Cycling is more than just a hobby for many people; it’s a way of life and a passion. If you’re one of the cycling obsessed, you likely dream of turning your love for biking into a career. The good news is there are lots of jobs perfect for people who live and breathe cycling.
Keep reading to learn about six great employment options for bicycle lovers. With a good CV (check out these CV templates to get started), the right training, and experience, you can start working in the cycling world and get paid to do what you enjoy most.
1. Professional Cyclist
Being a pro cyclist is the dream job for many hardcore cycling enthusiasts. Who wouldn’t want to get paid to ride their bike all day? Professional cyclists compete in races like the Tour de France and sign contracts with cycling teams to ride full-time.
To become a pro, you need incredible physical fitness, technique, endurance and determination. Getting noticed by cycling scouts requires dedicating your life to training and racing. Only the top performers get signed to competitive professional teams. The path to pro cyclist status takes years of work, but it’s an ideal role if you have the talent and drive.
2. Cycling Coach
If competing as a cyclist isn’t your thing but you love being around the sport, consider a career as a cycling coach. You can work with individuals to improve their cycling skills or lead group lessons and training rides. Coaches help cyclists train for races, challenge themselves physically, improve technique, and meet riding goals.
To succeed as a coach, you’ll need in-depth knowledge of cycling, experience training others, strong leadership abilities, and certification such as British Cycling’s Coach Qualification. A cycling coach gets the reward of helping others develop as riders and enjoy the sport. It’s a great fit if you like working with people.
3. Bike Shop Owner/Manager
Owning or managing a bike shop lets you fully immerse yourself in cycling culture. As a shop owner or manager, you’ll be responsible for the complete operations of a business catering to cyclists. Duties include hiring and supervising staff, ordering inventory, managing finances, organising the sales floor and repairs shop, plus helping customers.
The best bike shop jobs require cycling knowledge and a passion for bikes. Many shop owners and managers are avid cyclists themselves. Having retail and small business management experience also helps you succeed. If customer service and cycling are both passions, this could be the perfect career.
4. Bike Tour Guide
Imagine getting to ride and explore new cycling routes every day while showing groups the most scenic trails and roads. Tour guides lead cycling trips, providing educational commentary about landmarks and the surrounding environment. You’ll get to know the area intimately and share your wisdom with visitors.
Look for bike tour guide roles with adventure companies that organise cycling trips and holidays. You’ll need to be physically fit enough to ride each day with groups while carrying gear. Expect to guide rides on roads or more rugged terrain, depending on the tour type. Patient and outgoing guides who adore cycling tend to excel most in this fun role.
5. Bike Mechanic
Skilled bike mechanics are essential to cyclists who need repairs and tune-ups. As a bike mechanic, you’ll spend your days diagnosing and fixing all types of bicycles and components. You’ll inspect, adjust, and replace both modern and vintage parts. Your expertise keeps bikes rolling smoothly and safely.
Strong technical knowledge of bicycles is mandatory for professional bike mechanics. Look for apprenticeships or certification programmes to gain hands-on experience servicing bikes. Many mechanics start out working in bike shops or cycling companies while continually developing their repair skills. Meticulous attention to detail and problem-solving abilities will serve you well.
6. Cycling Journalist
Cycling journalists get to test rides, review cycling gear, and cover races or notable treks. As a journalist, you might write articles, author books, produce videos, manage a cycling publication, host a podcast, and much more. Your adventures will educate and inspire fellow riders.
A cycling media career requires skills as a writer, reporter, editor, photographer, videographer, or content producer. Media and writing training helps, along with a portfolio showing your work. Successful cycling journalists have deep knowledge of the sport from their own riding pursuits. Landing a role with a cycling magazine, website, or other media outlet takes networking and perseverance.
Does one of these cycling-focused jobs appeal to your interests and strengths? With dedication and hard work, you can absolutely turn your bike obsession into a satisfying career. Keep riding as much as possible, continuously build your cycling expertise, and be proactive in networking with pros in the field. You’ll soon be on your way to getting paid for your love of cycling.