When I retired in 2015 my son gave me a bicycle as a retirement gift. He is an avid cyclist and had hoped cycling would become something we would do together. Well, I did not live up to his expectation. For the next four years the bike was mostly a wall ornament in my garage. Then in 2020, as we all know, the pandemic hit. After a month or so of being confined to the house I was itching to get outside. I’m a former runner but the doctor discouraged me from doing that again, but he did say that cycling was a good substitute. So, I took my bike off the wall, dusted it off, and headed out on my first ride.
I had forgotten just how enjoyable riding a bike can be. I’m fortunate that there are lots of hike and bike trails where we live in McKinney, TX. It didn’t take long before I was hooked. I worked up to riding 80 miles a week. I don’t set any speed records, but that’s alright because I’m having fun, I feel better, and I’ve lost some weight. But, the best part is that my son and I have started riding together on weekends. We participated in the Paris, TX Tour-de-Paris Bike Rally last September. Riders can take either the 20, 35, 57, 68 or 80 mile route. We did the 35.
Last June and July my wife, Ernestine, had two knee replacement surgeries. She does not have the flexion in her knees to ride a regular bicycle, so at the encouragement of a fellow retiree, Bob Mersereau, we checked out getting her a trike. She loved it so we bought one. It has electric assist for those times she needs a little help going up hills and such. Ernestine and I do a couple of 20-mile rides together each week. Once a week I try to get in a 35+ mile ride which I do by myself plus my weekend ride with Richie.
We are at our summer condo in New Bern, NC now and unfortunately there are no bike trails. It is not safe to ride on the highways, so we mostly ride through residential areas. I miss my weekend rides with Richie and look forward to resuming them when we return to McKinney in the fall.
Wayne Brock
Originally published in the Summer 2021 Now & Then Newsletter.
Thank goodness Wayne and Ernestine are alive and pedaling. If you know a fellow BSA Retiree or Spouse who have passed, please add their information to our In Remembrance database.
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