It can lead to a comfortable life if you are part of the world's elite.
Dunedin's Justin Leov (25), ranked sixth in the world, falls into that category and is one of the big names who will compete in the Dunedin round of the national mountain bike series this weekend.
He has been a professional downhill mountain biker for the past six years and it has been his full-time occupation since 2006.
Leov would not divulge his annual income but said financially he is on the right side of the ledger.
"I'm earning more than I would at an ordinary job in New Zealand. It is lucrative if you are in the top 10 in the world."
The other New Zealander with a top-10 ranking is Sam Blenkinsop (Wanganui), at ninth.
He won the first round of the RaboPlus-sponsored series at Christchurch last weekend when he pushed Leov and former world junior champion Cameron Cole (Christchurch) into the minor placings.
Leov started racing at his home town of Blenheim in 2000 and then spent three years in Christchurch before shifting to Dunedin in October, to open a bike shop.
A member of the Trek World Racing Team, Leov is the most experienced New Zealand downhill mountain biker and has been on the podium twice in World Cup events.
He won his first national title in 2003 and regained it at Nelson last year.
Cole (21) started riding BMX bikes at the age of 4 and won three national junior titles before switching to mountain bikes eight years ago.
He proved his credentials in the international arena when he won the world junior title at Rotorua in 2006.
He is ranked 39th in the world and won the Dunedin event last year.
Blenkinsop achieved a first for New Zealand male downhill riders when he won a World Cup event in Europe in 2008.
The smart money will be on Leov, Cole and Blenkinsop but they will be tested by junior world champion Brook MacDonald (Napier), former junior world championship bronze medallist Matt Scoles (Alexandra) and visiting internationals Fabien Pedemenaud (France), Tim Eaton (Australia), Sam Shucksmith (UK), David Reinhardt (Germany) and Eolo Fronco (Italy).
The 2km Dunedin course is one of the most technical in the country and includes two steep drops, jumps and two rock gardens that will test riders' skills and nerve. Sabrina Jonnier (France), the World Cup champion, is a former elite world champion.
She won convincingly at Christchurch last weekend and the more technical nature of the Dunedin course will suit her.
The New Zealand Mountain Bike Cup comprises six cross-country and six downhill events (three in each of the North and South Islands) during January and February.
The other events will be held at Nelson, Rotorua (twice) and Tauranga.
The national mountain bike championships will be held at Wellington from February 26 to March 1.
Christchurch spray painter Brendon Sharratt (28), who is also is skilled on a road bike and has a bronze medal in the New Zealand criterium championships, beat Brent Miller (Canterbury) by 8 minutes at Christchurch last weekend.
In the women's elite race, Amy Laird (Christchurch), who won at Christchurch, will be tested by Rotorua's Samara Sheppard, experienced locals Erin Greene, Sara MacDonald, and Christchurch's Sara Taylor.
Laird switched from downhill to cross-country last year.
The cross-country event will be held on the Bethunes Gully course tomorrow from 10.30am, with the elite races starting at 2pm.
The downhill event will be held on the Signal Hill course on Sunday from 11am with the elite final run expected to start at 2pm.
Justin Leov
Age: 25
Lives: Dunedin
Occupation: Professional mountain biker (Trek World Racing Team)
Record: World Cup ranking 2008 (5th), 2009 (6th); world championship 2008 (6th), 2009 (8th). NZ champion 2003, 2009
