Would You Really Want To Be A Pro Cyclist?

[King Of The Wolds]

pushing yourself till you are physically sick, and doing it day after day, is just too much.

Been there, that's fine, albeit not as a cyclist. You get used to it, almost addicted to it and feel disappointed if you haven't given enough for it to happen. But the crashes and descents, no way. Too much of a ***** for that.

 

[Alpechraxler]

i'd like to be in the scene as a doctor. I like riding for my own pleasure, looking around smell the flowers..

 

[bridgeman]

No, and here's why;

Years ago, when I was coming up very strongly, I got to know a lot of great cyclist. Some had been racing with Lemond and other top riders. I distinctly remember the thing that got my attention. It was when one strong rider, and friend came back from Europe. His description of what went on over there just about put me into shock, in fact he came back in a state of shock. We could see it in his eyes. From then on I kept racing at arms length. Was never interested in the drama, but was interested in the beauty of the suffering and tactics, and the results of hard work.

So, for many years I've just looked at competitive cycling as just getting some fresh air, and nothing more. This healthy outlook has allowed me to obsess and enjoy the sport for 30years, but at the local level.

I still gets mine. I brings the ruckus to the peloton.

 

[El Pistolero]

Nah. Last year i did some running for a team where we pushed ourselves until we literally threw up. Lets just say its not actually so fun. Wouldn't want to do that full time. I'm pretty sure Cav has talked about throwing up to stay in contact with the peloton. I'd rather just watch the race. They can do the suffering.

Yeah, Nick Nuyens for example was also afraid of throwing up in races. He solved that problem by visiting a shrink.

Personally I don't mind to throw up if it means winning. Have done it before.

 

[El Pistolero]

Never. Never ever ever ever.

I remember reading Chris Hoy say that sometimes, pushing yourself till you are physically sick, and doing it day after day, is just too much.

I just dont think its worth it.

Oh and the crashes and the needles, also horrible.

thats why I admire those who do it so much.

What's wrong with needles?

 

[ferryman]

Yes, maybe, still dreaming of it (but not really), FREEEKING NO WAY = Teens, 20 something, 30 something and now reality

 

[More Strides than Rides]

I've been training and competing at a relatively high level for many years, albeit a different sport (as the name implies). Living as a full time pro would be a much better situation than many athletes live as ametures and emerging or sub-elite levels. It would be an upgrade to be able to focus only on competing, without school, work, or whatever else.

Truly though, only one poster has shared my biggest reluctance. Sports are a small community, and there are always conflicting personalities. Its not easy as easy to commit to the personality as it is to commit to the lifestyle, it that makes any sense.

 

[Master50]

If the body was willing and able but it is all past tense now.
I never had any talent to be a pro. Heck I barely have any talent at all except regularity and love. I love the exercise. I love that it is hard, I love it when I am fit. I fear injury!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

What's wrong with needles?

Some people just don't like them. I'm one of them.

 

[Swede1]

Yeah, Nick Nuyens for example was also afraid of throwing up in races. He solved that problem by visiting a shrink.

Personally I don't mind to throw up if it means winning. Have done it before.

Yeah I wouldnt mind if I threw up in order to win, but doing it constantly in training is too much for me. Of course I'm not good enough to win in hard endurance races. Thats why i stick with soccer and basketball

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

No. I'm afraid of needles.

Haha. Great answer.

But if I could ride for Movistar... YES!

edit: Mmmm... but I'd be too old.

 

[skidmark]

No, and here's why;

Years ago, when I was coming up very strongly, I got to know a lot of great cyclist. Some had been racing with Lemond and other top riders. I distinctly remember the thing that got my attention. It was when one strong rider, and friend came back from Europe. His description of what went on over there just about put me into shock, in fact he came back in a state of shock. We could see it in his eyes. From then on I kept racing at arms length. Was never interested in the drama, but was interested in the beauty of the suffering and tactics, and the results of hard work.

So, for many years I've just looked at competitive cycling as just getting some fresh air, and nothing more. This healthy outlook has allowed me to obsess and enjoy the sport for 30years, but at the local level.

I still gets mine. I brings the ruckus to the peloton.

What are you referring to that was so shocking? I don't really know what you mean from that description, but I'm curious.

As for me, nope. I feel you have to be too insanely focused on it to get to any level, and I'm way too 'jack of all trades' for that kind of monomania. I do love the idea of pushing myself to my physical limits though.

 

[Maxiton]

In a heartbeat. The career of a cyclist is, what, 10 years, 15 at the outside ( Bruyneel's teams excluded ). After which there is time to do other things for a living. I think I'd want to be a winning rider, though, and not a worker bee - simply because I'd find it difficult to put up with the outsized egos otherwise.

As for fear (of descents and crashes), I think anyone who's spent thousands of hours training and racing on a bike probably feels a lot more confident than most of us do.

Anyway, it would be an exciting way to spend one's teens, twenties, and thirties. I think. (Though I also think it would have been more fun in the sixties and seventies, before racing became so slick and sophisticated, when riders slept under bleachers and in gymnasiums and there was no such thing as a team bus, and when they'd raid shops in the middle of a stage and jump off their bikes into fountains to cool off - though, granted, the GC probably wasn't doing that.)

 

[IVAN BASSO]

Of course its fun but not when you injured i crashed at paris nice.Ill be back on form in may watch me diesel my way up passo dello stelvio it will be a ball and then humble the great 1 in la vuelta

SIGNED
Ivan the terrible.

 

[Old School]

I love speed, but not when it comes from being hit by a car and being flung into a barbed wire fence.

NO THANKS!!!!

 

[Ripper]

Considering the overwhelming # of pros are worker bees and not 'stars', I cannot really see the draw. Perhaps if I had gotten into the sport when really young (teens), then perhaps. But I certainly have no regrets about it.

I prefer it for fun and fitness, and then my real job is totally different. I do not have to stress too much if the biking performance is not so good, and I get to have more variety in my life. Not to mention, pro racing is very hard on family life!

Now, I wish I had enough independent wealth that I could go watch major GTs when I wanted to

 

[jens_attacks]

No. I'm afraid of needles.

 

[personal]

Transforming my hobby into a work? No, thanks.

 

[CatsNK]

Funny, I've never even considered it for a second. Too painful and I don't have the ego for competition.

I have dreamed a lot, however, about being a soigneur. If I was in my 20s, I'd throw myself into learning French and try to be a soigneur for a few years. I'm sure it's extremely hard work and not at all glamourous, but what a cool way to travel around the world when you are young!!!

 

[pastronef]

are you afraid of planes?

 

[Christian]

I wouldn't want to be a pro cyclist for several practical reasons (needles being one of them) but then again I feel like it's pointless to say that because I don't have the talent or the ambition anyways. The same probably counts for most people on the forum ... if I had the gift of natural talent I'd probably think differently

 

[9000ft]

There was a time when I was pretty serious and racing full time. At that time I had dreams of being a employed pro and making a living at it but it became pretty clear that I lacked talent and drive and discipline. In short, hacks like me who at 6' tall even when well into single digit body fat barely get under 170# didn't make it as pros.

It would have been nice to have been paid to train and race rather than have it cost though.

 

[TRDean]

I took a shot at it in the 80's. I'm from the US...went and raced at a very high amateur level in the Netherlands and Belgium. I loved it at the time...but came away with a few observations. First, it was very hard living on my own (with a host family) and away from my family when I was only 19-20 years old. Second, you had to do crazy stuff to do well...if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I didn't tough it out..and came home and have a nice life. Every spring..and I mean every spring I get down on my self about not sticking it out and trying to make it...then I see footage of the early spring races...cold, rain, brutality, beauty...and I am soooo glad I didn't keep trying! LOL!

So my answer is no...I would not want to be a pro cyclist...very tough life..very tough indeed and my hats off to every one of them..from the champions to the scrubs!

 

[Maxiton]

I took a shot at it in the 80's. I'm from the US...went and raced at a very high amateur level in the Netherlands and Belgium. I loved it at the time...but came away with a few observations. First, it was very hard living on my own (with a host family) and away from my family when I was only 19-20 years old. Second, you had to do crazy stuff to do well...if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I didn't tough it out..and came home and have a nice life. Every spring..and I mean every spring I get down on my self about not sticking it out and trying to make it...then I see footage of the early spring races...cold, rain, brutality, beauty...and I am soooo glad I didn't keep trying! LOL!

So my answer is no...I would not want to be a pro cyclist...very tough life..very tough indeed and my hats off to every one of them..from the champions to the scrubs!

Nice post. It would be interesting to hear more about your adventures, here or in a separate thread (in the Clinic, I imagine).

 

[Havetts]

Nice post. It would be interesting to hear more about your adventures, here or in a separate thread (in the Clinic, I imagine).

Yes, please do tell us more, TRDean