Make no mistake about it, I did for years, but now I avoid group rides,
which I refer to as crowd rides. Over the years, I have been on many from coast
to coast, town to town, and even just across town for dinner. And certain
things have always stood out. Their idea of safety was riding slow, and a good
ride was when all made it home. Not a bad thing, but being limited to 50 mph on
an 80 mph stretch of road because one girl’s Sportster vibrates above 50, first
time her fault, no second time to be mine. Courtesy means waiting the extra 35
minutes to leave because Mrs. Hairdo has to do her hair. The same hair that
will be under a helmet all day. She also is the last one to be ready at fuel
stops, spending more time in the ladies room than her husband filling his tank.
And he is no better, after being told to arrive with a full tank of gas, he
doesn’t and we all have to stop early. Which takes 45 minutes, a non-necessary
stop when we could be riding. So two things become evident, you only go as far
as the smallest tank, and only ride as fast as the slowest rider. At least they
are consistent. And all this is after having a rider’s meeting first, which
they miss because they are late. I have spent days where I spent more time
waiting than riding. And I have found that nothing impresses others in cars
than taking up a lane at 55mph on the freeway. Even more embarrassing was a
ride over the Ortega, where sometimes I drop to 60, and even with traffic takes
30-40 minutes, and one time turned into a two hour affair. Seems the Gold Wing
rider leading couldn’t hear his music above 50, nothing like being passed by
other riders who shake their head at you. Funny how these same riders talk
about the freedom they enjoy while hindering others. So over the years, I have
only found few that I will ride with. We don’t wait for each other, we know our
destination, and when one hits the curves faster, will make it up later in the
straights. No talk of too fast or too slow, we have learned and tell others
“ride your own ride,” which often falls on deaf ears. So for me a group ride is
me and Theresa. And we enjoy the ride....
But one group ride stands out as different. My first Torches
Across America in 2005 had a group of 28 of us riding from Oceanside to Ground
Zero in New York City. With a destination every night, we knew where we would
be, and a time to be there by for the ceremonies. We were on our Triumph Sprint
ST, and rode with Gold Wings, various Harleys, cruisers, and bikes of all
sizes. But we had two brothers, Don and Link, who took charge, on their Gold
Wings, and we had a great ride. Very few problems, and we had fun. I would
ride anywhere with these two, despite the fact Don was pulling a trailer and
leading. We met every night, discussed the route, figured a speed based on it,
and planned stops by the one with the smallest tank. We rode 75 on 65 mph
freeways, and I led on back roads. No complaint of too fast or too slow, we all
knew what to expect, and we all got along. We communicated with each other, and
enjoyed the ride. There were times when I went faster, and Don would keep up,
and times we slowed down, and I would keep up. Our group within the group
started small, we never lost one, and others joined us after hearing of how much
fun we had. They fought and argued, took too long to fill up, and always
arrived late. We arrived refreshed, early, and were able to set up before they
got there and started complaining. And we couldn’t wait until the next day!
And one thing became our standard each morning, we gathered to pray before we
left. And when we would forget, it was always one of the harder ones who
reminded us. The prayer time, short as it was, brought us together. We learned
to ride together, eat together, and pray together in a diverse group where maybe
only a few were Christians. We were learning about riding in a group of one,
where God was the one, and we were just along for the ride. How do you start
your ride? It has a direct impact on how you may finish it.
But perhaps the highlight of the ride, was the last 80 miles
riding into Ground Zero with 3200 other bikes. And we were chosen to ride up
front, we had come the farthest. And the ride went off without hitch, except
for one wrong turn, and we had to wait 45 minutes for the Holland Tunnel to
close so we could ride through together. But we all made it, and had grown
closer. We had formed a trust, a bond with each other, and when entering a
restaurant, when the first wve hit the head, the others knew what to order us to
drink. We had become familiar with each other, came to know and respect each
other, and we had become one from many. Prayer will do that to. Pastor Chuck
used to say “you can’t trust someone you don’t know, so get to know God.”
Spending time with him, getting to know him, you come to know what to expect,
and you find yourself wanting to please him. You may alter your speed, or even
the road you are on, because you know he directs your path, and you want to
follow it. Taking roads you might have missed otherwise, eating meals that
others miss because they are afraid to try something different, and never
getting to enjoy the company of being with God. Riding in a group of one-just
you and God, no matter how many are in the group. It is that personal. And
prayer will take you there, and keep you there. It can be done publicly, like
we did every morning, or silently like when riding. Prayer very simply is
communicating with God, talking and listening, just like any conversation. And
the special ones are when we listen more than talk, for Jesus knows what we
need, we just don’t know his answer. And so listening to and for God to answer
is an overlooked, but most important part of prayer. And as you get to know God
better, you know his voice, you trust his judgment, and enjoy the ride of life
more. Sometimes you go faster than the road calls for, sometimes slower, but we
find ourselves not hurrying, just as Jesus never hurried, and was never late.
He is the ultimate road captain, where is he on your ride?
It is not too late to change the road you’re on, Jesus is right
there with you. Dead end, he knows the way out. Lost, he is the way.
Confused, he takes the time to comfort you. Burdened, he’ll carry you through.
And like all long distance riders know, consistency is the key, and we know we
can depend on him, for he never changes. We know what to expect...and then he
surprises us with even more. But it all comes down to prayer!
Have you been listening? God has been, and has the answer you
are looking for. Take some time, now is OK, and be quiet, listen for God. Quit
talking, riding is a great place to do this, and hear as God comforts you and
gives you a peace you never knew existed. A relationship forms based on trust,
and you see love as more than an emotion, but as a person, Jesus Christ. We can
control our tongue, but not our ears. Can you hear me now? The ride you are on
will be ample proof of how well you listen. And we are watching and listening
too....take that ride alone in that group of Jesus today. No one knows more
about the freedom of the open road like Jesus, let him show you today. Where
you ride in the group is up to you. Stop dreaming, start riding today. In
Christ. Start music, God bless the USA by Lee Greenwood.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com