TimesLeader.com

August 20
Brave new wheels

Editor’s Note: The following is part of The Abington Journal occasional first-person “Day in the Life” series., which examines occupations, volunteer opportunities and pastimes in the Abington area.

By Shelby Fisk sfisk@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter/Photographer

RANSOM - In the past, Olympians have won have won medals and honor for events that include: live pigeon shooting, 1900; rope climbing, 1896, 1904, 1906, 1926 and 1932; club swinging, 1904 and 1932 and tug-of-war from 1900 to 1920.

Above, Shelby Fisk cautiously attempts Bicycle Motocross, the newest Olympic sport, at Cedar BMX on Monday August 11.

Abington Journal Photo/Jim Gavenus

At far, right reporter Shelby Fisk and BMX rider Buck Taylor put on helmets while preparing to ride. At right, Shelby Fisk shows struggle during one of the last laps.

Abington Journal Photo/Jim Gavenus

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Some have questioned the seriousness and amount of effort that has gone into the above and other past events.

This year, a serious and difficult sport, BMX (Bicycle Motocross,) made its first appearance as an Olympic sport on Tuesday, August 19 and I was lucky enough to experience it personally on Monday, August 11.

Buck Taylor, 16, of the Dallas area, instructed me through my BMX journey. Taylor is sixth in the state in the expert class and seventh in the expert class nationally. One year shy of being able, Taylor was hoping to make the USA team this year. Taylor hopes to make the cut for 2012 and will be giving it his all until then.

Taylor has been riding for 12 years, since he was four.

If I was going to learn to ride from someone, I couldn’t have picked a better candidate.

We met Monday morning at Cedar BMX in Ransom, the very place Taylor got his start. He has also been competing and practicing at Cedar BMX for years.

Taylor told me BMX racing has also made it possible for him to travel the world. He’s been to Indiana, Florida and many other locations. An upcoming location on his agenda is Australia.

He’s earned countless scars and knew many horror stories about riders who broke this, that or another bone. He told about riders who broke bikes in half or had heart attacks on the track.

My main focus was to learn the sport, the basics.

Since I didn’t want to be injured, I asked Taylor how I should start, or if we should work on any techniques before hitting the track.

“Do you know how to ride a bike?” he asked. “Yes,” I replied. His response: “Then the best way to learn is to just get out there and do it.”

He explained that all BMX riders have their own technique and style. Some are better at jumping or “manuals,” while others are better at rhythm, and ride over hills.

“No two riders ever ride the same,” Taylor said. My goal for the day was to get into my own routine and figure out my style.

I believe riding BMX was one of the craziest, daring, dangerous, challenging, breathtaking and rewarding things I’ve done in my life. I experienced it for two hours and yes, I did fall.

Before riding BMX, the riskiest thing I had done was buy a purse without the matching wallet.

Everyone I told about my plan to pursue riding said I should reconsider. They told me how I could get hurt or they would simply ask me “Why?”

I started to become as worried as those around me then a few days before riding BMX. But then I was in a local Hallmark store, browsing for a birthday card. One I liked stated, “We should go bowling in Canada. That way when we’re old, we can look back and say, ‘Hey, remember that time we went bowling in Canada?’” With that I knew I had to give BMX a shot.

Although Taylor, very kindly said I was good enough to compete. I’m not sure I’m quite up for that yet.

I am, however, certain that I gained an experience and appreciation for the sport. I let go of boundaries I’d once set and tried something dangerous, something different.

As for falling, I promise it wasn’t as bad as it sounds. As with any other time I’ve “fallen,” in life, I did the same thing I always did. I got right back up and tried again.

Taylor said after I fell that it wasn’t about technique or strength, rather I needed to work on my confidence. He said I need to trust that I wasn’t going to fall. And guess what, I didn’t fall again for the rest of the time riding.

I challenged myself and I am proud of my strengths I gained that day, emotionally and physically.

So now I challenge you, I encourage you, to try something different this week, this month or this year. Try a food you never imagined eating, buy a purse without a matching wallet or even test BMX riding.

Be careful with your new adventures. Cherish what you learn from the experience and remember what you have to improve. Try to break the boundaries in your life; you’ll be much happier once you do.

Special thanks to Candy Rosencrance, of Cedar BMX for opening the track. Special thanks to Buck Taylor’s mom Heather for bring Buck to Cedar BMX and a major thank you to Buck Taylor for having patience with me and showing me a new side of life I never imagined setting foot, let alone wheel, in before. Best of luck in 2012!