35 Broken Bikes and Other Mishaps: Riding, Racing, and Mountain Biking: Part 1

And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19 NLT

So what does riding, racing and mountain biking have anything to do with broken bikes and other mishaps? A lot. If you mountain bike at all, you definitely know what it’s like to have chains break, tires blow out, rims tacoed, and bike parts fly apart. These are all part of the story.

Have you ever had a bike break while you’re not even riding?  That is what this part of my story is about. 

I was about to take a summer trip to Moab Utah, my first as a matter of fact, and I decided to purchase my first full-suspension mountain bike. I remember hearing about GTs I Drive with the “special new drive train” on the market and that was my choice. It fit the price range and it looked capable of handling the riding I’d be doing in Moab.  It was silver and I was super happy with it. I used it for racing and my trip to Moab. 

…Then one fateful day, when I was headed out to do a trail ride, I rode out of my driveway and peddled for a few feet. I realized I had forgotten something. I turned my bike around, dropped it in the driveway (where my husband was washing his truck), and ran into the house not wanting to waste another minute off of the trail. When I ran out of the house my husband was looking down with an apologetic, astounded look. Yes, he had moved the truck not knowing I had laid my bike there, and I, not knowing he would be moving the truck just moments after I had run into the house, looked down to see my mountain bike crushed! Bummer! Oh it was as if my dreams were shattered (a bit dramatic, I know). 

The seat mast/rear triangle was split. The seat bent one way and the frame another. Not only did I have to cancel my ride, but also so many future rides. What would I do about my racing season which had already started? It wasn’t like I had a pile of bones to drop down on a new bike. It was hard not to continue the coming days without frustration filling my mind every time I thought about the bike. Yes, I felt helpless—little did I know that a short week later a friend of mine, who was taking a welding class asked his professor if there was anything they could do to help. “Yes, there was.”  The second week after, my bike was welded back together and I was able to race again. 

What a blessing!

I am never truly ready for the blessings in store for me. I tend to feel disappointment, fall into frustration, and dwell on the brokenness. I am sorry for the times I forget how good God is and that His goodness is not dependent on my circumstances, my challenges, or my “picture” of how things should be (or shouldn’t be). LORD, I turn my face toward your goodness, and thank you for who You are; your goodness, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness.

Challenge 35: Counting blessings doesn’t always come easy. My coffee cup this morning has these words printed on it: “In the difficult moments THANK GOD.” It sometimes feels like a slap in the face to read words like these, but can we face the challenge? Let’s try together.