MD

Did you not star in that famous film, with Geppetto the toy maker?

MD:

I have been reading your posts for some time now. I'm not really sure what you are trying to accomplish. Do you want to ride, be a runner, or triathlete???

I agree with Steve, Ric, Maarten, Powermad, and others. Talk is cheap. I'm not accusing you of "talking ****," and I realize there is a potential language barrier/variable that may be confusing things, but people want to see results.

You have asked for sponsorship for some time now. No sponsor would ever give you 2 seconds of their time without something solid to show them. And they want to see a lot more than one solid performance. They want to see consistent results, results that will give them maximum exposure on the podium, a maximum return on their investment.

Riding a road bike on a trainer is an excellent way to get fit, but I can't imagine a real cycling coach recommending/allowing you to "train" on a Lifecycle, or other gym "bike."

Cycling is the most humbling of all sports, much more so than in running. No matter how fast you think you are, there is always someone who can do something on the bike better than you.

My best time so far for a "10" is 22:03 on a regular road bike over rolling terrain. That's still 30-60 seconds off the typical 1-2-Pro times on the same course. A guy who could ride a 20:30 would have a hard time getting sponorship, let alone me. I can assure you, no sponsor would let me tell them my name before they hung up the phone on me!!! You won't be seeing me at the Olympics either!!!

I realize that cycling in your part of the world is not popular like it is elsewhere. Maybe you could get local sponsorship. Regardless, if you ever compete against riders in other countries, I think you would be amazed at how fast they are. If you want to be a good pro, you need to be able to crack 20 minutes for a "10" and 50 minutes for a "25." That's around 30 mph average speed. Top amateurs can do this.

Anyway man, understand that we have been hearing you talk about your abilities for a while now. Nobody would be questioning what you say if you didn't talk so much about what you can do.

Good luck to you, and hopefully you will meet your goals. We want to see what you can do!!!

Later!!!

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I missed this one. 49 minutes for the 25km TT is very slow MD. You will be a laughing stock at this speed. And if you think the same pace will get you in the leading/chasing group in the road race then you are just dreaming. The Pan Arab games might not be as well contested as the World B's but I think you'll find some very very experienced and talented riders there also. If you truly believe you can do well at these games you are either very naive or arrogant.

If I were you I would watch out for the local kids on mountain bikes as they will give more than enough racing competition for the moment.

Have you started racing yet MD? You said you would be racing 4 times in June, 2 road races and 2 time trials? I guess you are racing this weekend and the next four weekends??

Which events are you racing in?

Good luck!

Not sure why cycling is more humbling that running - I'd have thought they are both honest sports - try racing against someone that can bang out 5 minute miles for a half marathon when you are 90 seconds a mile behind and that is humbling.

But MD let me say I don't believe you can run 32 minute 10k and 75 minute half marathon. These are very good (though hardly international class) times - for example a decent provincial half marathon will be won in sub 1.10 - although you could pick small events and win them in 1.15. Running results are fairly well documented so could you tell me what races you set your pbs in - or in fact any race you have set a time in so i can check it out?

Also I am a much slower runner than you - 37 minute 10k off a years training - and I'm in my mid 30s - yet after 2 months cycling doing 50 miles a week I can already thrash the **** off your TT time on a 15 year old steel bike. Top cyclists - club cyclists not pros - are incredibly fast and to be honest my long term goal (as in years) is to be able to fit in with your average club cycle racer in terms of time. I'm not boasting - I am saying that if I can beat you you will be at the back of any TT you can find in the land.

I think Hadra is a dreamer, or even worse, a liar. He has contradicted himself a few times in these messages, and made wild claims which he can't substantiate.

His lack of response and failure to answer any questions shows this to be a hoax/troll. According to his recent messages he should be racing now, but I fail to find his results anywhere in the London-area TTs or road races for the last 2 weeks. I would be very suprised if his name appears at the World B championships or whether this turns out to be another day dream.

First off, I by no means have any intentions of bashing ones ideas or thoughts on any matter. I just wish to put in a little input.

I think your ideas about competing in the olympics are a little far fetched. I in no way shape or form claim to be the best rider in the world, nor the fastest, but I currently hold a professional license in the united states in off road, and a Cat 2 road license. I have been racing since I was 12 years old, and I would never in my wildest dreams think that right now I could compete in the olympics in 1 year.
As a pro I get spit out the back of the pack, with a good 8 years of competitive racing under my belt. When I was in high school I was running cross country 5k races in the 16's, so please dont say you actually believe you have a fitness base comparable to the other cyclists in Athens, because it will not happen. It just wont. There is a big difference between "getting" to the olympics through loop holes, and "competing", Because I would bet my right leg that there is no way you will be rolling up to the line with the likes of Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich next July.
In fact it almost makes me upset to think that you would take something that myself and a lot of other cyclists on this forum have worked so hard at and take so seriously, and come up with the idea that you simply think it's easy enough to waltz in and be some sort of domination after a year.
all I ask is that you possibly aim a little lower, work a little harder and give it time, as that is what it will take.

I've just read this whole thread in one sitting, and I have to say that I am amused and slightly offended. I am just starting out at cycling and I am just getting into racing, my goals are to be a Cat 2-3 racer in the next couple of years. The main reason, people are being "disrespectful" to you Khadra, is because you are being very disrespectful to us.

We are a very dedicated and knowledgable bunch and you come here talking about beating "Neil Armstrong", yeah, you might be able to beat him, but he was an astronaut. Lance Armstrong the cyclist, you need to give yourself more than one year. We take this sport very seriously, and although you seem to take your training very seriously you are not respecting the very difficult and very different than running sport of cycling. You need to sit down and do some research.

Endurance although extremely important is but one part of the sport, there is all sorts of science, physics and strategy involved as well. Cyclists aren't just runners on bikes, they are cyclists. I wish you luck, but please read some books, tlak to professional cycling trainers and talk to local cyclists that you need to be riding with, they will set you straight.

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Don't think of it as an expensive bike, think of it as a really cheap car.

Well done mate....if we had a member of the month award, you would win it!


cheers

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Steve
CyclingForums.com

Haven't seen MD on the Board for a while now?

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"pain is temporary, pride is forever"

Hope for his sake that he's somewhere doing some serious thinking!!!

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Mike

FAILURE
It lies in the perception
Not in the situation.

Hi I am a South African and I ride anything from 800 to 1200 km a week and have a coach and I tried my luck in europe and those guyse gave me an ass whippin they are really in a class of there own.I am now doing a lot of track work and I spend an hour a day in the Gym 6 days a week I allow 1 day for rest.How old are you now as this will affect your training plan ? Do you ride with a team and if not try and arrange a team ride as this makes things a lot easier when it comes to selection time. stsrt at cat4 and work your way up I would say when you are cat2 and taking strain you need to re look you options but if you are still cool with riding and going strong I dont see anything stopping you from joining the elite boys and showing them a thing or two.Remember a coach is very important as they shape your training to peak at a sertain time and they help you stay focused that is the hardest thing of all to stay focused you can mail me when you have a chance at steven.barret@investec.co.za cheers hope to hear from you soon

Hay I am from New Zealand and we just race opens or handicap races I am not sure what every one means with cat 2 , cat 3 etc
Call me silly

Categories relate to the rider - you start out as a cat 4 and move up depending on race results - you can't go back once you have moved up. Certain races are restricted to certain cats.

Cat 1 is better than 2 which is better than 3 which is better than 4 - you need to do well in road races to accumulate points to move up the categories - or something like that anyway I don't have a road race licence myself so no doubt others can fill you in better. So a category 1 rider would be very good.

Does anyone know how MD Cyclist did or if he even rode?

Ric

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