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| 70-pound me, rolling in to finish my first century, atop my 35-pound bike photo: Mom (JoAnn Kinion) |
In 1972, at 11 years old, after about eleven hours in the saddle, I completed my first century, the Oak Tree Century. Starting and finishing near Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, CA. It definitely took “a village” to get me across the line, starting with my dad, mom, my sisters and our friends the Hubbards, with whom the Oak Tree Century in San Luis Obispo county became an annual get together for a few years, after we moved up from southern California.
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| Exhausted, sunburned and sore, being presented with the "Youngest Rider" plaque photo: Mom (JoAnn Kinion) |
Bless dad's heart (and uncle Russ's too) for pacing my short little legs through this long, hot ride. After about 75 miles, they rode on ahead to prep the welcoming crowd for me. A local shop owner rode back from the finish to meet me and escort me the last 25 miles or so, as I was really dragging.
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| This was my dad's (Tim) first century too. His practically brand new Schwinn Varsity was just as heavy! But he hammered it from Petaluma to Marshall and back almost every Saturday morning. |
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| I think I was just over 4’ 5” tall. This, my first ten-speed, a used Schwinn Varsity, would still be too big for me. photo: Mom (JoAnn Kinion) |
Over the next year dad and I got Merciers with sew-ups.
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| My brand new Mercier 200 with AVA rims, Normandy hubs, Simplex derailleurs, my trusty leather Ideale saddle, and sew-ups. Quelle différence! Still too big, but I'm growing. photo: Mom (JoAnn Kinion) |
The pride I still feel, for completing this ride, has kept me immersed in cycling ever since. Thanks to dad, mom, and all who’ve encouraged me over the years. And thanks to my fantastic wife, Jen, who understands, and even appreciates my obsession.
I didn't do my first century until August 5, 2006, when I was 41 years old. For me, there was no one moment when I graduated from "guy on a bike" to "cyclist." It was a slow process.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. For a year prior to this, I'd been chasing my dad all over two counties on weekend rides (25, 45, 50 milers), and it was becoming clear that cycling was "a thing" for us. But this first century was a clear defining moment for this little punk.
ReplyDeleteYou, my dad, and a majority of my cycling friends and teammates picked up cycling well into adulthood, and I'm always impressed with how much faster most of you progress.