When Steve Young retired and moved to Front Royal from Alexandria in 2020, he couldn’t wait to explore the scenic roads on his bike. “I’ve been a cyclist for 50 years and I started riding out here, but I was always riding alone,” said Young, who attends St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal. “Then one day, I saw an ad in the St. John’s Community Newsletter for a cycling club and I thought, ‘This is an answer to prayer.’ ”
The ad was placed by Kevin Williams, who founded “Cross Roads Catholic Men’s Cycling” in 2020. “I thought there must be other Catholic guys that like cycling,” said Williams. “It’s just so beautiful out here and this is a way to experience fitness, fraternity, and brotherhood.”
Newcomers are welcome and the pace is adjusted according to ability levels. “If you haven’t ridden in a long time, we’re a very casual group,” said Williams. “We’re out to have fun and get some fitness, but it’s not about how fast you can go.”
Five members showed up on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend to head out from the village of White Post for a 17-mile ride winding past horse farms, historic estates and postcard-like meadows with only a few tractors and cars sharing the road.
“When I started riding out here I had to pinch myself a few times because I thought, ‘Wow, this is really where I’m living,’ ” said Young. “It’s a beautiful place and now we’re able to take advantage of it in a group fellowship.”
While most club members live in the Shenandoah Valley and attend St. John the Baptist or Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Winchester, an open invitation is out to any man in the diocese who wants to participate. “We want to get the word out,” said Young. “We are not a parish club.”
Jason Manak discovered the club after moving from Southern California where he led an active outdoor lifestyle. “I had a wonderful community out there, but this is special to be able to come out here with Catholic men,” he said. “We start and end every ride with prayer and it’s nice to chat while we’re riding or to just be quiet with God.”
Much of the ride through Clarke and Warren Counties traversed cornfields and vast farmland. “I’ve been riding out here since I was a teenager,” said James Rice. “I love the fact that we still have these farms.”
The red and white custom-designed club jersey, featuring a large crucifix on handlebars, serves as a good conversation starter. “One day I was in Herndon at one of those wayside stations and a guy came up to me, saw my jersey and said, ‘Oh, I’m Catholic too,’ ” said Young. “And I said, ‘Well, you should come out and ride with us.’ ”
God had a surprise in store for the men on that recent Saturday. While taking a break at the Long Branch Historic House and Farm in Millwood, the cyclists saw a hiker appear, carrying a homemade wooden staff in his right hand and something else in his left hand. “That’s a rosary,” one of the men yelled. “That’s Father Riley,” said another.
The rosary-carrying pilgrim was Father John J. Riley, retreat master and spiritual director at the nearby San Damiano Retreat Center. After a few minutes of banter about how Father Riley looked like he had stepped out of a scene from “The Lord of the Rings,” he gave the men a blessing and continued his journey.
“Well,” said Williams. “I’d say that was the highlight of the day.”
