Do You Think You Could've Been A Professional Cyclist?
10-16-14, 11:11 AM
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I was a competitive runner in High School, ran cross country at the regional level. In reasonable shape in university, I ran a 38 minute 10k, on very flat ground. I'm sure with proper training, I could have gotten that down a bit.
But I don't think I had the right stuff. While I was skinny when I started university (6' 135 lbs), I found my natural weight to be more like 170. I was pretty quick on flat ground, often impromptu racing on Toronto's waterfront bike paths, and I could outclimb many, but I don't think that I could climb quite well enough for pro ranks, even with coaching and training.
But I don't think I had the right stuff. While I was skinny when I started university (6' 135 lbs), I found my natural weight to be more like 170. I was pretty quick on flat ground, often impromptu racing on Toronto's waterfront bike paths, and I could outclimb many, but I don't think that I could climb quite well enough for pro ranks, even with coaching and training.
10-16-14, 11:26 AM
#27
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I didn't have the drive, so whether I had the ability oor not would be irrelevant. I don't have depth perception, so I suspect riding in a peleton would have been dangerous for me, and for the rest of the riders.
However, using little league as an example, I think the numbers are against most people with aspirations of going pro. Very few are good enough to move up from the major division (12 years and under) up to the upper divisions. Of those, very few are good enough to make a good high school team. Of those, very few are good enough to eventually make a college team. Of those, very few ever make it to minor league ball, and minor league doesn't pay enough to make a living. Of those, very few ever make it to the major leagues.
So, one should start out assuming that even though you may do well in local races, you shouldn't assume that you have the ability to move up until you dominate the local races.
I went to a couple of stages of the Coors Classic long ago, and after the stage I saw in Oakland, CA, there were people riding on the road... some were fans, and a few racers were cooling down. I could tell the racers from the hard core enthusiasts 1/4 mile away with the sun in my eyes, because the pros looked like they were on rails... steady as a rock. So, they are definitely in a different class.
However, using little league as an example, I think the numbers are against most people with aspirations of going pro. Very few are good enough to move up from the major division (12 years and under) up to the upper divisions. Of those, very few are good enough to make a good high school team. Of those, very few are good enough to eventually make a college team. Of those, very few ever make it to minor league ball, and minor league doesn't pay enough to make a living. Of those, very few ever make it to the major leagues.
So, one should start out assuming that even though you may do well in local races, you shouldn't assume that you have the ability to move up until you dominate the local races.
I went to a couple of stages of the Coors Classic long ago, and after the stage I saw in Oakland, CA, there were people riding on the road... some were fans, and a few racers were cooling down. I could tell the racers from the hard core enthusiasts 1/4 mile away with the sun in my eyes, because the pros looked like they were on rails... steady as a rock. So, they are definitely in a different class.
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10-16-14, 12:49 PM
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Many of us had potential and aptitude. I have the right build and am very comfortable on a bike with very good sense of picking through a peloton and have great strategic sensibilities. But not many of us have the drive, determination and the support of others to become a pro. It takes the making of everything in your life besides cycling secondary. I was not capable of such dedication so it is all a moot question.
10-16-14, 12:50 PM
#29
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Not me! I was a middle-of-the-pack 'B' rider in my club before I got into recumbents and became half-fast. Besides, as jobs go, I think pro cyclist would be just behind Navy Seal - the idea just doesn't excite me. (Apologies to any Seals out there.)
10-16-14, 02:40 PM
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Perhaps, possibly in my dreams.
But with my comparative biking abilities I would only have been a pro in the sense of being the guy who gets a GC rider to the start of the climb or who turns myself inside out to pull back a contender after a mechanical.
My leg strength says yes, my weight says no.
But with my comparative biking abilities I would only have been a pro in the sense of being the guy who gets a GC rider to the start of the climb or who turns myself inside out to pull back a contender after a mechanical.
My leg strength says yes, my weight says no.
10-16-14, 02:44 PM
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No, because I outweighed the average professional racer by the time I was 13.
10-16-14, 04:36 PM
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As i read the responses, I get the feeling that most here have not raced even locally. Bicycle racing is frickin hard! Just because you are a natural athlete or can average whatever speed for whatever distance...don't fool yourself.
To add to the cdr anecdote, I have heard that the power profile difference between a Cat 5 and a Cat 1 is smaller than a Cat 1 and Pro. those guys are just unreal. You absolutely have to have genetics that are at least two standard deviations above the mean to even begin to think about it.
To add to the cdr anecdote, I have heard that the power profile difference between a Cat 5 and a Cat 1 is smaller than a Cat 1 and Pro. those guys are just unreal. You absolutely have to have genetics that are at least two standard deviations above the mean to even begin to think about it.
10-16-14, 04:39 PM
#33
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It depends.
Training for a 1200K randonnee is a bit different than training for a 100K road race. I didn't particularly enjoy training for a 100K road race ... but I did enjoy training for a 1200K randonnee.
Training for a 1200K randonnee is a bit different than training for a 100K road race. I didn't particularly enjoy training for a 100K road race ... but I did enjoy training for a 1200K randonnee.
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10-16-14, 05:11 PM
#34
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As my wife is a Middlebury alum, I follow Ted King's career a bit. Here again is a good example of someone who's in many ways someone many cyclists could at least identify with when they were his age, even if they couldn't reach his goals, wanted to but didn't have the drive, etc. As good as he is, relatively speaking to even a top "amateur" athlete, he's searching for a contract next year now that Cannondale and Garmin are merging into one team.
One of the cycling clubs to which I belong has about 1,500 members throughout Northern New Jersey and suburban New York. There are some very talented people in it, but only 2 or 3 have even become winning amateur racers.
10-16-14, 05:16 PM
#35
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Sometimes I ponder this to myself still at age 36, and every year since I was 14. I always wanted to get into professional cycling as a teen but life got in the way and my own decisions strayed away from it. I've only raced once, when I was 16, and did quite well. I guess I never had the motivation to join more races and build up points.
I'm 6ft and 162 lbs and all legs and thin muscular build and still a 6 pack abs with no situps, still at almost 40. Naturally fit. It's a good size for cycling fast and agile. Pushups and curls and cycling and walking a dog are about the extent of my workouts.
I am fast. I like to ride fast. Very balanced on a bike and maneuver well, in my opinion. I can climb steep paved long hills sitting down very well, climb steep almost impossible off road hills very well on the bar ends, handle crashes well when they happen, and my energy seems non stop. I've never had any medical check outs on my lungs but I think my chest cavity is large for my size -- Not sure if I have larger than normal lungs or not.
I've never done a century, or even a half century, but 30-40 mile rides don't phase me. After the "burn" wears off after the first 5 miles, I feel non stop at a quick even pace. I always keep up or surpass any fellow rider, hence why I like to ride alone -- fast. I love flying on a bicycle. My idea of a good time is flying through the city's downtown concrete obstacles on a full suspension at 25-30mph during a dead night at 3am and then hitting the trails 12 hrs later, pushing my traction to max. I can't wait to see what I can climb on a Moonlander soon. I can easily bottom out the gears on a road bike going downhill, hitting almost 60mph on the roads in my area, on a 20 year old road bike. (Future inheritance next year means some new bikes, finally)
I've always wondered if I could've been at the top of the league making millions of dollars, or just 5 to 6 digits, perhaps having Armstrong as an arch rival. I'd like to hear others' stories if they've ever felt the same...
I'm 6ft and 162 lbs and all legs and thin muscular build and still a 6 pack abs with no situps, still at almost 40. Naturally fit. It's a good size for cycling fast and agile. Pushups and curls and cycling and walking a dog are about the extent of my workouts.
I am fast. I like to ride fast. Very balanced on a bike and maneuver well, in my opinion. I can climb steep paved long hills sitting down very well, climb steep almost impossible off road hills very well on the bar ends, handle crashes well when they happen, and my energy seems non stop. I've never had any medical check outs on my lungs but I think my chest cavity is large for my size -- Not sure if I have larger than normal lungs or not.
I've never done a century, or even a half century, but 30-40 mile rides don't phase me. After the "burn" wears off after the first 5 miles, I feel non stop at a quick even pace. I always keep up or surpass any fellow rider, hence why I like to ride alone -- fast. I love flying on a bicycle. My idea of a good time is flying through the city's downtown concrete obstacles on a full suspension at 25-30mph during a dead night at 3am and then hitting the trails 12 hrs later, pushing my traction to max. I can't wait to see what I can climb on a Moonlander soon. I can easily bottom out the gears on a road bike going downhill, hitting almost 60mph on the roads in my area, on a 20 year old road bike. (Future inheritance next year means some new bikes, finally)
I've always wondered if I could've been at the top of the league making millions of dollars, or just 5 to 6 digits, perhaps having Armstrong as an arch rival. I'd like to hear others' stories if they've ever felt the same...
10-16-14, 05:39 PM
#36
~>~
Competitive cycling isn't about the hardware it's about the willingness to put in the seat time, hard work and to pin on a number and have at it week after week and season after season. The exceptionally motivated and talented "move up" over a good many seasons to be competitive Nationally, a tiny select minority of those get a look from Pro teams and the rest of us keep/kept at it for whatever reasons we have/had.
That's how it is.
Enjoy riding your bike.
-Bandera
10-16-14, 05:51 PM
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You can ride longer distances on just about anything. Go out this weekend and ride 50 miles ... next weekend do 55 miles ... before you know it, you'll be riding centuries. On your current bicycles.
Just be sure that your current bicycles are set up so that they fit you properly.
And as for racing, do a search for clubs and races in your area. Maybe you've got a cycling association. Find out when they are holding their next Time Trial or Road Race. Find out if you can race independently, or if you need to be part of a club. If you need to be part of a club, look up a few clubs, chat to some people, and pick the one that suits you. Go on some club rides ... get to know the people. And then participate in a race or two.
You might even be able to borrow a bicycle for the races. I joined a racing club and trained with them for a while using the only bicycle I had at the time ... something quite old and heavy. They encouraged me to participate in a race, and someone in the club loaned me a newer, lighter bicycle for that race.
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10-16-14, 06:13 PM
#38
~>~
10-16-14, 06:50 PM
#39
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Probably would never be pro, I'm 34 and just starting cat 5, but I wonder, with the fitness tech and widely available knowledge on the internet whether I could have achieved more had this been available when I was a teen. I think I was discouraged with track because the coaches never taught us the principles of training, effort, etc. I love measuring stuff, so having hr, speed cadence sensors and strava is totally up my alley and provides me with progress in ways I didn't get as a teen. Also, as far as cycling, had there been a cycling culture in my town I think I would have caught the bug earlier, but the lbs (still the only one in my hometown area) doesn't seem active in promoting cycling, I don't think they sponsor any clubs or anything.
10-17-14, 06:07 AM
#40
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To add to the cdr anecdote, I have heard that the power profile difference between a Cat 5 and a Cat 1 is smaller than a Cat 1 and Pro. those guys are just unreal. You absolutely have to have genetics that are at least two standard deviations above the mean to even begin to think about it.
10-17-14, 06:31 AM
#41
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Okay?
Is that a hint at your belief that doping will do something like bump up FTP by 30%?
Is that a hint at your belief that doping will do something like bump up FTP by 30%?
10-17-14, 09:51 AM
#42
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I had the genetics (father was elite/olympic level in track) and athletic ability. He was in Sports Illustrated and I only read it But lack of focus would have prevented me going to the same levels.
But lack of focus would have prevented me going to the same levels.
10-17-14, 12:54 PM
#44
In the wind
Not me.
I had some decent coaching when I was a kid, got assessed by some national level folks looking to develop talent. At the time, I was swimming, playing baseball and running distance, but riding my bike for fun. They basically told me my best hope was as a pitcher, and if I really worked at it (and didn't get injured) I had about a 1:100,000 chance of success. It was about that time that I decided to be a rock star instead.
I had some decent coaching when I was a kid, got assessed by some national level folks looking to develop talent. At the time, I was swimming, playing baseball and running distance, but riding my bike for fun. They basically told me my best hope was as a pitcher, and if I really worked at it (and didn't get injured) I had about a 1:100,000 chance of success. It was about that time that I decided to be a rock star instead.
10-17-14, 01:09 PM
#45
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10-17-14, 01:19 PM
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Even with my non- ideal body type, I do okay in TT's. It's fun but I'm with BP- I don't think I'd have enjoyed being a pro bike racer anyway.
10-19-14, 07:59 AM
#47
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Nope. I was a decent regional racer back in the day. Looking back, there are some things I should have done differently to be a better racer, but would only have moved me towards the top of my category, not up to the next one.
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10-20-14, 06:15 AM
#48
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If the circumstances had been right, undoubtedly. I could have very likely gotten a job as a bike messenger or a sandwich delivery guy.
A professional racer? Not so much.
A professional racer? Not so much.
10-21-14, 11:06 AM
#49
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The pro riders are on a whole different level.
...
I got dropped so bad I couldn't see anyone in the race on the long finish stretch. I got pulled off the course by the officials and everyone pointed at the American on the really fat light bike that is too light and stiff for cobbles.
I approached races differently after that. I had no illusions of making 100-120km. I wanted to do just 5 km. Therefore I started warming up to do a 5 km sprint. Heat rub. Jettison water. Lightest wheels. Highest pressure. Anything to buy me 5 or 10 kph.[/INDENT]
...
I got dropped so bad I couldn't see anyone in the race on the long finish stretch. I got pulled off the course by the officials and everyone pointed at the American on the really fat light bike that is too light and stiff for cobbles.
I approached races differently after that. I had no illusions of making 100-120km. I wanted to do just 5 km. Therefore I started warming up to do a 5 km sprint. Heat rub. Jettison water. Lightest wheels. Highest pressure. Anything to buy me 5 or 10 kph.[/INDENT]
The real difference after that is the crazy, stupid, fearless disregard for any and all danger once you are in that pack and trying to get to the front and stay there.
Lots of people are fast and fit enough, but are not crazy enough to be pro cyclists.
10-21-14, 11:24 AM
#50
~>~
