Valley Gran Fondo rider extends a thank you to Jack Boden
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:57 am
The following post to the TS Facebook page is a great example of how cyclists, of all ages, work to achieve their dreams. Thank you Jack Boden for being a great ambassador for the TS Youth Team!
Dave Chamberlain (feeling thankful) writes:
So although yesterday at the #VGF2015 did not go as I had planned there is a wicked story I want to share (besides how proud I am of Roy McBeth for his ability to once again soar on a bicycle, and I don't think he has reached potential still!!!). So I had to make a decision to just do the Medio Fondo distance and when I made the left turn off the GF course there was myself and about 5 other people, including some great youngsters from the Tripleshot Cycling Club. At any rate there was one young fellow who I finally asked with about 15km to go what his name was and he said Jack. But at around 25-30KM to go I saw the effort this kid was putting in and hammering to stay with the pace. So since I figured my day was not going as planned anyway, and rather than completely quit and just ride casual in I said to Jack "buddy get on my wheel and I will pull you to the finish as fast as I can", so he hops on and away we go. We got to the last punchy climb and I asked how he was doing, he says fine and then says "you are my hero man, thanks so much for pulling me" ... to which I replied "me your hero, no way you are my hero doing what you are at your age" (which turns out he is 13!!!!!!!). On the final River Road section from 256th there were times when I was doing my best to pull at around 41km/hr and Jack was there the entire time. With about 2kms to when I asked Jack how he was doing, he said "fine, you an go a bit quicker if you like", but I admitted I was on the limiter and had a good laugh at his comment nonetheless (I sure wish I could have grabbed another 3 or 4km/hr) and said I was pulling as fast as I could. In reality I had been pulling for the past 25+KM w/ no help so felt I was doing pretty good. Since I was not planning on crossing the finish line as I was registered for the full, I told Jack and our 3rd companion over those last 25+k (his name was Doug from Chilliwack) that I would lead them to the left-hander into the finish shoot and they could hammer in, I would pull off. So I did and despite not doing the full, the inspiration and motivation that Jack provided to me was amazing and helped me feel pretty darned good about the 88kms I had raced. Thanks Jack for the time on my wheel and keeping me driven to finish as hard as I could under the circumstances. I hope we can ride again some day, maybe just a casual spin around Victoria as that is where I believe your club is based. I am on Vancouver Island every month for work and usually in Victoria for a couple of days.
#lifemoments #itsallaboutthejourney #VGF2015
Thanks as always to Experience Cycling and William Arnold for all your help and support.
Cheers.
Dave Chamberlain (feeling thankful) writes:
So although yesterday at the #VGF2015 did not go as I had planned there is a wicked story I want to share (besides how proud I am of Roy McBeth for his ability to once again soar on a bicycle, and I don't think he has reached potential still!!!). So I had to make a decision to just do the Medio Fondo distance and when I made the left turn off the GF course there was myself and about 5 other people, including some great youngsters from the Tripleshot Cycling Club. At any rate there was one young fellow who I finally asked with about 15km to go what his name was and he said Jack. But at around 25-30KM to go I saw the effort this kid was putting in and hammering to stay with the pace. So since I figured my day was not going as planned anyway, and rather than completely quit and just ride casual in I said to Jack "buddy get on my wheel and I will pull you to the finish as fast as I can", so he hops on and away we go. We got to the last punchy climb and I asked how he was doing, he says fine and then says "you are my hero man, thanks so much for pulling me" ... to which I replied "me your hero, no way you are my hero doing what you are at your age" (which turns out he is 13!!!!!!!). On the final River Road section from 256th there were times when I was doing my best to pull at around 41km/hr and Jack was there the entire time. With about 2kms to when I asked Jack how he was doing, he said "fine, you an go a bit quicker if you like", but I admitted I was on the limiter and had a good laugh at his comment nonetheless (I sure wish I could have grabbed another 3 or 4km/hr) and said I was pulling as fast as I could. In reality I had been pulling for the past 25+KM w/ no help so felt I was doing pretty good. Since I was not planning on crossing the finish line as I was registered for the full, I told Jack and our 3rd companion over those last 25+k (his name was Doug from Chilliwack) that I would lead them to the left-hander into the finish shoot and they could hammer in, I would pull off. So I did and despite not doing the full, the inspiration and motivation that Jack provided to me was amazing and helped me feel pretty darned good about the 88kms I had raced. Thanks Jack for the time on my wheel and keeping me driven to finish as hard as I could under the circumstances. I hope we can ride again some day, maybe just a casual spin around Victoria as that is where I believe your club is based. I am on Vancouver Island every month for work and usually in Victoria for a couple of days.
#lifemoments #itsallaboutthejourney #VGF2015
Thanks as always to Experience Cycling and William Arnold for all your help and support.
Cheers.