Li Mu Bai Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 Despite the fact that all mountain bikers are kids at heart, no matter their years of experience, racing with your own kids is quite an unnerving first time experience. Yesterday I took my seven year old son to test his mettle at the Sterling Light Northern Farms MTB Challenge. <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />His first official 16km MTB race ? resplendent in his brand new ?Bad Boys? cycling shirt. His knobby knees and stork thin legs poking out of his padded cycle shorts. He was ready ? ready to WIN!It?s quite hard to shake off the protective feelings that we build around those we care about. At times I didn?t know whether to have a heart attack or smile with admiration. It was amazing to watch this little guy just go for it. He had it in his head he was going to be first no matter what, and nothing I could say would influence him. From the starting whistle he was sprinting, head down and his thin skinny little legs whirring along, driving his single speed at a velocity it had never seen before. During the first kilometer on the sand road he started questioning, ?why are my legs hurting?? Despite this he didn?t slacken his pace. Then a down hill - oh my goodness. Full throttle! I had to work to keep up. Having taken a good concussive tumble two weeks earlier, I found myself saying a prayer for him, as the rough terrain and sand bars bumped him up and down on his saddle and flat pedals. He turned corners so neatly, and without slowing, that Valentino Rossi would have been envious. Then the new single track cut through the trees, slightly uphill. I sensed his feeling of despair as the other participants moved past him. Cries of "I hate this racing, why do they make it so hard for kids and not adults? I'm not racing anymore. That guy's got in my way and didn?t move!" and so on and so forth soon followed. He didn?t want to get off and push, but the heavy bike wouldn?t have it any other way, and his one gear wouldn?t allow further negotiation.I realized he was vocalizing what many others were thinking privately. Many of the passers by just smiled and nodded, and agreed. Plenty of up-hills later, and seeing the steady line of cyclist both ahead of him and behind, made him realize that he was part of an occasion ? the self test that many of us experience each time we race off-road.It was a good experience for him to see what he is capable of, and he gritted his teeth as he pedaled up the final hill with a little assistance from me.We all got our medals at the end, and he enjoyed his ?boerrie roll?, and T-shirt. It seemed that his struggles were promptly forgotten. MTB is tough for the little ones, but I have seen the tiger within him, and am sure he will be growling a lot in the near future.
Spinnekop Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 Also thought it's nice. Not the normal moaning and nagging!! Also planning a family at the moment and in a few years time, DV, I will be able to write one myself!
_BBi Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 Nice one. My 8 year old and I will be doing his first "race" at then end of the month - he cannot wait.
BrokeSpoke Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 A very good report and pleasure to read. I can't wait for my two kids to do their first ride. But I will wait for them to come to me and ask. I think it would be a big mistake to force a sport on them , that they could come to resent if they have a "bad day" in the saddle, one their first ride. But I do envy you.
slowjoe Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 good stuff, u must b very proud cant wait to cycle & golf with my kids
Tumbleweed Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 lovely report! also rode with the boys there on sunday. rude, why not take your boy down to mintek this saturday? racing there's a whole lot easier. quick question: what were you and your son wearing?holy roller2007-10-01 09:25:58
Li Mu Bai Posted October 1, 2007 Author Posted October 1, 2007 Thanks guys, what I realise is that the first race is an eye opener for the little ones (and parents), they still believe they are the centre of the universe, and can do absolutely anything. Absolutely Fearless too! Its also such a totally diferent experience for them that they wont really be able to imagine it, so best advice I can give is just take them along on a less important race day, and have some fun together. Its unnerving, but definitely worth it.Julien had his white, blue and grey bad boys cycling gear, I had my white and grey capestorm kit, and the missus as there in her Pinks. She battled on the uphills too.Cant do mintek this weekend, got a school function over the weekend that includes a 2km cycle race for my son and his class mates. Funny how the school only thinks his age should manage 2km's - the way he rode yesterday, he would be finished in 5 minutes and left wondering what the fuss is all about. Rude2007-10-01 15:22:14
ewep Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Rude, may I hijack your thread. Here's my 9 month old baby on her first "training" ride for the 947m this year. Ready or not, here she comes!!!
Tumbleweed Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 nice pic. the little one still being so good, ewep?
ewep Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Always HR. She just gets cross when she has to get off her bike!
Bateleur1 Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Already entered my little 3 year old for the 94.7 kiddies race. Hope the rain stays clear this year. Did not enter my 10 month little terrorist. SHe has only been walking for 3 weeks and already she thinks she is the worlds fasters sprinter. She is having a good look at the spare motorbike in the house
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