A bikers life

Because my kid is just cool.  Like a six year old can be. 

He has a VERDE BMX bike.  Built especially for tricks on half pipes and ramps.  He can pop wheelies and ride with no hands and prop his feet on the handle bars and stand on the seat while he is in motion.  Because he has no fear and just can.  He wants a half pipe in the front yard and is working on convincing his dad that he should build one. 

He loves to go out to NOWEAR Compound and ride with the big boys.  These dudes are amazing and I see a future here with Espen. 

He has a SPECIALIZED mountain bike with shocks and dirt tires.  He likes to ride the trail and we are hopeful we will see some mountain biking in his future.  The "extreme" sport of mountain biking catches his interest but one has to start someplace. 

He enjoys and benefits from OMAHA DEVO and the trail riding they do with children of all ages! 

He has a SPECIALIZED BMX race bike.  This is the start of his second season racing BMX.  Last year we did not focus on winning or points.  We just went out, had fun, learned the rules and tried to keep focused.  This year, on the first race out, he rocked it, won and then had a terrible fall.  It happens.  It was the best of both worlds and emotions were high.  His helmet was solid and for that we are super thankful.  At our house, if you don't have a helmet, you don't ride... no exceptions. 

Omaha BMX has a great course and great people for us to learn from.  They have patience when Espen has the wiggles and just get out and ride bikes! 

 And Espen has just gotten a motorized dirt bike that he calls ROLLING THUNDER.  He is cool.  He has discovered he has full control over his speed and course.  He LOVES it and we see the twinkle in his eye when he whips it around and goes fast!  His comfort level has increased and the training bar will be coming off.  We expect some falls and crashes.  He claims he wants to race... so we will see what is in our future.  The fact that he manages himself, he has control is a big deal for a child who is constantly monitored.  This is the most empowering and confidence building machine we currently own. 

The thing many moms ask me.... How about my nerves ~ how do I let him do it.  My son has always been a risk taker and has always done stunts of one sort or another.  I do my best to have good gear on him, safe surroundings and I am pretty hard core with the few rules we have (always helmet & shoes, no street unless adult is out there, never go where I can't see you).  So when I see him fly down the street with no hands on the handle bars, I know one day there will be a crash and I have done my best to just protect him.  Because I can't stop him from thinking up and doing the tricks.  It is WHO he is.  And he is cool.  I put my fears aside and just support the wild endeavors of my kid....

And isn't he cool.....