Hi everyone, I'm new on here and just wanted to ask a few questions and I thought this would be a good place to ask, but first, a bit about me...
I'm a 16 year old girl and from the UK, I've never been interested in cycling or even considered a career in any sport, I watched sport for fun but that was as far as it stretched. I have never been a sporty person.
However, back in august I was watching the Olympics, I've never watched any cycling before and didn't know any of the competitors but I somehow ended up 'channel flicking' and came across the track cycling. Like I said, I didn't have a clue what was going on or who these people were, but it looked amazing. Just watching through a TV, I could feel the fear, the speed, the adrenaline, and the pride...I just though 'I want to do that.' It sounds cheesy but I really can't explain what it felt like! Other than, the next morning I dragged my dads old bike out of the shed and took it for a ride!
I struggled on for 5 miles, that was my absolute limit! I was unfit, slow and walked up a few hills, but it still felt good.
I woke up the next day aching like crazy, but I dragged myself up and rode the bike again, I carried this on for a couple of weeks, just wanting to experience what it was like.
I finally saved enough money to buy a road bike, it was budget, but it was my bike, and I love my bike
So, I took the road bike on some rides, still struggling, especially with hills but I did my best.
I attempted a hill climb TT around a month after I started in September, with very little training I was totally out of my depth and surrounded by the 'professionals' and many others my age who had being doing this almost their entire lives. It was tough, it hurt, but all I aimed for was to finish, to get to the top of that hill without getting off. I did it, and the pain was worth it, I felt brilliant when I reached the top!
After, I decided to join a club, who ran weekly training sessions. At first, I was out of my depth, even the slowest riders were way too fast and I struggled a lot, being the only girl I did feel slightly disheartened also.
I also joined a 'youth training club', training with others my age, the first months were horrible, I was constantly dropped and beaten by kids, some even younger than me! I felt embarrased and wanted to quit.
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I'll skip to where I am now.
I didn't quit, I kept going because I realised that this was my dream and what I felt at the Olympics is why I kept going, that feeling. And the enjoyment I feel when I'm out on my bike outweighs the struggle and embarrasment I sometimes face.
Right now I train 6 days a week. I kept on with the youth sessions, I'm now able to keep up with most of the group and aiming towards the faster riders. I don't get dropped anymore, and I know how to fight on and get back in the main group. i know how to corner, sprint, and I have improved an awful lot!
I kept on with the club sessions, I can now easily keep up with the slower riders and have moved up to the fastest group, which is a struggle, but worth it.
I've had a go at the velodrome and progressed from being totally scared of the track to dropping from the bankings, gaining speed an learning how to ride wheels etc.
I have gone from struggling at 5 miles to being able to ride 30+ miles at a decent pace, with ease. I can't even begin to explain how much progress I have made...not to mention, I'm still absolutely loving it and can't think of a better way to spend my time!
I race my first real road race/circuit on 26th January which I look forward to the experience. This year I aim to grab every opportunity of competition so I gain that experience.
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The thing is,
That feeling back at the Olympics, that was why I started, that was what I wanted to do, the dream is still there, very much so, and I will do anything I can to fulfill it.
My overall aim is 'To become a professional cyclist', road is my main passion, to compete, to travel, to push myself and to win! I just have one question...If I work hard enough, and just keep moving forward, could I achieve this? Or is it too big of a dream?