European Youth Tour TT in Assen, Netherlands |
I remember the day we took Liam’s training wheels off. It was an October day in California many
years ago. Liam had a little red Schwinn
bike. It was his first bike. He loved that bike, and whenever he got the
chance he used to ride it around a local park next to our house. I think Liam was around 4 years old when the
time had come for the training wheels to come off.
Liam in the mountains in yellow (Tour de Var) |
The big difference between riding with training wheels and
riding without is the way you have to lean in order to stay upright on the
bike. In the case of a bike with
training wheels, you use the support wheels by leaning on to them to stay
upright and balanced on the bike. If the bike starts to fall to one side you
lean on the support wheel of that side of the bike to keep you upright. Once the training wheels come off, the
dynamics of the bike change. Instead of
leaning into the fall and relying on the support, you lean the opposite
direction that you are falling and balance the bike on your own. It is a little awkward to make the
transition, but once you get it – it’s like magic – “it’s just like riding a
bike!”
A win at the GP Mandelieu (Tour de Cote d'Azur) |
I remember taking the training wheels off the bike. Liam was standing in the park fully
concentrated on the effort he was about to make. He was excited, but at the same time he was
calm and focused. During the first
attempt Liam was a little unsteady, the bike started to wobble, he leaned the
wrong way and fell over in the grass. He
got back up brushed himself off, and with a look of determination in his eyes
was ready to give it another go. For the
second attempt we started on a section of grass with a slight downhill. I started out running beside the bike holding
on until he got up to speed, and then I let go. There was a brief wobble, which
quickly straightened out, and then he was off zooming around the corner and out
of sight. It was a proud moment, but
also one as a parent that causes a little apprehension. You just have to hope and trust that, with
this new found freedom and speed, your child will be able to avoid all the
potential dangers in the form of bumps, trees, and cars that might come in
their way. It’s not easy to let go.
On the front at the Tour de Vauclause |
I guess the job of a parent is like that of a good pair of
training wheels. You are there to be
leaned on, and, if needed, to provide support for life’s potential stumbles and
falls; but there comes a time when your child starts to lean away - finding
their own equilibrium. Unlike the
training wheels, as a parent you are never completely out of the picture. You
are there quietly on the sidelines – just in case.
Since the day that the training wheels came off many years
ago, Liam continues to do great things on a bike. Until the other day, I had never done
a season results tally for a particular year.
Liam raced 31 times last year in France and all over Europe. These were fairly big events with anywhere
from 40 to 90 riders participating. Out of those 31 races Liam was on the
podium (1st, 2nd or 3rd) 21 times. He has come into his own. All
this success hasn’t gone unnoticed. He has been selected by the French Cycling Federation to ride on a team
which will compete at both the regional and national level for next season. He will have some amazing coaches, be able to
participate in some wonderful training camps, and have talented teammates to
motivate, challenge and encourage each other in training and racing
throughout the year.
Win with a breakaway at the GP Saint Roch |
The adventure continues --- off go the training wheels!
Live Strong, Train Safe, and Live Well!
This is Bill and Liam signing out.
Live Strong, Train Safe, and Live Well!
This is Bill and Liam signing out.
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