Are you bothered by the fact that...

nolf · June 2007

I'm a junior rider and so looking to enter my first few races this summer.

So far looking at some of the later S Wales crits and the Wasp road race for starters,[:)] Would have liked to enter the cwmcarm circuit races but I think i've missed the entry date. [:(]

Pride speaks, but Elephants listen...

hevipedal · June 2007

I came to cycling late, 2001 and I'm now 51. I bought my first ever bike that year. Never had one as a kid. (deprived?) So what would be my full athletic potential? When I was a callow youth, at Art College in South Devon, I was a skinny rake and probably at the fittest I have ever been........until now. I'm happy with what I have achieved in the past 18 months but will continue to work at improvement.
But i'm not obsessed with it ............... really

 Hevipedal 
Phrase of the week - I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
 
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

Unknown · June 2007

Norman whiteside broke my heart.

1982 at 17 he's playing in the world cup, I cant get in the school team. I realise then its not gonna happen , better get a job.

Work
Play

Toks · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by starseven

Norman whiteside broke my heart.

1982 at 17 he's playing in the world cup, I cant get in the school team. I realise then its not gonna happen , better get a job.

Work
Play
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yeah I know the feeling mate. As a gooner i was mesmerised by Liam Brady and thought for a while I'd get spotted by a scout and we'd both play in Arsenal's midfield together. Lofty ambitions for someone who only managed to play for the school B team. So what if it was only twice[:)]

The Merckx Diaries with Slieve Maan's tasty 15% sections and 4km in length they'll be able to hear you breathing in Dublin City centre - believe me!

domtyler · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by starseven
Norman whiteside broke my heart.

1982 at 17 he's playing in the world cup, I cant get in the school team. I realise then its not gonna happen , better get a job.

Work
Play
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Whiteside, Offside sitting on his Backside! [:D]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
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hangsheadinshame · June 2007

10 hours a week is a lot more than I manage. Jesus. I complain that I only get 3 or 4 hours a week in but at the end of the day my family has to matter more. Be thankful you have such great reasons not to over commit to what is a very pleasant waste of time.

I don't ride for places, time or what have you: I ride to ride as hard as I can. You can do that no matter how much/little you train. If you can't be happy after giving it everything then I doubt you can be happy.

So..erm ...rant over I'd say "no, I'm not that bothered"

shockedsoshocked · June 2007

A bit bothered that if i'd not taken a 4 year break from any physical exercise at all what I could be doing now (used to swim for the town for a bit and was doing quite well for instance). But, i''m fitter now than i've ever been, and i'm still improving (I think!).

__________________________________
"The tyranny of distance, didn't stop the cavaliers, so why should it stop me?" - Split Enz

andyBcp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ShockedSoShocked

A bit bothered that if i'd not taken a 4 year break from any physical exercise at all what I could be doing now (used to swim for the town for a bit and was doing quite well for instance). But, i''m fitter now than i've ever been, and i'm still improving (I think!).

__________________________________
"The tyranny of distance, didn't stop the cavaliers, so why should it stop me?" - Split Enz

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I might have got this wrong, but do you mean that you used to swim to the nearest town as it was the only way to get there?

http://www.teamvelosportif.co.uk

jpembrokecp · June 2007

If you don't realise you're athletic potential when you are young with time on your hands it's because you don't want it enough. When you have a family of your own it's because you are too old and you don't have the time on your hands. Realistically, to achieve you athletic potential you, and your family (i.e. your parents) need to make a lot of sacrifices when you are at a very tender age.

well, yes and no......but mainly no.

oldwelshman · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jpembroke

If you don't realise you're athletic potential when you are young with time on your hands it's because you don't want it enough. When you have a family of your own it's because you are too old and you don't have the time on your hands. Realistically, to achieve you athletic potential you, and your family (i.e. your parents) need to make a lot of sacrifices when you are at a very tender age.

I played rugby to a good standard then got bored with the playing style in early 80's so took up cycling. I did several sports to decent level but cycling was the one I could have done best at.
In first year, 1982 I got my 2nd cat license and rode for wales in invitation stage race with all the top UK guys, eg Pete Longbottom, Neil Martin, Gary Baker, Keith Reynolds, Steve Poulter, etc.
I finished top welsh rider placing 12th overall so I was looking forward to illustrious carrer [:D]
The problem I had was I was a coal face worker at the time and the moners strike came, I had 3 punctures, no money at all and strike lasted 12 months so I had to stop as I could not afford tyres!!
Following the strike the mine closed and I had to move away to study for another career and that was the end of cycling for me, so some times it is not always in your control.
By the way, after 23 years I am now back [:D]

well, yes and no......but mainly no.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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jpembrokecp · June 2007

I'm 35. Got into cycling a few years back after drifting out of rock climbing. Cycling is a sport I could have been quite good at. I seem to be a natural climber, quite strong, and weigh around 63kg. Trouble is that I don't get enough time to train. This morning it's lovely in the Cotswolds and it'd be great to get out and ride but I have to take my daughter to swimming lessons and by the time we get it'll probably be raining again. (do love taking my daughter to swimming lessons though).

Oldwelshman - that's some experience and a very impressive track (or should that be road) record. My point is that to achieve absolute athletic potential you have be starting very young and make a lot of sacrifices to get to the top. Perhaps you are an exception but do you think that if you'd got in to cycling earlier you could have been a pro on the continent?

By the way, one of the phrases that used to make me cringe in my old office job was 'working at the coal face'. WTF? You must laugh your **** off when you hear people in suits use that one. (basically refers to any non-management task).

Possibly see you at the Dragon Ride. I'll be on a light blue Planet X looking nervous.

well, yes and no......but mainly no.

yenrodcp · June 2007

I was in a bike shop before and some bloke was explaining to his missus about cycling lots of hands on and touching (the bikes !) by both - hope they both buy one and they where looking at some really good stuff too !

[;)] 'tuono nel mio cuore...[:)]

Shavedlegs · August 2007

I'm gutted I'll never fulfill my potential.

I used to cysle a lot when I was young, alway better than my mates. Unfortuately my parents weren't the sort to drive me to races etc so I never joined a club.
My Dad failed to lockup my bike (he'd borrowed without asking) one night at it was stolen. I couldn't afford to replace it.

Got back into cycling 3 years ago, but have gotten married, moved house and acquired two children in that time. Cycling now gets very little time, I struggle to make the odd race but often get points but the 'if only' bugs me daily.

schlepcycling · August 2007

Toks wrote:

you'll probably never get close to realising your full atheletic potential. No its not an advert for a new performance enhancing drug and I'm not trying to deliberately start an argument. So good old fashion opinion is welcome alongside more scientific musings.

Yes I know a lucky few have a genetic 'leg up' on the rest of us. Personally I'd like to be 'stronger' but I simply don't train hard enough to elicit further gains. Obviously as someone that works full time 20-30 hours a week isn't really possible. And age is starting to work against me as well. Anyway I'm rambling, what do you guys think[:)]

The Merckx Diaries with Slieve Man's tasty 15% sections and 4km in length they'll be able to hear you breathing in Dublin City centre - believe me!

The thing is how do I know I haven't already reached my athletic potential, I mean I might just be crap athletically, I appreaciate that we all strive to better things but the best may already be behind us. 8)

rjeffroy · August 2007

I'm 42, took up racing 3 years ago after 20 years away from cycling. I'm well aware that my potential best years are long past and that does nag at me. I console myself with this thought - If I had cycled to my full potential in my youth I'd be well into a long decline by now, but as things are I'm still improving my fitness and the best may be yet to come!

oldwelshman · August 2007

jpembrokecp wrote:

I'm 35. Got into cycling a few years back after drifting out of rock climbing. Cycling is a sport I could have been quite good at. I seem to be a natural climber, quite strong, and weigh around 63kg. Trouble is that I don't get enough time to train. This morning it's lovely in the Cotswolds and it'd be great to get out and ride but I have to take my daughter to swimming lessons and by the time we get it'll probably be raining again. (do love taking my daughter to swimming lessons though).

Oldwelshman - that's some experience and a very impressive track (or should that be road) record. My point is that to achieve absolute athletic potential you have be starting very young and make a lot of sacrifices to get to the top. Perhaps you are an exception but do you think that if you'd got in to cycling earlier you could have been a pro on the continent?

By the way, one of the phrases that used to make me cringe in my old office job was 'working at the coal face'. WTF? You must laugh your **** off when you hear people in suits use that one. (basically refers to any non-management task).

Possibly see you at the Dragon Ride. I'll be on a light blue Planet X looking nervous.
well, yes and no......but mainly no.

Missed tis post

Did the dragon, got 66th but did brecon to top of bwlch secon time with one other guy only.
Recently did gran fondo in Italy and did 325th which I was pleased with considerring ex 3rd place TDF rider (ex druggie) won and were at least 100 top amateurs in it.
Still tis year is bout fun for me getting ack and I enjoy track and doing hard sportives but as yet to find road races . Most too short or circuits, ok for speedwork but I prefer the old type one loop cicruits but guess too difficult to organise these days with traffic

I wish I had been good enough to be pro

I really do not think you have to start that young to reach full potential. I used to coach squash and often I would coach juniors from 15 to be very good, some take longer than others. Jonah Barringtons son only started playing when he was 23 and went pro in one year!! I believe if you have the natural ability and mental strength, once you train and prepare correctly and have good self motivation you will reach very good standard quickly.
To reach your own full potential irrespective of ability it is more about personal desire and self motivation. IMO of course

By the way, the coal face was excellent for core training

I used to go out on bike straight from work, or if I was nights, would ride before work.

nolf · August 2007

Old Welshman the Wasp road race is coming up if you want to enter a proper road race.

110km in length- CAT 2/3/4

BC wesbite isn't working for me at the mo, will post link tomorrow.

andrewgturnbull · August 2007

Hi folks.

I've only had a quick scan of this thread, but a lot of it seems a bit depressing, with posters worried they're past their prime, etc. etc.

If you look at some of the stats, like Master's time trial records etc you'll see that the older guys are getting faster these days. Some of that is down to equipment improvement, but most of it is down to improvements in sports science and nutrition.

Twenty years ago, Greg Lemond was about the only guy using a heart rate monitor. Sports nutrition was flat coke and a banana. Go back another 10 years and periodisation was unheard of, another 10 years back the concept of interval training was yet to be discovered by the average athlete.

What's going to happen in the next 20 years? What's stopping you from educating yourself and fulfilling your potential?

Personally I was c**p at sport in school. As a bit of a late developer I was always the weedy lad at the back who was last to be picked when it came to the football team. I then spent the majority of my teenage years drinking, smoking and taking the kind of drugs that wouldn't enhance anyone's performance...

It was only when I left uni I decided to start taking my health seriously. Gave up smoking and took up triathlon... From finishing at the back of the pack every time, It then took 10 years to win my first proper race.

10 YEARS!

10 years of self motivated, self educated and mostly self coached training. Getting better year on year by getting to know my own body and applying myself better. Finally at the age of 33 I won my first national championship (hopefully not my last...).

Where could you be in 10 years time? And what's stopping you?

Cheers, Andy

wildmoustache · August 2007

i've always felt that i peaked aged 12. i was a bmx cyclist in those days (raleigh burner) and did some pretty nifty local loops.

but my athletic prowess was more evident on the football field, where i once hit a nice curling though-ball and was described as having "great vision" ... a compliment I subsequently had to try and live up to when playing basketball, rugby, rounders... you get the picture.

wastelander · August 2007

Not at all - I took up cycling a year ago for fun/fitness and nothing else. I have no aspirations of being a pro rider. In my time I've played county level junior tennis and been a pro musician. I have a loving partner and a good career and cycling is just one facet of my life, not the be all and end all of it.

Toks · August 2007

andrewgturnbull wrote:

Hi folks.

It was only when I left uni I decided to start taking my health seriously. Gave up smoking and took up triathlon... From finishing at the back of the pack every time, It then took 10 years to win my first proper race.

10 YEARS!

10 years of self motivated, self educated and mostly self coached training. Getting better year on year by getting to know my own body and applying myself better. Finally at the age of 33 I won my first national championship (hopefully not my last...).

Where could you be in 10 years time? And what's stopping you?

Cheers, Andy

Love It - well done mate

. Can I ask what National Championship you won?

andrewgturnbull · August 2007

Toks wrote:

Love It - well done mate . Can I ask what National Championship you won?

Hi Toks.

Scottish Sprint Triathlon Champion and British Age Group Sprint Triathlon Champion (30-34) this year - they were both awarded at the same race!

Off to race for Team GB at the age group world champs in, er 2 weeks!

Cheers, Andy

ps I have two young kids and a 40 hour a week job in IT too - so that's not an excuse either!

flattythehurdler · August 2007

Well I'm shite at cycling. Every time I get up a hill in a reasonable time it is a triumph of effort over genetics. I have realised that I am never going to win anything ever. I find it amusing in a way. Keep grinding it out though.
I wouldn't even make cat 4 if I trained for a year full time. Wouldn't want to either. Why I keep doing races is a continued mystery to me (and my wife)

Are you bothered by the fact that...

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