My initial reason for cycling was to move away from the impact of running to something less strenuous on my knees. It didn’t take long to realize how boring cycling can be riding alone. I met some people in Clinton and started organizing weekly rides. To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing. Before long, we had a group of 20-25 people every week.

Rumors started circulating that someone had nominated me to the board of Jackson Metro Cyclists, the local cycling club for Jackson, MS. At the annual meeting, the then president came up to me and said, “You have been nominated as vice-president. Do you want to accept the nomination?” I accepted the nomination and elected to the board that night. About 6 months into the year, the president stepped down to devote his time to other things, and I became president.

During that time, I also became an LCI (League Certified Instructor). Being president and a LCI, I decided to start a true beginner ride, focusing on individuals who not only wanted to learn to ride but also wanted to acquire the knowledge to be safe and responsible cyclists. The group began to grow and really changed the mentality for cycling in the Jackson area. No longer was cycling and JMC viewed as a place for people who wanted to ride as hard and fast as they could; cycling has become a recreational activity.

This is the second year of the ride, and it grew well beyond anything I could expected. More importantly, it provided an atmosphere for non-competitive cyclists to enjoy cycling with one another, in a safe setting. The group demonstrates that cycling is not only a recreational activity, it is a community. The beginner group, along with many other groups in the Jackson area, is an eclectic bunch of folks, who share a common bond of cycling but connect in many other ways.

Thank you for the love you have shown me over the years. I will truly miss all of you, but I plan to come back often. It will be like I never left!