Too late to make it big?

[montage]

I have just began cycling (roughly 4 weeks ago, though commuted every day on a mtb previously) after being given the choice of being given a road bike or car for my 18th birthday. Of course I chose the obvious - the bike . After mincing about on my new felt z65 for a few weeks I joined my local cycling club and realised that I seemed to have a certain knack for cycling, burning off hard looking seasoned cyclists in club runs - favourite of which being run just under 70 miles avg about 22mph. Being extremely motived about cycling I began to read up on professional cycling, and a distinct pattern hit me immeadiately. All of these cyclists had been superchildren from the day they stepped out the womb. Can anybody think of impressive cyclists that began their careers relatively late?

Thanks for reading

 

[dudi]

Me,
but you won't read about me for another few years... got to give me time to win something first!

 

[Randochap]

Not me; my mother craved a 9 month diet of chromo and polybutl. I popped out on a tiny Claud Butler and did a lap of Wolverhampton at 23mph.

 

[1LegRikk]

I'm no expert on this but I'd say if you have the aptitude and the mental strength to do it you can achieve anything. The one thing to bare in mind is doing anything to that kind of standard is a a whole life change, everything in your world rotates around that goal.

 

[montage]

I'm no expert on this but I'd say if you have the aptitude and the mental strength to do it you can achieve anything. The one thing to bare in mind is doing anything to that kind of standard is a a whole life change, everything in your world rotates around that goal.

Cheers Rikk, well I am motivated, but the "thrills" of college is holding me back a little (and reading your article I would say you are close enough to an expert on the matter of mental strength , very inspiring)

 

[RedBike]

There's no doubt that 70 miles at 22mph is VERY quick. However, the trouble with racing is everyone else there is quick too.

I would enter a few races. Get your backside well and truely kicked then start thinking about training seriously.

All the best riders have lost. I think Lance used to get blown out of the back of the peleton reguarly when he first started. It's the desire to win at all costs thats the key

 

[montage]

Lance was a triathalete champ at the age of 13
I won the "getting ready for school race" on sports day when I was about that age. So maybe there is hope

 

[Will1985]

You would probably be need to be noticed in the next year - enter races, show your abilities, win etc...you might have to get from cat4 to cat1 first which will be a lot of races.

Nevertheless, it is still possible if you put your mind to it and work hard.

 

[RedBike]

Can you earn enough points in one year to move all the way up to cat 1.

I used to be sponsered, which seriously helps when it comes to paying for all those mega expensive parts. You need to bang on a few doors and get noticed.

 

[Twenty Inch]

I reckon you'll start getting good when you've been well and truly beaten a few times. At the moment, it sounds easy for you.

But go for it. Nothing worse that "what if?" in your life. And good luck.

(Might be nice in a few years to think we read it here first).

 

[ColinJ]

Can anybody think of impressive cyclists that began their careers relatively late?

Ludo Dierckxsens - turned pro at the age of 30!

 

[HF2300]

Screw the superchildren, just do it. Don't get to 35 and be thinking 'what if?'.

 

[Danny]

I would suggest that "burning off hard looking seasoned cyclists in club runs" may not be your best tactic. You probably have a lot to learn from the seasoned cyclists, and you may just be antagonising people by charging off ahead when you're on a club run.

If your club really isn't challenging enough find one that is.

 

[ColinJ]

All the best riders have lost. I think Lance used to get blown out of the back of the peleton reguarly when he first started. It's the desire to win at all costs thats the key

He was strong enough to win, but he didn't have any tactical awareness or patience when he was a young rider. He could ride away from the bunch and stay away for hours but they'd eventually catch him when he got tired. Eventually it dawned on him that he was wasting incredible amounts of energy and he started riding a bit more conservatively. The rest is history. At least it was, until he decided to come out of retirement and do it all over again...

 

[a_n_t]

I would suggest that "burning off hard looking seasoned cyclists in club runs" may not be your best tactic.

this.