Last summer, I was riding in Whistler with a couple of friends. We had planned a 400-ish-meter climb and a super fun and flowy downhill.
It was nothing racy or hardcore, just a nice casual ride, and at the last minute, my 13-year-old daughter asked if she could join in.
I looked at my friends, and I think they had the same thought I did. “This might slow us down a bit, but it’s pretty awesome that she wants to ride with us.”
So my friends and I headed out with Rhyley in tow.
We warmed up along the flats and then headed up the climb trail. My friends blasted ahead to some good rest spots while Rhyley and I rode at her pace. She did great, and although she was a bit slower, she rode everything clean and toughed it out on the steeper bits.
Near the top, when she realized she was off the back, she looked discouraged and said, “Dad, I just want to be as good as you... now.”
I tried to explain that no one is just good at stuff, they all have to learn, practice, focus, and endure some failure before they get good. And this isn’t just pertaining to mountain biking, but almost everything in life.
I understand her discouragement when riding with experienced riders who can sometimes make it all look so easy, but we all started somewhere, and these skill sets didn’t just appear one day. They were earned over many years, many rides, and many failures.
In the "easier said than done" category, I also understand how daunting this can be when a rider is just starting. It’s a long haul, and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is hard. But Rhyley took it in stride. I think. I wasn’t sure if she was listening, or just smiled at me and nodded so I’d shut up. She is 13.
She also started playing hockey last year, and in a similar situation, she plays with many experienced girls, but she is a newbie just trying to learn the game. I’ve said the same thing to her many times, “It’s hard until it isn’t anymore, just keep pushing and you’ll get there.”
That is when she typically rolls her eyes at me and heads out on the ice. Oh well, I try to encourage.
She was recently playing in an early season game, and I think that light at the end of the tunnel became a little more apparent. She was trying way harder and played with more aggression, and you could just watch her enjoyment level go up exponentially... along with her confidence. And then out of nowhere, she rushed the net, got right into the battle, and scored her first goal.
It was pretty awesome to watch, and my level of pride was off the charts, but I think for me, it wasn’t the goal itself, but the realization for Rhyley that hard work, perseverance, and not fearing failure, truly does pay off.
I still try new things on my bike, and I still have a healthy mix of success and failure, but I figure if I just keep working hard, it will all fall into place... and then it’s easy right?
I’m James Durand and I’m Goin’ Ridin'
