Killer Training Program - Bring Your Kid - By Andy

Here's the very best way to make your legs burn like hell.  Take one single speed, one bike along trailer and one 30lb kid.

This was last Friday's ride that left my legs sore the next day.  The ride

 however was awesome.  My daughter and I blasted out to the Doe Vientos loop to do some circuit riding.  This rolling single track / fire road is great for getting the family out to enjoy the riding I love so much.

For my ride, I have my old ex race bike converted into a single speed as a last ditch attempt to keep the relic on the trails.  Needless to say, this style of riding brings a whole new meaning to anticipating the route.

For my daughter's rig, she has a Giant half-wheeler which has gears, though her six year old hands can't switch those twisty shifters.  I tell you it's a shame the way bike companies put on cheap parts on kids bikes when they would really benefit to smoother shifting and braking parts.  I myself would pay more for better parts if it meant my kid could learn easier and not get so discouraged... but I digress...

So we made our way out to the trailhead laughing it up and taking in the sights and sounds you can only appreciate when you are away from your car.  It's as though life moves a little slower and you can stop and smell the flowers, or at least get a whiff as you ride by.

When we hit the hills, our last attempt at this a few months back we were forced to walk due to lack of power in my legs and the sheer stupidity on my part of how incredibly heavy the ride would be when it starts heading up.  But this time we were prepared and determined.

Hill 1 - blasted it!  Hard work, but doable.  Next came rolling single track, great fun when you have to factor your bike has become a stretch limo.  Then came Hill 2, the nasty one, even on my geared carbon.

Last time we hit this trail, we walked it.  This time, my daughter says to me, "We need to kill this hill. "  (Talk about my kinda girl)  So after taking a 3 minute break before ascending the climb, we take off.

First let me say, I have immense respect for single speeders, this alone is hard, but then throw on the bike-a-long, kid and a hill, well you get the picture.  So when we made it about half way up this hill, me breathing so hard I swear air was coming out my eyes, my daughter chatting away, and my legs screaming mercy, I thought we were in for another failed attempt.  But then something changed, I actually felt help in the rear!  My daughter was pedaling hard enough to actually make a difference.  And when we crested the top, even though I was seriously seeing stars, I was completely proud of her.

Over the course of the rest of ride, everything else felt easy, we rolled the fire road and eventually made it back to the city streets to head home by dusk.

So today I needed to rest my legs after the successful event.  However, I have already been asked today when we are going out again to kill that hill... That's my girl!