Lots of safe pathway needed. The after school daily car pools would be barriers.
Lots of safe pathway needed. The after school daily car pools would be barriers.
Your post makes no sense. Also Minnesota has mountain biking.
No, it's not a HS sport because it isn't that popular in the US. Any school that has room for a running track could choose track cycling over track running as a school sport if the interest existed.
And many, many schools are located in perfectly fine areas for off-track bike training. Universities have all kinds of cycling/tri training groups and clubs. How are these universities managing to train if the high schools located in their immediate vicinities are unable due to location?
Cycling is hugely expensive. The only parents willing to shell out the money on their kids taste for expensive bikes are either rich or obsessive cycling fans themselves.
nope... wrote:
Cycling is hugely expensive.
This.
nope... wrote:
Cycling is hugely expensive. The only parents willing to shell out the money on their kids taste for expensive bikes are either rich or obsessive cycling fans themselves.
This more than anything. The super-nice equipment at the races is ridiculous.
If the kid is into it, fine enjoy it. But to take the sport seriously beyond some college riding is a waste of time.
pop_pop!_v2.1.1 wrote:
nope... wrote:Cycling is hugely expensive. The only parents willing to shell out the money on their kids taste for expensive bikes are either rich or obsessive cycling fans themselves.
This more than anything. The super-nice equipment at the races is ridiculous.
If the kid is into it, fine enjoy it. But to take the sport seriously beyond some college riding is a waste of time.
Why?
The only real solution for a serious kid it to get noticed and sponsored. But how do you get to that level?
You need a huge amount of parental support.
All of this is nonsense wrote:
pop_pop!_v2.1.1 wrote:This more than anything. The super-nice equipment at the races is ridiculous.
If the kid is into it, fine enjoy it. But to take the sport seriously beyond some college riding is a waste of time.
Why?
Exhibit A.
but how much does it weigh? wrote:
The only real solution for a serious kid it to get noticed and sponsored. But how do you get to that level?
You need a huge amount of parental support.
As a current professional cyclist here's my story.
Dad buys me a $250 mtn bike at the age of 12. I ride the crap out of it and grow out of it. They then get me a frame for Christmas and I grow out of it at. My dad or dad's friends were a huge supporter by taking me to races before I could drive, with that, I was extremely fortunate.
At 14 I get a job. Now I have to buy my own bikes. I run during the school year and bike during the summer. Never riding on a major team, just a local bike shop that provided me zero support.
Graduate college. Go back to said bike shop and get a high end mountain bike at a discount.
Work a job. Ride my bike. Work some more. Move to the roads. Get noticed by Regional team. They give me jersey and some money for races. Buy my first road bike at a discount. Race the hell out of it. Become a cat 1 in a few months.
The next year, a bike company puts me on their bikes and starts supporting me with bikes and some money for races. I still work....Pay my way to major races for the chance to prove myself. Win something big.
Pro contract..Continue trying to work when I can. Make it first year as a pro.
Way bigger pro contract for second year. Current Day.
It can be done. I know people who have came from absolutely nothing to something. But I feel like some people feel too entitled. They think it takes a go fund me page or a move to a mecca, and decide not to work. Maybe I am biased, I'm not saying my way or the highway; but for the people who say, that it takes a lot of money, I have to argue.
It takes drive, dedication, a dream, and hard work. I'm sure genetics are a huge factor too, and caring parents are definitely a huge bonus. But for a kid with a beat up mountain bike and a dream...He can do it too.
yep... wrote:
Lots of safe pathway needed. The after school daily car pools would be barriers.
This is an interesting thought, but I say no, for the same reason figure skating should not be a high school sport. Perhaps if a bike manufacturer produced a $250 bike specifically for U.S. cyclist and they all used the same bike, I would be for it.
For all the people who make hundreds of thousands of dollars and have phds on this forum there sure is a lot of complaints about the cost of a second hand road bike and a helmet.
nope... wrote:
Cycling is hugely expensive.
Do you know how much it costs to have a kid in high school football? or cheer? or even band?
Uniforms? Camps? Lots of other expenses?
XC and T&F are some of the most inexpensive high school sports.
Everything else is expensive in comparison.
Sjksmamaamma wrote:
For all the people who make hundreds of thousands of dollars and have phds on this forum there sure is a lot of complaints about the cost of a second hand road bike and a helmet.
You haven't been to a HS race then.
All of this is nonsense wrote:
but how much does it weigh? wrote:The only real solution for a serious kid it to get noticed and sponsored. But how do you get to that level?
You need a huge amount of parental support.
My dad or dad's friends were a huge supporter by taking me to races before I could drive, with that, I was extremely fortunate.
At 14 I get a job. Now I have to buy my own bikes. I run during the school year and bike during the summer. Never riding on a major team, just a local bike shop that provided me zero support.
.....
Graduate college. Go back to said bike shop and get a high end mountain bike at a discount.
......
I still work....Pay my way to major races for the chance to prove myself. Win something big.
Pro contract..Continue trying to work when I can. Make it first year as a pro.
Way bigger pro contract for second year. Current Day.
It can be done. I know people who have came from absolutely nothing to something.....
but for the people who say, that it takes a lot of money, I have to argue.
.
Hmmm so you pay, pay, pay some more, including buying equipment from 'sponsors' while living at home. "Turn pro" and you have to have a job. ????
Whoop deee Doo.
It worked out for you and not 99 others who have moved on doesn't mean it's viable. Hell you paid to play into your second year as 'a pro.'
The sport is not accessible and your story is more evidence it's a dead end.
Pop_pop!_v2.1.1 wrote:
Sjksmamaamma wrote:For all the people who make hundreds of thousands of dollars and have phds on this forum there sure is a lot of complaints about the cost of a second hand road bike and a helmet.
You haven't been to a HS race then.
Regarding road bikes, how much time will getting a $5k carbon duration ace bike give you over a used giant avail defy for $500?
I'm seriously asking your thoughts. I have found the benefit is minimal on an amateur level.
People spend a ton more than that playing football and hockey.
All of this is nonsense wrote:
but how much does it weigh? wrote:The only real solution for a serious kid it to get noticed and sponsored. But how do you get to that level?
You need a huge amount of parental support.
As a current professional cyclist here's my story.
Dad buys me a $250 mtn bike at the age of 12. I ride the crap out of it and grow out of it. They then get me a frame for Christmas and I grow out of it at. My dad or dad's friends were a huge supporter by taking me to races before I could drive, with that, I was extremely fortunate.
At 14 I get a job. Now I have to buy my own bikes. I run during the school year and bike during the summer. Never riding on a major team, just a local bike shop that provided me zero support.
Graduate college. Go back to said bike shop and get a high end mountain bike at a discount.
Work a job. Ride my bike. Work some more. Move to the roads. Get noticed by Regional team. They give me jersey and some money for races. Buy my first road bike at a discount. Race the hell out of it. Become a cat 1 in a few months.
The next year, a bike company puts me on their bikes and starts supporting me with bikes and some money for races. I still work....Pay my way to major races for the chance to prove myself. Win something big.
Pro contract..Continue trying to work when I can. Make it first year as a pro.
Way bigger pro contract for second year. Current Day.
It can be done. I know people who have came from absolutely nothing to something. But I feel like some people feel too entitled. They think it takes a go fund me page or a move to a mecca, and decide not to work. Maybe I am biased, I'm not saying my way or the highway; but for the people who say, that it takes a lot of money, I have to argue.
It takes drive, dedication, a dream, and hard work. I'm sure genetics are a huge factor too, and caring parents are definitely a huge bonus. But for a kid with a beat up mountain bike and a dream...He can do it too.
Exactly right. Good for you. The winner is never the guy with the equipment or the assistance. Is usually the hard man.
Sjksmamaamma wrote:
I'm seriously asking your thoughts. I have found the benefit is minimal on an amateur level.
People spend a ton more than that playing football and hockey.
Cycling is a very simple sport. Either you have the engine to do very well or not. Which is why it's fine for most to do through college because they don't have the genetic gift.
Even if you get to elite as our humble bragger posted above, the system's purpose is to fund the federation officials, not develop athletes. Like the IAAF the federation is hopelessly corrupted.
Dead end.
All of this is nonsense wrote:
but how much does it weigh? wrote:The only real solution for a serious kid it to get noticed and sponsored. But how do you get to that level?
You need a huge amount of parental support.
As a current professional cyclist here's my story.
Dad buys me a $250 mtn bike at the age of 12. I ride the crap out of it and grow out of it. They then get me a frame for Christmas and I grow out of it at. My dad or dad's friends were a huge supporter by taking me to races before I could drive, with that, I was extremely fortunate.
At 14 I get a job. Now I have to buy my own bikes. I run during the school year and bike during the summer. Never riding on a major team, just a local bike shop that provided me zero support.
Graduate college. Go back to said bike shop and get a high end mountain bike at a discount.
Work a job. Ride my bike. Work some more. Move to the roads. Get noticed by Regional team. They give me jersey and some money for races. Buy my first road bike at a discount. Race the hell out of it. Become a cat 1 in a few months.
The next year, a bike company puts me on their bikes and starts supporting me with bikes and some money for races. I still work....Pay my way to major races for the chance to prove myself. Win something big.
Pro contract..Continue trying to work when I can. Make it first year as a pro.
Way bigger pro contract for second year. Current Day.
It can be done. I know people who have came from absolutely nothing to something. But I feel like some people feel too entitled. They think it takes a go fund me page or a move to a mecca, and decide not to work. Maybe I am biased, I'm not saying my way or the highway; but for the people who say, that it takes a lot of money, I have to argue.
It takes drive, dedication, a dream, and hard work. I'm sure genetics are a huge factor too, and caring parents are definitely a huge bonus. But for a kid with a beat up mountain bike and a dream...He can do it too.
Re: "Dad buys me a $250 mtn bike at the age of 12. I ride the crap out of it and grow out of it. They then get me a frame for Christmas and I grow out of it at. My dad or dad's friends were a huge supporter by taking me to races before I could drive, with that, I was extremely fortunate.
For many American H.S. kids, what you describe is an upper middle class experience. I have coached many kids who a $30 pair of spikes is a struggle.
yep... wrote:
Lots of safe pathway needed. The after school daily car pools would be barriers.
Mountain biking is one option.
http://www.usacycling.org/highschoolAlso, the site has not been updated in a bit and leaves out the Northern California league. In most cases these are not recognized as high school sports in that they are contested outside the same bodies that oversee most other sports and activities.
http://www.nationalmtb.org/The argument that a sport should not be offered just because of financial issues is a silly one. If you have kids who are interested and can pay, then do it. In some states like Ohio pay to play runs as much as $600 per season in some districts.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/09/21/time-for-a-ban.htmlWhen I was involved in cycling, I would see local HS MTB races with kids racing on Wal Mart MTBs and doing quite well. Often they got involved and the local clubs would find bikes for them that were much better (often donated or sold cheap as hand-me-downs). MTBing is a lot of fun on many levels.