Wednesday
Dec032008
Rhonda and Erik and their boy Gus
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 12:22PM | in sidelines
Trying to get fast on the cyclocross course is hard enough. Throw in a marriage and two full-time jobs, and you’ve got a whole new level of complexity – one that has forced a lot of people to make some hard choices.
Now, just for kicks, add a baby. Go ahead. Stir that baby, say a one-year-old boy, into the mix and see what happens.
That’s the recipe for Rhonda and Erik and their boy Gus during this year’s cross season. Somehow, they seem to hold it together. That’s not completely true, because it’s just one of those jobs that can’t be done with uninterrupted grace. Anyone who’s raised a kid knows that there are moments where the grace peals away.
But they’re managing to raise a kid who smiles almost all the time. Rhonda holds down a job as a science writer for the Forest Service. Erik owns and manages Sellwood Cycle Repair without always being a jerk. They run a pre-season cyclocross clinic that's so popular that it takes over Alpenrose three evenings in September. They frequently house aspiring as well as world-class cyclists in their home, and Erik continues to mentor young hopefuls. We don't think we're exaggerating when we say that this couple is one of the reasons Portland is a center of cyclocross in the US. On top of all that, these new parents go really, really fast on bikes, riding with the country’s best -- they've both represented the US in international competition in Europe, too. It doesn’t seem likely, does it?
We just had to see what that looked like, so we tagged along for a day at the races with the young family as they rode the race at PIR and a week later in Hillsboro.
The three arrive at PIR together. Rhonda grabs her two Vanilla bikes and puts one in the pit, then she warms up. Erik juggles Gus on one arm and bags full of clothes, two bikes, and a bunch of food on other appendages. While the rest of his competitors are warming up on trainers and taking practice laps and stretching and focusing on themselves in the thorough way of experienced racers, Erik walks the course with Gus in his arms, interrupted frequently by people who admire his boy, want a little advice on the course or their equipment, or just say hello. Gus and Erik play a game called “Let’s stick our tongues out.”
At the start of the women’s race, Erik brings Gus to the line. The boy wants some time in Mom’s arms, and yelps a bit when it’s time to back off and let the women’s race begin. Then Erik continues his course wandering, cheering when Rhonda races by, and taking a little time to stretch while Gus climbs over his back.
Rhonda’s race goes fine, but not great. She doesn’t spend much time mulling it over, though. While the other women warm down, Rhonda dashes for the Kona tent, pulls off the muddiest and wettest of her clothes and pulls on a few layers of fleece. Just ten meters away, Erik dresses with Gus at his feet. Gel packets tucked into a short. Chunk of cheese stick in Gus’ mouth. Arms into the skinsuit. Put Gus’ hat back on. Stretch a hamstring. Keep Gus from leaving the relatively dry ground under the tent. Pull on some bike shoes. Put Gus’ hat back on, again. Helmet on. Another cheese stick for the boy, and it’s time to pass him to Rhonda.
Once Erik’s race finishes, he lashes and stashes their bikes on the car while Rhonda feeds Gus. Then Rhonda drives home while Erik extends the workout by riding home. It’s dark by the time Rhonda cleans her bike. Gus is in his Pjs and soup is almost done by the time Erik gets home. Everyone is tired, but the lack of a nap has Gus wired into some yelping and age-appropriate fussiness well past his, and his parent’s, bedtime.
The race at the Washington County Fairgrounds the following weekend is another matter. Erik decides not to race, but instead rides to the course. Friendly neighbors Mindy and Jessica agreed to take care of Gus.
“It was the first race I’ve gone to this year where I didn’t bring Gus,” says Rhonda. “I warmed up on my trainer next to the car, I pre-rode the whole course, I even scouted for the big holes in the thick mud of the rodeo arena. It was really nice to be just me.”
The women’s race has the crowd going nuts. Three women fight their way through the mud and grass. Neighbors Mindy and Jessica show a knack for perfect timing, bringing Gus to the finish just as his muddy mother crosses the line ahead of her competitors. Sacha White may best capture the mood of the crowd at that moment: “When Rhonda came across that finish line first, well, that was just sweet. Really, really sweet.”
During Saturday of this coming weekend's US Gran Prix of Cyclcross at PIR, Gus goes for a play date with Mindy and Jessica (where do we order neighbors like these?), while Rhonda and Erik go on a play date with some of the nation’s fastest cyclocrossers. On Sunday, Gus will be at the races, in the care of a babysitter.
“There were several times during the season when I wondered if it’s really worth the effort,” says Rhonda one evening after Gus is asleep and before she heads downstairs to do an interval workout on the trainer. “But we’ve chosen not to do athletics as our sole purpose. We’re just living life and we’re at the stage in our lives when we want to have a child. We still enjoy pushing ourselves in races, though.”
Just another fast family in the city of muddy bike riders.
-torsten
Now, just for kicks, add a baby. Go ahead. Stir that baby, say a one-year-old boy, into the mix and see what happens.
That’s the recipe for Rhonda and Erik and their boy Gus during this year’s cross season. Somehow, they seem to hold it together. That’s not completely true, because it’s just one of those jobs that can’t be done with uninterrupted grace. Anyone who’s raised a kid knows that there are moments where the grace peals away.
But they’re managing to raise a kid who smiles almost all the time. Rhonda holds down a job as a science writer for the Forest Service. Erik owns and manages Sellwood Cycle Repair without always being a jerk. They run a pre-season cyclocross clinic that's so popular that it takes over Alpenrose three evenings in September. They frequently house aspiring as well as world-class cyclists in their home, and Erik continues to mentor young hopefuls. We don't think we're exaggerating when we say that this couple is one of the reasons Portland is a center of cyclocross in the US. On top of all that, these new parents go really, really fast on bikes, riding with the country’s best -- they've both represented the US in international competition in Europe, too. It doesn’t seem likely, does it?
We just had to see what that looked like, so we tagged along for a day at the races with the young family as they rode the race at PIR and a week later in Hillsboro.
The three arrive at PIR together. Rhonda grabs her two Vanilla bikes and puts one in the pit, then she warms up. Erik juggles Gus on one arm and bags full of clothes, two bikes, and a bunch of food on other appendages. While the rest of his competitors are warming up on trainers and taking practice laps and stretching and focusing on themselves in the thorough way of experienced racers, Erik walks the course with Gus in his arms, interrupted frequently by people who admire his boy, want a little advice on the course or their equipment, or just say hello. Gus and Erik play a game called “Let’s stick our tongues out.”
At the start of the women’s race, Erik brings Gus to the line. The boy wants some time in Mom’s arms, and yelps a bit when it’s time to back off and let the women’s race begin. Then Erik continues his course wandering, cheering when Rhonda races by, and taking a little time to stretch while Gus climbs over his back.
Rhonda’s race goes fine, but not great. She doesn’t spend much time mulling it over, though. While the other women warm down, Rhonda dashes for the Kona tent, pulls off the muddiest and wettest of her clothes and pulls on a few layers of fleece. Just ten meters away, Erik dresses with Gus at his feet. Gel packets tucked into a short. Chunk of cheese stick in Gus’ mouth. Arms into the skinsuit. Put Gus’ hat back on. Stretch a hamstring. Keep Gus from leaving the relatively dry ground under the tent. Pull on some bike shoes. Put Gus’ hat back on, again. Helmet on. Another cheese stick for the boy, and it’s time to pass him to Rhonda.
Once Erik’s race finishes, he lashes and stashes their bikes on the car while Rhonda feeds Gus. Then Rhonda drives home while Erik extends the workout by riding home. It’s dark by the time Rhonda cleans her bike. Gus is in his Pjs and soup is almost done by the time Erik gets home. Everyone is tired, but the lack of a nap has Gus wired into some yelping and age-appropriate fussiness well past his, and his parent’s, bedtime.
The race at the Washington County Fairgrounds the following weekend is another matter. Erik decides not to race, but instead rides to the course. Friendly neighbors Mindy and Jessica agreed to take care of Gus.
“It was the first race I’ve gone to this year where I didn’t bring Gus,” says Rhonda. “I warmed up on my trainer next to the car, I pre-rode the whole course, I even scouted for the big holes in the thick mud of the rodeo arena. It was really nice to be just me.”
The women’s race has the crowd going nuts. Three women fight their way through the mud and grass. Neighbors Mindy and Jessica show a knack for perfect timing, bringing Gus to the finish just as his muddy mother crosses the line ahead of her competitors. Sacha White may best capture the mood of the crowd at that moment: “When Rhonda came across that finish line first, well, that was just sweet. Really, really sweet.”
During Saturday of this coming weekend's US Gran Prix of Cyclcross at PIR, Gus goes for a play date with Mindy and Jessica (where do we order neighbors like these?), while Rhonda and Erik go on a play date with some of the nation’s fastest cyclocrossers. On Sunday, Gus will be at the races, in the care of a babysitter.
“There were several times during the season when I wondered if it’s really worth the effort,” says Rhonda one evening after Gus is asleep and before she heads downstairs to do an interval workout on the trainer. “But we’ve chosen not to do athletics as our sole purpose. We’re just living life and we’re at the stage in our lives when we want to have a child. We still enjoy pushing ourselves in races, though.”
Just another fast family in the city of muddy bike riders.
-torsten
Reader Comments (9)
Great story and great pics! I learned everything I know from Erik.
More great pics and such an awesome story. I just had baby number two last week and really understand the effort required to manage a family, work, and intense cx schedule. Bravo to Rhonda, Erik and Gus for making it work.
Excellent story folks. Very touching and inspiring. I got to watch Erik race in Cincinnati this fall alongside his teammate. http://www.flickr.com/photos/absenter/2938775795/" rel="nofollow">Classy.
[...] and photos via the fantastic pdxcross, where you can read and see [...]
Awesome story. This story can inspire athletes of any sport with a young spirited family.
What a lovely piece.
I'm a lowly C master with 2 y.o. twin boys, but I can certainly relate to every facial expression on Erik and Rhonda's faces.
Thank you for sharing.
Great story. I admire any parents that manage to juggle so much and make it look like they aren't going insane!
Great writing and photography. What a treat this site is. I can barely wait for your book to become available!
Raddest couple in Portland racing.
(Beautifully shot, as usual.)
I am so proud of you.