Big Dam Bridge Century!!

[Flybye]

I just went and found the official pictures of us from the Big Dam Bridge 100. I want to share this one of my son, finishing the 50 after not riding all summer (except to the pool which is less than a mile away).

http://www.printroom.com/ViewGallery...116&scount=353

Doesn't he look happy? He was smiling at his dad, who was taking a photo from behind the barrier. Doing a little swerving around as he crosses, probably just for the joy of it. It's one of the most interesting poses of the whole gallery, because he's not straight up like everyone else.

The gallery is really really slow to load. I ended up scanning through the thumbnails just looking for red or yellow or gray jerseys, because you can't scroll through the images very fast. I wish the photographer would get a better website. Last year I didn't buy any photos because I was so frustrated with the website. I'll bet he doesn't know that!

Karen

p.s. I know his helmet is undone...he'd gotten tired of it just as he rounded the last corner.

What a fantastic photo!!!! A keeper for sure.

How old is your son?

My son (11 in a month) has been BEGGING for a road bike and cries when he can't go with my hubby and I on a ride. He doesn't cry often either............. What kind of bike is he riding?

[Tuckervill]

He's 13. 14 on Nov. 5th.

We bought that bike when he was about to turn 13. It's a 1972 lugged steel John Deere. He was a *little* too small for it, but it needed rebuilding. So we rebuilt it over the last year (we had a steep learning curve and neglected it a lot). The BDB was its inaugural event ride, and it performed perfectly.

Keep in mind that he is 5'6" already and his dad is 6'7". He's not the tallest kid his age that we know, but I think by the time it's over he'll at least be 6'4". We bought this bike knowing he would grow out of it--and that's why we didn't spend a lot of money on it.

I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a road bike for a growing kid, unless they were racing. I'd check out the classic & vintage forum at bikeforums.net, and try to find an older, serviceable bike for cheap. There are older, relatively inexpensive with fine parts that even have indexed shifters that would be just right. Plenty of the C&V collectors flip the smaller bikes because that can't ride them, so you should be able to find a small bike for your son.

His bike is heavier than mine because it's steel, but he's still faster than me because he's male and young. The steel with a double crank is a handicapping factor in my favor! lol.

Karen