Maiden Voyage.

A ship on its first voyage to sea.

A first cross country motorcycle ride with a group. Or maybe the first time solo on a motorcycle.

Mine? Yesterday was my maiden voyage on my bicycle. You may say, “Wait a second. You go by the moniker of Cycleguy. How can it be? Last November 11th, I had my right knee replaced. Due to my bowed legs (the right one made worse by putting off the surgery…Doctor’s orders) the doctor had to do more work than just replace my knee. He shaved some of my shin bone, moved around some ligaments and tendons and voila! My leg is straighter than it has ever been…maybe since birth. I broke my ankle once playing high school basketball and the doctor told me that if my parents had had money, they could have fixed my legs. Well…they didn’t so I didn’t. 🙂 I was okay with that since I knew love was not based on what my legs looked like. I was always just a bit put-out that my pants never fit right.

Long story short: after 10 years of shots (3 steroid and 1 hyaluronic acid one) the doctor and I agreed it was time (Age 72). So the dirty deed was done and he told Tami I would feel absolutely fantastic in 6 months. I am pain free for the first time in I don’t know how long.  But getting out on the road has been a little more of an ordeal. First the strength in the leg. Then the heat and humidity. Then Jo’s fear of me riding on the road (I was hit once by a hit-n-run driver). But the time had come to ride. I rode a little over 10 miles with a stiff wind coming out of the north for the last 3-4 miles.  I rode just the right amount. More than that…I can’t even begin to tell you how good it felt to get out, feel the breeze in my face and going through my helmet, the burn in my legs (and yes they did), and the sense of A-a-a-a-h-h-h-h when I was done. Oh yeah..and the smile on my face when I got back to the office and the secretary asked how it went. 

I’m not a hiker. I’m not a trail rider. I’m not a mountain biker. I’m not a runner. But I do what I love to do when I ride. I like to echo Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire) when he says, “God made me fast and when I run I feel His pleasure.” I don’t ride fast anymore but when I’m out there I feel His pleasure. 

I think I will do it again. Soon. But not as soon as I like.  🙂

Note: I will be attending a conference today and tomorrow with some men from the church. I relish your comments and will get to them as soon as I can.