Flora Perkins journal #04: a balancing act

20-year-old Flora Perkins rides for the Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team. In her first journal entry of 2024, she thoughtfully considers the balancing act between commitment to professional cycling and a fulfilling life outside the sport, one that poses crucial decisions for young athletes.

There’s been a lot of talk about balance over the years in cycling. How do you balance committing to your sport and building a life outside of cycling? Some opt for going 100% for the sport, saying that you only win by living life at the extremes. While others seem to breeze through unstressed and unphased, but I imagine they are few and far between in the world of professional cycling. I’m willing to be proved wrong.

I want to give this everything I’ve got while still seeing the bigger picture. What does that balance look like day-to-day though?

Most people find themselves navigating between different perspectives, trying to strike a balance and landing somewhere in the middle. I’ve been advised to be patient and to not take things too seriously when you’re young, a time will come for that. But I’m also a professional athlete with certain expectations. I have responsibilities to my team, and to those who pour time and effort into me. I want to give this everything I’ve got while still seeing the bigger picture. What does that balance looks like day-to-day though? I’m not so sure.

2023 UEC Road European Championships – Col du Vam, Drenthe, Netherlands – Under 23 Women’s Road Race – Flora Perkins and Abi Smith of Great Britain. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

As I begin to make decisions such as where to live and how to spend my time, I find myself asking: what do I truly value and prioritise?

I could go and live on the side of a mountain on my own, in some warm-climate country with a visa, so that the pesky ‘90 day rule’ doesn’t apply. The training would probably be great and I’d definitely be getting enough recovery. But I’d also probably be lonely, and a bit sad. Not a recipe for a successful, vibrant bike rider.

Youth is on my side, my life is relatively free from ties. I have the freedom to make the most of the opportunities that are presented to me

Similarly, I could throw caution to the wind, live up my 20s and run myself into the ground in the pursuit of “fun”. Okay, I’m deliberately exaggerating for the purpose of the argument, but you get the point.

I imagine that what I value will change over time. Right now, I’m tempted to commit more fully to cycling. Youth is on my side, my life is relatively free from ties. I have the freedom to make the most of the opportunities that are presented to me. I am getting to ride my bike, for a living!

2023 UEC Road European Championships – Col du Vam, Drenthe, Netherlands – Under 23 Women’s Road Race – Flora Perkins of Great Britain. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

But at the same time, a pro cycling career is not forever. Whichever way you look at it, it will stop. I’ll get injured or retire or my contract won’t be renewed or I’ll not want to do it anymore. The ride will end someday. So “having a life” and not placing my value in cycling is really important. Cycling is a part of me, but it’s not the whole story.

Cycling is a part of me, but it’s not the whole story.

I think ultimately I can see both sides, there is a balance to be had, a tightrope to be walked. I land at a place in which I hold both in tension, recognising there’s a time for both, knowing that my decisions can be shaped by multiple criteria. It’s not an easy trick to pull off, and I’ll get stuff wrong I’m sure of it. The great thing is though, I can always change my mind, even when it comes to the big stuff.