cycling camp...

stevechow said:

i would love to join a cycling camp in europe or australia..i want to learn techniques to train to be professional...can anyone recommend a training school i know carmichael.com however they are based in us..any better one. my location is europe is london..and my location in australia can be melbourne or sydney..

Steve,
The crzay cyclist

What sort of level are you at? I'm guessing from the nature of your question that you're just starting out.

It's probably best to contact British Cycling at http://www.britishcycling.org.uk and find a club near where you live so that you can start riding with a group and getting tips from experienced riders. If you're in west London go to the cycling circuit at Minet Park in Hillingdon on a Tuesday night in spring or summer where they have plenty of races for all levels.

In Melbourne there's a huge cycling scene, perhaps bigger than Sydney. But even in Sydney there is a lot for the keen rider. Take your bike to Centennial Park and hook up with any of the roadies there. Do a Google for Sydney/Melbourne cycling club and find a club which lists training rides near where you're based. Be prepared to be out on the road at 5.30am though, as it gets pretty warm this time of year.

You can also do a search for training camps held in places like Lanzarote at Club La Santa which are basically a holiday for cyclists with some testing rides to build fitness.

Read up on the internet for as many training techniques as you can find - some will work for you, others may not.

There's not really a camp which will teach you how to be a pro. It takes years of effort and dedication, and even then you're not guaranteed anything.

Even if you don't make the top level there's still plenty of fun to be had at whatever level you find yourself in.

Good luck, and have fun!