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#Bikes #Pro #TwoDecade #Long #Career
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Bobby Julich’s journey into cycling began in the 1980s in Colorado when a chance encounter with the Coors Classic bicycle race sparked his curiosity. Initially focused on skiing, baseball, and soccer, Julich’s father encouraged him to take up cycling as a form of cross-training to improve his skiing. This led to a deal: in exchange for a new pair of slalom skis, Julich agreed to ride a bike during the summer. His father, convinced by local bike shop owners, bought him a top-of-the-line racing bike, marking the start of Julich’s cycling career.
That first bike set the stage for a professional cycling career that spanned decades. Julich estimates he has ridden nearly 100 bikes over 40 years, including training, race, spare, and time trial bikes. While most were returned to teams or sponsors at the end of each season, Julich kept a few that held special significance. These bikes, now relics of cycling history, represent milestones in his career, from his junior days on the 7-Eleven Development Team in 1988 to his final race with Team CSC in 2008.
Julich’s garage houses a collection of these bikes, each tied to memories of races, teams, and personal achievements. He reflects on the rapid evolution of bike technology from 1988 to 2008, noting that advancements since then have been even more dramatic. Julich’s career saw him ride for various teams and brands, including Trek, Yamaguchi, Ritchey, Litespeed, Eddy Merckx, Fondriest, Look, Pinarello, and Cervelo. Post-retirement, he continued to work with teams like Saxo Bank, Team Sky, BMC, and Tinkoff, maintaining his connection to the sport.
In the coming weeks, Julich plans to share stories about the bikes he kept, the races they were used in, and the memories they evoke. He hopes this series will inspire others to revisit their own cycling history, dust off old bikes, and reminisce about the experiences that made them special. Julich’s story is a testament to how a single decision—like trading skis for a bike—can shape a lifetime of passion and achievement.
