-Morning rider's meeting-
When we selected the Bux/Mont Rattlesnake Run for the October CSBA ride this year, we were hoping that it might turn out to be a scenic “fall foliage” ride. It was also equally possible that it could have turned into a “wet leaves” ride, which would have been a bit dangerous on many of the roads on the route.
As it turned out, the warm and rainy September meant that the only significant foliage color was still green and, thankfully, not many leaves had fallen to cover the roads. However, just like nearly every other weekend this year, the roads were wet to start the morning. A heavy mist – that wasn’t even forecast! – covered the entire first half of the morning route, slowing the pace considerably, and reducing visibility for what should have been a scenic ride.
Promptly at 9:15, CSBA President Mark Hamm gathered us for our pre-ride meeting and gave us our ride instructions for the day. These included the Safety Tip of the Day: animal carcasses. For whatever reason, small animal roadkill has been everywhere in the area, and the nature of the roads on this route made it a genuine cause for care while riding.
We began the ride with about 18 riders, split equally into 2 groups. This route is the most technical and “back road” ride of the year. With almost no time spent on state highways and lots and lots of turns and intersections, there are not many opportunities for big speed differences between the groups. The Chase group, though, did have a few riders with less experience – especially on wet roads – so we took a more careful approach to all the twists and turns than we otherwise might have, in order to ensure that we all stayed together and arrived safely at the lunch stop.
After about the midway point of the morning, the mist finally went away and the roads were mostly dry, so we were able to pick up the pace a little bit and enjoy the route a little more.
-Photo of some of the bikes at lunch-
CSBA President Mark Hamm provided the following summary of the day:
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
We can see that this young ruler lived a superior spiritual life, he had kept ALL of the commandments since he was a youth. And yet, Jesus sees what he lacks, a good offense. You see this man played defense his whole life, he never let evil advance in his life, he withheld his urges, he kept from wrong; but he never advanced the Kingdom of God. He never reached out to help the poor, the orphaned, the widows or the aliens in the land. He only played defense. So Jesus challenges him, give up all and follow Me, but the young man could not. In the same way, Jesus calls us to not only turn from sin and follow His commands but also and even more so, go out and make disciples. Reach out and help the poor, the orphaned, the widows, the aliens in the land. Those that are helpless are people that God has near to His heart. The ones He calls the "least of these" are the ones we are called to minister (Matthew 25). Our life needs balance both offense and defense to follow God with all of our heart. It's worth the effort, let's go for it!
We finished 75% of the afternoon ride but I had to leave early to get home in time for a commitment. One small item of "business" that we do need to address: "fueling and emptying". When you come to a ride for the CSBA, arrive with your tank full. There are fuel stations on either side of RT 100 near the Starlight Diner, don't wait until after breakfast, fuel up before you arrive. Also, empty your "tank" at the diner in the morning and each time we stop for food. In the afternoon we had three different riders needed to use the bushes to relieve themselves. Remember start the ride, fill your bike's tank, empty your tank; 'nuff said. Thanks to all who came, I hope we have good weather for November's ride. I can't wait to do this again
