Tonton said:
Pontiac said:
Tonton said:
Well, if I knew then what I know today, I would forget the competitive side. I don't want my son to face what you did, have his world fall apart. sad.
Despite all the concerns you have, remember this....I could never haven gotten those life lessons about setting goals and working hard towards them without the sport. Sure it was heartbreaking some of the stuff I went through, but there's lots of things in life that aren't what they seem sometimes. Everything else in my life has been made better by what I went through being an athlete. It's pretty hard to find another endeavor, that teaches you the working hard equals getting rewarded lesson, as well or as quickly as sports, provided you have some genetic predisposition for it. My youngest son got into the sport at a late age (I never pushed it when the kids were young) and it is great for him.
And this is our major disagreement, respectfully: the "it is what it is" outlook that I see too often from former pros. It doesn't have to be that way. What happens when your kid gets good, and you have to make a choice? Dope or get out. And congratulate the cheats.
It reminds me of global warming, oceans being dumps, and the choice that we have to make between staying on the sidelines or raising hell. Part of the problem vs. part of the solution. Props to the many contributors on CN for stirring the pot (even sniper

).
It doesn't have to be that way.
I'm not a complete naive bloke, I know that cheating is part of our make-up: one plus million years ago, there was a stone throwing contest, and all tried to get that extra step forward. It led to rules, and referees. And the dance began, cat vs. mouse.
I hear you loud and clear! I went through years where I hated the sport and wanted nothing to do with it. I guess a combination of anger at my dreams being squashed
and no one to talk to about it. I just forgot about the sport for many years and rarely talked about that part of my life. I focused on my family and career. The articles, jerseys and trophies were stored in boxes 200 miles away at my parents for many, many years. I'm not sure my kids even knew I raced until they were in their teens and my wife met me post racing.
It wasn't until I was well into my 40's that I got a bike again and began riding for fun. I even got back into racing for awhile (might be dumbest thing I've done as an adult). The feeling of getting fit again and enjoying all the good stuff that comes from riding all came back to me. My youngest got into riding, then racing, so I got to share that with him for a number of years. To be honest with you guys, my best memory of the sport is being able to do his first P123 race with him and guiding him through it and riding in a break with him. I wouldn't trade that for anything I accomplished in my racing career, seriously.....none of the Nationals medals, any of my wins, etc.
So somehow after 40 years, I've made my peace with this seriously effed up and yet beautiful sport. I'm not a religious guy, but the serenity prayer kinda sums it up for me....you know, the acceptance, courage and wisdom one.
Maybe my throwing my two cents in here will keep others keep fighting to clean up the sport. I'm ok with that. But whatever you do, don't miss out on that chance to ride and or race with your kid.