Originally Posted by
Higher Class
Very interesting read! I'd like to hear more about cyclists who were ID'd or perhaps just got into it later in life and ended up being successful.
My "story" (I'm at about chapter 2): I did a group ride in late September, 2011 (first one ever I believe), and was asked by a local amateur team manager to come out to their group ride. I rode with them and kept up, and was asked to race the next weekend with them. I crashed that race and broke my forks. Somehow I'm still on the team.
There are several stories. I know more about track because that's my focus.
Jimmy Watkins is on the US National Team. I *think* he's a late bloomer. He's also a full time fire fighter, husband, and father. And still trains like an elite athlete. Holds some US National records. On the US Olympic Long Team.
Evelyn Stevens was a collegiate tennis player then got an office job. "Within a few months of purchasing her first bike, her natural ability had Evelyn winning races including the Fitchburg Classic, the Cascade Classic, and a stage at the Route de France."
Carri Higgins was a collegiate athlete (soccer I think). She just started racing maybe 4-5 years ago. Within 3 years she was representing the US in international competition. Pan-Am medalist and 11x national champion. She's now on the US Olympic Long Team.
Cari Higgins raced her first "real bike race," a stage race in Taos, N.M., in the fall of 2005, a few months after getting married. It must have gone well since her husband, Greg, convinced her that if she liked bike racing, she would love track so she signed up for a beginner clinic in the spring of 2006.
By the end of June that same year, she was taking part in a National Team Sprint Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.,
Stephen Hill at ages 40 and 41 won the 1KM time trial at Elite Track Nationals back to back in 2006 & 2007:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_..._Championships . He also podium-ed in other sprint events. I wouldn't consider him a late bloomer. He was a collegiate racer, took time off for career, then started racing again at age 35. More of a re-starter. He gave all of the older guys hope that they could hang with the young guys.
Autumn Wentworth bought her first bike in 2009 (at age 20), went on to win Rider of the Year at Dick Lane Velodrome in Atlanta setting some track records along the way. 8th at collegiate nationals. 2010 she placed 3rd at collegiate track nationals and 8th at Elite track nationals (3rd U23). Was invited to train with the US National team at a training camp soon after.
When I remember more stories, I'll post them.