Additional Information
There are no specific educational requirements necessary to become a professional
cyclist.
Yet it is important to get basic training in the rules and laws of the
road. It's also helpful to understand how the bicycle associations work. Such
information can be had in a weekend course. Contact your local bicycle association
for more information.
In order to attain professional status, riders must first progress through
various rankings. One rises through the ranks based on performance in amateur
races. The better the performance, the quicker one climbs through the rankings.
You can also earn points for trail maintenance, or teaching a course to
younger riders.
There are training programs, cycling camps and clubs available for aspiring
racers. It takes a lot of practise, training and discipline to become professional.
"The hardest part of being a professional BMX racer is that everything
you do in your day has to be perfect," says pro rider Matt Pohlkamp. "Everything,
from how many hours of sleep per night I get, what and when I eat, weight
training, track training, sprinting etc. etc. All of these things need to
be perfect in order to succeed.
"I can't just 'clock' in and out of work. My job is a 24-hour, 365 days
per year job."