Riding with Dad	download/print this article
By: Justin Whiting

In the unwritten book of childhood there are many chapters on father/son activities. In most cases these youthful adventures revolve around some type of outdoor activity. Whether it be setting sail across the vast waters of a small lake or tossing around the ol’ baseball with pops, there is nothing more heartwarming then seeing a father and his little boy at play. With smiles as big as the world they can soak up the bright rays of sunshine and dance under beautiful vibrant blue skies for what seems like an eternity. Life couldn’t be more perfect. Until you throw in 30-mile hills, gravel burn, honking motorists, barking dogs, 50 mph “S” turns, hailing rain, morning fog, crosswinds that could knock over an elephant, and 21 gears of non-stop fun. Now that is a childhood I’d like to see Norman Rockwell portray. There is nothing comparable to taking to the open road with a loaded bike and your old man. So I say
hats off to all you fathers out there who decide to give your kids something more exciting then a leather glove or a funky shaped ball with shoelaces on it. I have been riding seriously for probably around 6 years now, and of those 6 years absolutely all of them have been with my dad. He showed me not only how to ride a bike but how to be a rider. It all started relatively easy of course. A few miles around the neighborhood and I’ll be the first to say that at I wasn’t a big fan of the nice and tight bicycle shorts, but being 13 I wasn’t a big fan of wearing anything that couldn’t catch the wind and send me flying like a kite. However, I soon got over my ego and decided that it would be much better to deal with the shorts considering the alternative, which was walking around like I rode a rabid horse for 3 days straight. So as the clothes got tighter and the rides got longer I became more and more comfortable with being on a bike. I was taught everything that a rider needed to know in order to be safe and ride well. I learned how to shift properly, how and when to draft, and how to bother attractive girls along the way. Well, that might have been just me. Anyway, as time progressed so did my riding. I got my first pair of Specialized shoes and clip-less pedals and inevitably fell over a lot. I constantly had to pick
myself up off the ground at almost every stop sign and stoplight, but that’s ok because it was all part of learning how to ride and my dad was there to show me how, and laugh when it happened. I learned more and more each day. Not only did I learn about myself but I also figured out how to take advantage…I mean utilize dad’s wisdom and experience. So for all you young riders out there heed my words of advise. Draft the old man for all he’s worth! Make him pull you up those 30-mile hills and then fly pass him on the 50mph downhill “S” turns. You must remember to always dismount your bike before you see him appear around that last turn, lean casually against one side, and with a cocky smile ask, “Oh man dad, what took you so long?” At that point I think that it would be in your best interest to cough up 50 cents and buy
some energy bars, just to smooth things over. Those kinds of things make riding great. It’s all about a great time, beautiful scenery, and a good workout. There is only competition in riding if you want there to be. You can ride 150 miles and feel great. There doesn’t have to be a trophy or huge celebration at the end of your day to make you smile. That is exactly how it was for my dad and me. No matter where we were riding or how long the day was, we could always just get off our bikes and smile.

It’s because of those long days that riding with your dad is the best and it’s because, well it is your dad. He has known you all of your life and as cliché as it may sound, he does know you better then you know yourself. When this whole bicycle thing started for me it was definitely a father/son activity, but now it’s just two guys out on a good ride, and since we’ve been riding for so long together it’s become more then just, “Hey son, you wanna come ride with me today?” Now it’s more along the lines of, “Hey J, we’re doing 400 miles down the northern coast of California in 2 weeks, just our bikes and full packs.” What am I going to say, No? I don’t think so. So we did the California ride when I was about 17 and it was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. I was introduced to beautiful wine fields, cloudless west-coast skies, amazing campgrounds, and some of the friendliest people I have ever met. As a relatively young guy I don’t know too many people my age that can say they traveled the coast of California with nothing more then a bike, a few pieces of clothing, and some camping gear, although I do know plenty of people with dusty trophies. I have had such an amazing trip so far with my riding that I can only imagine the possibilities of where it will lead me. I have aspirations, as most riders do, to travel to world. I want to see everything the world has to offer, and I want to see it all from the seat of my bike and who better to share that experience with than my dad. So all you dad’s out there, get that kid of yours out on the road and let them enjoy what the world has to offer. As time goes by and you get slow we might just let you draft us up those 30-mile hills. Under one condition of course, you gotta spring for those energy bars at the bottom.