In an otherwise good visit with my grandparents (who are in their 80s) this past weekend, I was told that I was "good at many sports, but never really picked up one."
It made me think that after all those years of struggling to be a cyclist, especially as a junior, when the most important thing in my life, above all else, was to be a national class rider, that they never even considered what I was doing was a sport. Perhaps it was just an outdoor activity to them, like backpacking, sledding, I don't know. They were also a bit shocked at how badly my brother injured himself in several criteriums--one that almost put him in traction and in the neck surgery ward.
I like this photo of me from 4 years ago.
Seth, Seth, Seth...Running is almost a sport as is skiing but riding a bicycle is just something you do until you grow up and get a car. And a sport is something you do until you have a mortgage and yard work. Then you play softball.
ReplyDeleteRemember it's not a sport unless you throw and/or hit something (should be a ball; frisbees don't count), preferably while holding a lite beer.
and don't forget my uncle (rom what i hear the highest paid faculty member at unl ...) "how much money did you make last weekend?". fer christ sakes.
ReplyDeletehe could only relate to cycling in the terms he knew - ie: $$. it was so wierd.
Didn't you make, like, $400 as a cat 3 at quad cities one year?
ReplyDeleteyeah, top 5 at snake and muscatine brought in some dough. and anytime you ended up in the top 10 at moline you scored some major cash. i think it all came together for me one year and i cleaned up.
ReplyDeletemight've been the same year i went with you and you overcooked that corner going back to tracey's moms house. godamn that was funny.