From Curious to Believer to Supporter; A Parents Journey with The Cycle Effect

Two years ago my journey began when my daughter, who was in the 8th grade, came up to me and said she wanted to go to a meeting about an all-girls mountain bike team.   As an avid cyclist, I was excited and somewhat surprised as she had never shown any interest in cycling at all, much less mountain biking.  So off to the first Cycle Effect meeting we went.  I was honestly not expecting much more than a group of young ladies interested in cycling and someone who wanted to share their passion as a coach.  My journey took its first unexpected turn when I first meet Brett and Jamie.  The goals of being involved with The Cycle Effect were clear.  It was about being the best you can be, being responsible, and making good choices.  The girls were also told that it would be hard work and, o’yes, it would involve mountain biking.  At this point I began to understand what a great program it could be.

The first summer was tough.  Anyone who has ridden mountain bikes understands that it comes with real bumps and bruises as well as plenty of mental “bumps” as you figure out how much you really enjoy pushing yourself and being pushed.  My daughter had her fair share, but she always came away saying she enjoyed being on the team.  Her amazing cadre of coaches were always supportive; making sure she was being pushed to her best.  She was always told it is about her being her best.  It was not if she was better than someone else.  At the end of the summer Cycle Effect season, she joined the Summit High School MTB Team uevnxcf.  Many more bruises and bumps came, but the interest to ride that came from being on The Cycle Effect was still there, even if the greatest accomplishment was completing her first high school race.

At the end of the first high school season I was not sure if she was going to want to continue riding, much less race again.  It was in the spring when she said she wanted to ride for The Cycle Effect again that my final part of the journey begins.  I started to appreciate that she had grown tremendously through participating in The Cycle Effect.  She has become more self-confident, responsible and mature.  I also am learning that what the girls take away from their involvement is so much more than the riding of the bike.  With this realization also came the realization that I needed to be more than a passive participant.  I needed to be more than the person who just dropped his daughter off for practice.  I fully believe in what The Cycle Effect does.  I believe in contributing where and how we can.  It’s not large donations, but it is the support that our family can provide.  

Thank You,

Kevin Clarke, Proud parent of Summit County Cycle Effect member Ali Clarke.