bicykel

Kids cyclocross bike - I know… I have a problem…

I am and have been addicted to cycling for as long as I can remember. Even when two wheels were replaced by four (skateboard), I kept riding and jumping. Now I find it hard to divide my time between my bikes and what type of riding I want to do. My cross bike has been favorite since I bought it. Nothing climbs like it and it is fast as hell. It’s only natural I would get her one to join me on my adventures.

Plus I figured she needs a bike to cruise around with her friends. I am very strict about her riding her road bike with other kids when I am not there. The bike is very fast and she often shows off. The end result is a crash or a near miss that would make your hair stand up. I picked up a complete Trek Mountain Lion at a yard sale. It was a tad beat and needed cables and chain at the minimum.

I decided to conver the bike to a cyclocross bike instead of keeping it a mtn bike. An easy task. Buy tires, wheels, bars, levers and an old XTR derailleur.

The result. A super fast kids cross bike.

She took it for a test ride and loved it. I asked why she was riding so much faster on this bike. She didn’t know. I think it was newbike excitement.

On the road.

In the woods and over a fallen branch.

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It rained for the month of June. t is July now and still raining. Not fun at all…

The track will most likely be canceled again, I’m hoping Longsjos isn’t. See you there.

July 2nd, 2009 | Tags: cross-cx, kids-cyclocross-bike, longsjo-race | Category: Bikes | Leave a comment

Bike race - through the eyes of an 8 year old…

My oldest daughter raced this past weekend. Below the photo are her words explaining what it was like.. through her eyes.

She’s on the right, pink jersey (arrow). Additional photos below her story.

I was so scared and excited on my way to the bike race.When I got to the race…I was jumping out of the car. I got my bike out and I watched the 5-6 year olds race their bikes. There were three races for the little kids.

I was warming up on the grass crit course before my first race. It was pretty hard and my dad had to keep helping me because my gears were wrong. I warmed up two times around and I was pretty tired. I have never been on grass with my road bike.

Then the one geared 7-8 year old raced first on the grass. I was watching them and it looked pretty easy but it wasn’t. When I went on the grass it was super hard so I wasn’t paying attention to the other kids. I was so surprised becuase I was in second place.

Next I raced with the 9-10 year old kids on the road. There were a lot of boys but there were only two girls. I came in first place in the road race. I was so happy.

While I was riding I was talking to a volunteer. She cheered me on and told me I was a good climber. The races were over and they pulled names for a new bike. My sister picked the second name because the first person wasn’t there. The boy that won the road race won the new bike too.

My first race was exciting and fun.

It is odd when your kids listen. Anyone with kids knows this to be true. Right before her grass crit started I told her to ride at her own pace and save energy. She listened, on her second lap she reeled in 3 or 4 girls to place second. Imagine what she could do if she only listened about not teasing her sister.

Thanks to the New England Bike Club for putting on and volunteering to help at the event.

She’s thinking about pre-riding.

Lining the kids up for the geared bike road race. (open class, not enough for individual fields)

On course with one of NEBC’s elite riders.

Accepting her 1st place trophy (out of two)

All you Tyler Hamilton fans out there must know he is from Marblehead MA..
There was a kid at the race running around with a Hamilton Foundation jersey on. When they gave him an award they asked if he was related to Tyler (they share a last name),, “he’s my uncle” the boy said. As I looked over to his smiling father I saw a Tyler hat and knew it was true. Tyler Hamilton’s brother and nephew were there. The young Hamilton (arrow) placed second in the boys geared road race. Good stuff. Do we have another cyclist coming from the Hamilton clan?