Cycling: To Each His Own

// May 31st, 2008 // Sup

The couple I’m staying with is truly First Class. Jim and Barbara Young have been around the cycling community for years. While cycling isn’t Mrs. Young’s passion, her husband Jim bleeds blue and white for his team of Penn State.

Jim Young is “Collegiate Racing”. He started it all folks, as well as being the Penn State Cycling coach for many years, and I pray for years to come. You can google his name, and you may find some interesting material on this gentleman, but one can never know his passion for the sport unless you actually look into his eyes and see the shine.

For the 2nd time this year I actually cried. It takes a real man to be able to admit that he can be emotional at times. For 12 years Jim has had symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and only recently had he felt free from those symptoms, only to be thrown back in again amongst the tides of life when the implanted “pacemaker” controlling electrical impulses to the base of his brain either malfuctioned or hadn’t been quite adjusted to his body/medications yet. I cried when I was alone in my room. It was an overwhelming cry because I’ve been in a similar situation with a lot of unknowns as to which way the tide will take you.

Either way, it was really hard for him to tell me how for the first time in 12 years, the cloud had been lifted from him, and he felt FREE! Only to be taken back by severe cramping, uncontrollable muscle spasms, and pain. Such a fighter, with such a heart he drove himself to Somerville, NJ from his home in Easton to watch the Tour of Somerville. He knew that once the race started he had to start walking back to his car less than 3 blocks away. By the time the race had finished he was 1 block from the car.

This is “Heart” my dear friends and readers. We all have desires, needs, passions  and more, but to continue the road ahead no matter what is thrown in your path is true HEART!  Here is a damn good example. He is a Hero. Jim Young is a true Hero.

He doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him and has a slight distaste for anyone who feels the need to help him. I can’t blame him. He has the same mindset as the athlete he once was and the Fighter he still is.

Here in Easton, watching over his home, his Dog, their Cat, is feeling of peace and a strong desire to stay the course.

Thank you Mr. Young for being who you are both inside and out.

Love,

Mike

10 Responses to “Cycling: To Each His Own”

  1. dan mitchell says:
    May 31, 2008 at 9:31 am

    beautiful post!!! nice to know you have your head screwed on right. the bike world is too full of guys who will only give the “wassup” head nod while on the road, signifying that they are better than you. i enjoy your posts and wish you the best for philly week.

  2. N. Turner says:
    May 31, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    JSY1 (his PSU email!) is indeed one hell of a guy.

  3. nikki says:
    May 31, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    Mike I love that you bring tears to my eyes from laughing at times but really admire you for your heart. Very nice post, maybe one of the best I’ve read lately. Good luck tomorrow!!!

  4. L.V. says:
    May 31, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Mike, Mr. Young sounds like an amazing person on and off the bike. Do you know if they will be able to readjust his pacemaker to lessen his symptoms once again? Oh I do hope so. Thanks for posting this on your blog — it really touched me.

  5. chuff1 says:
    May 31, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    I compliment you on your skill @ at conveying your feelings in you blog. Am glad to have met you last year, I do hope you can have some superb results in your upcoming endeavors, and that BRAD will be able to help you, and also help himself while doing. GOOD LUCK, I love you all and am so proud of you. You guys make me unworthly proud!!

  6. rb says:
    June 2, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    hey mike i used to race against you collegiate, i was at yale and we’d bang it out in the a’s against you and bobby the wrecking duo, tyler, kevin b-h, etc. always had a lot of respect for you, especially after you rode the whole race off your wheel at that boston crit, that was sick. it’s been fun to track where you’ve gone in the sport, and i’ve definitely been cheering for you. you and bobby were always good guys racing collegiate, no attitudes, just going out to race hard (and win). and it was always great to see jim out there with you guys at trexler or wherever, really behind you, hanging out at that conversion van you had, etc. i was jealous of the commaraderie you guys had, but also really respected you, and respected that despite that i was probably 10 years older than you groms, you were cool kids that told stupid jokes and didn’t take yourselves too seriously, and didn’t flaunt ego or attitude at all. it’s been fun to watch your career take shape, mike, you’ve been doing great. good luck this weekend!! ryan

  7. Kim Long says:
    June 2, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    Hi Mike I was cruising and found this site. I was reading about you. Hope you are well. All those crashes. You take care of yourself!!! Go Mike!!!

  8. chuff1 says:
    June 13, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    I must tell you I am biased, The best of the rest will be proud of you all later, do your best and you will be proud of yourself! Good luck.

  9. Bilko says:
    June 13, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    Tell Mr. Young “hello” from Bilko. I miss seeing him… maybe Collegiate Tracks this year if I get lucky?… Not that you are there at his place now… I know CA track meets with $$ & time standards are on you’re schedule… have fun… you’ve done the little stuff, all the time. Keep it cranking and keep the updates coming on the JY.

  10. chin kim says:
    August 6, 2008 at 7:43 am

    Mike,

    What a shame of you, brain washed moron to wear a mask inside an international airport. Are you really that stupid to be so easily brain washed? Your only have a muscle like a monkey, but IQ? zero points!

    Chin Kim
    Edison, NJ

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