Here is an article sent in from Eddie Anderson, one of our members in the Dallas area. The picture was taken at the end of the Labor Day Coffee Ride at Cadence Cyclery in McKinney and includes about half of the group.
Eddie has met most of these people through the group rides sponsored by Cadence and is a regular with the shop's Saturday morning group rides. They have a "B" pace called the Half-Caf that averages 17.5-19 mph for 50 miles and another called the Decaf the averages 16-17.5 for similar or slightly shorter distance. (There's also an "A" ride but it's way too fast for me. This one is for the competitive riders and includes race tactics.) These rides will normally have anywhere from 10-20 in each group on any given Saturday. Monday evening rides usually have a few more because they are combined groups.
A couple of the Saturday regulars (not shown) attend church with Eddie at 1st McKinney and several other guys and gals who ride regularly with the group attend different local churches. The guy standing on the far left next to Eddie (Eddie is in the yellow jersey 2nd from the left) is the Half-Caf ride leader and a fellow believer in Christ. On the opposite end of the photo in the red/orange jersey is Ryan, pastor of City Church in Melissa. Eddie and Ryan are personal friends and have been riding together for many years. There are several other Christian guys and gals in the group.
Eddie stated that over time the number of Christian cyclists who support the local bike shop and their group rides has grown. It is common to hear and particiapte in casual, but often intentional, discussions about spiritual things while on the bikes.
Eddie is planting seeds in the ears of many of the riders, especially those who help lead the rides and those who have influence, like pastor Ryan, about a "Bike and Bible" ride that could be a bi-monthly or quarterly event. It would include a bike ride of course, and some kind of Bible lesson/devotion either at the beginning, at a planned rest stop, or at the end of the ride. The goal would be to attract those who are interested but not necessarily believers and not just be a "fellowship" event for those who are already attending church somewhere.
If anyone is interested in riding with the group in the NTX area you can contact Eddie at [email protected]
Thank you again, Eddie, for sending in your event info for the Texas spoke blog.
