simplyred

Ok ok - firstly, this should be in the racing forum, but not enough people read it; and I really want some answers..

So over dinner last night, me and my gf were discussing the merits of a career - mine in grad school, hers in pursuing writing... both... academically challenging and rewarding..
I have never raced - but I brought the possibility of pursuing a career in racing - only to be shot down.

"That's such a selfish pursuit - there's no benefit to anyone else." - was her argument.

I couldn't say anything... because I didn't know anything about racing..
So... why do so many people devote their lives to training and racing? Why race for a living? Why do you race at all?

I'm not trying to impose that there is inanity to racing - I just want to try and understand....

Thanks..

R600DuraAce

Let me give you a reality check. You can only make a living out of racing when you are racing for a top Div3 (Health Net, Prime Alliance??, for examples) and Div1 team (Team Discovery, CSC, T-Moble). These guys are GOOD. They have been racing since teens and they have talents. Most of us, including you, take up racing for personal reasons. Most of us still have a full time, bill paying jobs. Unless you are talented and in your early 20s, you better keep your day job. Even in racing in the amature level is hard. Min training hours required to be competitives is somewhere in the 12 to 15 hours. The expense required (coaching and training equipments--power meter) is huge.

Warblade

Why race? Because it's fun.

CAAD5AL

I had a couple of friends go full-time pro after college. One went on to do great things, made it fairly big on the international scene, got famous and fairly rich, etc. The other never really made it to the top-tier and wound up going to medical school. The second is now a doctor, and the first is still trying to figure out exactly what to do for a living. Not sure if there's any advice in there or not - definitely not the obvious anyway (pretty sure both would do it all over again).

FWIW, though, both guys were ridiculously strong riders long before they went pro and constant sources of humiliation and defeat to my lazy self!

johnny99

That's really the only reason. Armstrong, Hincapie, etc. were already racing internationally when they were your age. Lance raced in the junior World Championships as a teenager, raced in the Olympic Games at age 21, and then turned pro right after that. Practically every other bike racer that you have heard of will have a similar level of experience. Your chances of making a living from bike racing are really pretty minimal. Don't give up your day job.

Mariner Fan

I'm not a racer, got into this sport way to late. I think back to myself in my teens and I would have loved to race! By the way johnny99; every time a see your posts I think about the Bruce Springsteen song.....now I have it stuck in my head!

goodall

Racing's a total rush, and at the beginner's level doesn't require a ton of training to be competetive. Plus it makes training easier when you're working for something. Sure it's selfish and impractical, but that's a hobby you know? You won't hurt anyone, other than spending a few bucks on entry fees that could have gone to help the homeless I guess.

I'm not qualified to talk about the merits of cycling as a CAREER, but I do some comebacks for your gf's theory. To argue that a professional cyclist doesn't help anyone, that pretty much invalidates the majority of jobs. Does a janitor help people? Yes, he keeps the place clean and healthy. If he quit his job, would he be replaced with someone else who did the exact same thing for the same money? Yes. Probably. So in practice, he's helping people, but in reality he's just doing his job. The person who really helps is much farther up the chain of command, making the decisions as to where the money goes, who gets paid to do what and when, diverting resources to worthy causes. This person has influence and power, and cannot be replaced quite as easily. My point is that a professional athlete is granted a level of exposure, and how he/she uses that exposure is a measure of the career's value. Lance has had a bigger impact on cancer research as a pro athlete than he would have had as a cancer researcher.

DXchulo

Why write? Who is that going to benefit?

Is she talking about being a humanitarian, or is she talking about putting food on the table? If she's talking about being a humanitarian, then think about the little kids who get joy out of racing (and all sports) and look up to athletes as supermen (right or wrong). If she's talking about putting food on the table, how much money do most writers make?

Why is she free to pursue her dream but you're not free to pursue yours?

Women...

Jake B

I am 14 and have been in a couple races, and love it. It is the most fun thing I have ever done! I do hope to become semi-pro, or even pro one day, but I realize the chances at that are small. I think the main reason I like to race is because it is fun, and it makes you feel good if you place well.

Jake

pigmode

I don't race bicycles, but I race kayaks. Racing lends motivation to setting up a serious training program, as well as helping to provide clearcut goals and the possibilty for instant gratification.

boyze

I think you've seen a hint your gf's inner soul

rjtokyo

Simplyred- At this point in your life, race for the thrill, not for the money... And bring your gf with you to cheer you on. Then after that cheer her on in whatever she gets a thrill out of. Racing IS a thrill, BTW, no matter how fast or slow you are. Watching your training pay off with faster and faster times and placings... adrenaline rush!

Cheers! - RJ

Brian

Who's this Lance guy you guys are always on about?

As far as racing, unless your girlfriend is a coach/masseuse/nutritionist, she's right - it's a selfish pursuit. You'll never see her, and you certainly won't be able to provide a comfy lifestyle for either of you. Race for fun and scars. The odds of being able to earn a decent living are pretty slim.

EventServices

Because you only get one life.
She only gets one. It's hers to spend how SHE wants, and you get yours to spend how YOU want.

Is it selfish? That's not important. It's YOUR life.
Will you be rich and famous? Chances are, no. But you'll have stories to tell and adventures to learn from. Isn't that good enough? That's more than most people will ever get working their 9 to 5.

If you want to race, you'd better give a shot while you can....or regret it forever.

You're only young once. You can save the world later.

To quote Kevin Costner's character in Fandango (1984):
"Someday Philip, when you're old...?"

simplyred

You didn't answer the question... Why race? Personal Reasons? What are yours?

Hmm.... while completely valid and true - not all riders have a Lance story to tell and bring to a global audience.... But what he's done - is already a MASSIVE difference in the fight for cancer survivors and research

DX, Event... Thanks for the ammo.

So - for us amateur racers - it's just for fun...
But I did ask why racers train for a living and compete at ridiculously high levels? Kona, Olympics, Tours, UCI... etc..

Still looking for some enlightenment

R600DuraAce

Hard to explain. A way to transcend your bodily limitation and to free your mind. Kind of like the "Matrix" experience. Think about all the impossible things you can do on a bike in terms of speed, distance, and effort. For most people it is impossible for them to sustain 30 minutes at 90% of their MHR. Or flying down a hill at 50 mph in a race. Or holding a 30 mph pace line in a race with some 50+ riders. Or being an animator in a race that can dictate the race outcome. In terms of training, how many people can say they can commute 35 miles day and for 5 days straight, added another 40+ hours work week???

In another way, training and racing allow me to deal with my personal issues. The night of my recovery day, I always dream about a resolution of some personal issues I have 7 years ago. Especially right now, I LOVE to get on the bike and just ride. The past 4 weeks I have logged more than 600 miles.

waltergodefroot

I race because I have to ride/train all those hours anyway to allow me to eat the way I like to eat. Hmmm, spaghetti baked with spicy sauce and mozzarella and parmesan.

UmneyDurak

Ah great now I'm hungry!
When I'm older I can look back and say I did something, and not just wasted my life in front of TV.

patentcad

>>That's such a selfish pursuit - there's no benefit to anyone else." - was her argument<<

This is silly. You can say the same thing for running, bowling, model building, hunting, water skiing, or ANY hobby or recreational pursuit. Your girl needs a reality check. The one that comes from talking to women whose husbands/men are engaged in pursuits that are not only 'selfish' but self destructive. You know, gambling, whoring, drinking, drug abuse, etc. On the on the other hand bicycle racing (as a hobby, you can't be serious with this 'make a living' remark) will keep you thin, fit, probably relatively ripped compared to your peers and won't really cost all that much money. I've had expensive hobbies and I've had not that expensive hobbies. Bike racing? One $5000 racing bike once every 5-10 years and $500-$1000 annually in Power Bars, bike clothes and supplies, entry fees, etc. Cheap. And if you think that's not so cheap we can compare the relative costs of other pursuits, like, say, downhill skiing. Where one lousy week of skiing can set you back $2000+.

Why should you race? It's not about what you SHOULD do. It's about what you WANT to do. And not for nothing but if my girl friend couldn't handle something I wanted to do as benign (and as mentally and physically healthy) as bicycle riding/racing - I'd be questioning HER, not my desire to ride a friggin bicycle. Of course I came into my relationship with my wife 15 years ago as an avid racing cyclist, so that was part of the deal when she met me - and part of the 'here I am, take it or leave it' package. Fortunately for me, she took it. We're very happy : ).

Hope you can figure this whole thing out. But remember you don't have to race. Not at all. But it does make you a better cyclist. And it's fun. That has always been enough for me.

2Rodies

If you want a real reality check about racing pick up this month CycleSport and read the article written my Jonathan Vaulters. It's a real eye opener to what these guys go through. BTW it ain't pretty.

zakk

you should be a bit selfish. its YOUR life. this is YOUR shot at it. YOU have to decided what is worth it to you.

The_Convert

All I can say is if you have to ask, you will never know. That goes for you and your girlfriend.

Brian

She's worried that all that saddle time will put Willy to sleep.

sewupnut

Ego! Ego! Ego! Eat a hell of a lot of everything and
go really fast with no damned motor but me.
Pain and suffering too. Been doing it
for 25 years, must be in the genes,
cause I would NEVER ask why.

No benefit to the world, but neither is
any other sport.

sun

Duke of Kent

Truth. I can't explain it, and neither an any of these other guys. You either have "it" or you don't. To whatever degree God gave "it" to you.

And to be honest, I like it that way.