Pre-Ride Interview
Lutheran Vespers: How did you come up with the idea of a bike ride?

WALT: Actually, the idea for a bicycle ride developed from my strong desire to invoLutheran Vesperse more and more people--personally--in the radio ministry of Lutheran Vespers. It's silly to think that a single speaker and a small staff can accomplish this great work for our Lord. I am convinced that a closer relationship with my listeners will strengthen all we do, allowing Lutheran Vespers to expand its audience throughout America. And to pursue that relationship, I will pursue the individual listener myself, to their own churches, towns, cities.

Lutheran Vespers: Why would you do this? What's the purpose of the trip?

WALT: Well, it seemed important to draw attention to this venture, so that other listeners whom I will be unable to see, might know the effort and follow with me online. A bike trip can become a good story, a long and personal letter, the contents of which I will not know until I experience them. My bike will seize the interest of others, and then I will keep that interest by sending regular dispatches to the Lutheran Vespers OutSpoken Web site.

Lutheran Vespers: Have you always been an avid biker? How are you training for the ride?

WALT: Some fifteen years ago I rode a bike with regularity to distance of some significance; but I have never been a cyclist of intense training and skills. I still am not that. But I've built my strength and my endurance, now at 58, to do what I've never done before: an average of 50 miles a day. Real cyclists know how easy such a mileage can be. Early this summer I built up my strength. Through June and July I've been building endurance, without driving my body hard every day. I do short bursts of 15 miles one day, longer rides of 30 miles the next day; the third day I lay off; the fourth day I might go forty. I continue to do stretching exercises in warm-up and in cool-down. I had purchased cycling shorts "in size large," thinking that I'd lose fat and fit them. Instead, I've developed muscle and have stretched them more!

I will be ready--both to ride and to arrive in your areas and to greet you and to talk with you.

Until I do, Peace. The peace of Jesus, my friends.