My Son's First Race

[Uncle Jam's Army]

I apologize for the shameless parent beaming with pride post, but today was my son Andres' first bicycle race. He is 14 years old and took up cycling this past August. Though I've been riding for a long time, I never once asked him if he wanted to take up cycling, as I wanted him to approach me about it, if he was interested. We made it through him riding with tennis shoes, and the many falls with clipless pedals, and each week he has improved and gained strength by leaps and bounds. I have to go all out to drop him on a climb now. I suspect he'll be dropping the old man soon enough. A few weeks ago, he told me he wanted to try racing, too.

Today Andres toed the line in the Jr. 15-16 category. A group of six kids got away from the gun, and Andres caught on with two other kids to form the first chase group. Though the three kids shared pulls, the two others let Andres do all the pulling in the last two laps and they predictably came around him at the end. All in all, he learned a lot and is excited to do his next race. We are so proud of him. Mom and Dad love you, Andres.

[rePhil]

That's cool. Congrats to both of you!

[Cicli]

Awesome.

[Black Dog]

Good for you. Nice moment. I was 14 when I rode my first race and still remember that day. He will never forget it! Cycling is a great sport for fostering resilience and discipline in a young person. Hard work and suffering for, sometimes, small gains is a great lesson about how things are earned not given.

[AngryScientist]

awesome man.

he looks very PRO on the bike too, i must say.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Uncle Jam's Army

I have to go all out to drop him on a climb now. I suspect he'll be dropping the old man soon enough..

"Suspect"?

LOL, dad, you're toast......... and it will be a cool moment for the both of you. In the meantime try putting lead in his water bottles.

[jghall]

Nothing wrong with being a proud papa Robert. Great pics.

[Ralph]

Totally understand the pride.

[SlowPokePete]

Awesome!

SPP

[shovelhd]

Ninth in his first race ever? That's great.

[ntb1001]

Get used to being dropped.
Here is a pic of my view of my 14 year old when we ride together. ..

[Grinta13]

Based on the last image in your post, I'd say he clearly needs an upgrade to some aero carbon wheels. Certainly he would have been in the front group then.

In all seriousness, that's awesome. I wish my daughter showed some interest in cycling, so I'm quite jealous.

[54ny77]

That is awesome! You must've been beaming with pride.

[velomonkey]

Getting in the 2nd group when you can see on the start line you got some George Hincapie junior dude with a DOGMA - I'd say that's a good result.

Go on, be a proud poppa.

[soulspinner]

Kudos for letting him come to you. Good parenting and a great result.