Trial training – the little ones

How practical, when you have children, I think this Saturday morning, when I stand on the terrace in full racing bike gear and drain again on my teacup. A nightingale chirping, the sky shines blue, the best conditions for my first bike training, and next to me my elder crouches and changes the hose of the front tire to the pretty white racing bike with which I want to go out to the 40-kilometer round to wall. “Leave it, I repair that, so it works faster,” he says.

My son is 31 and racing bike nerd: he has two vintage bikes, a gravel bike and two racing machines, they hang on the wall in his apartment, he cycles three-digit kilometers on his outings every week to the Berlin area. For my triathlon plan, he has put together equipment for me in no time in no time: the neat aluminum wheel with carbon fork. Click pedals. Racing bike shoes with carboons sole. I will find out that helmet, racing bike and jersey, calculated in new prices, is almost 3000 euros. Can he just give that? Wow.

Today he wants to introduce me to the finesse of racing cycling, on a joint exit. But first I have to go to a side street with him, I should learn how to get into the click pedal with the carbon shoe. 28 years ago I taught him the cycling and now he is grinning on the edge, while I am the one who drives meadow lines – when trying to finally click the plate into the stupid pedal: “The pedal the other way around!” He calls patiently. “In the tip, then step down!”

Trial training

Photo: Nd

ND editor Jirka Grahl tries something new, at the start of triathlon. 1500 m swimming, 43 km bike, 10 km run. On September 14th. is a competition premiere: at Fehmarn triathlon.

After 15 minutes I can do it reasonably and he sharpens me, never, really never to forget that I have to get out of the pedal when I come to a standstill. “Never! Otherwise you will turn like a tree! “He says, then he waves:” But probably happens to you at some point. Actually happens to everyone! «Well! How hard when you have children.

On the bike path out of the city, I first handle carefully: the seating position is extremely low and every bump is to be felt as a blow, although thanks to the firmly fixed shoes and the light wheel, you are quickly on the move. Whenever we roll at a red traffic light, my elders, who drives behind me, reminds me of the pedals: “Clink, dad!”

At some point we are on the country road and roles. The wind cools the heated face, the forest all around is a green flirting, the bikers high is there: how nice it is, quickly to cycle! At an increase, I briefly lose my son’s rear wheel when he drives away without notice. I groan.

In the end we are back in 1:41:20 hours after 41.65 kilometers – during this time professionals complete a complete triathlon, all three disciplines, ojey! Before I struggle, my son knocks on my shoulders: “The whole route drove through, strong, dad!” How good if you have children.