She’s already a better climber than me
My 7-year-old daughter, Melissa, has been bugging me to sign her up for a bicycle race or triathlon ever since she ran into the house a couple of summers ago and announced “Hey, dad! I taught myself to ride a two-wheeler!”
Every race I enter she asks if there is a kids race she can sign up for, too. Unfortunately, the only ones that fit the bill have conflicted with her schedule.
Still, when I noticed this sweet little ride in the window of the bike shop I couldn’t resist — and the price was right!
It’s a 35cm Fuji Ace.
Her hands are barely big enough to grip the brake levers and I’ve told her to just ride up the driveway and onto the grass to slow down and step off, using her foot to stop forward motion and prevent a crash.
So far, so good — no crashes.
Now the trick is to find a race she can participate in. She’s a decent little swimmer and has boundless energy. So this spring and summer I’ll undoubtedly sign her up for a kids triathlon and transition — get it? triathlon, transition? — from Racer Dude to Racer Dad.
And the bike will make the move down to my 5-year-old son eventually.
Should be lots of fun.
Of course, the bike will always serve as a back up if things break down with my bikes.
Give em a year or two and your gonna need one of the trailers in the background to haul the Eborn race team/family to events.
jdub
October 27, 2009 at 11:28 am
Wouldn’t that be sweet?
Move over, Putts, Gardners and Hoovers. There’s a new gang of cyclists in town.
je
October 27, 2009 at 11:33 am
My 7 year old son did a triathlon at the middle school on the way into park city in September and had a blast. He rocked the swim but got passed in the transition by two of the kids who did the week long tri camp there the week before. He managed to pass one on his little BMX bike and held on for second. He was very psyched.
He may do the camp next year.
Steve
October 27, 2009 at 3:14 pm