"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Post-racing bike riding

Just a question out of my own curiosity...

How many of you know people who were serious racers, and once they stopped racing, stopped riding their bikes entirely? It makes me wonder how many people race bicycles for the thrill rather than because they really enjoy riding. And why did they stop?

The only legitimate excuse I can think of is due to having a family [and thus don't necessarily have time to ride at all].

So, does this happen?

-bullseye

Yeah, me. I barely get to ride anymore.

i love riding my bike, but that's not why i race it.

I took an 8 year break from any real riding after I stopped my first run of racing.

I took an 8 year break from any real riding after I stopped my first run of racing.
Thanks for the info. However, you must understand that I'm fairly new to riding/racing [2 years], so I have no idea why anyone would do this. Explain? :D

-bullseye

I raced in college but then I got a job and began working, got married, etc. and fell away from riding regularly. I finally got back into it a couple of years ago. The good news is that what they say about riding a bike is true.

The only legitimate excuse I can think of is due to having a family [and thus don't necessarily have time to ride at all].

First, no one has to make excuses for how they choose to live their life. Second, how many people do you know who after they retire continue to work at their old job without pay? When most pro's retire, they're ready to get on with the next phase of their life. Also, knowing they'll never achieve more than they already have, many don't see a reason to keep at it.

I raced a lot in college and just got burned out on it. Took a few years off from cycling and now have the racing bug again. Did my first race in seven years last month.

I'd say half the guys that race, quit riding when they stop, because the bike was for competition (Hinault).

The other half use the bike to stay in shape, because they realize the wind in the hair is a bit therapeutic (Moser).

I'd say half the guys that race, quit riding when they stop, because the bike was for competition (Hinault).

The other half use the bike to stay in shape, because they realize the wind in the hair is a bit therapeutic (Moser).
Yes, but to be honest, I was trying to refer to amateur racers... I probably should have specified that.

-bullseye

After 11 years of racing, it's time to get a real job.

Family pressures.
Burn out. (It happens. Takes a while.)
Time constraints/work pressures.

I started riding to rehab a knee injury and because it made me feel good. Racing gave my riding a focus, but it was never the prime reason I rode. Never will be. I'm 49 and I've been riding daily since age 32, with a 5 year layoff for my back pain/surgery clusterfukc. Riding keeps me sane. I'll try to ride for the rest of my days. It's not a hobby for me. It's a lifestyle, and if I didn't love it, I wouldn't still be doing it after 17 years. For me it's not about finding the time to ride. I ride and the rest of my life falls into place. That has worked for me for a long time. Thankfully I met the woman I married after I was already involved in racing. As long as she has known me it has been 8AM weekend rides/races and daily riding. That was part of the Pcad package. Part of the reason we've been happily married for 15 years is giving each other the space to be happy, and for me that's riding.

Hey, I think I'll put that in the first chapter of the Pcad Cycling Zen audio book.

Thanks for the info. However, you must understand that I'm fairly new to riding/racing [2 years], so I have no idea why anyone would do this. Explain? :D

-bullseye

Burnout.

I did the same- took 8 or so years off from riding after I quit racing. Even being a mediocre cat 4 I trained and raced a lot, especially considering that I had a full time job at a startup company. Eventually I just got sick of it all. Not understanding rest weeks, periodization or time off didn't help. In the 80s there was one book on training- Eddie B's book- and it didn't have any of that stuff, so I didn't do it. Then there's the lack of time to do other things. A life that's nothing but work, riding/racing, and sleep, and not quite enough for all of those, gets old after a while.

How many of you know people who were serious racers, and once they stopped racing, stopped riding their bikes entirely? It makes me wonder how many people race bicycles for the thrill rather than because they really enjoy riding. And why did they stop?


And the difference would be?

After 11 years of racing, it's time to get a real job.


So when are you getting a real job? :p

After 11 years of racing, it's time to get a real job.

Let's not get carried away. Career, income, family and financial security are over rated. But sleeping in a master bedroom suite (with a hot tub in the bathroom 20 feet away) beats sleeping in the back seat of a car. Generally speaking.

Yeah, me. I barely get to ride anymore.



I don't think he meant stopping after a season with the intention of racing next.

He means whatever I say he means.

So when are you getting a real job? :p


anything that pays more than $300 a week to hear "Yeah.....there's some noise coming from the pedals..." is a real job.

:D

beats sleeping in the back seat of a car. .


Been there.

Gets bloody cold in central Victoria at night, BTW.

anything that pays more than $300 a week to hear "Yeah.....there's some noise coming from the pedals..." is a real job.

:D

LOL. I can think of a worse phrase.....' would you like fries with that?'

LOL. I can think of a worse phrase.....' would you like fries with that?'


In the USA, "paper or plastic".

I took an 8 year break from any real riding after I stopped my first run of racing.

That's about the same as me. I just burned out entirely. I had a stellar first year, but tired of the training volume, which led to crappy results the next 2 years, which led to me hating racing.

I raced maybe 1 or 2 races/year for about 8 years there, but it was just to go through the motions. I'm back at it now and loving it, though I don't get that many races in.

That's about the same as me. I just burned out entirely. I had a stellar first year, but tired of the training volume, which led to crappy results the next 2 years, which led to me hating racing.

I raced maybe 1 or 2 races/year for about 8 years there, but it was just to go through the motions. I'm back at it now and loving it, though I don't get that many races in.

burn out, watching every little thing that i ate, and real life got in the way.

one advantage of living in a flat country - the 10-15 extra lbs that would hurt in NYC/New England doesn't get in the way over here. :D

Thanks for the info. However, you must understand that I'm fairly new to riding/racing [2 years], so I have no idea why anyone would do this. Explain? :D

-bullseye


Real life gets in the way of training. Once you stop for a period of time, it's very hard to get going again. I stopped after 7 straight seasons in 2001 and have only just got going good again after the last 2 years of fits and starts.

Really starting to enjoy training again after 7 yrs hit and miss (not a conicidence my son is 7). This after 15 years hard core riding/racing. So now the decision is do I drop pretty much everything else again so all my free time can go on the bike? Or do I back away from the abyss. If I start back up consider this a fair warning to TX Masters (esp sprinters) ;)

For all you married guys out there, figured out a great way to sell this at home. Training rides are "Free", vs. spending money at the Golf Course or Bowling Alley.

consider this a fair warning to TX Masters (esp sprinters) ;)

Sweet, I'll keep my eyes open :) (M35+ sprinter)

burn out, watching every little thing that i ate, and real life got in the way.

one advantage of living in a flat country - the 10-15 extra lbs that would hurt in NYC/New England doesn't get in the way over here. :D

In that case you can come on the Nyack Ride some time between April and early November, do the longer route with a couple of hills and see what you think of the terrain that KP has actually described as 'pancake flat'.

Somebody tell my HR monitor.

He means whatever I say he means.

You certainly have a unique viewpoint.

I stopped riding after I stopped racing in the mid 90s. Had a real scary wreck in a race that almost took me out for good. That and I married a ***** that cut off my racing fund.

That and I married a ***** that cut off my racing fund.

You posting here now. I'm guessing that did'nt work out?

I raced for 3 years in high school then basically burned out. I mtn biked a bunch, but didn't really ride on the road for over 20 years after that. I did do a lot of mountaineering and rock climbing during that 20 yrs. Once I started riding again, I planned to only ride recreationally 'for the thrill of it', but I couldn't help myself and started racing again after half a year.

As much as I like bike riding and racing, there are a lot of other things to do in this world. Nobody needs to make excuses for whatever they choose.

Let's not get carried away. Career, income, family and financial security are over rated. But sleeping in a master bedroom suite (with a hot tub in the bathroom 20 feet away) beats sleeping in the back seat of a car. Generally speaking.

Depends on the company.;):D

Depends on the company.;):D

No it doesn't.

Besides, by the time you hit 50 you're in the bedroom watching the Mets game until 11PM and your spouse is crashed in the other room since 9PM. You make appointments for sex (once a month whether you need it or not).

In that case you can come on the Nyack Ride some time between April and early November, do the longer route with a couple of hills and see what you think of the terrain that KP has actually described as 'pancake flat'.

Somebody tell my HR monitor.

That ride is flatter than Milla Jovovich and you know it.

He means whatever I say he means.


I have never seen you have anything worthwhile to say.


Consider yourself forever ignored.

I burned out from racing mountain bikes while in College and came back to the road side after about 10 years of rock climbing, occasional riding and miscellaneous activities.

I've enjoyed all 3 years of racing since but I know I won't take it this seriously for my entire life. I'll always ride but I won't always be racing or on a training plan.

That ride is flatter than Milla Jovovich and you know it.

But not flatter than your brainwaves after a New Paltz keg party.