What's next? - 16 yr old cyclist.
VoxNihili
Posts: 2
Hi,
I've just turned 16, been riding for a couple of years, and started road cycling about a year ago. Say, hypothetically, that I wanted to join a serious team in the near future, or start edging into semi-pro racing after sixth form/through university, what an ideal map of races/qualifications, etc be? I'm just considering whether or not it could be feasible to continue, and I wouldn't just want to pour money in if it's never going to go anywhere...
Is it worth joining British Cycling in the immediate future?
I've just turned 16, been riding for a couple of years, and started road cycling about a year ago. Say, hypothetically, that I wanted to join a serious team in the near future, or start edging into semi-pro racing after sixth form/through university, what an ideal map of races/qualifications, etc be? I'm just considering whether or not it could be feasible to continue, and I wouldn't just want to pour money in if it's never going to go anywhere...
Is it worth joining British Cycling in the immediate future?
0
Posts
Some second year youth A (under 16) riders will already be on regional or national development pathways and will have already been racing since the age of 8 in some cases.
You're still eligible for U16 races until the end of this calendar year, after which you become a junior category (ie under 18) rider. If you have any designs on becoming a racing cyclist of a standard high enough to be recruited by either BC or one of the pro or pro/am teams out there, then you really need to be racing and training hard right now. The national junior road series would be a good objective to aim for - but if you are a new rider you will start as a 4th category licence holder and National Junior Series events are only open to juniors of 3rd category or higher. So your first objective will need to be gaining a 3rd cat licence asap.
Join BC, take out a race licence (silver or higher), join a local club or team with a youth/junior section and take some coaching/training advice asap.
People have started later than you and made it to near the top of the sport, but the majority you are up against will be old hands already.
Just turned 16, been kicking a football round the park with my mates. I’m thinking about being a professional footballer after university what’s an ideal map of games qualifications.
I wouldn’t want to buy any football boots if it’s going nowhere.
Seriously you [email protected] Webboo. He's a kid. Stop being such a troll.
Clubmate of mine is a pro. When he was your age he was racing and going to bed at 10pm to get up to train early. Lots of sacrifices were made.
It's not an easy life and you have to really want it.
They're a 16 year old asking hypothetical questions, stop being such a gatekeeper.
OP - join a local club that races, ideally with some sort of youth development angle. Get your BC license and have a go at proper racing - no harm in it. Since you're 16 you've plenty of time to develop! Go race, ride the hard group at Tuesday worlds, sprint for every townsign, smash every KOM, do mad stuff on a MTB. It's all training. You'll know soon enough if you're going to get fast enough. Good luck
Join a club (or clubs) and get involved in the local rides/races. Look for one that go out on regular rides.
If you're still interested by the time you go to university then check out which ones have a decent cycling club that you can join (great way to make friends in freshers week too).
I don't think there's much point in buying British Cycling membership for the sake of it - only get it if you want a race licence (or the other benefits).
As for money, just get a half decent cheap road bike to start with and go from there. There's no point spending £5000 on a time trial bike if you find that you prefer group road racing.
Chris Froome was 22 when he turned Pro.
Big Svein Tuft was 32 when he made it to the world tour!
Hi
I'm the manager of Stevenage FC We would be glad to have you. Can you score goals? We will provide boots and halftime orange.
Voltaire
Or is it yet another troll attempt by milemuncher...
join uotc
get degree and get paid to ride
make decisons as you go along
absolutely no obligation to join up
#freemoney
#moreexperiencesthanyoucanshakeastickat
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
Yet.
My best mate from junior school did just that but he was determined to join up. Ended up a Major. Decorated for his time in Bosnia and a spell guarding Hess in Spandau. Retired before 50 on a 2 fat pensions (his wife is also a Major...)
True, but he was a Belgian youth football international on the books of PSV and Anderlecht before switching to cycling. It also helps if your dad was a pro cyclist too...
uotc is just a ridiculously good way to have a brilliant time at uni, meet some really nice people, get paid for doing all your sport (inc travel, accomodation and food costs) and then the potential of an excellent career like your friend.
your friend has done it exactly the right way - big het to him & his wife.
#betterthanadeskjob
#251
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
choose your trade/career path and it doesn't have to be so
and you are forgetting about all the years of experiences leading up to that point
#careerplanning
#251
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
Most of the ones I worked with were gunners or infantry officers - they all had some pretty good stories to tell...
It's possible. Another new poster called fstrownyver has appeared on the Hand Built Wheels thread asking an inane question. (Apologies to the OP on this thread if he's genuine).
OP - ride your bike. Join club. Ride lots more. Then you'll know if you have a future.
Troll? Quite possibly.
Anderlecht first, before switching to PSV, I think. Just making the point that Remco was clearly a talented athlete before he took up cycling, not to mention coming from a cycling family. I know a couple of riders who have been successful in other sports before moving to cycling - and have been able to carry-over that success into their new sport..
Given the type of comments in the thread I'd run a mile if I were OP too.
OP was online this morning (I say 'this morning' - just after midnight)