How to become a pro cyclist

Wondering how to become a pro cyclist? This post lays it out for you
Photo by CC user Flowizm on Flickr

Love the feeling you get from riding your bike around your local area? Want to make it into a career like British rider Joshua Hunt has? It’s not an easy path, but by following the steps below, you’ll give yourself the chance to see if you have what it takes to make it happen.

1) Train hard (almost) every day

If you wish to compete at elite levels in cycling, you will have to adopt a professional attitude towards physical training.

This doesn’t just mean finding the time to ride your bike everyday, but it also means taking part in regular resistance training sessions to build up strength in your core and lower body.

To give yourself the fuel you’ll need to power yourself through all these physical activity, you will also need to pay close attention to your diet as well.

Avoid junk carbs, and seek out a diet rich in complex carbs, protein and vegetables. Race days are an exception to this ban on simple carb consumption, as you will need plenty of quick fuel to power your way to victory.

2) Join a cycling club in your area

After you have improved your fitness to the point where you can withstand long rides with little difficulty, go ahead and join a cycling club in your area.

Doing so will not only give you people to compare yourself against, but it will also provide you with fellowship that you won’t be able to find riding around town on your own.

With your new-found friends, you’ll be able to motivate them, and they will do the same when you go out on rides together.

3) Get a personal coach

As much as riding regularly with a bunch of cycling enthusiasts will help you fine tune your technique, there is no substitute for hiring your own personal coach if you want to become a professional cyclist.

Under the close supervision of an expert, you will gain insights into your form that amateurs rarely pick up on. By incorporating their suggestions into your game plan, you will get the edge that is needed to break into professional riding.

4) Find a job that is compatible with cycling

Unlike major pro sports, only a handful of pro cyclists makes enough money from racing to make it their career. The rest of the field holds down real world jobs when they aren’t racing in order to make ends meet.

As such, you will need an employer that will allow you to schedule work around your events and training sessions. While this is easier said than done, there are semi-pro athletes are doing this as we speak, so it is possible.

5) Enter local races

Now that you have secured a job that allows you to pursue your dreams part-time, the time has come to dip your toe into the pro racing pool.

Find a local race that offers cash prizes for the top finishers and buy in. Now that you have skin in the game, train hard and prepare yourself for the biggest race in your life to date. You are now a pro cyclist!

6) Seek out sponsorships

As you progress in skill, you may find yourself wanting to compete in races with bigger prize pools. However, lacking the ability to pay these entry fees up front is a common obstacle for racers that are looking to move up.

By securing sponsorships, you can solicit financial assistance from businesses that are looking to get their brand more exposure.

Use this money to compete in bigger races, and you’ll get the opportunity to move further up the pro-cycling ladder.

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Ready to Take Aim with the Perfect Hunt?

The Perfect Hunt always ends with the prize(s) in the bag

Photo by CC user 54193473@N00 on Flickr

Are you a hunter who is always meticulous when it comes to planning the perfect hunt?

If so, you’re one of those hunters who likely enjoy his or her experience each and every time.

For others, however, just some more planning would likely mean the difference between a great hunt and an average one.

With that being the case, are you ready to take aim with the perfect hunt?

Put Your Plan in Motion

The goal of any hunt is not only to have a great time (be it on your own or with fellow hunters), but to also bring home the game you set out in search of in the first place.

Part of that process involves going into the woods with the right weaponry.

Whether you are an experienced hunter and gun collector or will be venturing out for the first time, having the right weapon or weapons by your side is important.

For those more difficult to track and shoot animals, having items such as the Bresser Trueview and others like them can mean the difference between a successful hunt and having to tell others about the one or ones that got away.

When shopping for weapons and the parts and pieces to go with them, keep these tips in mind:

  • History – Always take note of how long a gun seller has been in business. Does their store come with high recommendations from other gun owners? Do they take the necessary time to work with hunters who do not have a ton of experience out in the woods? While there are certainly different ways to learn how to properly hunt, knowing how to operate the weapon of choice is first and foremost of importance. When you have a gun shop that is willing to take some time and show you the different intricacies of a weapon, it bodes well for you and the other hunters around you;
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  • Customer service – Where you shop for your gun/s should also be predicated on what kind of customer service they provide. Do they take the time to answer any and all questions you may have? Do they come highly recommend from other hunters, some of whom may be in your family or among your friends or co-workers? Lastly, have they had any issues with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or even law enforcement over time? Get to know them before you make a purchase;
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  • Internet – More and more gun shops are spending time putting together and keeping current their websites. While many gun sales are still done via word-of-mouth and through bonds that have been built over decades, others are more recent. This is due to the simple fact that a hunter will come across a gun owner’s website during an Internet search. In doing so, he or she can see a variety of guns and accessories that are available for purchase. Yes, going into the store is still oftentimes recommended, but knowing specifically what you are looking for is made easier with a simple online search. Speaking of online, also look at some of the chatter on social media. Hunters can find out what other hunters are saying about specific gun stores, guns, accessories for those weapons, and much more. Getting some feedback on one or all of these matters will make for a more informed hunter when all is said and done;
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  • Budget – Finally, about how much or you willing to spend to essentially be fully outfitted to hunt? Some hunters will go all out and spend like crazy. Others, meantime, will take a more cautious approach in buying gear etc. Determine within your budget how much you can spend on items, potential travel to go hunt etc. If you have the money available for lots of gear and traveling to various hunting destinations, by all means do it. Hunting can turn out to give you one of the biggest adrenaline rushes of your life, yet prove relaxing at the same time.

 

If the time and season have come for you to go hunting, make the time and effort to be prepared.

When you do that, the hunt will have you feeling quite game.

 

 

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