YOUR FIRST RODEO?
looking for adventure? it can always be found on two wheels.

The Race Before Us | Oklahoma Sports & Fitness, May / June 2014 Issue

Somewhere, someone is climbing up on a trusty two-wheeled steed for the first time. And somewhere, an adventure of a lifetime is about to begin.

This spring, as I watch my kids learn to pedal faster and farther, I reminisce of my own childhood riding experiences. I remember the makeshift start gate we made in our neighborhood, the trails and jumps we spent days constructing, and the feeling of coasting down the steep hill to my house in the summer evenings.

And when I see a genuine look of joy and enlightenment on my kids' faces, I appreciate the invaluable lessons learned on the seat of a bicycle.

First, if you want to go anywhere, you’ve got to get on the bike. If you fear the outcome or wait for the perfect equipment or time, you’ll never reach your destination. You’ll never learn from the falls, or experience what it means to get back up – and feel what it’s like to ride stronger than before.

Also, the bike shows us that sometimes all we can do is pedal. When a road seems endless, you are tired, and you are against a headwind – there’s nothing to do except keep pedaling. Before long, you look back and see how far you've come – and you are better for it.

That brings me to my favorite lesson: getting lost isn’t always a bad thing. Of course, there are times when getting lost isn’t in your best interest, but it’s all a matter of perspective. Longer rides, new terrains, new sights and new adventures await us all. Getting lost always puts me on a new road and gives me a new story – even if only kept to myself.

And the most important lesson: enjoy the ride. In everyday life, we often don’t take the time to see, listen and learn from everything around us. When on a ride, focus on the beauty all around you, not on any pain or aggravations. Listen to the sound of a riding group clicking into their pedals, take in the hum of multiple wheels spinning in unison, and enjoy the chatter of friends you’ve made along the way.

If only the inventor of the bicycle could see what his work has accomplished today, he would surely feel gratified. He would see a tremendous community of motivated people that invite stamina, adventure, relationships, and most of all – a similar kind of freedom and fun we experienced as a child.

Enjoy our special May/June double issue, full of exciting features and upcoming events for everyone to enjoy.

Your first rodeo? Sign up to ride. Fall in love with cycling. You may not know what you're missing.



Sean M. Call, Publisher/Editor
Oklahoma Sports & Fitness