New to Racing- What age is too old?

Over the last year I have become really passionate about cycling. I am 26 and have been considering training over the winter to start racing next year. I know it is never too late to start. I just wanted to know if 26 is too old to really work up the ranks in the women's cycling scene. (ie becoming pro level) At what age do sponsors stop taking team riders at a pro level?

I know that the womens cycling scene is entirely different from men and with most of my friends being men that is all I am really familar with. I hope some of you can give me an insight based on your experiences.

Welcome to TE. I'd say it's never too late to start ;)

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=19466

If you are truely phenomenal I'd say you may not be too old to go pro, but I'd also say temper your expectations until you've had some experience. Most people who get into cycling as a career usually start pretty early in life, those who get into it later usually come with a pretty distinguished background in some other endurance sport (running, rowing etc.) Women, I think, tend to have slightly longer careers than men, who mostly reach their peak in their mid 30's, but even at that it doesn't leave too much time to develop as an athlete. It's more than just physical ability too. Cycling really is a mental and tactical team sport. It's been called chess on wheels for a good reason and it can take time to learn the intricacies.

Also few women, especially here in the US are able to support themselves solely with a career in cycling. Many, even in the elite ranks, still have day jobs. It's not an easy life and unless you could make your way up to the very top ranks of professionals, it's highly unlikely you would ever make much money doing it. It takes a really dedicated athlete, who really loves the sport to be willing to make the sacrifices that are needed to pursue it professionally.

Hi Girlpedalpower! I have gone to a Women's Cycling Camp for the past 2 years. It is sponsored by Jill Gass(Revolution Coaching) and Dotsie Bausch(pro cyclist for Colavita). Dotsie has her own website, which you should definately visit! She has an inspiring biography of how she came to be a pro cyclist. I can't
remember the details exactly, but she was a model before she started cycling, and she started cycling as an adult! And the rest is history! She is competing to qualify to compete for the US at the Bejing Olympics in the Individual Pursuit track event ( and the track racing was something she just started this past year) At the '06 camp, a cyclist she is coaching was one of the "campers"- she is in her 30's, and her goal is to race pro too. I say you should go for it! Tokie

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Originally Posted by girlpeddlepower

Over the last year I have become really passionate about cycling. I am 26 and have been considering training over the winter to start racing next year. I know it is never too late to start. I just wanted to know if 26 is too old to really work up the ranks in the women's cycling scene. (ie becoming pro level) At what age do sponsors stop taking team riders at a pro level?

I know that the womens cycling scene is entirely different from men and with most of my friends being men that is all I am really familar with. I hope some of you can give me an insight based on your experiences.

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Well I sure hope 26 isn't too old because I want to start racing next spring and I'm 47, oops, I'll be 48 by then. Of course, I have no expectations of turning pro. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I can't really answer your questions seriously, but I see no reason not to try regardless. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by kelownagirl

Well I sure hope 26 isn't too old because I want to start racing next spring and I'm 47, oops, I'll be 48 by then. Of course, I have no expectations of turning pro. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I can't really answer your questions seriously, but I see no reason not to try regardless. Good luck!

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Its never too late to start! We have plenty of people who are in their 30's, 40's and even 50's who have just started. I started 2 years ago at 34 (no expectations of going pro here either - likely to permenantly be a cat 3 myself :D )

I am 26, just raced my first season this year, and made it onto a pro developmental team for 2008, so I'd say 26 is fine! If you've got talent and the dedication to training, you've got a very good start.

One thing that is very different from men's cycling is though there are different categories, you will find that in very few places are there more than 2 races that are actually run. When you first start, you will likely mostly race with other beginners (cat 4's) after that its kind of like being thrown in with the sharks...... (one of our popular early season stage races out here had the field stacked with the likes of Mara Abbot!) Some states have combined cat 3 & 4 races, but most of the time after you are out of the 4's, the fields consist of everyone from pros to cat 3's. If you are in California you may find some separate 3's races, but most places don't have the numbers to support it.
The thing that is not different is that those who have a chance of going pro usually show it quickly. For men that means going up through the categories very quickly - a guy out here who was able to be picked up by a domestic pro team went from a cat 5 to a 2 in one season (he was considered to be fairly old to be new to the sport, in his mid 20's, but had been an elite cross country runner). For women it usually means that they are out of the 4's pretty quickly and remain dominant players even when thrown in with the big girls.

I love hearing all of your stories of success!

Thank you all for your advice! I am going to train and race next year no matter what. I really just wanted to see what other women have experienced in the racing scene. I look forward to hearing more success stories in the future! I am really excited to train this winter to see what I can do next summer. I will update everyone to let them know how I do! Thank you!!!!

I would also love to hear some training advice for a new rider.

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Originally Posted by girlpeddlepower

I love hearing all of your stories of success!

Thank you all for your advice! I am going to train and race next year no matter what. I really just wanted to see what other women have experienced in the racing scene. I look forward to hearing more success stories in the future! I am really excited to train this winter to see what I can do next summer. I will update everyone to let them know how I do! Thank you!!!!

I would also love to hear some training advice for a new rider.

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Good luck!
As for training advice, for now I'd say start building up your exercise capacity. Since a majority of women's races rarely exceed 50 miles (especially if the cat 4 women are split from the other categories), you should get to where you can ride 50-60 miles at a time, and it's not a big deal (you're a bit tired, but you aren't wiped for days or anything). Don't worry about pace for now, just keep it to where you are a bit out of breath, but aren't dead by the end of the ride.
Closer to the start of the season (a couple of months from your first race), you'll need some higher intensity work. You can either do this on your own with interval training a couple of days a week, or you can go to some faster group rides (you can't control your workout as well, but it will help your pack riding skills). I recommend a mixture of both.

This is pretty general- if you want a specific program, check out Friel's book The Cyclists Training Bible. It's got some very good info about testing yourself and planning your training/races.

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Originally Posted by kelownagirl

Well I sure hope 26 isn't too old because I want to start racing next spring and I'm 47, oops, I'll be 48 by then. Of course, I have no expectations of turning pro. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I can't really answer your questions seriously, but I see no reason not to try regardless. Good luck!

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LOVE your attitude and outlook on life kelownagirl! You rock!

And your signature "Life's too short to eat margarine!" . . . it's you! :D

Go for it girlpedalpower!

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Originally Posted by Eden

One thing that is very different from men's cycling is though there are different categories, you will find that in very few places are there more than 2 races that are actually run. When you first start, you will likely mostly race with other beginners (cat 4's) after that its kind of like being thrown in with the sharks...... (one of our popular early season stage races out here had the field stacked with the likes of Mara Abbot!) Some states have combined cat 3 & 4 races, but most of the time after you are out of the 4's, the fields consist of everyone from pros to cat 3's. If you are in California you may find some separate 3's races, but most places don't have the numbers to support it.
The thing that is not different is that those who have a chance of going pro usually show it quickly. For men that means going up through the categories very quickly - a guy out here who was able to be picked up by a domestic pro team went from a cat 5 to a 2 in one season (he was considered to be fairly old to be new to the sport, in his mid 20's, but had been an elite cross country runner). For women it usually means that they are out of the 4's pretty quickly and remain dominant players even when thrown in with the big girls.

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And then sometimes, like here in Florida, you will either be racing with the men(at local crits) or if it is a state points race, you are looking at one race for all 1-4 women. Which can get frustrating, but stick with it!!

I started racing late in the season last year, and was either with the cat 5(sometimes 4/5) men or if at a florida points series race with 1-4 women. They placed the 1-3s together and then the cat 4s, but when you are out there in that race it can be hard to remember that! All of a sudden you and a few others get dropped and it is frustrating, but then you need to sit there and say hey- majority of those are elite women! be proud that you hung on for as long as you did.


So go out there and have fun!! ENjoy it and keep us posted.

Like Eden said - your age is ideal for elite cyclists - late 20's and early 30's is when cyclists tend to peak in their strength and ability - so, depending on your genes and your committment to training and your attitude... you might go far in racing.

As for age?
Well. I am 42. I hopped back on a bike (not having ridden since I was 18) in 2003 and did a 10km funride with my son and 2 nieces.

In October 2004, I started riding several times a week - 10km here and there... and grew to like it and started to ride more in 2005.

In March 2006 I went to my first Club race (aged 40), liked it and joined.
This year I have been riding up a grade and came 3rd in the vet (aged 35+) women's TT in the our Club Champs.

In 2008 I am going to get a licence which allows me to race with other clubs, and my plan is to ride at national level (in my grade) by 2010 (but hopefully 2009).

As I said - I'm 42. So I guess you are not too old to start racing :p
Enjoy, girlPP... once its in your system, racing is addictive...

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Originally Posted by kelownagirl

Well I sure hope 26 isn't too old because I want to start racing next spring and I'm 47, oops, I'll be 48 by then. Of course, I have no expectations of turning pro. :rolleyes:

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Rock on Kelowna!!!
You realise race reports are mandatory, right?