Authors: Jake Maddox
Tags: #Juvenile Fiction/Sports & Recreation/Cycling
Cycling Champion
OF
CONTENTS
Chapter 4:
The River City Racers
Chapter 5:
Mastering the Machine
Chapter 8:
The River City Criterium
THE SUPER BROTHERS
“That's it. Nobody move,” Austin's mother said. “Perfect! Now smile!” She was busy snapping another photo of Austin's twin brothers, Josh and Matt. The boys stood next to each other in the living room, proudly holding their basketball trophy between them.
It was easy for the boys to smile. Josh and Matt were great athletes, and tonight their team had won again.
Austin sighed. It wasn't the first time his older brothers had brought home a trophy. It wasn't even the second or third time. They won all the time. Austin was proud of his brothers, but he couldn't help feeling a little jealous. He'd never won a trophy for any sport.
“I thought for sure we'd run out of time before you made that last shot,” Josh admitted to Matt.
“All I was thinking about was sinking that basket,” Matt said. “I never even thought about the clock.”
“Well, you were the only one,” their dad said. “The rest of us were holding our breath!”
Austin knew he should congratulate his brothers. “Really great game, guys,” he said.
“Okay, everyone to the table for pizza,” Mom said. “Time to celebrate!” She turned and walked through the kitchen door.
Austin's dad and brothers walked out of the room, still talking about the game. Austin stayed in the living room. He looked up at the awards and trophies on the bookcase. None of them belonged to him. Matt and Josh had won them all.
I'll never win a trophy like that
, Austin thought. His brothers played almost every sport there was: football, baseball, basketball, hockey. Austin didn't play any of those. It wasn't that he wasn't athletic. He loved biking. He was even pretty fast, but nobody won trophies for that.
Austin sighed. He didn't feel much like celebrating. He walked quietly out of the living room and upstairs to his bedroom.
I'll never be as good as they are
, he thought, flopping down on his bed.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door. The door opened, and his mom poked her head in.
“Are you okay, Austin?” she asked. She came in and sat down next to him. “Don't you want pizza? You'd better hurry up before your brothers eat it all.”
“I'm not hungry, I guess,” Austin said.
His mother pretended to look shocked. She reached over and felt his forehead. “You don't have a fever,” she said with a smile. “But I've never known you to pass up pizza before. What's the matter?”
Austin shrugged. “There's no reason for me to celebrate,” he said. “I didn't win the trophy. Matt and Josh did.”
Austin's mom patted his shoulder and nodded. “So, that's it, huh?” she asked. “Your dad and I are very proud of all of you boys. You know that, right?”
“But I've never won anything,” Austin said.
“Winning isn't the only thing that's important,” his mom said. “Aren't you the kid who started his own lawn-cutting business this summer?”
“Yeah. So?” Austin said. He shrugged. He didn't get what his mom was trying to say. What did cutting lawns have to do with winning a trophy?
“So,” his mom explained, “it shows what a hard worker you are. You kept at it and never gave up. We're all proud of you for that.”
“It wasn't that hard,” Austin muttered. He knew his mom was just trying to make him feel better.
“Give yourself some credit,” his mom said. “You know what? There's something I want to show you.”
Mom stood up and walked out of the room. When she returned, she was carrying a newspaper. She lightly tossed it on Austin's lap.
“Check this out,” she said. “The article about halfway down the page.”
Austin was confused, but he picked up the paper. When he saw what his mom had been talking about, his eyes widened.
At the top of the article, the headline read:
Youth Tour de France-Style Cycling Race Planned.
According to the article, a local cycling club would be hosting an event called the River City Criterium in one month. The criterium was a single-day road race held over a three-mile course of city streets. Several of the major roads in downtown River City would be closed off as part of the course.
Anyone between the ages of twelve and sixteen could enter. According to the article, all that was needed to enter was a bike and the $25 entry fee. The proceeds would go toward improving the cycling club's practice facility. The winner of the race would receive a trophy along with brand-new racing gear.
“Mom, this is awesome!” Austin said. “This could be my chance to finally win something!”
“I thought you'd be excited,” his mom replied. “But remember that this isn't just about winning the trophy. It's not a competition between you and your brothers. Just focus on training for the race.”
Then Austin realized something. “I don't have a road bike for racing,” he said. “Just my mountain bike. I can't race on that.”
“What about all that money you earned cutting lawns this summer?” his mom asked. “Tell you what. If you put part of that toward buying a bike, your dad and I will help with the rest. We'll even lend you the money for the entry fee.”
“Really?” Austin said. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Now let's go have some pizza,” his mom said. She walked back to the doorway. “I told your brothers they had to save some for you, but I can't guarantee they listened.”
“I'll be right there,” Austin said. “I just want to look something up first.” He moved over to his computer. He had bike research to do.
THE NEW BIKE
Two days later, Austin nervously studied the street signs as his dad drove through downtown River City.
Austin had spent the past two days doing as much research as possible on road bikes. They were way more expensive that he'd realized. Most of the bikes had started at more than $1,000. Even though he had some money saved up, that was way more than he could afford, even with his parents' help.
Austin had almost been ready to give up when he finally managed to find a Regal Sport Road Race Bike on sale at a cycling store downtown.
I hope I got the directions right
, Austin thought. Suddenly, he spotted his destination at the next corner.
“Stop, Dad!” Austin hollered from the passenger seat. “This is the place!”
His father put on his turn signal and pulled into the store's parking lot. He squeezed the SUV into a tight parking space and looked through the front windshield.
“Are you sure this is the right shop?” his dad asked. “It looks closed to me.”
Austin opened his door and hopped out of the SUV. He stood on the sidewalk and peered at the store.
“I see a light inside,” he said. “They're still open.”
Austin hurried to the front door of the store. He heard a car door slam behind him as his dad got out and followed him up to the store.
The little bell on the door jingled as Austin pushed it open and stepped inside. He took a deep breath. The scent of the new paint, fresh oil, and rubber tires filled the air.
Austin glanced around the store. There were bicycles everywhere. They hung from the ceiling and were hooked on the walls. There were so many on the floor that it was hard to walk through the store. Austin made his way through the maze of bikes to the front counter.
“Hey, there,” a voice called. “How can I help you?” An old man stepped out from a curtained area behind the counter and smiled at them.
“Hi, I called this morning about the Raleigh road bike that's on sale,” Austin said. “You were going to hold it for me.” He couldn't wait to see the bike in person.
The old man's eyes lit up with recognition. “You must be Austin!” he said, holding out his hand to shake Austin's. “I'm Charlie Barker, the owner. I remember talking to you this morning. The bike is in the back room. I'll go grab it and bring it right out to you.”
The shop owner disappeared back behind the curtained doorway. Austin could hear things being moved around in the back room.
At last the curtain swished open, and Mr. Barker wheeled the bike around the counter. It looked even better than it had online.
“Here it is,” Mr. Barker said. “Good thing you called when you did. This is the last one we have in stock.”
Austin studied the bike, from the front handlebars to the back tire. He reached out and ran his hand over the metal frame. He knew from his research that the frame was made of aluminum, which meant it was stiff, strong, and as lightweight as possible.
“The most important thing to look for in a racing bicycle is weight and stiffness,” Mr. Barker was telling him. “That effects how well your pedal strokes move the wheels. It might not be the most comfortable bike you've ever owned, but it'll be the fastest.”
