Bullseye

Just a question out of my own curiosity...

How many of you know people who were serious racers, and once they stopped racing, stopped riding their bikes entirely? It makes me wonder how many people race bicycles for the thrill rather than because they really enjoy riding. And why did they stop?

The only legitimate excuse I can think of is due to having a family [and thus don't necessarily have time to ride at all].

So, does this happen?

-bullseye

CrimsonKarter21

Yeah, me. I barely get to ride anymore.

brianappleby

i love riding my bike, but that's not why i race it.

botto 

I took an 8 year break from any real riding after I stopped my first run of racing.

Bullseye

Thanks for the info. However, you must understand that I'm fairly new to riding/racing [2 years], so I have no idea why anyone would do this. Explain?

-bullseye

Joe Dog

I raced in college but then I got a job and began working, got married, etc. and fell away from riding regularly. I finally got back into it a couple of years ago. The good news is that what they say about riding a bike is true.

asgelle

First, no one has to make excuses for how they choose to live their life. Second, how many people do you know who after they retire continue to work at their old job without pay? When most pro's retire, they're ready to get on with the next phase of their life. Also, knowing they'll never achieve more than they already have, many don't see a reason to keep at it.

dave99ag

I raced a lot in college and just got burned out on it. Took a few years off from cycling and now have the racing bug again. Did my first race in seven years last month.

YMCA

I'd say half the guys that race, quit riding when they stop, because the bike was for competition (Hinault).

The other half use the bike to stay in shape, because they realize the wind in the hair is a bit therapeutic (Moser).

Bullseye

Yes, but to be honest, I was trying to refer to amateur racers... I probably should have specified that.

-bullseye

ed073

After 11 years of racing, it's time to get a real job.

EventServices

Family pressures.
Burn out. (It happens. Takes a while.)
Time constraints/work pressures.

patentcad

I started riding to rehab a knee injury and because it made me feel good. Racing gave my riding a focus, but it was never the prime reason I rode. Never will be. I'm 49 and I've been riding daily since age 32, with a 5 year layoff for my back pain/surgery cluster****. Riding keeps me sane. I'll try to ride for the rest of my days. It's not a hobby for me. It's a lifestyle, and if I didn't love it, I wouldn't still be doing it after 17 years. For me it's not about finding the time to ride. I ride and the rest of my life falls into place. That has worked for me for a long time. Thankfully I met the woman I married after I was already involved in racing. As long as she has known me it has been 8AM weekend rides/races and daily riding. That was part of the Pcad package. Part of the reason we've been happily married for 15 years is giving each other the space to be happy, and for me that's riding.

Hey, I think I'll put that in the first chapter of the Pcad Cycling Zen audio book.

ericm979

Burnout.

I did the same- took 8 or so years off from riding after I quit racing. Even being a mediocre cat 4 I trained and raced a lot, especially considering that I had a full time job at a startup company. Eventually I just got sick of it all. Not understanding rest weeks, periodization or time off didn't help. In the 80s there was one book on training- Eddie B's book- and it didn't have any of that stuff, so I didn't do it. Then there's the lack of time to do other things. A life that's nothing but work, riding/racing, and sleep, and not quite enough for all of those, gets old after a while.

elgalad

And the difference would be?

classic1

So when are you getting a real job?

patentcad

Let's not get carried away. Career, income, family and financial security are over rated. But sleeping in a master bedroom suite (with a hot tub in the bathroom 20 feet away) beats sleeping in the back seat of a car. Generally speaking.

cat4ever

I don't think he meant stopping after a season with the intention of racing next.

CrimsonKarter21

He means whatever I say he means.

ed073

anything that pays more than $300 a week to hear "Yeah.....there's some noise coming from the pedals..." is a real job.

ed073

Been there.

Gets bloody cold in central Victoria at night, BTW.

classic1

LOL. I can think of a worse phrase.....' would you like fries with that?'

YMCA

In the USA, "paper or plastic".

waterrockets 

That's about the same as me. I just burned out entirely. I had a stellar first year, but tired of the training volume, which led to crappy results the next 2 years, which led to me hating racing.

I raced maybe 1 or 2 races/year for about 8 years there, but it was just to go through the motions. I'm back at it now and loving it, though I don't get that many races in.

botto 

burn out, watching every little thing that i ate, and real life got in the way.

one advantage of living in a flat country - the 10-15 extra lbs that would hurt in NYC/New England doesn't get in the way over here.