Celebrating Six Months of Cycling on SUNCREST!!!!

The thought of cycling Suncrest, which is a new housing development atop South Mountain, Draper, has loomed on the horizon of my mind since I started cycling in March. I didn't initially view it with anticipation. I associated the thought of summiting Suncrest, with dread. Reaching its peak is a sort of rite of passage from novice to semi-seasoned rider, though, so I kept the thought out there in the distance as something I'd maybe like to try, someday.

Suncrest is steep, 14% grade most of the way. To a novice cyclist, it may as well be Mount Everest. That's how I viewed it. I wondered if I'd ever be strong or fit enough to summit its peak. Last week, while on my morning ride, the thought of Suncrest rolled through my mind and I decided that I would find out. I set Saturday, September 11 as the day for my Suncrest summit because it is the six month anniversary of getting a bicycle and starting into cycling.

I couldn't have picked a better day to ride Suncrest. It was a beautiful Saturday morning; the kind that makes me grateful to be alive. Clear skies, full sun, incredible mountain and valley views and a constant, but not overpowering wind, kept me smiling the whole way.

As is common of irrational fears, it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had built it up in my mind. It was actually rather enjoyable. I realized in a huge way that preparation really does make all the difference. All those morning rides of 26-30 miles a day, prepared me for such a ride. I hadn't really realized the level of strength and fitness I'd gained over the last six months. Also over the last six months, I've ridden 3,179.49 miles as of today. The ride today was work, but it was exhilarating because I was prepared.

Had I tried to ride Suncrest sooner, as a new cyclist, when I was 45 pounds heavier and much weaker, it would have been a horrible experience. I wasn't yet prepared. I wouldn't have wanted to do it again as it would have been painful and brutal. Life is hard enough. Why compound the pain of it by being unprepared either spiritually or temporally, for the trials that come?

I thought about the spiritual aspect of preparation as I peddled toward the summit. Daily prayer, scripture study, pondering, meditation, recording inspiration and ideas in a journal, and listening to and obeying spiritual promptings really do add up to significant spiritual strength over time. Life is much more steep and daunting than Suncrest. Spiritual preparation is crucial to making it through.

It was worth all the effort it took to prepare on my daily rides. I felt great joy in persisting up the hill, ultimately experiencing the view, and resting at the top. Oh, and the descent was phenomenal! I know that daily spiritual preparation for the challenges of life, will also be well worth it at the completion of life and will bring great and eternal joy.

Riding Suncrest futher committed me to working harder at spiritual preparedness, not only for myself, but for my family. I rode Suncrest with Shawn. That made the accomplishment truly great and worthwhile. Finishing life with a close and committed family, united in obedience and devotion to God and having prepared through a life of service to our fellowmen, will be the only true joy.