6 Morning Rides!

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.    Psalm 133:1ASV

Rarely can a rider find a mountain bike club whose members can be called hard-workers, early-birds, and dependable friends.  Not unless it is like southern Arizona’s Dawn to Dust Mountain Bike Club was.

When spinning with Dawn to Dust, I knew could expect rides that included steep, rugged up-hills, technical downhill sections, fast cross-country segments with perfect flow, and for some of us, an added piece of hike-a-bike. Most weekday rides began at 5:30 a.m.  A fast pace was always needed, since most of us were doing pre-workday rides. Riding the trails on Ft. Huachuca and keeping the pace around broken pieces of granite, sandstone, gravel, weeds, Texas sage, yuccas, and boulders, was most times, grueling.  Regardless of what riding level I was at in my mountain biking experience, I could always see them—the faster riders, waiting at the top of the hill. It was always fun to ride up and hear jokes being told and laughed over, or stories shared along with old “war wounds” being shown off.  One thing I could count on was hearing their encouraging words, “Great job—take a breather.”

After a chuckle or two, it would be back to business; back to the ride with sparks flying, along with the rocks and clouds of dust. It’s no wonder riding with Dawn to Dust was many people’s way to begin the workday.  I never knew that one day I would be looking back; remembering awesome morning rides gone by. Morning rides were the best; they were the best for getting me started for the day, and for keeping me trained and ready for long weekend rides and future bike trips. Yes, remembering back to those morning my rides still lingers. I can close my eyes and see my tires spinning on the trail, feel my breathing, and my heart beating fast; I can still bring back the smell of morning dew on dry desert floors, and hear the quiet call of a cactus wren or mourning dove as I would ride by. To this day I still wake up at 4:30 am out of habit.

Now I realize that early morning is the best—before anyone gets up. Whether I hop on my bike and ride a trail, do devotions, or write a page for my blog, early is the key.

God, I am grateful for the friends you’ve placed in my life to keep me company, help me to grow, and to sharpen me like iron sharpens iron.  Father, cause me to show my gratitude with not only my words, but also with my actions.  Let me be the kind of friend, or ride-partner, I have so appreciated in my own life—and help me to say along with the psalmist, Early will I seek you. (Psalms 63:1)

Challenge 6: Whether you ride with a club or by yourself, think about the benefits of being there to build someone else up in the sport of mountain-biking.  Is there a person you can ride alongside to encourage, prompt, or just hang out with on the trail?  If not, take time and look around you—someone may be waiting for the kind invitation that would open a new world to them.

Have you experienced the benefit of being there for someone else during a ride, training, or just being that friend needed in the right place and the right time? Has someone been there for you? In 2024, is “early” an option for you? If so, what has your experience been like? Please leave a comment.