March 2, 2009 Alright. I know it’s an inanimate object. I admit it. But it feels like an old and reliable friend. And I will miss it.
It is my Diamondback Crestview hybrid bicycle. Affectionately referred to here as The Bike, this vehicle has been a near constant companion for almost seven years. We’ve had some marvelous adventures together. Like Johnny Cash, “We’ve been everywhere, man” (well, almost).
We rode out Deal Island Road on a daily basis in Princess Anne, Maryland. Those rides were for regular exercise and stress relief and kept me from becoming a fat preacher. But there were more exciting trips, also. For instance—Bike New York. Jim Thompson and Matt Wallace rode with us on that one—forty-five miles with 30,000 other bikers through all five boroughs of New York City. That was the one time the old girl let me down. In the middle of Central Park, suddenly and inexplicably the rear derailleur disintegrated, damaging the rear wheel and bending the frame. By the grace of God, we found an open bicycle repair shop some blocks away from the bike route. They fixed the damage quickly, and we rejoined the pack of bikers and finished the tour.
The Bike and I have seen Cape Hatteras and Okracoke Island together. We actually arrived there in Jim Thompson’s little Cessna. We’ve also wound our way around the nation’s capital on at least three occasions, looking at the cherry blossoms or going to the Library of Congress to do research. We’ve been camping together in Tennessee and enjoyed long rides around Topsail Island, North Carolina, during a family reunion trip. Last Memorial Day my good preacher friend Lon Chenowith and I pedaled from my house in Caryville, Tennessee, to Cumberland Gap on the Tennessee/Kentucky/Virginia line (about forty-three miles away).
But lately the old Diamondback has been complaining more and more frequently—slipping gears, worn brakes, broken spokes, sluggish shifting—not at all like the early days of effortless, quiet shifting and smooth riding. In fact, in those days I didn’t even have to use many gears because the part of Maryland where we resided is so flat. Indeed, before receiving The Bike I rode around on a one speed cruiser bike with coaster brakes that I bought used from a bike rental dealer near the beach. But in July of 2002, upon returning from a mission trip to Sandy Valley, Nevada, I discovered The Bike sitting in my living room, a gift from the same Matt Wallace who later rode with us in Bike New York. I had earlier admired the bikes Matt and his wife Gretchen were riding, and big-hearted Matt went out and bought me a similar one. He probably does not realize even now what a blessing The Bike has been to me.
Well, 9000-10,000 miles (my best estimate) is a lot to put on any bike. Even the dealer-repairman in Knoxville was impressed. However, to repair, adjust, and outfit the old girl for more years of service puts me in the price range of a new bike with the benefit of more recent design changes. So I have acquired a Specialized Globe to take up where the Diamondback Crestview left off. I look forward to many new adventures with my new bike. But I’ll still feel a twinge of sadness putting the old one out to pasture. After all, she got me half way across the state on my “Slice of Tennessee” ride!
It is my Diamondback Crestview hybrid bicycle. Affectionately referred to here as The Bike, this vehicle has been a near constant companion for almost seven years. We’ve had some marvelous adventures together. Like Johnny Cash, “We’ve been everywhere, man” (well, almost).
We rode out Deal Island Road on a daily basis in Princess Anne, Maryland. Those rides were for regular exercise and stress relief and kept me from becoming a fat preacher. But there were more exciting trips, also. For instance—Bike New York. Jim Thompson and Matt Wallace rode with us on that one—forty-five miles with 30,000 other bikers through all five boroughs of New York City. That was the one time the old girl let me down. In the middle of Central Park, suddenly and inexplicably the rear derailleur disintegrated, damaging the rear wheel and bending the frame. By the grace of God, we found an open bicycle repair shop some blocks away from the bike route. They fixed the damage quickly, and we rejoined the pack of bikers and finished the tour.
The Bike and I have seen Cape Hatteras and Okracoke Island together. We actually arrived there in Jim Thompson’s little Cessna. We’ve also wound our way around the nation’s capital on at least three occasions, looking at the cherry blossoms or going to the Library of Congress to do research. We’ve been camping together in Tennessee and enjoyed long rides around Topsail Island, North Carolina, during a family reunion trip. Last Memorial Day my good preacher friend Lon Chenowith and I pedaled from my house in Caryville, Tennessee, to Cumberland Gap on the Tennessee/Kentucky/Virginia line (about forty-three miles away).
But lately the old Diamondback has been complaining more and more frequently—slipping gears, worn brakes, broken spokes, sluggish shifting—not at all like the early days of effortless, quiet shifting and smooth riding. In fact, in those days I didn’t even have to use many gears because the part of Maryland where we resided is so flat. Indeed, before receiving The Bike I rode around on a one speed cruiser bike with coaster brakes that I bought used from a bike rental dealer near the beach. But in July of 2002, upon returning from a mission trip to Sandy Valley, Nevada, I discovered The Bike sitting in my living room, a gift from the same Matt Wallace who later rode with us in Bike New York. I had earlier admired the bikes Matt and his wife Gretchen were riding, and big-hearted Matt went out and bought me a similar one. He probably does not realize even now what a blessing The Bike has been to me.
Well, 9000-10,000 miles (my best estimate) is a lot to put on any bike. Even the dealer-repairman in Knoxville was impressed. However, to repair, adjust, and outfit the old girl for more years of service puts me in the price range of a new bike with the benefit of more recent design changes. So I have acquired a Specialized Globe to take up where the Diamondback Crestview left off. I look forward to many new adventures with my new bike. But I’ll still feel a twinge of sadness putting the old one out to pasture. After all, she got me half way across the state on my “Slice of Tennessee” ride!
3 comments:
I can't wait to read about the encounters you will have on the new bike! May you continue "making the most of your time." I love you.
Well, I purposely held off reading the last entry of your journal. I just didn't want it to end---I enjoyed reading it so much. Thanks for puting your adventures in writing so others could enjoy. May God continue to bless you.
Jilly B.
May your new bike bring you many happy memories. I am now enjoying reading of your new adventures with Josh. Thanks for sharing.
Jill
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