Gold Medal for the Guy Racing Slower Sport Alongside His Wife

[nancyfallon]

Congrats on all the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists in the Race Last Sunday, who we can now fully appreciate, and congratulate, for their age category medals, now that John V sorted the results for us by age group. Thanks John.

__________________________________________

On another note, I'd like to nominate for a Gold Medal, the guy who rode the Sport Women category along with his wife, even though he could have started with the men and hammered ahead with the guys.  But his wife is a new mountain biker, a first time racer, who not only had the guts to race being new to the sport, but she also the guts to race Sport as her first race!

This was Jeffrey Hyslip, who is "jshlaw" on the forum here, and his wife Chelsea Hyslip. (Welcome Chelsea!)

Jeff made his Race start with the women Sport racers, after all the men had launched, so that he could ride with his wife and provide encouragement and support to her right alongside her on the bike, rather than from the sidelines, or on the bike only for a fleeting moment as he lapped her. He gave up his race to ride with her, and he saw her to the finish!  He even got off the bike to run a hill with her while she climbed (See Photo below).  What a nice guy!

I made a quip to him as I rode next to him around the Grass Hill at the start, "Hey, we got a guy riding with us. Musta missed your start?". And then someone announced from top of hill, "Look at the guy riding with the Women, take a pic."  I've given Jeff my personal, "I'm sorry for razzing you Jeff". 

Now that's truly a man, who took all kinds of grief for riding with the ladies, when all he was doing was looking out for his lady!

Nancy

(Photo 19 of 39 in Jeffrey Hyslip's Album.)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2234648620929&set=at.2231239575705.2128161.1089346300.593207622&type=1

[jshlaw]

Lol. 

My father taught me early.  Happy Wife, Happy Life .

However, you overestimate my abilities.  There would certainly not be any lapping involved 

[DDDonny]

I remember you mentioning this to me at Kickapoo's trailhead/parking lot.  Wow, that's really cool..!

[SmilingBob]

I seen the two crossing the finish line together and my first thought was that she was the experienced rider -  sorry Jeffery. 

When I heard the details I thought How cool! 

[jshlaw]

I seen the two crossing the finish line together and my first thought was that she was the experienced rider -  sorry Jeffery.  

When I heard the details I thought How cool!  

I was right behind her for most of the race.  I actually went quasi race speed for the last fifty yards as I was encouraging her to "stay with me".  Even though her legs were fried she did and right at the finish line I slammed on my brakes. (See Pic)  I couldn't have had more fun.  However, I think a lot of the Course Marshals thought I was "special" and she was hanging back for me.  Someone told me to "hurry up, it looks like you're at a picnic."  I also got a lot of "Don't worry, it's almost over" from randoms on the course.  It was very entertaining to see people giving me words of encouragement.  She obviously looks like a better athlete than I do.

  

[jshlaw]

And look at this...She was a trooper!

[.]

Pretty awesome, I must say.

[sommerfliesby]

That is GREAT!  I did the same sort of thing...riding with the wife at Kettle a number of years back during the Fall Color Fest.  I was doing a cool down lap with some teammates and we ended up right with her for the last couple miles.  She was a charger on a mountain bike...now she won't touch one.   

[spicyride]

  She was a charger on a mountain bike...now she won't touch one.   

This makes me so sad.   

[bmax67]

That's awesome!
I would've loved to hear all the comments to you on the race course.


You are a good husband and I'm sure your wife knows that!

Congrats to both of you!

Brenda

[RayBan]

thats awesome, and makes for a GREAT marriage (trust me )

[jshlaw]

I'm still waiting for my Medal......