Freewheel'n - Winter, 2005

The holidays are now behind us and another cycling season beckons. Before looking forward, need to reflect on the past. Many years ago I rode with my daughter. She sat in a seat that was bolted over my rear wheel...my wife worried as we disappeared out of sight. These were great rides with a perfect riding companion.

Life is about to repeat itself. As mentioned in the last Freewheel'n, my daughter now has her own little girl. I am already planning for my first ride with Kaitlyn, my granddaughter. She is a bit to young now...and I need to convince the new mom that her daughter will be safe with RePete. Regardless, the purchase of a buggie is being considered.

Since we are looking backward...2004 was also a good cycling year. Our sport has been recognized...Lance is responsible for achieving this here in the states. His Tour de France victories were great. Our club also continued to sponsor many activities both civic and cycling related. Ride leaders are sorely needed. There were the same people leading the same rides nearly every month. More variety is needed. Perhaps the best of all in 2004...RePete returned to cycling and participated in many rides, including a charity tour from Philadelphia to Atlantic City!

So here we are...the year ahead is bright and clean. Time now to set our goals. The first should be a commitment to volunteer to help the club...and please include leading at least one more ride than last year. Send that commitment to me. I will collect all and include in a future release. Would be great to see a listing from the members of how they will be helping. As for myself...well you can look forward to my tours. The Peach Blossom will start of my season in April. Then there will be many other rides including touring to the Wachovia Race in June. I will help and ride at several club events. Then of course Freewheel'n will appear in many of these newsletters. Look for more info in my next release.

We must pause for the victims of the Tsunami. The suffering and death to those caused by this tragedy is beyond comprehension. In sear numbers the count is well over 2000,000 dead. The lives of the survivors are in ruins. Their families, homes and future are forever changed and destroyed. Please donate to any of the many organizations that are accepting contributions. For a listing of these you can go to http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/ and click on "donate now". You can also search the internet by entering tsunami relief.

Finally, from Grenville Kleiser comes this inspirational thought, "...the only time that is surely yours is the present, hence this is the time to speak the words of appreciation and sympathy, to do the generous deed, to forgive the fault of a thoughtless friend, to sacrifice self a little more than others. Today is the day to express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed, and to use your God-given abilities for the enrichment of someone less fortunate. Today you can make your life significant and worthwhile. The present is yours to do with as you will."

Safe Cycling,

RePete
www.oocities.org/repete_bike
repeten@verizon.net