Stephen Rowland
The Columbia-area Knights for Christ sponsored their 2006 �Polar Bear Run� Jan. 1, and as a first-time participant, I really didn�t know what to expect.
Figuring an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, my riding apparel included a thick shirt and jeans, insulated coveralls, weatherproof jogger�s �wind pants� to go over the legs of the coveralls, a leather jacket, insulated ski gloves, hunter�s chemical warming packs to go inside the ski gloves, and last but not least thermal undergarments. It was a wonder I could move my limbs. Well, forget the cold weather gear � Polar Bears would have been sweating in that balmy 60-degree weather. It was a beautiful day for motorcycling, and 183 bikers came out to participate.
There was plenty of shiny chrome and black leather everywhere. Some of the bikes (and trikes) were truly works of art. The Maury County Senior Citizens Building was the meeting place, and I couldn�t help noticing that about 50 percent of the bikers had grey or white hair (or none)! There were a variety of ages, however, with plenty of women riders as well.
The �emcee� of the event was Knights for Christ President Allen Scott, and it was interesting to watch the facial expressions of grizzled rough-and-tough bikers coming through the front door. Scott has that massive V-shaped �Hulk Hogan� torso, and looks like he just stepped out of a World Wrestling Federation ring, except for the Christian cross on his T-shirt and that big smile. When he shakes your hand it�s a purposeful very �soft� handshake, so that you don�t have to worry about crushed fingers. His message in the 9 a.m. service centered on the �3-R�s� � Responsibility (for owning up to your sins); Repent (turn away from sin); and Run (into the arms of Christ).
Another interesting character I was introduced to was Ed Brennan, an instructor for Tennessee Riders Education Program; Ed used to teach here at Columbia State Community College. Riders new to motorcycling are told by Ed if they take the course, they will learn to ride safely; they will be pushed until they know the limits of their cycle; they will not be done with the program until Ed says so; and yes, they will have fun. If you haven�t guessed, Ed is a former drill sergeant in the Army.
Safety is the major concern of most people when it comes to motorcycling. It is also inherently risky to strap fiberglass boards to the bottom of your feet and go hurtling down the snowy slopes of mountains dodging rocks and trees. Then there are those brave souls who slowly climb up those mountains, occasionally dangling from ropes. A friend of mine who had made more than a hundred parachute jumps in the military was scared-to-death about climbing on a motorcycle. What is deemed �risky� by one person is quite �ordinary� to another.
Of course in motorcycling it�s not just your personal skill involved, but the skill of everyone else who outweighs you by several thousand pounds. In more than 90 percent of motorcycle/vehicle collisions, the car or truck driver states �I didn�t see the cycle coming.� Motorcyclists have to ride defensively with the assumption that every other vehicle on the road, at any given moment, just might pull-out in front of them. The advantage of riding in a group is that most people don�t have a problem seeing, or hearing, you coming. It helps to wear earplugs inside your helmet.
I truly enjoyed the ride, the beautiful scenery on the Natchez Trace and the good-natured banter of the participants. It�s an especially good feeling knowing we raised $2,800 for the Red Cross. It�s also good to know that being a Christian and having fun are not mutually exclusive.
Stephen Rowland is a Columbia resident who is working on a master�s degree in biblical literature.
