The Texas Spoke continues to grow with three (3) new subscribers. I want to thank all of you for posting your outtings on the Facebook Group Page. It makes it easier for me to harvest what we are doing for Jesus all over Texas!
On the 11th September, Tammy Estes Van Horn and I rode 24 miles. Tammy has a new E-bike that will handle up to 250 miles with the spare batteries. She is determined to ride in the MS150 2025 with me and already registered!
On the 13th of September, Tammy Estes Van Horn and I met our Whitney area representative, Perry Gaudet. We had some great fellowship while we broke bread at The Great Country Café. Afterwards I gave him some ministry goodies, bottles, tracts, stickers and a copy of my first book. Perry is ready to see how God is going to make the Whitney area grow.
Monty with our Whitney representative, Perry Gaudet
Perry didn't waste any time getting the word out. On the 15th September he set up at his church to get the word out abut cycling in the community. He had two interested riders right away!
Great Job Perry!
Ya'll keep the rubber down while shining your lights!
I don't usually harvest a post from our "prospects" but Jonathan Coen posted this video on the 15th of September! It is too good not to share even if he is a "prospect" (LOL) Love ya brother and good word!
On the 19th of September, our brother in Christ and subscriber Dustin Palmer posted this…
Here I am doing the most art-tastic pose I can think of with my recently recovered road bike! I got a good kick out of the image and felt it would be a fun one to share. I also wanted to stop by here and thank Art Garcesa for alerting me to the original Facebook marketplace listing of my stolen bicycle; it ultimately led to me getting it back just a few days later.
I call this photo, “Life behind bars.” Metaphorically speaking, I bet that “name” brings me more joy (on the saddle) than it’s going to bring to the person that stole my bike 11 months ago. There are typically consequences for our actions and I hope this young man uses his time to make things right with God and to unlock the door to a better person within himself.
The whole situation reminds me of Abraham’s son, Isaac in the book of Genesis. If I recall, his wife Sarah was around 90 years old when Isaac was born. That said, I truly believe there are times when God allows situations to be considered “just” far enough out of reach by man just to prove that miracles really can happen.
Never lose your sense of faith my friends and always be ready to count your blessings. Thank you for being awesome people and I hope you all have a wonderful Friday/Weekend!! God is good… all the time.
Ps. Monty Van Horn you’re still a good kid, I don’t care what Art says about you!
Yep, Dustin nailed the Art-Tastic pose
On 21st of September from Jim Boland:
It was a two canopy kind of day especially when 95 degrees. Thank you team. We met many and shared our message of Faith!!! Thanks to Pastor Monty Van Horn and the board for the new canopy to share our message and explain Christian Cycling-Texas. Hoping to expand our membership. While many of us were riding the Cotton Patch Challenge 2024 , Coach Bonnie Boland served refreshments and shared fellowship.
It is always a blessing to be a blessing! CC-Texas now has Three (3) tents. Praise the King!!
On September 24th Jim posted this challenge: We represented well last year......Rumor is we all 3 bought bigger bikes to ride this year at Autumn in Bonham Bicycle Rally . Come see if I defend my crown...
Didn't get an update on this years race... LOL
On the 28th of September from Art:
This past Saturday - September 28th: Corinth, TX at the Rolling Into Fall Bike Ride.
We fell in love with the Rolling Into Fall Bike Ride and feel very blessed to set up our tent right at the start and finish line. We had water and Gatorade along with LiquidIV, LMNT, and Gatorade packets for riders. We would like to thank Tina, Grady, Bobby, Cara, and the rest of the volunteers for such a great ride. We will definitely be back next year and hope to contribute more to the success of this ride. The Rolling Into Fall Bike Ride benefits the Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce which is an independent non-profit organization, devoted to the growth and retention of businesses in the Lake Cities area.
On 1 October Monty started another fund raising challenge.
I'm biking 100+ miles for the American Heart Association! My intent is to ride one mile for every dollar raised up to my $250 goal. Please support me by making me ride 250 miles and help end heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association is a US-registered 501(c)(3) so give with confidence! Every penny counts. Thank you, everyone! Donate here is you like.
The Christian Cycling Texas spoke has just about every type of rider there is. Road racing, Mountain biking, recreational etc... The Van Horn's like to bikepack to local state parks. On the 3rd and 4th of October, the Van Horn’s rode to Mother Neff and spent the night. Here is a video link of the trip. I had all my camping gear plus 25 pounds of radio equipment but didn't even use it once we got there. I was just too tired to mess with it. LOL
You can click on picture to see short video of the weekend trip
Many in the cycling community look for our hospitality tent(s) when they get to an event. On some occasions they get to see two (2) tents at the same event. Below is a picture at the Autumn in Bonham ride on 5 October.
Art, Jim and Fabian
This was a pleasant surprise to see! Praise the King for his favor indeed.
Seeing that Texas is so big, some of us don't get to see each other except at events that we just both happen to be at. If you remember in last months update, I got to meet the Abilene reps Kathy and Lonnie Sutton. Well, on 12 October Jim Boland (Farmersville representative) was at the Beauty and the Beast Bicycle Tour and got to visit with the couple also.
Kathy Sutton Jim Boland and Lonnie Sutton
Jim also sent this in: Great weekend at Beauty and the Beast Bicycle Tour Road and Gravel Rides, Bullard, TX. 72 miles of road, dirt, sand and gravel. Got hang out with Coach Bonnie Boland and many friends. Coach Bonnie said I need to train harder to win some money next year.
Wait... 72 Coach Bonnie reminded me I turn 72 next month. TPW!
Jim and Coach Bonnie Boland
On the 12th of October from Monty (me):
Tammy Estes Van Horn and I got up at 0320 hours. Ethan VanHorn joined us pretty quickly also. We were on the road by 0420 hours. We arrived at Duncanville, for the Pink Diamond’s Breast Cancer Awareness Bike Ride at 0620 hours. Art Garcesa met us at the road barrier and moved it out of the way for us. After we got everything ready I was able to present Mark D Cooks with his welcome packet. Bill Cearley and Jonathan Coen (JC) stopped by for a visit pretty early. JC helped some folks nearby set up their EZ-up. Then a bit later Idelfonso Valentin Acosta Jr. and Ryan Hochdorf spent some time at the hospitality tent before the event started. I also got to see Gerald Bolin and his wife Bora Bolin at the start and finish a well as one of the rest spots. At the first rest stop I had a short visit with Thomas Goes and his family. I stopped at Art's rest stop also. Jonathan Shier arrived after I left and Tammy presented him his welcome packet. Mark and Jonathan are our latest subscribers. Praise the Lord for our growth! I got to meet Jonathan after I finished my 30 mile ride. Once Bill and I ate the complimentary BBQ we checked out the Buckle up Texas booth. They had an "obstacle" course setup to demonstrate how being distracted can cause accidents, or in this case cause you to step on sqeeky chickens! You will have to watch the videos. I killed the last chicken, I know I have anger issues. LOL. When Idelfonso and Ryan returned, they were checking out each other's bikes. They are the "Schwinn Twins". We decided to stop at Subway on the way home. Heh, I burned 2,000 calories riding okay! I rode the 30 mile route with 1,200 feet in elevation. It was a good ride. Ethan got a video of me coming across the finish line. Christian Cycling - Texas did an awesome job with supporting two rest spots and being at the start and finish line. We provided 12 gallons of ice cold water to the cold plus lots of extra LMNT, LIV and Gatorade packets. We had six people all about the organization today during the event.
Art, Billy, Emily, Ethan and Me (Monty) at start finish line setting up hospitality tent
Rest stop one manned by Thomas and his family. Art and family got a picture before heading to their stop #4
Also on 12 October from Art:
Duncanville, TX
Christian Cycling Texas and ChristianCycling.org is very blessed to be able to participate in the 4th annual Pink Diamonds Breast Cancer Awareness Ride.
This is one of Christian Cycling - Texas's home court and home turf ride. We supported the ride with 2 rest stops along the routes and also a start/finish line full rest stop. The first rest stop was supported by Thomas Goes and his family (Irving rep). Thomas and family supported the 15 and 30mile routes. The 4th rest stop was supported by Art Garcesa and his family (Little Elm / North Dallas rep). Art and family supported the 30 and 50mile routes. The start and finish line stop was supported by Tammy Estes Van Horn & Ethan Van Horn.
Our spoke director Monty Van Horn rode the 30mile route along with our members Jonathan Coen, Idelfonso Valentin Acosta Jr., Lorraine Shearer, Howard Shearer, Bill Cearley, Forrest Wonderly, Ryan Hochdorf, Arturo Landeros, Gerald Bolin, and Bora Bolin.
We would like to give special thanks to our brother Mark D Cooks and sister Karen Hodges who were the ride directors for the Pink Diamonds Breast Cancer Awareness Ride. Their hard work and dedication all througout this year paid off with the best and largest Pink Diamonds ride to date.
This ride and donations benefit the Pink Diamond Survivors of Cancer, Inc. which includes a health fair and cancer screening onsite. The health fair also drives health fair participants to offsite locations for cancer screening. Last year's health fair resulted in three cancer diagnosis.
We give all thanks and all the glory to the Lord for all the blessings of a great and successful ride
