It can be rough being a pro cyclist. For all I\’ve read about it, such a life is no walk in the park. Training, sometimes in the cold and the rain. Pushing hard, but keeping from burning out. Recovery. Keeping tabs on the diet. (It\’s about more than Clif Bars and Zym).

Any career has its \”worst part\”. Certainly being a professional ballet dancer does (see at about 0:25 minutes). I suppose that being any sort of pro athlete is similar: your life has to revolve around it.

An event such as the Tour de France makes it look like pro cycling is just riding around fast on cool-looking bicycles but, as we no doubt all know, it\’s about much more than that. We don\’t see what goes on behind the scenes: the core work; the stretching; rehab following injuries; and even, so I\’ve read, having to be where doping control personnel can find you at any time for random testing. That last one sounds rather creepy, like Big Brother Is Watching You.

Oh, and the rules, Rules, RULES!!

So yes, it can be rough. Very rough, indeed! Compared to the life of a pro cyclist, we ordinary riders have it easy, no matter how hard or long we\’re riding.