This is the third in a series of interviews about how to become a Pro Cyclist.  Our guest is Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Rider Brad Huff.

Previous interviews have been with Ken Hanson and Stephen Ettinger.

Derek — Lets start with your story of how you became a pro cyclist.

Brad — My story of becoming a professional athlete literally took 10 years.  There is a rule according the Olympic Coaches, “The 10,000 hour rule, as it is known, roughly equates to ten years (20 hours x 50 weeks x 10 years) of perspiration to get to the top.”  I emulated this rule as I turned pro when i was 27!  I trained off and on in my early years in the sport.  Although it wasn’t until I had an overtraining injury that caused me to really look at myself in the mirror and re-evaluate what I really was doing in the sport.  Through education and training I was able to make my training more quality oriented instead of quantity.

D — Did you make a conscious decision to become a pro?

B — I turned pro in 2006 with TIAA-Cref — what is now know as Garmin.  I had an amazing personal sponsor named Kirk Bowman in 2004-2005.  He enabled me to focus on my training and school work without having to work a part time job to make ends meet.  He enabled me to put in the proper amount of time that was needed in order to make the jump from the amateur ranks to the pros.  Anyone that was around me in my fundamental years can tell you I was as focused as any aspiring cyclist.  I just wouldn’t settle for anything but my best effort.  A few of my former teammates should have also been pro well before me, but they had other priorities in life.  I am just lucky to have had them as teammates, because they all were a big reason I made it.  Guys like Chad Cagle and Steven Cate (2xNational Champ).

D — What are the best and worst parts of being a Pro?

B — The best part is being able to make my own schedule in regards to work.  I love it.  The worst part of being a pro has to be the life sacrifices that the sport demands.  No athlete or their significant other truly knows what it takes unless you and they live it.

D — What differentiates your journey to Pro from others at your level?

B — I am no different that any professional cyclist or aspiring professional cyclist.  We all work hard.  We all desire more from our performances.  We all want to prove to ourselves and the world that we are a capable athlete.  What differentiates me is, really, nothing.  I just do my best and attempt to have fun along the way — as this sport is way too damn difficult to not try to incorporate good times to help the suffering pass by without feeling like a never ending eternity.

D — Can you talk about your over training injury?

B — I simply did everything wrong in my fundamental years.  I was anorexic.  I rode way too much.  I was focused on the wrong aspects of cycling.  I did way too much off the bike supplemental training that caused big issues.  Come to find out all there heroes of my fundamental years were on drugs, so its no wonder my body totally caved when I attempted to emulate them in training and racing.

D — I think I heard that you were a cheerleader at Mizzou (maybe I’m wrong), how did that and any other sports impact/ prepare you for your cycling career?

B — I was a cheerleader my freshman in college but it was at Evangel University here in Springfield, MO.  I was an all around athlete in high school but I was never a super star.  Its hard to be great at athletics when you do not go through puberty until your early 20’s.

D — What were the key turning points in your career?

B — When I jumped in to velodrome racing in the fall 2004 and I won my very first elite national championship title with only 3 previous track races in my legs.  From there I gained the confidence that I could do anything in this sport if I truly set my sights on achievable goals.

D — What are the biggest common mistakes made when trying to be a Pro cyclist?

B — Entitlement.  I see many younger aspiring pro cyclists with a feeling of entitlement.  Nothing says you are owed anything in this sport or in life.  We all sacrifice and suffer just to maintain and/or build.  Just because you shave your legs and wear spandex doesn’t mean a team should throw free equipment and money your way.  This is a business when it comes down to it.  We all have to put the work in.  Regardless of rank.

D — Do you have any stories that could illustrate that feeling of entitlement?

B — Prima Donnas. I mean for goodness sake, we shave our legs, wear spandex, and bitch about gluten.  There are a lot of Prima Donnas in cycling, but at the same time those that have shown longevity in the sport are hard as granite.

D — What have you observed for yourself and others that are the most important specific things to focus on if you want to be paid to race a bicycle?

B — Professionalism.  This is a business.  From Cat 5 to Pro Tour.  We are all out to portray they sport in a positive manner and retain or build sponsorship.  Yes we love riding bikes and we enjoying getting to share this with friends all over the globe, but in the end it is about building cycling up as a power house sport that people want to be associated with and participate in.

D — Who trained or influenced you?

John Howard! 3 time Olympian, multi time national champion, pan-am games champion, Hawaii iron-man champion, land speed record holder, etc etc etc oh and we are from the same area.  He is the unknown “Eddy Merckx” of USA racing.

Derek’s Closing Thoughts: Brad has proven his ability to win consistently, and it is clear that he values professionalism.  Brad is also a really fun loving guy and is able to have a great time with bike racing. Having a personal sponsor as an elite rider that allowed him to focus on cycling the two years prior to turning pro, was a clear benefit for Brad.  Similar to other Pros, Brad echos the ability to prioritize his focus on cycling, while other talented riders are not.