Road Cycling - Would you like to be a pro for a week?

Below is an ongoing diary from a group of European journalists who have been invited to ride like a pro for Giant Bikes in a race in Germany.Thought an interesting site..Written by a Brit journalist who has a team number and has to compete with the big boys. Maybe he has lost his idenity and is just rider # 322.....Would you like to be in his Shamino's.For the next 5 days you can follow their travels via their Giants or team bus...
Thought you all might like to follow his week and make comments about his journal...Would you. Could you? That would be exhilariating..Might get a better eyeview of the life of a pro, than from a non-pro's point of view. I think, it would be a vacation to remember, if we didn't croak first. .

Below is the link via CyclingNews..
Day one.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2004/diaries/ben_atkins/?id=ben_atkins041

Not if it involved being in a pile-up at 65 kmh on the Champs Elise'

The only thing I don't like is the danger

Doing the Dolomites. Can't imagine braking..Did anyone read Ben Atkin's entry for the Grand Folio Campagnalo ride.... Slowing from 70 KMH to 25...A blok blowing out his rims from braking.
Sort of idolize the life of a pro..Yet,think about that braking technique..You can be sure I woud go through a couple wheels a day... If not find me on some hair pin turn freaking out in some ravine... "Brakin' in the Dolomite.." I would have to read that bike handlers guide with great care....
Plus I would hate soiling those classy kit. Does Iowa have a tour for amateur's drafted to the ranks of pros...

I wish he would post some more entries...

Sherpa..Atkins is supposed to post for each day of the race. Last check still no report on the third day. Maybe the 9 hour time differnece.. Aussie says the pile ups worry him..Can you imagine riding and having the whole street to yourself and no traffic..That might mitigate the race speed element.? But then, having seen a tour..The fans watching get so close to the riders, it is like they are trying to smell them...The road might drastically narrow as a result of the on lookers.
Checked on the Tour of Germany...
Atkins reported their entry to be a scaled down version of the Tour of Germany..German web site does not mention the Giant Team anywhere.? Did not expect the pros to think this Journalst team to be serious entrants...
What if one of the members does pretty well ! Comes in within 50 percentile? Might it be an easy route to pro--dom, sort of like "American Idol" to the US music scene.
I see the German web site said yesterday, lots of rain...

Today The amateur Giant Media Team, that temporarily turned pro for a week, got back in touch with the cycling world..Its' author Ben Atkin's had troubles connecting with hotel internet outlets...Ben reports he is happy to do his first time trial at only 13 minutes behind the top pro.
But Ben reports that being rushed to a team bus, the team suffers the same malody pros do..'we have no idea where we are' being shuffled to the next hotel' close to the next stages' start line.
But Ben's next couple days comments upon the adjustments possibly pros feel to the grueling race pace. Refering to the race as 'work', talking of the 20 crashes which damaged bikes but not racers, and the fact pros don't have the choice of rolling over and for going the days training..Even when the rain comes down in sheets.Other aspects of his report centered on cycling customs of domestiques towards oher cyclists.
TO me a race is a race...I never sense cyclists slow down for other domestiques...I thought it is all for each to put out a maximum amount of energy, except when supporting the lead racer...
Could we fans who are out there screaming at our favorite riders,think this has become 'work.' Do you race when you are soaked to the bone.? I barely ride when it is wet.
20 bike crashes at the start of a race...Are there that many crashes in a bike tour.? Did not realize the team car had to carry that many replacement bikes..No one hurt..
If I could qualify for this weeks experience, it would be a thrill the grand kids would hear about daily for the rest of their lives....
Tomorrow is Giant Media Teams final race. Anxious to hear how stoked they all are.

What if one of the members does pretty well ! Comes in within 50 percentile? Might it be an easy route to pro--dom, sort of like "American Idol" to the US music scene.
I see the German web site said yesterday, lots of rain...

American Rider.....at last something to watch on prime time network tv :D

In my next life, if there is such a thing, I AM going to be a pro cyclist. I will also be rich enough that I can sponsor my own team!

Not if it involved being in a pile-up at 65 kmh on the Champs Elise'

The only thing I don't like is the danger

If I turned pro and got to ride in the Tour de France, I think the broom wagon would be sweeping me up within the first 4 hours.

Here's another perspective....

Being professional and in the top .01% (world class) in ANY endeavor takes a tremendous amount of skill and dedication. How many of us look at the top people in our chosen fields and think - "wow, I'd give anything to be them" without thinking about what it really takes to get there as well as what their overall lives are truly like. Unfortunately, there are very few people at that level who are still driven by the sheer enjoyment.

In a perfect world, I would love to experience having the skills and living the life of a top pro for a week, but doing it full time, no matter what the benefits are, would mean giving up too many other things that are important to me.

55/Rad

Rad. Did Armstrong's divorce come about as a result of his prodom? He still seems happy.. He is moving on just fine..
Think I would like the life of prodom,just fine..We are sort of vagabonds anyway..That would fit into our lives.
As to the route to become that .01%. Since, I would hope all the way through it would be fun ?, I think I would be driven to do it.(That is if I had to capacity to train like that. And, I think I would ?)
As Lance says , "It is about the bike..." Many of us do say, our ideal is to ride every day..This would accomplish that... Think I am in enough awe to the dedication of pro riders..I was one who climbed up Mt. Ventoux, to put my water bottle on the marker of Simpson....Of course, the easiest approach..Not a good start towards being a pro rider.

American Rider.....at last something to watch on prime time network tv

That WOULD be a great show! OLN, are you listening? :)

In the spirit of this thread..I like Atkin's column because it gives an outsiders insight into the life pro riders... Question...Other than Lance's book, any interesting biographies/autobiographies, strictly recalling what it is like to compete in the big bike races..?
Lance's book is great..His first book seems to center about his overall life struggles, and not just a recant of life in the peloton.
ANy good recommendations about books, strictly recanting life in the peloton.

I haven't read the web site, but I'll play along. Sure I would like to be a pro for a week...IF you could make me to be in my 20's again when I use to race!

So if anyone has been following the Giant Media amateur turned pro tour, Ben and group ended the tour in Leipzig. As one would expect, being a pro for a week had its ups and downs..
Stage 5 & 6 -of 7; seemed to be difficult days when the accumulated lacate of the past 4 stages just would not relent. The legs just seemed to refuse to respond, in spite of the nightly messages. Ben remarked his legs just would not immediately sprint to 50 KMH,even on easy terrain without a struggle.
Other difficulties were coping with the cold and wet and attempting to stay warm by keeping the heart rate over 90, when peddling at only 40 KMH. With time, being soaked to the bone seemed to become accepted and learning how to stay warm without the protection of a rain jacket in sheeting rain grew into an art form. The chill factor was significant when decending in the rain at 70 KPH.Ben remarked about riding, yet all this scenery was just a blur of racing and bus travel.
The ups..Giant Media's top rider Roderick won the final stage. The euphoria of the race, the function of domestiques, meaning eating bananas and drink without stopping. Or sharing a wheel with team mates to support the weaker riders.
After stage 7 Ben and group were ready to party, yet apparently not sick of the pace...Ben planned to do Paris-Roubaix the following weekend.
So, what do you think..Do pro racers get past the pain and always have their race legs ready.? Could you race at 90 KPH down a steep decent, soaked to the bone.?
Come to think of it, I felt a little challenged in some of my organized tours, (not races) that we would maybe have to ride 109 miles, in the rain, if needed.! I know going down a decent at 90 KPH, just would not happen..
So guess, I answered my question about could I do this..But with training it sounds pretty exciting.
Remember when you see a still photo of Hamilton atop the Dolomites riding in the snow. That still photo might actually be over a 2 hour duration...Freeze frame..Not really.

I was a professional rider for more than 1 year back in the years 1968 and 1969. It took much hard work, and the amount earned was very small. I met many famous cyclist of the time, and sometimes did better than they did. But, at the end, I was just not good for professional cycling, and I left.

If you wish to be professional, do it don't only talk about it.

Pessi..Many just get caught up in the spirit of pro cycling,watching American favorites in the media. Or watching a real stage of an European race..It is just called a chance to dream.
Heah, like your Avatar...Funny movie.

Pessi..I see Eddie Mercyx won the TDF for the first time in 1969.That would put you being a pro at the time of Mercyx I. You are lucky.

Lucky? Eddie Mercyx was an imbecile. He ran my line into a kerb one time, causing me to fall.

pessi...Welcome to the Forum..We are a relatively new member..Pessi..Most important question..Maybe having read Ben Atkins account...
What was it like..Many would like to hear of your experiences...Where did you race..? Do you get over the fatique Ben Atkins mentions..Like to hear of your experiences...thanks..
Maybe Mercyx was new and relatively inexpereinced ? Think 1968 was among his first years as a pro racer.. What kind of riding do you do now?

I ride maybe 200 km each week now, if my knee is not hurting too badly. Mostly ride on flat areas like around isles in Montreal area. Sometimes I climb if feeling good and not smoke too many Gitanes.
In my time, fatique was cured by eating a banana or maybe pear. Much pasta was consumed, and many drank wine to keep from feeling pain. Sometimes when feeling tired, a cigarette would be passed, giving nicotine. I raced many places in France and Italy, but never qualify for le Tour de France.

Pessi..In 1968 was there a Canadian team..? Did you get to any of the famous Col's...? Ventoux.. Could you make your legs work day after day.. Were you treated in a manner that pros are treated today..Messages, bused around to stages. Domestiques taking care of the team captain.
As of now, main interest in cycling racing? Any other cycling interests.? Touring, cyclo cross, whatever.

No, I am a French citizen, not Canadien. Do not know about any Canadien teams then, but there may be some. I moved to Canada in late 1970's.

My team was poorly funded, and all 5 of us rode with team manager and mechanic in a Citroen DS "wagon" model.

Pessi..I think there now is a Canadian team..Think sponsored by some Canadian Coffee company...Is it not Webcor's Mark McCormack you always see wearing the Canadian Maple Leaf jersey..
ANyway..Pessi..Have a favorite Col.... ?? I was lucky enough to climb the easiest approach to Mt. Ventoux..Guess, not something to brag about.. The approach from the east..
That approach was not much worse than our Local Palomar Mtn..

Do not know, as I said previous, I hate coffee. Did not train much in the Alps. One col is like the next.

So Frederick won a stage. This could be all of our celebrations. Definitely smiling faces.
Link to happy "stage" faces below
A well deserved celebration.


Still can't wipe that smile off Franck's face
Photo ©: Starshot Design Agency

Latest Photography Related Story
Still can't wipe that smile off Franck's face
Photo ©: Starshot Design Agenc
Latest Photography Related Story

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2004/diaries/ben_atkins/day9/AACT8435

Riding in these rainy conditions..Can rain jackets really make much difference? Do you enjoy having to feel Miserable.?
Link to pro riding in the rain.


http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2004/diaries/ben_atkins/day8/AACT7486