Becoming a professional later in life.

[moodydoherty]

Excuse me if I'm posting this in the wrong thread. This is my first post and I wasn't sure if I should put this question in this forum or the general discussion.

But anyway, I was wondering at what age is it too late to start cycling professionally? Is 23 too late?

I used to bike ride a lot when I was younger, but just for fun.

 

[BigMac]

It's not too late, it just kind of limits what you will be able to achieve and where you will end up as a pro. I don't know your ambitions. Joaquim Agostinho was 27 when he turned professional, and had never raced before the age of 21. Certainly the forum can think of other late bloomers.

Cheers and all the best.

 

[moodydoherty]

Ideally, it would be to do it full time.

I'm not fantasizing about being Lance Armstrong or anything like that. Just being able to do it as a possible career.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Vino turned pro at 25. Richie Porte not long before that. João Correia is the biggest one of those, and though his pro year with Cervélo was a bit of a PR exercise, he was already in his 30s before he started riding for Bissell and 34 before reaching Cervélo. There's also Xavier Tondó, who fell into the sport after catching and passing a local amateur team in the mountains above his hometown in Catalunya; though he had a couple of amateur results he was 24 before he got a ride for a professional lineup and took until he was in his 30s to reach a top tier team.

 

[The Hitch]

I think 23 is too late yes. Even if you started at 15 the odds would be stacked against you. While cycling isn't a major world sport, its not a minor one either and there are literally thousands of kids who train it from a young age in every country and want to be pros, compete against eachother from that age in youth races, and only a small fraction make it that far.

Some cyclists have made it starting later (though often coming from long youth careers in other sports). Also you could be a freak of nature I guess. You can try. But the rewards aren't even worth it (a below average salary riding your guts out every day as bottle carrier for a conti team?). And its unlikely

 

[moodydoherty]

I'm actually planning on getting my bike tomorrow at my local shop. And I was planning to start riding on Tuesday. Today I also started a new diet.

Any advice for starting out such as how many miles I should be riding a day? There's a trail at the beach I'll be using. I have no problem going 2 times a day. One in the morning and then again at night. I'm not new to sports. I played basketball at the high school and collegiate level.

Again I apologize if this is the wrong forum to ask these questions.

 

[moodydoherty]

Re:

I think 23 is too late yes. Even if you started at 15 the odds would be stacked against you. While cycling isn't a major world sport, its not a minor one either and there are literally thousands of kids who train it from a young age in every country and want to be pros, compete against eachother from that age in youth races, and only a small fraction make it that far.

Some cyclists have made it starting later (though often coming from long youth careers in other sports). Also you could be a freak of nature I guess. You can try. But the rewards aren't even worth it (a below average salary riding your guts out every day as bottle carrier for a conti team?). And its unlikely

I guess that would fit me since I've been playing basketball competitively since I was 10.

 

[Ruudz0r]

You need to be very talented to make it to the pro levels, if you start at age 23 it is even harder. You need to get used to riding in a peloton (+adapting to the speed of the peloton). Getting into cycling at age 23 just to become pro isn't worth it I think as the chances are so small. You will need to have fun at it else it is a waste.
Anyway just ride a lot to get into good condition and start doing races as soon as possible to get used to riding at the speed of the bunch and to riding in the bunch in general.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Btw a good example of someone who started late and is currently trying to make it to the highest level is Michael Woods who is riding for Optum (CT). He recently finished 5th in the queen stage in the Volta al Algarve. He started racing in 2012 when he was 25, but he already was a great athlete before turning to the bike (5 times national champion in running). But as you can see it is possible if you have the talent (and I think he will ride PCT or WT next season, as we are going to see more of him this year).

You can read his story here: https://rustywoods.wordpress.com/riding/

 

[moodydoherty]

Thanks. I just want to eventually do something I love, and riding when I was younger was one of those things.

So I should get my bike this week and see how everything goes.

 

[nepetalactone]

It's hard. It's really hard.

At about 19 I started racing cross and decided I wanted to give 'going pro' a try (I raced MTB as a junior starting at ~13, but not very seriously). After a few years of training and rising through the ranks, it finally got to the point where I had entries paid for and deals on kit, but was in no place to quit the day job. Fast forward a couple years, I'm riding for a small team. They pay for me to get to the races and I have full gear sponsorship, but income is still laughable. So at 25 I was at the point where I was riding to podiums in state (CA) champs and top 20s at national champs. It was about then I looked around and asked myself, "what am I doing?"

I realized that the pecking order was pretty well established. There were two types in front of me: older, well established riders, or up and comers. They had all been at the top of the game throughout the junior and U23 ranks, and it was just a matter of generational exchange. Maybe I could have spent a couple of years moving up another 5-10 places in the big races, but as soon as I'd gotten there the sun would have been setting on my peak racing abilities. Luckily I'd been investing in my brain at the same time, and I had a nice contingency plan in place!

This is in cycloross where the fields (and pockets) aren't too deep, and domestic cyclocross at that. That said, I could imagine that in road, where 99% of what matters is how big your engine is, it's even harder to break in relative to the kids that have been training since age 9. And the money isn't guaranteed either - the current US road champion, Eric Marcotte, has a day job as a chiropractor. A good friend of mine (former Collegiate Div1 national champ on the road) once confided that he expects less than 5 US pros have ever been able to retire on their cycling salary+winnings alone. All of these were racing and destroying the senior competition as juniors.

Best of luck, and enjoy riding! If I were you, I'd expect to be a Cat 2 by the end of the year if you want to try the pro ranks with any seriousness. If that doesn't happen, I would seriously consider alternatives!

 

[maltiv]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's ridiculously tough to become a professional cyclist.

There are ten thousands of cyclists all over the world who have trained 40 hours a week since they were 15 and live 100% for the sport and yet never will be even close to good enough to land a contract.

 

[Jancouver]

Common guys, stop feeding the troll. He is planning to buy a bike tomorrow and turn pro next week. Mods should close this thread.

 

[moodydoherty]

Re:

Common guys, stop feeding the troll. He is planning to buy a bike tomorrow and turn pro next week. Mods should close this thread.

When did I ever mention turning pro next week? Or anytime in the near future?

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

Common guys, stop feeding the troll. He is planning to buy a bike tomorrow and turn pro next week. Mods should close this thread.

When did I ever mention turning pro next week? Or anytime in the near future?

If you are serious about racing, go to BikeForums section 33. All your questions are answered there.

 

[the delgados]

Re:

Btw a good example of someone who started late and is currently trying to make it to the highest level is Michael Woods who is riding for Optum (CT). He recently finished 5th in the queen stage in the Volta al Algarve. He started racing in 2012 when he was 25, but he already was a great athlete before turning to the bike (5 times national champion in running). But as you can see it is possible if you have the talent (and I think he will ride PCT or WT next season, as we are going to see more of him this year).

You can read his story here: https://rustywoods.wordpress.com/riding/

Thanks for posting this. Mike Woods immediately came to mind when I read posts in this thread.
His story is truly extraordinary. I was stunned to read the guy did not turn a pedal in anger until the age of 25, and is now beating some of the best WT climbers in the world at age 28.
Talk about a quick learning curve.
Obviously the guy has a huge engine that was built up during years of running.
Not to sound too discouraging, but I don't think playing basketball is great preparation for elite level cycling. But what the hell do I know?
i picked up cycling later in life (18 yrs old) after playing hockey as a kid, and although I never made it to the pro level, I got good enough to compete against the pros in certain races. And let me tell you, for me, cycling is the most difficult sport I've ever participated in. But it's also by far the most rewarding.
I wish you luck and all the best. But keep in mind that even if you don't make it to the top, you will be proud of yourself for trying.

 

[moodydoherty]

Re: Re:

Thanks for posting this. Mike Woods immediately came to mind when I read posts in this thread.
His story is truly extraordinary. I was stunned to read the guy did not turn a pedal in anger until the age of 25, and is now beating some of the best WT climbers in the world at age 28.
Talk about a quick learning curve.
Obviously the guy has a huge engine that was built up during years of running.
Not to sound too discouraging, but I don't think playing basketball is great preparation for elite level cycling. But what the hell do I know?
i picked up cycling later in life (18 yrs old) after playing hockey as a kid, and although I never made it to the pro level, I got good enough to compete against the pros in certain races. And let me tell you, for me, cycling is the most difficult sport I've ever participated in. But it's also by far the most rewarding.
I wish you luck and all the best. But keep in mind that even if you don't make it to the top, you will be proud of yourself for trying.

Thanks for your comment. I brought up that I used to play basketball just to point out that I've competed in sports before. I just want to start riding and see how I do. If nothing comes of it, then so be it.

I just thought I'd at least ask.

 

[dougvdh]

You might want to look at Svein Tuft (another late starting Canadian rider): http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/sports/othersports/08cycling.html?pagewanted=all

 

[the delgados]

@moodydoherty
My point being is that something will definitely come of it, regardless of whether or not you become a pro.
Please pm me if you're interested in getting started.

 

[moodydoherty]

Re:

@moodydoherty
My point being is that something will definitely come of it, regardless of whether or not you become a pro.
Please pm me if you're interested in getting started.

It says I need to participate more to pm you.

 

[alspacka]

It's of course extremely unlikely, but possible. Even some guys who got to the very top rode their first races in their early 20s. Rominger comes to mind and Hamilton I believe.
I would echo the delgados, get fit, see if you enjoy racing. If it turns out you're freakishly well adapted to it, that's a bonus.

 

[the delgados]

Then go to your local bike shop and ask to speak to someone who races. Unless, they are total d-bags, they will help you out and offer suggestions about local club rides and local cycling clubs. Try not to get discouraged by those who consider you a "Fred, troll", or whatever.
Since you can't pm me, I'll offer the best advice I ever received. It came indirectly from Eddy M. "Ride lots.'

 

[quiqui]

There are some great stories of riders who started at a late age. Jean Nuttli only started riding a bike at age 22 because he was 125 kg and wanted to lose some weight. Four years later he was 11th at the world championships.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludo_Dierckxsens

He turned pro with 30, won his first UCI race with 32 and managed to top-10 in the Het Volk in the age of 40. Some clinic stuff there as well, though.

 

[Sasquatch]

If you want to turn pro that late you need some help on the side. With the right help you can do it.