I remember a time when cycling was just that, cycling. My dad and I would go and just ride for the sake of riding. It didn’t matter how long it took or how far we went. We’d simply pedal our bikes. This was freedom. This is how I fell in love with cycling. 

Recently, on a cool fall morning in October, a small but dedicated contingent of KPF bike athletes and their cycling partners hit the Silver Comet Trail taking part in a virtual event, Spin for Kids, to support Camp Twin Lakes. Meeting in the dark parking lot before dawn, we were pumped. This was not a competition; this was a ride. This was not hurry up and move out; this was a socially distanced, shoot the breeze, easy-peasey event. 

That said, we are athletes, so each of us had a purposeful plan. Our mileage goals ranged from 15 to 62 miles and everything in between. 

After group pictures, during which we blocked a portion of the trail and made other cyclists go around us -- sorry, not sorry -- we pedaled off. Five athletes, 8 volunteers and yours truly in charge. What could go wrong?

Actually, nothing. 

Nick Gleissner with his partner Chris Johnson and Cecil Williams with his partner David Burgos set their sights on and completed 62 miles! Jessica Minton had a marathon goal in mind with her partners Jessica Wilson and Gary Whitehead-Nudd and wound up going beyond the 26.2 to over 27 miles. Cougar Clifford, Brent Pease and Shawna Block Gray successfully targeted 15 miles. My dad, Rich Enners, and I focused on 15 miles, but it was such a great relief to be off my trainer and outside, we completed 20 miles.

Nick, a Paralympic hopeful who recently moved to Georgia and new to the foundation, wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and I was nervous that this ride may not have been the type of riding he was looking for. In the end, Nick shared, “Chris was a good match for me and that made for an excellent experience. I had an excellent ride and was able to meet some pretty cool people.”

It was Cecil’s first time on the Silver Comet Trail. Hauling his Catrike from Chattanooga, Tennessee, he said participating in a Kpeasey event and seeing his friends is always worth the hike. “It was fun and it was wide enough to maneuver along the trail. The scenery was beautiful.”

Jessica, a long-time KPF athlete and avid hand cyclist, cranked out nearly 28 miles in a little over two hours. “I thoroughly enjoyed this ride,” she said enthusiastically. “I loved the smaller group!”  

This was an experiment of sorts -- without the structure of a racing environment, would riding be more enjoyable? I think the answer is yes. Instead of a hurry-up-and-wait competitive situation, nonrace experiences can rekindle the spark that started the fire in everyone’s bellies. You can take time to enjoy the present, to feed your soul and, as Jessica suggested, even grab a bite to eat.