January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Pitcher quits cricket for cycling
Pitcher has won three cycling races so far this season and has been tipped as a potential national champion by some of the island's top riders, including current number one Garth Thomson.
And the 25-year-old, who honed his bike skills as a BMX stunt rider before committing to cricket, said he was relishing the different atmosphere and challenges of his new sport.
Pitcher, who played Premier Division cricket for St. David's and has also represented Bermuda internationally, got fed up with the lack of work ethic shown by some of his peers.
"I just felt it was time for a change. I was not finding what I was looking for in the cricket aspect....
"With cycling you're racing for the finish line and everybody wants to get their first. "There's more commitment than I was finding in cricket.
"I still have a love for the game of cricket but the work ethic is not there.
"With cricket you need all eleven, with cycling it is just you. You can only blame yourself for failure."
Pitcher took part in his first road races last year after meeting former Bermudian pro rider Elliott Hubbard and riding informally with him.
At the same time as he was becoming disillusioned with cricket he saw a completely different attitude to training and competition among the island's cyclists and, though he had no real road racing history, decided to test his bike skills in a competitive environment.
"When I first started out cycling last season I took a lot of licks.
"I was getting left behind on the Sunday club rides and I made a point to push and push and say to myself I'm not letting these guys get away from me any more.
"I had the fight to stay with the big guys and now I'm improving and winning a few races."
Pitcher finished second to Hubbard -who he describes as an 'inspiration' - in the Hill Climb series and went on to win the first road race of the season earlier this month.
"I try to ride every single day and learn as much as I can. Even the races I was winning, I was thinking, 'I don't know what I'm doing here'.
"But I have this fight in me to keep going and do better."
Pitcher said it would have been tough to compete in both cricket and cycling without compromising on standards.
"As I was established in cricket, I stayed with it, but a few things took place last season and I just got fed up with it."
His main aim this year is to improve on his 22nd place in the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race on May 24th last season.
"I'll be happy with 21st, but if I win that will be a major bonus," he added.
Pitcher has not ruled out representing Bermuda in cycling and though he is finding the sport to be more physically demanding than cricket he has no regrets so far.
"It's hard work and it takes a lot out of you but at the end of the day you just feel happy.
"You push hard, you work hard for the morning ride and then you have the rest of the day to yourself or with your family."
He said the approach and encouragement from other cyclists had been refreshing too.
"We are all one family. There's no negativity. I'm riding for a team, Bicycle Works, but the guys on all the other teams give me tips and advice as well."
Garth Thomson, widely recognized as Bermuda's top cyclist and a silver medalist at the Caribbean Games last year, believes Pitcher will be a contender this season.
"Arthur Pitcher is really making noise. He's won the last three road races. He's young, he's got a good kick and he's dedicated to his training," said Thomson, who will also ride for Bicycle Works - the new team established by Neil de ste Croix who runs the cycle store of the same name.
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