Bike Prayer (religious spoiler, but I'm not selling)

Triathlon Forum
1

With RAGBRAI now finished and my own training and racing weekend approaching, I thought I would share a prayer that my church said for all riders. I can’t credit it as being mine, not sure who wrote it. Have a great training and racing weekend and for all of us who have lost friends due to bike crashes, may they be remembered well.

Present in a world groaning under the excesses of consumption, we acknowledge the inherent goodness of non-motorized human powered transportation and give thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community filled with children, we pray for those learning to ride. Keep them smart, safe, and visible on their neighborhood roads.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community filled with strife, we pray for the victims of road rage and bike theft. And we ask for the strength to forgive mean people.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a world of work, we pray for those who build, repair, and clean our bikes and those who rely on bicycles to earn their living. Bless those who choose to not drive to work and those for whom driving isn’t even an option.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community of beautiful diversity, we ask your protection and blessing on all who ride: pedi-cabbies, weekend warriors, athletes, homeless folks, students, children, eco-warriors, bike co-op anarchists, messengers, and all the others who take to the streets, bike paths, parks, and mountains. Keep us safe as we ride.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

We now observe a moment of silence for all who have died while riding …

God of life, Hear our prayer.
AMEN

2

I’m not a particularly religious fellow although I’m seen at church once in a while but I can roll with that. I appreciate the sentiment too.

3

I’m more of the 'two hands working accomplish far more than a thousand clasped in prayer" group, but this is a creed I could get behind!

Absent the refrains, of course… :wink:

4

does it work?

does repeating god is life 100 times make it extra powerful?

With RAGBRAI now finished and my own training and racing weekend approaching, I thought I would share a prayer that my church said for all riders. I can’t credit it as being mine, not sure who wrote it. Have a great training and racing weekend and for all of us who have lost friends due to bike crashes, may they be remembered well.

Present in a world groaning under the excesses of consumption, we acknowledge the inherent goodness of non-motorized human powered transportation and give thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community filled with children, we pray for those learning to ride. Keep them smart, safe, and visible on their neighborhood roads.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community filled with strife, we pray for the victims of road rage and bike theft. And we ask for the strength to forgive mean people.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a world of work, we pray for those who build, repair, and clean our bikes and those who rely on bicycles to earn their living. Bless those who choose to not drive to work and those for whom driving isn’t even an option.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community of beautiful diversity, we ask your protection and blessing on all who ride: pedi-cabbies, weekend warriors, athletes, homeless folks, students, children, eco-warriors, bike co-op anarchists, messengers, and all the others who take to the streets, bike paths, parks, and mountains. Keep us safe as we ride.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

We now observe a moment of silence for all who have died while riding …

God of life, Hear our prayer.
AMEN

5

does it work?

does repeating god is life 100 times make it extra powerful?

With RAGBRAI now finished and my own training and racing weekend approaching, I thought I would share a prayer that my church said for all riders. I can’t credit it as being mine, not sure who wrote it. Have a great training and racing weekend and for all of us who have lost friends due to bike crashes, may they be remembered well.

Present in a world groaning under the excesses of consumption, we acknowledge the inherent goodness of non-motorized human powered transportation and give thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community filled with children, we pray for those learning to ride. Keep them smart, safe, and visible on their neighborhood roads.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community filled with strife, we pray for the victims of road rage and bike theft. And we ask for the strength to forgive mean people.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a world of work, we pray for those who build, repair, and clean our bikes and those who rely on bicycles to earn their living. Bless those who choose to not drive to work and those for whom driving isn’t even an option.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

Present in a community of beautiful diversity, we ask your protection and blessing on all who ride: pedi-cabbies, weekend warriors, athletes, homeless folks, students, children, eco-warriors, bike co-op anarchists, messengers, and all the others who take to the streets, bike paths, parks, and mountains. Keep us safe as we ride.

God of life, Hear our prayer.

We now observe a moment of silence for all who have died while riding …

God of life, Hear our prayer.
AMEN

10 watts guaranteed!

6

Hmmmm … started to recite it and I heard thunder and lightning brewing. Must be a sign :wink:

7

Thanks for sharing that. Hopefully the religious police will take it easy on you too :-).

That makes me wonder, what would be the most inflammatory post by Slowtwitch standards? Maybe something like, “The other day, right after I finished doing my squats and praying before my bike ride, I pumped up my tubular tires on my non-Cervelo bike to 160 psi and rode in an upright position with 17 spacers, then posted a photo of myself for a position critique from my messed up living room with the chain in the small ring.”

8

you also have to dis Lance, or say something nice about him (I’m not sure which one).

9

does it work?

does repeating god is life 100 times make it extra powerful?

Well yes it does and therein is the problem. I’m convinced that God is so busy blessing bikes and changing red lights to green for Christians so that they can make it to work on time, that he no longer has time to deal with droughts, earthquakes, hurricanes and the like. Hence the increase in massive deaths from natural disasters.

10

Its a liturgy… the “God of Life, Hear our prayers” is the response of the congregation.

11

Awesome. Love it. Thank you.

12

I’m not supposed to pump my tubular tires to 160, or have 15 spacers? My seat is probably too high, I may or may not breath only to one side and I have been known to take pictures of my bikes with the chain in the small ring.
I offered a spoiler, so those who don’t want to read it don’t have to. For some people things like this are meaningful for others not. I personally liked it and thought I would share. No disrespect for anyone intended.
Mitch

13

No worries, I’m on your side here…

Maybe we should have a Slowtwitch confessional area, “Forgive me Slowtwitch for I have sinned, I have used Tufo tubular tires attached with tape instead of glue”, something like that.

Please don’t take me seriously Fr.Tri, just having some fun.