My Olympics: day 16, mountain biking (from thefitdog’s perspective)

In this blog series, I take inspiration from one of the day’s Olympic events. Today: mountain biking.

It’s the final day of the Olympics, and the final day of this series. I toyed with the idea of the marathon (bit long), I desperately wanted to try the modern pentathlon (no horse, pistol or epee/sword thingy), and I realised too late that I was meeting up with one of my cousins, who is not only a talented hockey player but also plays handball.

So, mountain biking it was. I’ve got one of those, you see.

Over to thefitdog for his account of today’s adventure as we round off this blog series. Enjoy 🙂

This is a blog post from Frankie, the office dog

Hi guys! Have you been watching the Olimpics? Hasn’t it been totally great? I’ve watched loads of it and have also been listening to it on the Radio (5 Live) when Nic goes out. My favourite bits have been the running ones where a lady or a man runs round and round the track and Nic goes crazy and tells me to “speak!” and I bark and she cheers and then the lady or man wins the race and everyone goes mad! I like going mad.

Anyway today Nic said I had to join in on her daily Olimpic challenge so I said could we please do the cross-country biking because I have always wanted to have a go. It’s my kind of sport! She said sure.

First of all we started with me on my lead just walking alongside the bike whilst Nic rode really, really slowly (she was quite wobbly). I found it a little bit scary because the wheel is quite big when you are only my size, and the bike was making funny squeaky sounds, but Nic said I was a Good Boy so I got used to it.

Then we got to the park and things got really gnarly, dude! Nic let me off the lead and we rode round and round the field and I had to learn how to run or walk right next to the bike, always on the right hand side. It was quite hard work!

People always ask me “Frankie how do you learn so many tricks?” and I tell them firstly it is because my head is quite big, so lots of room for lessons. But apart from that, I’m not sure really. Basically what happens is, Nic tells me to do something, and then she either gets cross and says the thing louder and louder (that means I’m not doing it right) or her voice goes really nice and she says cool things like Very Good and What a Good Boy and I get a nice feeling in my brain and that’s when I know I’ve got it right. Then the tough bit is just to remember to do it that way all the time!

For instance today I learned:

– “here” which means I have to be close alongside the right hand side of the bike
– “this way” which means we are turning left and I have to go with the bike
– “we’re turning!” which means we are turning right and I have to sort of do a little turn or I’ll get run over
– “no! here!” which means I have run in front of the bike which is not a good thing to do

Here’s a quick vid of me during my gruelling event today, as you can see I am working very hard

Let me tell you, mountain biking is a totally tiring sport! We only did about 10 minutes of it but that was enough for me! I was really tired and so thirsty I had to go in the duckpond in the park.

Anyway guys I hope my guide to mountain biking helped you out. Now excuse me as I must have my tea and then settle down to watch the Closing Ceremony.

How have the London 2012 Olympic Games inspired you today?

My Olympics: day 16, mountain biking (from thefitdog’s perspective) is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.