Back in the Saddle

Two statements I never expected to hear together, “I’m scared, you have to remember that I can’t even walk well yet.” Followed moments later by, “I love this bike, how do you make it go faster?”

Biking was once a regular outing for Erica and me. Aggressive, single track mountain biking in our younger days and occasional trail riding more recently. So you can imagine how devastating loss of balance and strength must be for Erica. Biking requires both, right? Turns out, not really. After a bit of research, I found that three wheel electric-powered bikes (E-Trikes) are increasing in popularity. With hope of giving one a try and no guarantees, we drove to a local bike shop. When I explained Erica’s condition and asked if they had an e-trike to rent, the shop owner gave me a curious smile and explained that that they do not carry them but happened to have one in the back that a woman had just traded in. Serendipitous!

The shop owner, clearly passionate about the physical and mental benefits of biking, took immediate interest in our mission. He dropped what he was doing to prepare the trike for a ride. With extreme caution, Erica stepped over the bike and put a foot on the peddle. She was fearfully determined.

After riding a bike for nearly 50 years, it was hard for her to believe that the bike would not topple over. Just sitting on a bike when you have balance issues is brave. Learning new skills such as coordinated throttling and breaking when you are just relearning daily skills such as applying makeup and brushing teeth must be overwhelming. After a tentative lap around the parking lot, cheered on by the shop owner, we set off. With the bike on the slowest speed, I walked alongside. Erica, white-knuckled, stressed and threatening to turn around, stumbled and persisted for the first 20 minutes, about a half mile.

After a short break on a shaded bench, we headed back to the bike shop. This is when my walking became a jog and then a run to keep up. This is when I heard the words, “I love this bike, how do you make it go faster?”

I think of a favorite phrase of our former paster and Pittsburgh Steelers Chaplain, Kent Chevelier, “Do It Afraid.” Erica and I are both living this out in different ways. We are daily stepping out as fear fights our faith. Sometimes freaking out, sometimes dealing with setbacks, but faithfully striving to get back in the saddle.