Pedal to the medal: Catholic bicycling group forms

New Little Rock group looks to meld faith, faitness among Catholic riders

Published: August 20, 2011

By Dwain Hebda
Little Rock Correspondent

A new bicycling group is giving Catholic cyclists a chance to meet for fellowship and fitness in Little Rock. The recreational group, Pedal to the Medal, was formed in July.

"A love of prayer and a love of cycling is behind this," said Kristy Eanes, who came up with the idea for the group. "There"s camaraderie there and it"s a good opportunity to meet other Catholics."

The idea grew out of Eanes"s membership in the Ladies of Charity of Arkansas, an international Catholic lay women"s service organization. The group"s stated mission is of service to the poor through a variety of measures including education and advocacy. The Arkansas chapter was founded in 2008 and today the majority of its membership is in the greater Little Rock area.

Eanes, the founding president for the Ladies of Charity of Arkansas, was also interested in developing the group in its mission of evangelization as well as provide a social outlet for its members. An athletic person since her days at Our Lady of Good Counsel School and Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock, she got the idea of a cycling club as that outlet.

"I wanted the group to be centered around prayer," she said. "Not just in the regular sense, but through the ride itself. Cycling is tough and the pain of the ride is a prayer in itself."

The name of the group is a play on words and refers to the Miraculous Medal, to which the Ladies of Charity of Arkansas have a special devotion. Eanes" group starts each ride with a five-minute prayer of the Miraculous Medal followed by prayer intentions from the riders. Eanes said riders are encouraged to focus on the medal and what it represents, as well as offering up the exertion of the ride, as a devotion unto itself. She also takes every opportunity to explain the medal in its proper context.

"It"s not a good luck charm or amulet. We don"t pray to the medal," she said.

Eanes intends to use the group as an opportunity for evangelization and education among the non-Catholic riders she hopes to attract. To this end, Eanes has designed T-shirts for the group emblazoned with the motto "Pray like you mean it." She said something as simple as a T-shirt can go a long way towards helping members identify with each other and to allow others to identify them and perhaps generate inquires from potential members.

"First and foremost I hope to develop a close-knit group of Catholics in this group, people who enjoy biking together and the richness of their faith" she said. "But I also want to be able to use it as a way to attract non-Catholics and teach them an appreciation of the beauty of our faith, dispel the myths and raise awareness of what it means to be Catholic.

"I love being Catholic and I want people to know the truth about our beautiful faith. And, we"re nice people."

The group rides at 8 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month and will ride year around. Currently the meeting point is the Murray Park picnic area in Little Rock, but with new bike routes opening up in the city, the group may explore different routes in the future.

The initial meeting of Pedal to the Medal attracted seven cyclists, including several children and young people, but interest appears to be growing. Eanes publicized the group in parish bulletins and the result has been increased calls asking about Pedal to the Medal. She stresses that the group is open to men as well as women, as are all ages and ability levels. Rides cover about an hour or more depending on weather and individuals" comfort level.

Eanes would love to see the group grow, but leaves such things in God"s hands. She said accepting this premise early on eliminated any fear of rejection putting the group together in the first place.

"If God wants it to happen, he will build it," she said. "That"s a very freeing feeling. I don"t have the fear others might have because I truly believe that. Even if just two people had showed up to the first one, it would have all been worth it to put this together."

Eanes, 40, is network administrator for the Diocese of Little Rock. She and her husband Greg are members of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock.

Interested individuals are encouraged to call (501) 664-0340, ext. 348, e-mail or visit the group"s website at http://www.lcark.org/bike.