Can I make cycling my livelyhood?

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Can I make cycling my livelyhood?

Postby Duncan T » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:21 pm

I know it might sound like a daft question, but I don't see my current job going anywhere (call centre monkey) and just wanted to know if it'd be possible to become pro and race for a few years. I'm not in the best shape at the moment, but if I can find 4 to 5 hours a day to train, would it not be impossible to make it? If it isn't, how would I go about it, and what would I need to be looking at achieving in the short term before I jack this in and go at it full time? Oh, I'm 29 by the way.
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Re: Can I make cycling my livelyhood?

Postby Robh » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:31 pm

You need right genetics, determination & luck....Good luck with your ambition.

Found on the web :-

There are several factors that affect your chances of becoming a professional cyclist. Far easier said than done, though.
There are many different types of cycling on a national, and international level - and some are far more accessible to others. At the amateur to the semi-pro level, you'll likely have to compete in at least 2 different disciplines :
cross country racing (mountain biking) and road racing (which has a sub-category of time trials).
I would suggest that you begin by entering a local race first to gauge your fitness. Go to your nearest bike shop and speak to the employees there about races in your local area. In most areas I've been, the cycling community is quite friendly and are more than happy to help you out.
A word to the wise, though. Don't talk about going pro before your first race...or even before the end of your first season, for that matter. go to the races, and push yourself to the point that you want to die. when others see you suffering, they'll become more inclined to help you out. Thats the start. I could write a book on this, but I'll just outline the rest in basic steps.

1. Talk with people who are in the cycling community - they're a valuable resource.....find out what gear you'll need to get you going, and where races are being held, etc..
2. Gain experience by joining as many races as is physically good for you. Any sport (especially cycling) rewards experience, and rewards hours trained....provided you train smart -- (for more on training, visit a personal coaching website and consider a subscription. I suggest googling the carmeichel training site - he's the guy who coached LA to win all of his tours...great guy. great staff. smart training).
3. Once you and your coach feel that you have a reasonable amount of training and experience and fitness, you'll want to test yourself on a higher level. I'm from Canada, so for me, that'll be something an Provincial, or a national-level circut race. If you place well at these, you'll get noticed by the right people...ESPECIALLY if you've been on the scene for a short time.
4. There is no fourth step. Once you get to the point where you're doing national level races, wherever you may live, you'll know just as much, if not more than myself about what you'll need to do to turn pro. I wish you the best of luck....In all likely hood, you have a long and arduous road ahead of you with many hundreds of hours of training ahead of you -- not to mention empty pockets (you'll see what i mean by that second part quite soon).

Keep your rubber side down, and the best of luck to you !
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Re: Can I make cycling my livelyhood?

Postby Toks » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:00 pm

[quote="Dunk@ruck"]I know it might sound like a daft question, but I don't see my current job going anywhere (call centre monkey) and just wanted to know if it'd be possible to become pro and race for a few years. I'm not in the best shape at the moment, but if I can find 4 to 5 hours a day to train, would it not be impossible to make it? If it isn't, how would I go about it, and what would I need to be looking at achieving in the short term before I jack this in and go at it full time? Oh, I'm 29 by the way.
I'm the last one to sprinkle rain on someone's parade but is this a wind up?
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Postby Colin Steadman » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:10 pm

deffo a wind up :roll:
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Postby Duncan T » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:50 pm

It's not a wind up, I am being serious, but thanks for the vote of confidence. If you could give me some pointers on cycle couriers that would be a great help thanks Marco. Is it possible to go straight from 4th to 1st cat in one year? My understanding was that it was that you could only go up one category each year. That's why I thought my age might be a bigger issue.
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Postby Stu Merckx Man » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:58 pm

ive heard about a few people go from 4th to elite in one year. or isit an urban myth? anyone else heard
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Postby Robh » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:09 pm

[quote="Stu Merckx Man"]ive heard about a few people go from 4th to elite in one year. or isit an urban myth? anyone else heard


From the web :-

"It takes anywhere from six months (Tom Danielson) to more than 7 years (me!) of racing full time to garner the reputation, resume, and eventually the contract. How did Tom Danielson do it so fast? He was just a Cat 3 when somebody saw how amazing this guy could go uphill, and finagled his way into the Pro1/2 field at Tour of the Gila, New Mexico. Not a huge race, but you don't get top 3 in a Pro1/2 stage there without having some serious talent. He smoked a bunch of paid pros up the climb to Mogollon and that was that".
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Postby Tony » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:20 pm

By 'pro' - I assume you mean a full-time rider? If you've got the funds behind you, you could do that tomorrow. If not and as you state that your job is a job not a career, can you cut down your hours to increase the amount of training you can do?

You'd need to post a whole lot more about your current levels of fitness, health, diet, what finances you can afford for racing and bikes and amount of racing you have already done before even knowing where to suggest you start. What do you already know about cycling, racing, etc? What level do you really want or expect to get to?

Realistically you could have a lot of fun being associated with the cycling community in some capacity or other and develop yourself in to a strong rider and competitor. Local elite standard could be achievead - but anything beyond that is increasingly unlikely.
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Postby Toks » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:24 pm

[quote="Dunk@ruck"]It's not a wind up, I am being serious, but thanks for the vote of confidence. If you could give me some pointers on cycle couriers that would be a great help thanks Marco. Is it possible to go straight from 4th to 1st cat in one year? My understanding was that it was that you could only go up one category each year. That's why I thought my age might be a bigger issue.
Yeah a fella did it in 2005/6 and as Marco said someone from our club also did it but to be fair he raced as a hot shot junior when he was younger. Generally though people that achieve this apparent rapid improvement have shown excellent athletic potential in other sports.

Well mate to save you wasting time go and get tested. At age 29 you'd definitely need to have genetics on your side or its not gonna happen. I'm sure someone at the club perhaps, Robh, would let you use their powertap just to get a basic idea on your power outputs at different durations: 20mins and 5mins. The good thing about road racing is that technically unlike tennis, golf or even football its not that demanding. If you're cardiovascular fitness is very high you're half way there. Anyway a MAP/vo2max or basic power meter test like I mentioned and take things from there. Good luck dude :D
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Postby Tony » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:36 pm

Stu - I've not heard of anyone going from 4th to Elite in one year.

Some riders can get fixated about points-chasing/licence category status and race week-in-week-out in lots of small field criterium races (or on the track) to rack up points as quickly as possible. If you've got a good sprint and a reasonable engine, it's perfectly possible to rack up the points seriously quickly in these sorts of races.

Amongst the stronger rides everyone knows whose-who. There's real elites or 1st cats (or even 2nd cats) who can mix it up at the sharp end of a proper open road race and the 'comedy-elites', etc. who can't!

Don't fret over points and licence category. Train for and race in decent events and everything else will look after itself!
Last edited by Tony on Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Robh » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:36 pm

You can rent a powermeter from here :-

http://www.cyclepowermeters.com/powerme ... l-24-c.asp

Powermeter Rental
(Currently limited to UK & Irish customers only)

Powermeter rental cost per week for versions available Powermeter Type Price per week deposit
SRM Amateur 12.50 90
SRM Professional 17.50 120
SRM FSA Carbon 21.25 150
SRM Duraace Professional 21.25 150
PowerTap Pro 8.00 45
PowerTap SL 10.00 55
PowerTap SL 2.4 12.50 60
Ergomo 10.00 60
Ergomo additional BB 6.00 35

Payments above are inclusive of VAT at 17.5% and are in GB Pounds , 4 payments will be taken together once every 28 days via credit/debit card

* The desposit will be returned via your credit/debit card upon return of the equpiment in good condition and in working order.
* Contracts are limited to 12 weeks and are therefore not subject to the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
* At the end of 12 weeks you can sign a new contract to rent again.
* Cancellation (after the first 4 week period) requires 14 days notice.
* Terms and conditions apply - Contract subject to status and our approval
* Not all crank lengths, cassette types, BB types are in stock. If we don't have the exact combination you have ordered we will contact you.


To rent one of our packages below add this item to your cart and purchase it, then download and fill out this contract (PDF document) and post, fax or scan in and email this to us. We will only charge your card once we receive the contract.

Price below includes the first rental payment and the deposit
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Postby Phil S » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:39 pm

Tim Elverson went from 4th to Elite in a season.
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Postby Toks » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:46 pm

[quote="Tony"]Stu - I've not heard of anyone going from 4th to Elite in one year.


[quote="Phil S"]Tim Elverson went from 4th to Elite in a season.
Thats right he was a former motocross rider. He rides for VC Meudon and did it in 2005/2006 season. He's 13th in the National Rankings this year. Also I think Brett Perez went from 4th cat to 1st cat in 2004
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Postby tel » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:16 am

The guy that ran Linda McCartney, went from 4th cat to Elite in one season and rode the Tour of Britain the next season.
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Postby mrP(Boonen)VT » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:28 am

so did Gethin Butler.

I don't think Brett quite made it in one year, but was damn close, then got a huge bundle of points in the winter series at Hillingdon, so effectively started the next season as a 1st.

Back to the original question. In the 80's a guy who owned a bike shop (I forget his name at the moment) decided to sponsor himself and went out and bought himself a pro licence, being a one man team (UCI regs etc were different then). It was quite embarrassing to see him getting dropped very quickly but he seemed to enjoy the atmosphere etc.
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