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Hi Wellspring Team. Yesterday afternoon, we enjoyed a two and a half hour ride up to Golden Ears and back. Seven of us went, including Heather Collins, Lisa Edwardson, Amy Lange, Larry Scott, Jared Hindmarsh, Jason Strain, and myself. It provided us with some good hill training and it was fun to have some of the riders meet each other for the first time. Obviously we have some work to do to catch up with our Vernon and Ontario counterparts. How are things going Seattle, Calgary, and Redding? Hope you all enjoyed your ride yesterday. We five in Vernon rode to the loop to Salmon Arm ( ~140km), leaving at 7am since it has been so hot lately. The temp was moderate yesterday but we had a wind on the way home. Tandem tubbies got left in the dust but we all had a great time! We are convinced that the riding around our area is every bit as beautiful as the STP route. Maybe there should be a Wellspring version of the STP here next year……….? Hey Team Wellspring! Richard is organizing a training ride on Sunday, June 7th for those of you within the Metro Vancouver area. The plan is to meet at the Fort Langley parking lot at 2pm and head out on a ride to Golden Ears and back. Everyone is welcome, comment below to let Richard know if you can make it, or you could email him… It would be great to have everyone out on a ride in their respective areas on the same day, so how about organizing a ride where you live? I know you may be on your own in Whitehorse Mike, but what about the rest of you? If you are willing to go for a ride in your city on Sunday June 7th, leave a comment below with the time and location of your ride, and let’s log some training miles! We have called this event the Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon in memory of one of Wellspring’s founding board members. Ben was tragically killed while training for the STP nearly three years go after being hit from behind by an elderly driver. Last week, after over two years of legal wrangling, the trial came to an end with a conviction of dangerous driving causing death. For Ben’s family and friends, it was a relief to finally have some resolution, but also sad to see the unwillingness of the driver to admit fault or seek restitution with the family. This may have been the decisive factor in his conviction. At the close of the trial, Ben’s mom Helga shared a victim impact statement, that was extremely powerful. In it she talks about the life of her son and how he made a greater difference in his 25 years on this earth than many men make in a lifetime. Here is an excerpt from the end of the statement when she directs her thoughts towards the driver who hit Ben. I wanted to share this because it has so much to do with why I ride!
My view of heaven is that it is so amazingly fun and wonderful, full of laughter and singing so that once you get there no one wants to leave. It is in a different dimension that is full of peace and goodness that radiates from the throne of God. I like to imagine that Ben has given Moses some mountain biking tips while they cycled down Mt. Sinai together and that he trades adventure stories with his great-great-grandfather and sings his favourite hymns along with the angels. I know he would love to hang out with Jesus and I imagine that they dream up fabulous things to pray for us and to encourage us. I believe that he very likely is here now with the “cloud of witnesses” that the bible talks about, cheering us on to run our own race with truthfulness, kindness and love. I hope you will meet Ben there one day. I’m sure that Ben will be among the first ones to welcome you, with his warm handshake with one big hand and his trademark “wrap around bear hug” with the other. I know Ben would like me to tell you today that his Jesus is good and kind and that his heart is full of love toward you. Dear fellow Wellspring teammates and cycling enthusiasts! I have been training since last August when one of my son’s-in-law – Garth; told me he would join me for the STP in 2009. We have been training together since early March in Ontario and looking forward to July 11/12. We are really pleased that my other son-in-law – Jason; is joining us as well. Jason did the STP with Ben’s sister Colleen last year. Two young guys to help the old guy along! We are averaging about 120 km a week with plans to ramp up in June. How is your training going? This year I have decided to take the plunge and attempt the STP in one day! With that being said, I am working right now up in Whitehorse and the snow has finally melted. So I boxed up my bike on the last trip down to Vancouver and brought it up on the flight back to Whitehorse. I put the bike back together with all the pieces in the bike, though I am not sure if they are in the right order. So far I have gone for one ride and my chain broke about 30 mins into the ride. Oh well, one more thing to fix. There are tons of great rides up here in Whitehorse, I am itching to attempt the Carcross-Tagish loop around Marsh Lake and back to Whitehorse. Each weekend I see dozens of riders out on the road now that the snow has melted. I am really looking forward to riding this year, it is an event I look forward to all year. Last year having Ben’s sister and her husband join us on the ride was very uplifting. Plus seeing the difference Wellspring is making in Rwanda, especially the door that has opened through the Whole School Development Program, has been such a rewarding experience to be a part of. I hope to see some familiar faces and many new faces on the ride this year. Happy Riding, Mike Strain
Ride the 200 miles from Seattle to Portland and improve the education of Rwandan Children.On July 11-12th, we are riding to honor one of Wellspring’s founding members and help improve education for Rwandan children by investing in their schools through the Whole School Development Program. The 30th annual Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle ClassicThe Cyclathon is part of the annual Group Health Seattle to Portland Bike Classic. Last year Team Wellspring entered 25 riders and raised over $48,000 to build a training center and secondary school building. Decked out in a vibrant yellow, blue and green jersey, you will join 9000 others on a two day, 200 mile ride through the valleys, forests, and farmland of western Washington and Oregon. It is an unforgettable experience! Continue reading Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon |
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