Kids love their sports, and regardless of whether it’s football, baseball, or cycling, kids are going to find role models.   And that is great, because there are so many opportunities for discussion about life choices.  Who doesn’t love those teaching moments?

The crazy thing about being a cycling fan in Boulder, is that you aren’t so much watching the sport from afar as with football and baseball.  Luke races his bike, and one of his cycling coaches was an Olympian.  Professional cyclists race in the same events he does, they cheer for the kids, and he gets to meet cyclists all the time. Luke has ridden with Tommy D, and we know someone who knows  Rory Sutherland.  (We have been huge fans since hours before he won Stage 6 in the USA Pro Cycling challenge. )

Many of my tens of readers (hi Mom! hi Dad! hi Aunt Linda!) may only know of  the cyclist who is on Oprah, but Luke doesn’t watch Oprah, so let’s just be thankful for that.

So, there is a lot to be said for the positive influence of all the cyclists we have met in terms of encouraging Luke, inspiring Luke, and giving Luke real skills and knowledge to perform well in races. But what happens when kids start to emulate lifestyle choices?  Well, I will tell you.

Here is a picture of Luke meeting Alex Howes, who was very friendly and motioned for Luke to come sit next to him and chat when he could see that Luke was shy about approaching him.  Very cool.

Here is Luke two months later.  Eerily similar haircut, don’t you think?

So what happens when Luke idolizes professional cyclists?  He gets more fashionable.  I love it.