Hey, I’m James. From a small village on West Cork.
I’ve been cycling for three weeks. I’ve never raced before. This is the start of everything… documenting my journey from complete beginner to competitive cyclist in Ireland.
In this episode: how I got into cycling, my first proper hard session in brutal winds, my current training setup, and what I’m working toward with my coach.
New episodes every week. Subscribe to follow the journey.
Zero to Racer — Episode 1
Follow me on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jamescrowleyyy/
Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/132417530?utm_source=ios_share&utm_medium=social&share_sig=11F899F11774026364&_branch_match_id=1430352301592871680&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXLy4pSixL1EssKNDLyczL1o%2FysawITckscDNMsq8rSk1LLSrKzEuPTyrKLy9OLbJ1zijKz00FAPhTxP09AAAA
27 Comments
Hey James, ensure you get a proper indepth bike fit. It will massively improve your performance. Good Luck
great thank you. especailly showing the detail, and explaining how you think about each part of the process. good luck progressing!
Best of luck with your journey
How do categories work? Is there age brackets within them? Like masters etc
Best of luck with the journey. Will follow for progress but large portions of the video were hard to make out the audio.
I don't do racing, but I do a fair bit of long-distance/endurance cycling. I think you're underestimating yourself. I wish you every success with your journey. Throw yourself up those hills of Cork and you'll be a winner in no time haha
Subscribed, who is your coach please 🙏
The position of your bike computer is messing with my OCD😂
Try not to lose your muscle mass or go catabolic. Keep up the strength sessions & maintain your hard earned muscle mass at all costs. That will eventually give you a race advantage on all parkour other than long/steep climbs.
I will follow your journey! Good to see you doing you squats 💪🏽
Greetings from Denmark
I’ll stay here longer because it’s very interesting to see you achieve your goals, and even if you don’t, it will still make you a better version of yourself.
All the best in your journey!!!
Good ep1. Intrigued to follow the journey, the highs and the lows. Stay healthy. Good luck. Power meter, new bike must mean ftp test inbound!! Please post it. You gonna go indoor / zwift too? M.
COYBIG 💪 REBELS ABÚ 💪
Well done on the discipline you've shown so far. Super interesting and motivating to follow a fellow C3. See you at a start line at some point hopefully (you'll be a good wheel to follow if you keep this training up!!)
Well done James, will definitely be following your progress.
Long term I definitely recommend a power meter of some sort and maybe a turbo trainer for the winter months. This will show you your progress over time and keep the legs fresh.
Went to cycle the Pyrenees last year with a friend and watch a stage or two of the Tour. Eye opening stuff… Had to train big time for it in a short amount of time just to be able for the big climbs, but it was totally worth the reward reaching some of the peaks.
I'm down maybe 5-6kg or so just based on small diet changes and my power is up. Definitely can feel a massive improvement, especially on the climbs. Having a few events in the calendar can be a great driver for the training and fitness planning.
Keep up the great work!
Have fun. Will try racing this year probably. But I probably lack group riding a LOT, and this is the main things needed for races.
Also… C1 to C3 ? Wow. In France we have : access 4 to 1, open 3 to 1, elite. So 8 categories for amateurs (as a beginner at 35 at will be put in A2). But some races are grouped together (A1-2 / A3-4; A1-4, Open 3 Access 1-2, lots of variation.
Size down the jersey, free speed 🙂
I've met more than a couple of ex GAA players who turned themselves into animals on the bike – partly through athletic talent and partly through being a lot better than most new cyclists at fighting for position in the bunch. That's code for being half mental. It's an asset.
I always found that on a really windy day it was best to chose my route so I'd be doing the hard work INTO the wind and then, once I'd done my intervals etc., be able to turn around a cruise home on a very flattering tailwind. Much better for the head. Grovelling home into a the teeth of a gale while trying to stay in Z2 is miserable.
Ireland is the worst place for any kind of outdoor activities. I went cycling 2 times since November. I'm going to the Cliffs of Moher Cycle in two weeks. That will be hard without proper outdoor training…lol
How have you found getting used to the cars on the back roads?
It’s quiet enough I suppose but the cars approach at some speed when they are there in my experience which I still am fighting the fear of.
Fair play for going for it, best of luck with the goals!
Start making your morning oats / porridge with milk instead of water. Thank me later.
Fair play! Ive the same gaa background as yourself! Got into cycling alot the last few years. Looking forward to watching the journey
Great vid man and all the best in your journey!
Fair play to you lad. That’s a follow from me. Best of luck.
best of luck man, following
Love content like this, like an anime character going from weak to being the strongest overpowered character ever 🔥🔥🔥 you got this bro
Does Ireland have a good cycling community?
how many inches tall sir?