very athletic in his spandex shorts and riding jersey. Across the way was a family of four, mom, dad and the two children maybe 10 and 12. There were couples on tandems, mountain bikes, hybrid and the sleekest of road bikes all poised to embark on the one thing they had in common, the love of riding. It is one of the things that makes this past time so wonderful, it can be enjoyed by people of all sizes, shapes, abilities and ages. It can be enjoyed on a $50.00 Huffy to a hi-tech bike costing thousands, it really does not matter. And the one thing that binds all riders together is the ride and the support they have with each other. Just get a flat tire and see how much help you are offered. Not a bike goes by without the rider asking, “Got everything you need?” “Need some help?” “Got a pump?” everyone willing to do their part to get you back on the road. How comforting to know you are in such capable hands if you need them. If only the whole world could learn from this. It is one of the great benefits of riding in these organized rides, meeting new people and making new friends, riding along enjoying the fall colors and the feel of fall in the air. Riding along and coming across a cluster of wild turkeys and a bit farther down the trail a couple of deer. Stopping to watch the deer as they stand ridged starring at you trying to decide if you are a threat or not, exchanging eye contact until they wonder away looking for another place to graze. It is nice to know I will have another small brief connection with nature and its amazing beauty to be stored in the back of my mind to be pulled out some long cold winter night when I begin to become impatient for spring and hitting the trails again. Yes the end for this year is in sight and our return to the gym is at hand. It is time for us to pack away our summer riding gear and exchange it for our thermals and stocking caps, finding some peace in the knowledge that it will soon be time to start planning our rides for next year. Hey, hold on a minute. Sorry I drifted off into my self pity there for a moment. We are not done. We have lots of rides left this year. We will have nice weather. We will be riding for another two months. We will have time for making more memories on the trail. There I feel better now.