Is it too late for me to become a professional cyclist.

[Derny Driver]

Well no excuses, lots of great clubs, races and knowledgable people to help you out. Better than NSW where I am.
Get a track bike and win the Latrobe wheelrace, that'll get you noticed.
Good luck

[15wilsonwu]

GiantRider, im 14 and im also pretty interested in beng a pro cyclist. Im located in Melbourne as well (balwyn north, well, im moving to mitcham by the end of the month). So i guess were pretty much in the same situation.... I guess we could perhaps meet up some day for a ride and have a conversation about pogressing to a higher level of racing.

Wilson

[Giantrider1997]

Hey wilson:) add me on fb

[foo on patrol]

I asked Wilson these same questions! How much are you preparred to sacrifice and how much are you willing to do??

Finish your schooling to.
Foo

[theprophet]

same here. I am 15 and wouldn't mind taking my cycling as far as I can. Unfortunately I'm out at the moment due to injury :/ But I will keep an eye out on this thread and your future posts to find out how you are going

[Metor]

Follow your dream!!

What I have learned from pro riders that there are 2 ways to get there.
1. you must be a very, very good rider. Especially at junior level. If you can win 9 out of 10 races you have a talent and a shot to be a pro.
2. Sponsors! Teams need money. If you can bring any kind of sponsorship, tv time or what so ever you might get noticed and make it to a team. There are a few World Tour riders in different teams that I know that used this way. They are still good riders compared to us. In a team they bring the water bottles in the races

[twizzle]

In a team they bring the water bottles in the races

Be the bitch.

[Jono L.]

Jono... how ya feeling mate?... hope all the healing goes well!.
I met a young Moroccan guy at the Tour de Maroc who said he was about two riders behind you when you came down in China!.

Howdy,

All good all good cheers. Just finished a nice batch of single leg cycling.. aahhh the things we do when we are addicted to somethine.. for me it's caffeine and exercise. In that order

Ha nice! Small world... Did ya catch his name?

[twizzle]

Just finished a nice batch of single leg cycling.. aahhh the things we do when we are addicted to somethine..

Crap - where's my popcorn? Must be next to the power-cranks.

[Jono L.]

Follow your dream!!
2. Sponsors! Teams need money. If you can bring any kind of sponsorship, tv time or what so ever you might get noticed and make it to a team. There are a few World Tour riders in different teams that I know that used this way. They are still good riders compared to us. In a team they bring the water bottles in the races

This happens.

But it's not something a 15 year old should be worry about.

Go to school.
Ride your bike.
Have a social life.

Enjoy stuff.

IF you really want to be a pro, you'll tend to gravitate towards doing more and more riding as you need too.

But one of the most important thing to consider is there is a very very very low correlation between riders who make national teams and go to junior worlds and those who go pro. There is no rush.

[Jono L.]

Just finished a nice batch of single leg cycling.. aahhh the things we do when we are addicted to somethine..

Crap - where's my popcorn? Must be next to the power-cranks.

Had some salted caramel popcorn watching the giro the other night.... mmmmm



Ps you can keep the popcorn,
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/85780109/Slam-flyer-copy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These pedals use a counterweight system so that the recruitment pattern is about as close as you can get to double leg cycling.

Are they as good as double leg? Well no because to get the same effect you'd have to pedal twice as long!

But when your right hand side neck of femur has recently been fractured and the surgeon told you to do nothing on it or with it for at least 3 months, well, they're prettty darn good

(sorry to go so far off topic, but I guess this is a brilliant segue, do some study or a trade so you have 'something to fall back on', you never know when you'' break a hip .. for the 3rd time )

[sogood]

I agree with concentrating on your education... But if this is your dream then throw everything at it!, if you fail, so be it...at least you tried. Better than regretting it for the rest of your life.

Smart riders always have a backup plan. At age 15, throwing everything at cycling is not particularly wise when cycling training can well still be a part time interest. In any case, without a decent education, it'd be hard to manage all that that comes with being a cycling superstar.

[schroeds]

Hey ghost rider, I'm 53 and I still dream of being a pro

You've got a better crack at it than me, so bloody go for it...for both our sakes

PS yeah and go hard at school too. Oh, and be nice to your mum!

[15wilsonwu]

Jason, see me on the VSCC Finals podium

[Adstar]

Who knows whether you have what it takes. However, I will guarantee you that if you don't try, you will never know!

[adpstore]

Its never too late dear...You can and you will....just focus on your goal

[trek52]

Ride your bike mate, as often as you can and race as much as humanly possible. Dont get caught up in the crap, enjoy racing and race hard. Try different things, enter races to learn about racing and your body.

Dont listen to the negative people, at 15 i was winning b grade club races and trying to hang on in A grade but it doesnt matter to be honest. it is not till you finish developing that you will really know yourself.

I rode NRS and went to Europe and have plenty of mates still riding pro, they will tell you the same stuff. Ride your bike and race !!! when you are 21 start taking it seriously.