Careers to consider as a cycling enthusiast

As we step into the world of work, more often than not, it is out of necessity. But what if this was not the case? 

The idea that one must live to work can consume many to the point that they miss out on life’s own pleasures. 

Perhaps it’s the peace of a morning cycle, or the rush of the wind through your hair.

But the joys we experience don’t have to be fleeting, working to live can change our reality and instigate our passion. 

Now this isn’t for everyone, but nor is it exclusionary. Absolutely anyone can develop a love for cycling! 

In beginning this exploration into cycle careers; I already have some experience, having grown up practically living on a bike! The routes one can take are endless but here are a few choice examples I think are perfect for anyone who wishes cycling to be a dominant part of their life, or someone who simply likes the healthy benefits that come with it. 

Courier

Cycle couriers are becoming more and more popular throughout the world. This is no longer just the pizza delivery driver, but a multitude of varying options have now arisen. From bicycle bookshops to personal bike messengers, an influx of companies has meant a fresh wave of jobs which are perfect for anyone who likes to remain active and control their own time schedule. It’s a fast-paced job with lots of variety and will keep you on your toes all day long!

Bike Mechanic/Shop Owner

For those who wish to work with bikes but are less inclined towards the continual strain of everyday cycling, then I offer to you, the bike mechanic. The ideal job for someone with a real love of bike design and the inner workings of how bikes are maintained.

The mechanic fixes and makes bikes for people and while this may sound mundane at first, it is filled with tremendous variety.

Every bike requires a different approach. Building a new bike, sourcing parts and designing it’s shape are all intricacies crucial to the role. It is a constantly evolving industry and as such your knowledge will continually expand alongside! For anyone wishing to further their knowledge of something they love, this sounds ideal.

Tour Guide

Have a passion for travel and the knack for social interaction? 

Tour guides are excellent for those who love the hustle and bustle of city life and wish to feel immersed in the culture of their own city. It is an ideal opportunity to meet people from all over the world and experience new things every day.

Having tried this for a brief time in Frankfurt, I found it a great way to meet hundreds of new people and really enjoy the city with groups of like-minded individuals.

I would like to include here the role of Bike Billboards - another form of tour guide. It requires you to travel the city showcasing your billboard. This is brilliant seasonal work and allows you to delve deep into every corner of your city. 

Professional Racer

Possibly the pinnacle of biking careers. 

The aspiration for any keen cyclist may be to complete a certain distance, scale a certain mountain or beat a certain time. But while for the most part it remains a hobby, for those lucky few it can become so much more. However, this path endures perhaps the most physical strain as it requires peak physical perfection in order to compete at the highest level.

Rest and leisure time are more often than not a thing of fantasy for those training to compete. Such a job does not come overnight either. As with most sporting careers it takes years to perfect your craft, and it is one which will forever be improved.

Instructor

If you’re someone with a clear passion for cycling and have the experience to back it up then becoming an instructor might be the ideal job for you. Working closely with others, you develop your interpersonal skills as a physical (but also life) coach. It is so much more than just pushing trainees to better themselves.

The entirety of the outlook it fosters will develop you and your trainee into better, well rounded individuals. It is further a great way to stay fit but without the risks of outdoor cycling (especially in the inner city).

It can be an incredibly exhilarating job, often more tiring than outdoor cycling, as you don’t have the restrictions of external drivers around you. As such, it is ideal for those who wish to remain active but may also want that social interaction that comes with running a class.

Emergency Service Cyclist 

Within this paragraph, I shall discuss being a bike medic and a bike police. Both aspects of the emergency service world require the fastest available response time.

However, in certain situations it is very difficult to access the response time.

That is where the cycle teams come in. Bike medics are often able to reach a scene faster than their ambulance counterpart to administer quick and essential care.

Police on the other hand, use it more for their patrol rather than on call response. But this means those officers are able to cover larger distances than on foot and to go into greater depth than those in cars. For people who like to cycle and give back to their community either option would mean regular cycling and interaction with the local community.

Creative passion

The final career path for those who love cycling would be a more open concept. 

As cycling is the perfect way to commute it is ideal for every individual who has the capacity for it as an alternative to other forms of transport. Moreover, for those who love the outdoors, it is an excellent way to obtain ‘research’, be it for an article I’m writing or inspiration for a drawing.

Becoming a cycle writer or artist is an excellent way to combine two passions into one. This could involve travel blogs, guides to cycle paths or routes through the city or countryside. Or in artistic terms, an early morning cycle is the perfect time to capture truly spectacular shots of a park and allows you to cover a great deal of terrain. 

So, I shall leave you with this quote from Dr K.K. Doty,

“Cyclists see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens. A good bicycle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to”.

But if that doesn’t inspire you, here are a few books that might!

• The flying Scotsman by Graeme Obree

• The Land of second chances by Tim Lewis

• The Rider by Tim Krabbé