| What Season is it Anyway? |
| Written by JB |
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Let's see... I'm not sure if I call this "end of the season", "fun season", "winter
training", or "start of next season". Sports are defined by their season and cycling is no
different. But is it?
My calendar year started with winter snow rides on plowed LRT trails from the Hopkins Depot
with my cycling friends (at least the ones also crazy enough to be out there in full snow
gear) - it's winter "fun" season.
January also means I get to start riding my indoor trainer and actually concentrate on
technical aspects of my bike to train my body to know what different conditions feel like -
it's the "next" season.
Mid-March brings the beginning of being able to start getting some "real" miles in and feel
the joy of being set free from my basement- it's road season.
Mid-April starts racing - it's road race season!
June brings a slew of Time Trials - it's TT season!
May brings regular club rides - it's club season!
September ends road racing, and I dust off my mountain bike for lunch rides at Murphy H. -
it's off-road season!
The end of the year brings back the snowy trails, fun rides, and maybe even a beer with
friends afterwards - it's winter season! (hey wait, how much winter do we have here,
anyway?)
So each year brings a wide range of clothing, bikes, events, and riding/training styles.
Each type of cycling may have a limited timeframe, but there is one overarching theme
present in all of my cycling that transcends "season". Every time I get on my bike I can be
recognized in a bright orange racing stripe jersey. I only have one jersey I wear (ok,
several so a clean one is always ready, but they all look the same). "Proud" is not the
proper description. Neither is "honored", "happy", or even "called". Really, it's an
extension of who I am. I am a creation in God's image that is called to bring my
relationship with Him into everything I am. While a jersey or club is only a superficial
external representation of a stereotyped group, every time I ride the reminder of being
connected to God rides with me. The reminder of our fellowship, our love, and the
saturation of God's image in all I am is worn on my sleeve (and back, front, sides, legs,
socks...) and I position myself in the trials of outward recognition of being a child of
God, and his calling to share that love with everyone I can.
Every day brings new situations, interactions, and choices. Winter fun, "next", road,
race, TT, club, and off-road. They all are one season - ministry season!
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