WTB is comprised of a diverse group of people – from our shipper who can call out a mistake the sales team has made from over a mile away to our accountant, forever curious what the elusive Up Dog is, we’re like Marky Mark in that we’re definitely… errr.. a funky bunch. While some fancy DH, others bob and weave through traffic trying to claim victor and ownership of a prized rubber chicken, yet despite this all, we strangely enough, came from mothers. Yes, all of us did.
So, we are here to salute our mothers, yours too, and to do so we’re offering 20% off of WTB products for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of this Mother’s Day Weekend. Below we’ve compiled stories of our moms for your enjoyment. Whether it’s picking us up from a cyclocross crash, traversing a mountain range, or pleading with a guidance counselor, all stories seem to share at least one thing in common: our mothers worked very hard and we are deeply indebted to them. You’ll also find at least a couple instances of that look or phrase that it seems only moms can cast upon their children. In a few words or maybe even a glance, a mom can completely disapprove yet somehow totally understand her child at the same instant. If for some reason you’ve lived in an alternate universe where this didn’t exist, then read on, you’ll get the idea. For those of you that know what we’re talking about, enjoy the following tales, they’re keepers. For all of you, think of your mother this Sunday and maybe get her a gift using this 20% off code from our webstore this weekend: mothersday Better yet, if you’re a mom, treat yourself, its your weekend. From all of us at WTB, thank you.
1. Jen Burt - WTB sales
"Look Ma, No Hands"
The first and only race my mother ever went to was a Cyclocross race in Folsom, CA about 8 years ago. Although she has always supported my obsessive love of all things cycling, she had never personally witnessed a race. I know she thought it was dangerous and a little bit foolish since my job at the time required full working use of all my limbs. After some convincing that racing wasn't really that dangerous and watching people ride their bikes around in circles was fun she bucked up like the supportive parent she is and off to the races we went.
Midway through the race I decided that my arm warmers must come off, immediately. On a flat spot on the course I sat up and attempted to remove the offending object of clothing. Removing clothing while riding was something I had never actually attempted before this moment but in my anaerobic haze I decided that now was a good time to try it out. I immediately lost control of my front wheel plunging full speed into a ditch. I was ejected from my steed ass over tea kettle into a field, landing with a resounding thump. This spectacular feat of incoordination resulted in a cracked helmet, black eye, broken collarbone, a trip to the ER and my Mom getting to say "I told you so".
Even though she got to say "I told you so" she never said "don't". Thank you Mom for setting aside your worries while encouraging me to pursue happiness on the bike and for handing me the barf bag on the drive home from the hospital that day. You are a trooper and a shining example of who I want to be for my daughter when it's my turn to worry.
2. Kenny Burt - WTB sales
My story will start with my mom. She raised a family of three on her own (single income) but we never felt poor! Her hard work ethics were passed down to my two sisters every morning. Her regimen was not one of work hard play hard like I enjoy! It was more along the lines of work hard then tend to family needs! I often think back to what my mom went through when I'm faced with life's challenges. So I just want to say thanks Mom for giving me my fire!
My wife who I often refer to as "the machine." She helps me in just about every aspect of my life! From helping me stay organized and on time to keeping me happy on race weekends, she truly is my other half (the organized side.) All the preparation for big races is shared with my wife which makes it a little more tolerable! I guess what I'm saying is, I owe the two moms in my life a lot and love them both very much!
Kenny and Jen Burt
3. Susie Weaver - Corporate Affairs
My Mom gave me my first bike for Christmas in 1973, when I was 5 days shy of 6 years old. It was a joyous day for me and one of my Mom’s favorite memories of me. My older sister was jealous that I got a bike, because she got only a skateboard. We were being raised by a single mom and money was tight; it turns out the only reason I got a bike was because a family friend had outgrown it. I rode that bike for years, and even used it at age 10 on my first paper route.
4. Jerome Clementz - Pro Racer
My mum, rode across the moutain where I live in 3 days (120km) when I was 8, and I couldn't go with them because I was too young.
I was so jealous and impress of this adventure, so when I was 12 with a bunch of friends I organize it, to see how it was. And I can say that it was not that easy, we struggle a lot to make it. I think my mum inspired me for a lots of adventures since then.
5. Ben Cruz - WTB Pro Racer
My mom has had to deal with more shit then any other person I’ve ever met. Growing up I was a serious shit disturber, not to say much has changed but as a teenager I put my mother through a living hell. With all the calls from principals, police, angry parents, and emergency room nurses, most parents would have full on cracked. No matter what I did, my mother has always been there for me. From bailing me out of jail to picking me up with broken body parts at hospitals further away than I said I was going, she is the one person I know always has my back. Thanks for everything you've done for me mom and sorry for pissing you off at so many Sunday dinners. Love you
6. Mark Slate - Vice President and Chief Product Designer
Mom,
You were unimaginably good and you still are. At 89 you cannot speak and you cannot move much but your spirit shines through. You patched me up when I got damaged, you allowed me to go my own way, you stood beside me when things were difficult.
One story I can tell many years later comes to mind. You were required to appear with me before a “referee” – a person acting as a judge for juvenile traffic court. You were berated as the responsible party for my antics riding a motorcycle on the public streets of Marin County California. Three charges were heard. I did in fact ride on a sidewalk, I did not go 55mph in town (at that moment) and I did get clocked at 110+mph by the CHP. Altogether those charges made you hang your head. You did not need to reprimand me. Your humiliation was enough for me. (I was thinking; from now on I just won’t stop to accept a ticket.)
We were close enough that I would relate stories of escape to you the following day and you would simply say; “Oh son”. To me that said it all. The message was; your fate depends on you.
Yes, you let me go my own way. You are grace personified, faithful and true and the best example of a human being that I could ever hope to learn from. You have always been there for me and what you have taught me always will be.
I love you Mom. Forever.
Your son.
7. Jason Moeschler - OEM Sales Manager and Team WTB Racer
Growing up watching my mom struggle to keep me in bikes and bike parts when she lived pay check to pay check has taught me some pretty valuable lessons in life.
Lesson 1: Learn to work on your own bike and take really, really good care of it.
Lesson 2: It’s not worth going to a race if you can’t win it (because it isn’t worth wasting your mom’s hard earned cash to drive you there otherwise.)
Lesson3: Don’t get hurt. Emergency rooms are a rip and stitches are easy to remove yourself.
Lesson 4: Get a job.
Lesson 5: Don’t piss off my mom.
In the 90’s, there wasn’t a high school mountain bike team in Nevada City, CA (my hometown) so there wasn’t a lot of support from the school when it came to getting out of class to compete in national and international events. I should mention that my mom can be, and is still, pretty convincing when she wants to be. So when she went down to the school to get my assignments that I’d be missing for the ’96 MTB World Championships in Cairns, Australia, and was told I’d have to go to another school (the one for bad kids) if I missed another day, she managed to convince my guidance counselor otherwise.
Whether it was the few choice words my mom used to convey that I’d be missing out on an opportunity of a lifetime, or the realization that my mom was no joke and would make good on her promises no matter what they were, I got, and completed the work—all of it! Who’s to say why the guidance counselor had the change of heart. All I know is I got to graduate from Nevada Union and go to the World Championships as the US Junior National Champion for one reason. My Mom.
8. Bobby McMullen (paraphrased) - Customer Service and Sponsored Athlete
To say Bobby has been through a lot would be a massive understatement. Bobby affectionately refers to himself as being like a cockroach because he’s apparently very hard to kill. He overcomes everything (diabetes, kidney failure, loss of vision, multiple kidney/pancreas transplants, open heart surgery, and various serious bouts of cancer,) never complains, speaks the truth, and cares deeply for his friends and family. Time spent around Bobby is time well spent.
A few years ago, Bobby broke his right femur in four places
while riding his cross bike alone. This
was his right femur, mind you, his left he had broken years ago, all but a
distant memory at this point. In a
heroic test of perseverance and sheer determination, Bobby made it to
In this particular instance, Bobby thought it might be wise to leave his parents be. Better not to bother them, he figured. You’d think that at age 47, you’d stop worrying over breaking news of injury to your parents. Some things just don’t change.
Laying in his hospital bed recovering from surgery, Bobby heard the sweetest mean voice a kind woman 5’2” could muster, “Robert James Michael,” (this was a tip off he was in deep trouble, only when his mom was truly upset with him would the Robert James Michael come out,) “how dare you not call me!” Deep in the throes of bewilderment, Bobby managed a “How’d you find out?”
For those of you that think it will only get easier to give mom the good news when you’re banged up, don’t hold your breath.
Here’s to Bobby’s mom, the nicest scolding 5’2” mom around.
9. Nate Byrom - Marketing Coordinator
My mom could run a whole race team. Lucky for me, I had her all to myself! She drove to races, handed off water bottles, woke me up with pre-race breakfast in bed, ran back home to pick up whatever I forgot, took me to the hospital countless times, pinned on my number plate, and always pushed to make sure everything goes perfect. Last Mother’s Day I presented her with a bill for 20 something stitches in Downieville… red is for love right?
I like to say I trained her well, but it was really her training me to always be the best I can be.
Love you mom!
