BluesDawg

I bet it won't take that long.

When my son was 9 we got a tandem so he could join me on rides. We started with short rides around the block and moved up to a 25 miler in a few weeks. Two months later he rode with me for 3 days of BRAG, Bicycle Ride Across Georgia, about 60 miles per day. We did a couple of 75 mile rides that fall and he rode 40 miles on his MTB on the Silver Comet Trail.
The following Christmas he wanted a road bike. I built up a Nashbar 51 cm frame with older 105 triple components. I was just able to make it fit him with the seat all the way down and forward, but it did fit well and the lanky rascal is growing into the bike nicely now. He was doing 25 mile rides right off the bat and by spring completed 2 metric centuries. In April we rode 18 miles in the N. Georgia mountains from Blairsville to the top of Brasstown Bald to see the Tour de Georgia stage finish. We did have to do some walking on BB, but he had to stop several times along the way for me to catch up on the climbs. This from a kid not quite 11 y/o.
Now at 11, he rides on all my club rides. We aren't a fast club, averaging 13-16mph in rolling hills, but he hangs right with us. He has a little trouble keeping a steady pace on the flat sections, but is regularly one of the first to the top of the worst climbs.

When we started, I worried that I might try too hard to push him into riding, but he has amazed me and everyone he meets by his enthusiasm and prowess at riding. He wants to try some racing, so I think we will see about entering him in the kids race at the Twilight races in Athens next spring. I hope this interest keeps going, but even if it subsides later, I sure am enjoying sharing this with him now.

Maybe our boys will knock heads on the racing circuit in a few years !

DiRt DeViL

My little rascal is doing well, so far he has participated on 2 track events. He finished 2dn in the 200m and 3rd in the 500m on the first race and on the second finished 2nd in the 200m, 1st in the 500m and 1st in chase (1km).

He has a track bike coming so hopefully he'll improve his times by using the banking on the track, he's using his roadie but can only ride on the flat section because the pedals hit the track. The new bike should be here on Friday is the shop doesn't screw up.

kf5nd

In a few short years your son will be whippin' your old butt... happened to me. Be nice to him now, or he'll rub your face in it later.

DiRt DeViL

I can hardly wait for that day to come.

DiRt DeViL

This past Friday he finally got his fixed gear track bike and raced on it on Saturday. This time were all silver medals on an excellent effort considering that it was his first time on a fixie and to make it more sweet all his times improved.