CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Do footballers cycle?

(21 posts)

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    Of course it's well known that they (many) like expensive cars.

    Just read this -

    "

    “I’ve been training by myself for the last two weeks. I’m just looking forward to starting pre-season. I’ve always been like that during the summer. Two or three weeks before a new season starts, I’m out running and playing football to be ready for the training starting.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/morgaro-gomis-hearts-made-me-feel-wanted-1-3452358

    Apart from (fear of) injuries - due to falling off - and 'image issues' I wonder how much developing 'cycling muscles' would be detrimental?

    Would be good to get some professional footballers to say 'cycling helps my general fitness' or even 'I sometimes cycle to work'!

    I'm sure Chris Boardman and Chris Hoy could advise a bit on fitness - and which bikes to buy!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. PS
    Member

    I seem to remember reading that Terry Venables was a good cyclist in his youth. IIRC he stopped cycling after an uncle warned him it would shorten his hamstrings.

    Not aware of any current footballers being keen cyclists, although ex-pro Lee Dixon is pften wheeled out as someone who took it up after his career finished. I have read stories about cricketers and rugby players cycling for fitness. Sport/class cliché ahoy, but perhaps this reflects the demographics of the sports.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    I cycled when I played but I only played pub league :)

    I felt it helped with my general fitness

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    I imagine most pro footballers contracts rule out anything non-football related that could cause injury (eg skiing). The clubs insure their players against injury, so the policies probably have this as a condition.

    Cycling seems popular amongst the current crop of F1 drivers: http://www.supersport.com/motorsport/blogs/guest-column/Fit_as_an_F1_driver. Mark Webber broke a leg and a collar bone (separately) mountain biking during his career.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Also http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1354689/Nicklas-Bendtner-I-deserve-50k-week-wage-Arsenal--Ive-skiing-football.html

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    @ MB

    Interesting!

    I suppose it would depend whether clubs/players regarded (or demonstrated) 'cycling' as an 'extreme sport'!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. gibbo
    Member

    American footballer (gridiron), Ray Lewis, took up cycling towards the end of his career.

    Here's a short video of him talking about it ("it's the most awesome thing you can ever be involved in):

    http://www.naden.de/blog/bbvideo-bbpress-video-plugin -->

    [+] Embed the video | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZYXuFw0I2U" target="_blank">Video DownloadGet the Flash Videos

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. gembo
    Member

    Footballers used to play a lot of golf in their down time (train in the morning, golf in the afternoon)

    Cycling is the new golf so you would think they might? Lots of good cycling from Scottish bases and around Liverpool Manchester, Newcastle. London can be good but getting out of London tricksy

    What most footballers seem to do now in their down time that they didn't do before is to visit the tattoo parlour

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. CycleCommute.CC
    Member

    Read this a few years ago:

    http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/santa-cruz-is-on-his-bike-901165

    Probably the only case I can remember though.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    Didn't actually play for MC much.

    Now at Málaga - two years left on contract (he's 32).

    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roque_Santa_Cruz

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. Stickman
    Member

    "Cycling seems popular amongst the current crop of F1 drivers"

    Although cycling has slightly different dangers!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. mga
    Member

    Posted 4 years ago #

  13. mga
    Member

    Ben Foster, Watford goalie.

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    Posted 4 years ago #

  14. mcairney
    Member

    Joe Newell enjoying the cycling and golfing of East Lothian (from the Edinburgh Evening Chipwrapper):

    "An avid golfer, the plethora of golf courses tick a big box and he still has plenty to road-test. During lockdown he also invested in a road bike to stay fit, confessing, surprisingly given the numbers he posts during a match, that he hates running. “I know, my stats are some of the best during a game but if you tell me to just go for a 45-minute run, I would be gutted, absolutely gutted! But I have loved getting out on the bike and exploring East Lothian and the city, although the cobbles and potholes made that more challenging! There are so many beautiful places. There is a little bit of everything."

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/joe-newell-big-interview-hibs-midfielder-opens-up-on-staying-at-club-horrible-pre-season-impact-of-one-night-love-of-books-and-story-behind-jude-3181178

    Posted 4 years ago #

  15. Wout Van Aerthur Seat
    Member

    I've seen John Hughes out on his bike before.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  16. gembo
    Member

    Yogi on a bike? Need to be strong welds on that frame?

    Posted 4 years ago #

  17. mcairney
    Member

    Speaking of Yogi he made the news early on in lockdown cycling to his daughter's to visit their dog:

    Apologies- The Sun content:
    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5438453/ex-celtic-hibs-yogi-hughes-cycles-dog/

    FORMER Celtic and Hibs man John 'Yogi' Hughes cycled 25 miles to his daughter's house.. to see the family dog.

    Ex-Hibees boss Hughes made use of his daily outing during the coronavirus lockdown to play with his furry friend in his girl Rebecca's back garden.
    Former Celtic and Hibs man Yogi Hughes has a catch-up with his family dog
    1
    Former Celtic and Hibs man Yogi Hughes has a catch-up with his family dog

    And the 55-year-old couldn't hide his delight as he enjoyed a cup of tea while maintaining social distancing with his daughter.

    Posting a video of the heartwarming moment to Twitter, Rebecca said: "My dad has just cycled 25 miles and let himself in my back garden so he can see and have a wee play with the dog.

    "We’ve watched through the window. Don’t know who was happier. Disclaimer: Dogs can’t carry corona."

    And fans of the Easter Road legend were delighted to see Hughes enjoying himself during such unprecedented times.

    Posted 4 years ago #

  18. mcairney
    Member

    Also disclaimer- I don't spend my life scouring tabloids for articles that mention cycling and football!

    Posted 4 years ago #

  19. boothym
    Member

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Flash Videos

    German ref cycling to his game, looked up the location and it's only 10km from the Dutch border. (thought there would be auto translated captions available from Youtube but there's not)

    Sorry for another Sun link - ref getting back into cycling during lockdown: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5709013/referee-bobby-madden-passion-cycling-lockdown/

    Posted 4 years ago #

  20. mga
    Member

    Roberto Mancini also likes a bit of cycling

    Posted 4 years ago #

  21. gembo
    Member

    Quite a compact De Rosa.

    Arjun Robben cycles to training.

    Posted 4 years ago #

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