Clip On, Clip Off

I made an upgrade on my bike today. We took it to the cycling shop to fix a problem with the back wheel. While we were there, I decided to move from toe clips to clipless pedals which allow a cleat on the bike shoe to lock into a receptacle on the pedal. It’s similar to bindings used on snow skis. With these pedals, I can step on the pedal and simply “clip in” rather than fumble with the toe cage and strap. It’s also supposed to make my pedal stroke more efficient.

At first, it was nerve racking because once you’re clipped in, if you can’t get the shoe to release when you want to stop, you’re in trouble. If that happens, a crash or topple will occur — and hitting the pavement is painful even at slow speeds.

I awkwardly clipped in with Gary’s help and took a few small practice runs. Gary made adjustments to the cleats to get the positioning perfect. Each time it got easier, but I still felt clumsy. Undeterred, we moved forward with our ride.

It was a gorgeous January day — temps in the 70s and sunny. The only downside was that it was windy. Wind and bikes don’t match well. In fact, I hate the wind when I’m riding. It kills! But I digress…back to the new pedals and shoes. About halfway through our 15-mile ride, I started to feel more comfortable. Clipping in became easier. I became less scared of messing up and crashing painfully onto the pavement.

Instead of worrying about flipping the toe clips to the right position and getting my feet in there every time I start off, I can now just clip in — fast and easy. Once connected to the bike, my strokes become more powerful, more efficient. I’m working together with the bike and there’s no power loss when pedaling. It’s sort of like a zen moment — I’m one with the bike..haha!

It’s funny, but experimenting with the clipless pedals made me stop and think…what if we would do the same with Jesus? When we “clip in” to Him, our lives are more powerful, more connected, more efficient. Sure, it’s scary when you let go and put your trust in something other than yourself, but it’s also beneficial. You stop fumbling around trying to figure out how to do things on your own. The more you “clip in” to God, the easier it becomes. You can trust Him to lead you. You can trust Him to keep you from crashing and to make your life stronger and more enjoyable…just like my bike ride.