One of the things that I lurve about the cycling in this house is the wonderful relationships that our sons have with my partner.

They want to train with him

They want to sit around afterwards and disect races and training rides

They want to work with him on the bikes in the shed

And then I listen to the way they encourage and support me, and my younger boys, and try to include their sister even though she is not a cyclist. I listen to the mature way they talk and listen to friends and relations

I watch them from the corner of my eye at races talking to strangers and older folk respectfully and I am so incredibly proud for them.

And I strongly believe that their fathers input and interest is huge in this.

I watch other boys at schools, at sports events and their fathers are absent, or are hurling almost-abuse at them, that demoralising, prodding kids to be more aggressive stuff... and those boys look differently at their dads, and don't choose to spend spare time with their fathers.

I am very thankful. I married a good man, and we are raising good men.

Thanks for starting this thread, wabisabi