Upgrading to a Category 1 in one season. How hard is it to go pro?
05-22-13, 02:40 PM
#126
Senior Member
Your math doesn't work out. If you're new to racing, you started as a 5. You must complete 10 races to upgrade to Cat 4. You need 25 points to upgrade to Cat 3, wich could be done in 4 races if you won every race. You would then need 30 points, I think, to upgrade to Cat 2, which could be done in 5 races if you won every race (maybe less if you did stage races).
So, if you won every single race you entered, we're talking at least 19 races here.
Anyway, to answer your question, there are a few racers around here who went from 5>1 in a season, one of whom is now riding for a domestic pro team. He just raced with them a lot, and was consistently up there for the finish. I think he just asked them, or they asked him. Race a lot, with the teams you want to ride with, get results, and see if something pans out by September.
So, if you won every single race you entered, we're talking at least 19 races here.
Anyway, to answer your question, there are a few racers around here who went from 5>1 in a season, one of whom is now riding for a domestic pro team. He just raced with them a lot, and was consistently up there for the finish. I think he just asked them, or they asked him. Race a lot, with the teams you want to ride with, get results, and see if something pans out by September.
05-22-13, 02:47 PM
#127
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05-22-13, 07:05 PM
#129
Roadie
I spent some time riding with a pro UHC rider last month, and he was a self described late bloomer... started racing at 23, turned pro at 24. Is 31 now. He went big fast though. Won Iron Horse as a cat 3, then turned around as a Cat 2 and won Gila the next spring (2007). I don't see any other road wins since (podiums, including nat'l crit champs), but still a pro... (to rkwaki's point about riding for the team).
He's extremely professional in conversation, went to college (science teacher), bought a home-town bike shop, plans to go back to teaching when done pro pedaling.
He's extremely professional in conversation, went to college (science teacher), bought a home-town bike shop, plans to go back to teaching when done pro pedaling.
05-23-13, 06:11 AM
#131
starting pistol means war
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OP,
You want to be a pro?
Don't ask how long it takes!
Just get on it.
A better question would be, "how do I go about chasing the dream"?
Many options, but it all depends on you're characteristics.
And what you consider being a pro really means.
Because if you're not paid a living wage, you're really just a hobbyist.
You want to be a pro?
Don't ask how long it takes!
Just get on it.
A better question would be, "how do I go about chasing the dream"?
Many options, but it all depends on you're characteristics.
And what you consider being a pro really means.
Because if you're not paid a living wage, you're really just a hobbyist.
05-23-13, 09:04 AM
#132
soon to be gsteinc...
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She has asked me in the past to be an official, how ironic...
I really like her and her husband, both great people.
She actually came over to talk to me last year at a race because she thought I was pissed at her... Too funny.
Great lady, one of the things I really miss about racing around here...
I really like her and her husband, both great people.
She actually came over to talk to me last year at a race because she thought I was pissed at her... Too funny.
Great lady, one of the things I really miss about racing around here...
05-23-13, 09:07 AM
#133
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OP,
You want to be a pro?
Don't ask how long it takes!
Just get on it.
A better question would be, "how do I go about chasing the dream"?
Many options, but it all depends on you're characteristics.
And what you consider being a pro really means.
Because if you're not paid a living wage, you're really just a hobbyist.
You want to be a pro?
Don't ask how long it takes!
Just get on it.
A better question would be, "how do I go about chasing the dream"?
Many options, but it all depends on you're characteristics.
And what you consider being a pro really means.
Because if you're not paid a living wage, you're really just a hobbyist.
05-23-13, 09:25 AM
#135
starting pistol means war
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05-23-13, 09:37 AM
#137
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Nice...
Not the glamour that many think it is...
I was talking to an ex-pro buddy of mine the other day (he packed it in in 2012 at the tender age of 28) - asked him if he was ever going to 'ride' again much less race. Simple answer was no. Asked him why? SImple answer not worth the time/money/investment for the reward that eventually he had to grow up and get a real job.
Not the glamour that many think it is...
I was talking to an ex-pro buddy of mine the other day (he packed it in in 2012 at the tender age of 28) - asked him if he was ever going to 'ride' again much less race. Simple answer was no. Asked him why? SImple answer not worth the time/money/investment for the reward that eventually he had to grow up and get a real job.
05-23-13, 10:28 AM
#138
In the Pain Cave
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Nice...
Not the glamour that many think it is...
I was talking to an ex-pro buddy of mine the other day (he packed it in in 2012 at the tender age of 28) - asked him if he was ever going to 'ride' again much less race. Simple answer was no. Asked him why? SImple answer not worth the time/money/investment for the reward that eventually he had to grow up and get a real job.
Not the glamour that many think it is...
I was talking to an ex-pro buddy of mine the other day (he packed it in in 2012 at the tender age of 28) - asked him if he was ever going to 'ride' again much less race. Simple answer was no. Asked him why? SImple answer not worth the time/money/investment for the reward that eventually he had to grow up and get a real job.
05-23-13, 10:41 AM
#139
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Don't know.
I've had two other friends both went to Europe for lower level pro teams.
One came back, retired and will jump into a race every know and then
The other came back after a year, sold all his stuff and has never ridden again...
I've had two other friends both went to Europe for lower level pro teams.
One came back, retired and will jump into a race every know and then
The other came back after a year, sold all his stuff and has never ridden again...
05-23-13, 10:56 AM
#140
Making a kilometer blurry
Yeah, it varies -- people are different. My former-tdf-er friend took up coaching. He rides a little with his kids and with some of his clients. Does corporate events on the bike some. Every so often he'll show up at some informal racer event and lay waste with almost no training. Some pro MTB racer challenged him to a roller race at a bar in CO -- taunted with some inappropriate remarks, and he laid waste again. He's won a few triathlons. Took up MMA and was pretty good at that (~35 lbs over race weight, moderately lean). Really competitive, so he kind of has to be doing something athletic. The miles in his legs are not to be taken lightly -- strong like bull.
05-23-13, 11:01 AM
#141
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I'm not an ex-pro, but I quit riding cold turkey in my 20's, only to take it back up again in 2010 and start racing again in 2011. That's pretty rare around here. Most of the strong guys I battle with never quit or had a much shorter break.
05-23-13, 11:05 AM
#142
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Yeah, it varies -- people are different. My former-tdf-er friend took up coaching. He rides a little with his kids and with some of his clients. Does corporate events on the bike some. Every so often he'll show up at some informal racer event and lay waste with almost no training. Some pro MTB racer challenged him to a roller race at a bar in CO -- taunted with some inappropriate remarks, and he laid waste again. He's won a few triathlons. Took up MMA and was pretty good at that (~35 lbs over race weight, moderately lean). Really competitive, so he kind of has to be doing something athletic. The miles in his legs are not to be taken lightly -- strong like bull.
I am much like your friend, ultra competitve. If I am not on the bike I am a hardcore gym rat, going to try and squat 700 this year sub 225 pounds, not powerlifter range but pretty good for a 40 year old bum.
big Steve and i are very close
05-23-13, 11:16 AM
#148
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Yeah, it varies -- people are different. My former-tdf-er friend took up coaching. He rides a little with his kids and with some of his clients. Does corporate events on the bike some. Every so often he'll show up at some informal racer event and lay waste with almost no training. Some pro MTB racer challenged him to a roller race at a bar in CO -- taunted with some inappropriate remarks, and he laid waste again. He's won a few triathlons. Took up MMA and was pretty good at that (~35 lbs over race weight, moderately lean). Really competitive, so he kind of has to be doing something athletic. The miles in his legs are not to be taken lightly -- strong like bull.
the one who doesn't (or didn't) ride as much is about 2 kg heavier than when he was racing. it only takes him a week or two of regular riding to get into a state where he can rip legs off at will.
the other is a tad more 'human.' he rides, he races. there were times where i was pretty sure that i had better legs, but his race intelligence and skills were far superior to mine.
05-23-13, 11:20 AM
#150
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