The business of cycling

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Of course as the season winds down, spots on teams are being filled up and budgets get smaller every day. This is a business, and the stress that comes with looking for a new team is not easy for any rider. My decision to move from Cofidis to Crédit Agricole was an easier move than most because the language and culture was the same, but the move from Crédit Agricole to Telekom was a totally different situation. They were totally different teams with different ways of doing things and that took some time to get used to after five years on French teams.

But as I said, cycling is a business. We love to ride and race our bikes, but at the end of the day it is a job just like any other and we have to support our families. When young riders are just starting out they may elect to go to any team that offers them a contract. The money is not a priority. Instead, it's all about signing on the dotted line, hitting the big time and being able to call yourself a pro.

Riders start out at a minimum "neo-pro" salary (€24,000) and sign a two-year contract. It goes without saying that this is a risk for both parties, because professional cycling is tough and there are no guarantees that they will progress. For example neo-pros have previously been on amateur teams, and in that world there is less stress and pressure. Now they are getting a pay check, and the added length of races, organization, pressure, attention, and stress have all been taken up a notch. Of course there are big, young talents that can demand more than the minimum UCI salary, but they are a rare exception.

For seasoned pros, this time of year is all about getting some well-deserved rest and relaxation. Often I see guys hopping on planes the day after their last race and heading to some exotic destination. Beaches and warm weather are big attractions for many. I think that a big reason for choosing those good weather locations is to attempt to rid ourselves of the "biker tan" that we are cursed with during the season.

I have heard of riders going on safari in Africa or hiking in Nepal, but after a long season based in Europe, I always wanted to get back to the USA. The only problem that I encountered was that when it was time for me to return home, the summer was over, the leaves were changing and the weather wasn't what I dreamed it would be. I was always jealous of the riders from "down under" who went home just in time for their summer season. It must be nice to go back "home" and have the weather that the rest of us have to go on vacation to find!

In those two weeks, I wouldn't even think about physical activity outside of playing with the kids and on the golf course. After those two weeks an internal sensor started to tell me that it was at least time to start doing something. I enjoy many sports and activities so that was never a hard decision, but deciding when to get back on the bike was always different. I left the bike bag by the car for a reason. Of course, I would see my bike every day as I shuffled by it to get into the car, so it was a subliminal message not to forget about it.

When I felt the need to unpack it, that was the first signal that it was time to at least start thinking about getting back into training, but rarely did I get on it right away. Now, it is out of the bike bag, cleaned, the wheels pumped up, and just staring at me, ready to go when I feel it is time. When I was finally able to get dressed, fill up my bottles, strap on my shoes without any second thoughts, that meant it was ready for the next season to begin.

I must say that a few times, I would get all kitted up and ready to go, but when it came time to head out, I closed the garage and went back inside the house. That meant that I wasn't ready and my body was telling me something. Soon after, however, I was able to go through the whole routine and before I knew it, I was a few miles away from home before I realized I was back on my bike. That was when I knew that it was time to get serious again. Over my career, this whole process took between two and four weeks. Every rider has a system and this was mine, but my advice is to listen to your body

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