Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race 🎵

Ready, steady, go

Bicycle race - A young girl lines up at the start of a cross country bike race in Scotland

The two riders lined up at the start line of the bicycle race; one at the left of the grid and the other at the right. Between them and behind them other riders crowded, jostling for position, all ready with their race-faces on, but this race was going to be about the rider in the black and the rider in the yellow. The commissaire shouted “Go!” and the mass of riders sprinted to get into the first corner, which was wide enough for only two riders side by side. The rider in black reached the corner first, closely followed by a rider in yellow and then the rider in red. They disappeared into the trees and onto the narrow, winding single-track course.

The battle

When they re-appeared a few minutes later, the rider in red had passed the rider in yellow, but the rider in black now had a lead of around 15 seconds. It seemed too much for the rider in red to make up and it looked like the bicycle race had been lost in the first lap.

Bicycle race - A young girl races cross country on her mountain bike in Scotland — Photos © Raymond Leinster Photography

They disappeared into the trees again and the next time they reappeared the rider in red was a few seconds closer but had been snarled up behind some riders that had been lapped. On lap three the rider in black re-appeared with the rider in red only a few seconds behind. The rider in black looked tired and the rider in red looked hungry. It became apparent later that both riders had been in a battle royal in the trees, passing and then being passed and then passing each other again, only to reappear in the same position as before.

The sprint

The last lap was going to decide it and as they disappeared into the trees again the crowd held their breath. Emerging from the trees for the last time the rider in red was stuck behind three lapped riders, only just managing to pass them before entering the final corner. Now she was right on the tail of the rider in black and triumph in sight. She screamed from the depths of her soul and accelerated around the corner and the rider in black. Ahead was the finish line and victory. The rider in red sprinted with everything she had, crossing the line collapsing over the bars of her bike and struggling to catch her breath. She had won.

Bicycle race - A young girl sits on a chair exhausted after winning a cross country mountain bnike race in Scotland

The over-zealous parent

I have always said I would never be a parent who got over-excited at my children’s sporting achievements, but it was my daughter in the red of the Tay Titans Cycling Club who sprinted for victory. I couldn’t contain myself. I yelled her name louder than I think I have ever yelled and I am sure I was the subject of several raised eyebrows from other parents, but I didn’t care. I was the proudest Dad on Earth. Yes, it was only a regional, under-10s mountain bicycle race, but I knew what it meant to her. She had raced since the age of five and only been on the podium twice before, but had spoken of one day winning a race. Today was her day and as far as I was concerned, if she never raced again, the memory of her huge smile on the podium would be enough.

Bicycle race - A young girl gets her medal after winning a cross country mountain bnike race in Scotland — Photos © Raymond Leinster Photography

The proud dad

Many years later my daughter still talks of that bike race. Reflecting on that race today, I know it was not the winning that made me the proudest. It was the fact my daughter had pushed herself to her limit and then dug a little bit deeper. I had never seen her empty the tank so completely. It is amazing what we can do with enough determination and looking at my daughter now I can see that strength of character still stands her in good stead today, and not just in sport.

I am a passionate advocate for getting young people active and involved in sports and physical activity. The reasons for this are obvious, but I also believe getting them involved in sports at an early age goes far beyond mere health benefits. It teaches them about respect, determination, commitment and hard work alongside many other valuable traits that will stand them in good stead as they mature into adults.

Both my kids still participate in lots of different sports and, thankfully, they still enjoy the odd bike ride or race on occasion too. As a parent, it is hard not to confuse their choices with my excitement at getting them involved in bikes. Over the years I have taken the view of not pushing, but providing the opportunities and helping out when needed, but letting them follow their paths.