Five years ago, Michael Creed hung up his wheels and ended his career as a professional cyclist. From there he moved seamlessly into team management - first with SmartStop, then the US Paralympic Cycling Team, before landing on his feet at Aevolo, where he now runs one of the most successful under-23 programmes on the US domestic scene.
On the surface, his life reads like an untroubled tale of a young athlete living his dream before sidestepping into a well-suited career of mentorship. Under the surface, however, lies a complex and darker story involving bouts of severe depression and crippling loneliness, physical struggles, anxiety and a harrowing suicide attempt, before Creed finally sought the help he needed and turned his life around.
Manitou Springs sits on the outskirts of the much larger and more built-up town of Colorado Springs. If the latter's drab and stifling office blocks, which house the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and USA Cycling, represent the stuffier older brother, then Manitou is the cool, younger sister, surfing through life at a gentler pace. Put it this way, if you were going to hang out with either sibling, you'd choose the sister every time.
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Creed's apartment sits at the base of the picturesque Pike's Peak, a few meandering blocks from the middle of Manitou, with its sleepy shopping strip and cozy bars nestled into a small metropolis of arty-crafty outlets.
Creed's place is like any other on his street, except for the Aevolo team car that sits outside and the rack of bikes that adorn the rear entrance and the steps leading up to the second floor.
Once inside, it doesn't take long to realise what Creed has going for him. Charlie, a three-year-old British bulldog – named after former British pro Charly Wegelius, but with an incorrect spelling after Creed messed up the dog's documents – comes to the door and offers a warm greeting. He retreats to his bed in an apparent sign that he is not willing to share his 3x3-foot cage. Shame. It was a three-hour drive down from Floyd Landis' Leadville-based home, and Creed's whole apartment invites you to relax.
From US Postal to the US scene
Facing mental illness head on
Learning to be human
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/michael-creed-fighting-back-against-depression
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