|
previous | next
'I Struggled More Than I Could Ever Imagine'
By John Tomlinson
I joined xXx Racing-AthletiCo in January of 2005 at the age of 13.
I was in seventh grade at the University of Chicago’s Laboratory
School. I was not sure what I was getting myself into, but I knew
I was interested in cycling as a sport.
After a couple of years just riding, I was looking for a structured
junior development program, which xXx offered. I was completely
overwhelmed at the first planning meeting I attended at the Chicagoland
Bicycle Federation. I didn’t know what a category was, let
alone a pace line.
The xXx junior coordinator, Nicole Kemerer, assured me I was welcome;
and she introduced me to Randy Warren, program specialist at the
Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, and several other cyclists who patiently
outlined the basics.
The Saturday after I joined xXx, I went on the team’s weekend
training ride. It was a freezing January morning. About seven men
and women headed north to Highland Park – that’s about
50 miles – at a speed of about 17 mph.
 |
| John Tomlinson celebrates his win
in the category 4 race at this year’s Monsters of the
Midway Criterium. |
I struggled more then I could ever imagine but was supported throughout
the ride by my new teammates. They taught me how to draft and take
pulls.
They taught me how to ride the road safely while having a good training
ride.
On my second team ride, George Langford, one of my teammates, pulled
up next to me. I asked him in a panting voice “Is this hard
for you?” He said, “Well, not really,” and put
a hand on my back and pushed me back into the draft of the group
in front.
It was not the answer I was looking for, but the gesture was nice.
We now ride together on a regular basis and at a faster pace than
our first encounter.
I realized I had a long way to go to keep up with the team. I could
have easily dropped the sport then and there, but since I had all
the xXx support and encouragement around me, I continued to participate.
As I became more serious about the sport, I began training day-to-day
with a structured training program that Randy designed and on advice
from my mentor Shane Winn.
xXx provides every junior with a mentor and I was lucky to be paired
up with Shane. He raced as a junior, too, so he knows what I go
through. Whether it is growing pains or too much homework, he understands.
Our relationship started with just e-mailing each other, and it
has grown to workouts and rides together. It means a lot to me to
be able to look up to someone and strive to be just as fast and
smart as he is. And it also feels good to know that I can help others
on the team just as they have — and continue — to help
me.
The new year brings many new members – some racers that are
getting back into the competitive sport after taking some years
off, and some that are brand new to racing.
It has been fun to see progress in my cycling ability and to see
others develop around me. xXx is a great group of people in which
to grow. The team provides not only teammates but also social opportunities
for us to step away from the bike and have fun.
The past year has been more than I could ever ask for: meeting new
people, becoming faster, getting dropped and even an occasional
win. It has been a great experience that I know will continue to
grow.
John Tomlinson will return to Lab School in the fall.
|
