TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1: The Super Brothers

  Chapter 2: The New Bike

  Chapter 3: A New Friend

  Chapter 4: The River City Racers

  Chapter 5: Mastering the Machine

  Chapter 6: Smarter, Not Faster

  Chapter 7: Last-Minute Advice

  Chapter 8: The River City Criterium

  CHAPTER 1

  THE SUPER BROTHERS

  “That’s it. Nobody move,” Austin’s mother said. “Perfect! Now smile!” She was busy snapping another photo of Austin’s twin brothers, Josh and Matt. The boys stood next to each other in the living room, proudly holding their basketball trophy between them.

  It was easy for the boys to smile. Josh and Matt were great athletes, and tonight their team had won again.

  Austin sighed. It wasn’t the first time his older brothers had brought home a trophy. It wasn’t even the second or third time. They won all the time. Austin was proud of his brothers, but he couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. He’d never won a trophy for any sport.

  “I thought for sure we’d run out of time before you made that last shot,” Josh admitted to Matt.

  “All I was thinking about was sinking that basket,” Matt said. “I never even thought about the clock.”

  “Well, you were the only one,” their dad said. “The rest of us were holding our breath!”

  Austin knew he should congratulate his brothers. “Really great game, guys,” he said.

  “Okay, everyone to the table for pizza,” Mom said. “Time to celebrate!” She turned and walked through the kitchen door.

  Austin’s dad and brothers walked out of the room, still talking about the game. Austin stayed in the living room. He looked up at the awards and trophies on the bookcase. None of them belonged to him. Matt and Josh had won them all.

  I’ll never win a trophy like that, Austin thought. His brothers played almost every sport there was: football, baseball, basketball, hockey. Austin didn’t play any of those. It wasn’t that he wasn’t athletic. He loved biking. He was even pretty fast, but nobody won trophies for that.

  Austin sighed. He didn’t feel much like celebrating. He walked quietly out of the living room and upstairs to his bedroom.

  I’ll never be as good as they are, he thought, flopping down on his bed.

  Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door. The door opened, and his mom poked her head in.

  “Are you okay, Austin?” she asked. She came in and sat down next to him. “Don’t you want pizza? You’d better hurry up before your brothers eat it all.”

  “I’m not hungry, I guess,” Austin said.

  His mother pretended to look shocked. She reached over and felt his forehead. “You don’t have a fever,” she said with a smile. “But I’ve never known you to pass up pizza before. What’s the matter?”

  Austin shrugged. “There’s no reason for me to celebrate,” he said. “I didn’t win the trophy. Matt and Josh did.”

  Austin’s mom patted his shoulder and nodded. “So, that’s it, huh?” she asked. “Your dad and I are very proud of all of you boys. You know that, right?”

  “But I’ve never won anything,” Austin said.

  “Winning isn’t the only thing that’s important,” his mom said. “Aren’t you the kid who started his own lawn-cutting business this summer?”

  “Yeah. So?” Austin said. He shrugged. He didn’t get what his mom was trying to say. What did cutting lawns have to do with winning a trophy?

  “So,” his mom explained, “it shows what a hard worker you are. You kept at it and never gave up. We’re all proud of you for that.”

  “It wasn’t that hard,” Austin muttered. He knew his mom was just trying to make him feel better.

  “Give yourself some credit,” his mom said. “You know what? There’s something I want to show you.”

  Mom stood up and walked out of the room. When she returned, she was carrying a newspaper. She lightly tossed it on Austin’s lap.

  “Check this out,” she said. “The article about halfway down the page.”

  Austin was confused, but he picked up the paper. When he saw what his mom had been talking about, his eyes widened.

  At the top of the article, the headline read: Youth Tour de France-Style Cycling Race Planned.

  According to the article, a local cycling club would be hosting an event called the River City Criterium in one month. The criterium was a single-day road race held over a three-mile course of city streets. Several of the major roads in downtown River City would be closed off as part of the course.

  Anyone between the ages of twelve and sixteen could enter. According to the article, all that was needed to enter was a bike and the $25 entry fee. The proceeds would go toward improving the cycling club’s practice facility. The winner of the race would receive a trophy along with brand-new racing gear.

  “Mom, this is awesome!” Austin said. “This could be my chance to finally win something!”

  “I thought you’d be excited,” his mom replied. “But remember that this isn’t just about winning the trophy. It’s not a competition between you and your brothers. Just focus on training for the race.”

  Then Austin realized something. “I don’t have a road bike for racing,” he said. “Just my mountain bike. I can’t race on that.”

  “What about all that money you earned cutting lawns this summer?” his mom asked. “Tell you what. If you put part of that toward buying a bike, your dad and I will help with the rest. We’ll even lend you the money for the entry fee.”

  “Really?” Austin said. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Now let’s go have some pizza,” his mom said. She walked back to the doorway. “I told your brothers they had to save some for you, but I can’t guarantee they listened.”

  “I’ll be right there,” Austin said. “I just want to look something up first.” He moved over to his computer. He had bike research to do.

  CHAPTER 2

  THE NEW BIKE

  Two days later, Austin nervously studied the street signs as his dad drove through downtown River City.

  Austin had spent the past two days doing as much research as possible on road bikes. They were way more expensive that he’d realized. Most of the bikes had started at more than $1,000. Even though he had some money saved up, that was way more than he could afford, even with his parents’ help.

  Austin had almost been ready to give up when he finally managed to find a Regal Sport Road Race Bike on sale at a cycling store downtown.

  I hope I got the directions right, Austin thought. Suddenly, he spotted his destination at the next corner.

  “Stop, Dad!” Austin hollered from the passenger seat. “This is the place!”

  His father put on his turn signal and pulled into the store’s parking lot. He squeezed the SUV into a tight parking space and looked through the front windshield.

  “Are you sure this is the right shop?” his dad asked. “It looks closed to me.”

  Austin opened his door and hopped out of the SUV. He stood on the sidewalk and peered at the store.

  “I see a light inside,” he said. “They’re still open.”

  Austin hurried to the front door of the store. He heard a car door slam behind him as his dad got out and followed him up to the store.

  The little bell on the door jingled as Austin pushed it open and stepped inside. He took a deep breath. The scent of the new paint, fresh oil, and rubber tires filled the air.

  Austin glanced around the store. There were bicycles everywhere. They hung from the ceiling and were hooked on the walls. There were so many on the floor that it was hard to walk through the store. Austin made his way through the maze of bikes to the front counter.

  “Hey, there,” a voice called. “How can I help you?” An old man stepped out from a curtained area behind the counter and smiled at them.

  “Hi, I called this morning about the Raleigh road bike that’s on sale,” Austin said. “You were going to hold it for me.” He couldn’t wait to see the bike in person.

  The old man’s eyes lit up with recognition. “You must be Austin!” he said, holding out his hand to shake Austin’s. “I’m Charlie Barker, the owner. I remember talking to you this morning. The bike is in the back room. I’ll go grab it and bring it right out to you.”

  The shop owner disappeared back behind the curtained doorway. Austin could hear things being moved around in the back room.

  At last the curtain swished open, and Mr. Barker wheeled the bike around the counter. It looked even better than it had online.

  “Here it is,” Mr. Barker said. “Good thing you called when you did. This is the last one we have in stock.”

  Austin studied the bike, from the front handlebars to the back tire. He reached out and ran his hand over the metal frame. He knew from his research that the frame was made of aluminum, which meant it was stiff, strong, and as lightweight as possible.

  “The most important thing to look for in a racing bicycle is weight and stiffness,” Mr. Barker was telling him. “That effects how well your pedal strokes move the wheels. It might not be the most comfortable bike you’ve ever owned, but it’ll be the fastest.”

  Austin nodded as he continued to inspect the bike. The front and back wheels were closer together than on a regular bike.

  “Why are wheels so close together?” he asked.

  “That makes for quicker handling,” the shopkeeper replied. “And see how the handlebars are positioned lower than the seat o f the bike? That puts you in a more aerodynamic position when you’re racing — you’ll cut through the wind better.”

  Austin smiled. He could already imagine himself hunched low over the drop handlebars as he raced. This is exactly what I need, he thought.

  “So, what do you think?” Mr. Barker asked.

  “It’s perfect,” Austin replied. “I’ll take it.”

  CHAPTER 3

  A NEW FRIEND

  “Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” Austin’s dad called out through the open window of the SUV. “We could wrap your new bike in a blanket behind the front seats to keep it from getting scratched.”

  Austin shook his head. “No thanks!” he said. “I want to ride home and get a feel for the bike. I need to start practicing right away if I want to be ready for the race in a month.”

  “Okay,” his dad said. “Be careful, and don’t be late. Remember, your brothers have another basketball game tonight, and Mom and I expect you to be there.”

  Austin nodded, only half-listening. All of his attention was focused on his new racing bike. He couldn’t wait to try it out.

  Austin swung his right leg over the new bike and eased himself onto the seat. He gripped the handlebars and smiled. It was a perfect fit. Looking left and right for traffic, Austin put his feet on the pedals and took off down the street.

  He headed for the bike path that ran from downtown River City to his neighborhood. The bike path was familiar. He’d ridden it a million times. But Austin couldn’t wait to try it out with his new bike.

  Hedges, trees, and storefronts flew by as Austin pedaled steadily, building speed. The wheels on the new bike turned smoothly. He shifted gears as he went around a tight corner and leaned into the curve. Austin hunched over the handlebars as he sped up coming out of the turn.

  A yellow traffic light glowed up ahead. Austin slowed to a stop as the light changed to red. He could see the entrance to the bike path up ahead.

  “Hey, cool bike,” a voice called from behind him.

  Austin glanced over his shoulder and saw Dylan Benson, a guy from his history class. He and Dylan had gone to school together since middle school, but they’d never really been close friends. In fact, Austin couldn’t remember ever really talking to Dylan.

  “I didn’t know you had a racing bike,” Dylan said as he walked closer. “Did you just get it?”

  “Yeah!” Austin said. “I just bought it at the cycling store downtown. I usually just ride my mountain bike.”

  Dylan stood off to the side and admired the bike. “Man, I wish I could get a new racing bike,” he said. “I have one, but mine’s an older model. I’m actually having it tuned up at the cycling shop right now. I wanted to get it ready for the River City Criterium next month.”

  “Are you entering that?” Austin asked.

  “Yeah, definitely,” Dylan said. “All of the River City Racers are entering.”

  “Who are the River City Racers?” Austin asked.

  “It’s the cycling team I’m on,” Dylan explained. “What about you? You’re racing with your new bike, right?”

  Great, Austin thought. More people are planning to enter the race than I thought. That’s not going to help my chances of finally winning a trophy.

  “Oh … I don’t know,” Austin said. “Maybe. I just got my bike, so I’m still getting used to it.”

  “Dude, you have to enter,” Dylan said. “You can’t let that bike go to waste. You should come to our practice tomorrow. We’ll give you some tips.”

  “Practice?” Austin repeated.

  “Yeah, the Racers practice every Saturday morning,” Dylan said.

  “Um, okay,” Austin said. “I’ll be there.”

  “Great!” Dylan told him. “We meet at the community center at eight o’clock to stretch and then head out from there. Make sure you come ready to ride.”

  CHAPTER 4

  THE RIVER CITY RACERS

  The next day, Austin woke up early to meet the cycling team at the community center. He was nervous to ride with the other racers. He loved biking, but he’d never trained with other real cyclists before.

  What if I can’t keep up? he worried.

  Austin wheeled his bike out of the garage. He checked the air pressure in his tires and carefully oiled the chain like the shop owner had shown him the day before.

  His brothers came out the front door just as Austin was finishing up in the driveway. Matt dribbled a basketball back and forth in front of him. Suddenly the ball bounced free and hit the front tire of Austin’s new bike.

  “Hey!” Austin said. “Watch it!” He leaned down and examined the spokes on the wheel, making sure there was no damage. The bike was fine, but Austin was still annoyed.

  “Sorry,” Matt said, jogging over to retrieve the ball. “We’re on our way to the park to shoot some hoops. Want to come?”

  “No thanks,” Austin said. “I have to be someplace.” That was true, but it wasn’t the only reason. Playing sports with his brothers always reminded him that he wasn’t as good as they were.

  “Okay, see you later then,” Josh said. He and Matt headed down the street laughing and bouncing the basketball back and forth.

  Austin finished giving his bike one final inspection, checking the handlebars, seat, and pedals. Everything seemed to be in good shape. He pulled on his helmet, climbed on his bike, and set off to meet the cycling team.

  The streets of his neighborhood passed by in a blur as Austin pumped his legs faster, picking up speed. Hunching over the handlebars of the racing bike felt very different from riding his mountain bike.

  Mr. Barker was right, Austin thought. This isn’t very comfortable, but I’m definitely going faster.

  Austin shifted through all the bike’s gears as he rode, making sure they all worked and changed smoothly. He was still learning and getting comfortable with the gears. It took some getting used to, but he was catching on.

  Austin came to a steep hill and shifted into a lower gear to bike up the hill. Even at the lower gear, pedaling was more difficult. By the time he reached the top, Austin’s legs were burning from the effort and he was breathing heavily.

  Before he knew it, he was at the River City Community Center. A group of teenagers, all wearing colorful biking gear, were standing around outside when Austin rode up. An older man, who Austin assumed was the coach, stood in the middle of the group.

  Dylan spotted Austin right away and waved him over. “Hey, you made it!” Dylan said. “I’m glad you came. Let me introduce you to Coach Brady and the rest of the team.”

  Dylan turned to the rest of the group. “Everybody, this is Austin,” he said.

  “Hey, everyone,” Austin said nervously, waving at the group. Most of bikers smiled back. They seemed friendly.

  “Austin just got a new racing bike, so I invited him to train with us,” Dylan explained to the other cyclists. “He’s racing in the River City Criterium too.”

  Just then the coach stepped to the front of the group. He clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. The group quickly quieted down.

  “Okay, listen up, everybody,” Coach Brady called. “The River City Criterium is less than a month away, so starting today we’ll be focusing on training for that. A criterium is a race that includes a lot of pack riding and sprints, so we’ll be working on building leg muscles, endurance exercises, and sprint training.”

  Coach Brady leaned over and picked up a stack of papers. He held them up for the group to see. “These are maps of the race route,” he told them. “Everyone take one and pass it on. You should study this over the next few weeks. Get used to the course. In the meantime, let’s get down to business.”

  CHAPTER 5

  MASTERING THE MACHINE

  “One of the most important things for all cyclists to remember is stretching,” Coach Brady told the team. “Most of you already know that, but since we have a new rider with us today, let’s go over a couple of the basics. Who can tell me why it’s so important to stretch before and after you ride?”

  Dylan raised his hand. “Go ahead, Dylan,” Coach Brady said.

  “Because cycling is so repetitive,” Dylan said. “You have to stretch so you have flexibility and balance in the muscle groups you use over and over, like your hamstrings, hip flexors, and chest. If you don’t stretch, those muscles tighten up, and then you can’t ride as well.”

 

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