Feeding the Crow
- Jorge Estévez
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
A Wolf Witman trail story
This morning I had one of the best solo e-bike tours I’ve had in a long time.
The wildlife was out.
Birds everywhere.
Beautiful morning air.
Just me, the trail, and the rhythm of the ride.
Until I ran into a small lesson the universe decided to deliver.
I came up to a crosswalk where a group of regular cyclists were waiting for the light. Nice looking group. Couples, good bikes, clearly heading to the end of the trail to see the view.
I stopped with my back toward them.
One of the wives said to her husband:
“Look honey… that’s the kind of bike we need.”
He stayed quiet.
Then the light turned green.
The moment I started rolling away the guy said:
“Oh… that’s not riding a bike.”
I laughed and turned my head just enough to answer:
“That’s not riding a bike… that’s work. THIS… is riding a bike.”
Then I rolled off laughing.
Why?
Because I knew something he didn’t.
The next 3.5 miles had absolutely no shade, and the sun was already cooking the trail.
And me?
I was headed home… to make a sandwich and jump in the pool. 😎
But on the way home that comment kept poking at me.
Not what he said.
The mentality behind it.
That little hater bug that runs through so many men.
That quiet jealousy.
That need to diminish someone else’s enjoyment.
See… I’m not wired like that.
I’m not a guy.
I’m a man.
And a Wolf.
And when life presents a teaching moment… I don’t waste it.
So I went home.
Made my sandwich.
Grabbed more seeds for the birds.
Then I went right back out on the trail.
Music playing.
Sun shining.
Birds eating.
Just cruising… knowing that if it was meant to happen, the lesson would present itself.
I passed dozens of people.
Different colors.
Different beliefs.
Different backgrounds.
Every one of them pleasant.
But that little bug in the code… that comment… was the reason I was back out there.
Then I reached the end of the trail.
And sure enough…
There they were.
Minus two riders who had stayed behind completely exhausted.
The rest of the group saw me ride up.
You could see the worry in their eyes.
I rolled up slowly.
Music still playing.
I put down the kickstand.
Walked to the front of my bike and opened the pouch.
Pulled out my collapsible chair.
Set it up in the best shady spot on the path.
Then calmly walked to the back of the bike.
Pulled out my sandwich.
And my ice cold bottle of water.
And began enjoying lunch.
Right there.
While they baked in the sun.
Five minutes later they left.
Complaining.
Thirsty.
Hungry.
Tired.
Hot.
I stayed.
Finished my sandwich.
Listened to two more songs.
Helped a family take a picture.
Threw my trash in the bin.
Packed up my chair.
And headed back down the trail.
Did I see them again?
You bet I did.
Less than half a mile later.
Right before the fun downhill stretch.
I passed them cruising just fast enough to get that “weeeee” feeling.
Life is funny like that.
Some people ride bikes to prove something.
Others ride because they love the ride.
And sometimes…
When the universe puts a crow on the trail…
Well…
I like to feed the crow.
— Wolf Witman
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