Lego Zombie Electric-Slap Army

I'm not sure what that means either but it's something that my youngest son said, and this post is about him and his brother. You see, we have the Short Track Mtb Series going on right now. I'm one of the promoters, I'm the MC, lotsa jobs between me, Joe Cz, Fatty, Seiler and the rrp family. On top of that, my boys love to come and race and this post is about them. It's about having to learn sportsmanship in public. (Im hoping this doesnt get soap-boxy. Positivity isnt really my thing, you know.)
They're both gracious when they do well, it's the lessons they have to learn when shit goes wrong that's hard. It's hard because you want them to do the right thing, or help them learn what that is. For example, last week my electric-slap creating son(sorry it makes me laugh), had a mechanical that took him out of the race. It was really hot. He was already tired. His back brake locked up, so he was giving it everything he had, but the bike wasn't going anywhere. My wife got to him first and helped him off the course. I tried to explain to him that it wasn't his fault and that he'd tried his best but the storm clouds on his brow looked more than vaguely familiar. My boy has his dad's temperament...unfortunately. The wife walked him over to a chair so we could get him cooled off emotionally and physically. Tall girl offered him a popsicle, but got the glowering look. I told him to be respectful. I told Tallgirlky that I was glad he hadn't learned the f-word. She said he may not know it, but he was thinking it in his head.
So how do you teach them how to act in the moment? We fell back on the lessons we've taught him in his meager 7yrs and talked him thru it. In the end, even tho he was somewhat rightfully pissy, a Popsicle and a little time and he was all good. We fixed up his bike and he is ready this week. Don't call it a comeback. Ok, call it a comeback. Whatever.

So the story about son #1, kidA is a little different. We were out for a mtb ride on Saturday afternoon. I was a little shattered from a road ride that morning so we were at chatting pace as we came around a blind corner. Unfortunately, there was another biker coming the other way at top speed. Thank goodness I was on the front. We hit head on. Neither one of us had time to slow much so it was a pretty hard hit. Bikes and bodies collided and dood and I both hit the terra. I got up, checked to make sure kidA was okay, he was safely back but a little shaken. The super-collider on the other hand was still laying in the weeds holding his arm. This was bad. I helped him up as we listened to the air hiss out of his front tire. He and I both started apologizing and checking ourselves for missing pieces. It's not as tho I can lie to you and tell you that I've always demonstrated proper behavior in front of my kids. I try, but its not necessarily my strong suit. Saturday was different. We helped the other rider with his stuff, gave him my phone to call for a ride and acted like grown ups. Even if we were out playing mountain bikes. We took my battered bike over to the boys at OYLC and it needed nothing more than a new brake disc(they build a strong wheel over there). The conversation kidA and I had about the crash, about the other guy, and about how we all acted was an opportunity I rarely get. I had a chance to point to my own behavior as a positive example. Not sure if thats happened before or if it will again.
As a post script to this, the next day I got a call from a number that I didnt recognize. It was the other guy. He was calling to re-apologize and check on me. Thats impressive. Lotsa folks would've just moved on. this guy offered to pay for my repairs(I declined). I sat down with kidA and talked with him about it. Really, Im usually a cautionary tale at best so I had to take my moment. I guess this thing about having to learn lessons with all eyes upon you is what everyone goes thru. I see the moment happen and it goes all slow motion, and you hope in that brief second that something you did right colors the next thing they do. Sometimes it does.

Okay, so we'll get back to the usual racing stories, scatalogical humor and heckling on the next post. As you were.