Comments on: The Age Problem

By: Bruno Ris

Bruno Ris — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:02:05 +0000

I will be 70 years old next spring and took up cycling at 65 after 30 years I manage close to 4000 km per year at 120 to 140km per week including the 220Km conquer cancer ride this year from Toronto to Niagara Falls. My averge speed is around 25km/hr on a Canadian made Raleigh grand prix 2002 bike. A bit heavy but a very solid bike. I hope to maintain this but was wondering if i should add some weight training. In the winter I also do some cross country skiing which helps for the upper body strenght.

By: nigel bradley

nigel bradley — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:38:16 +0000

Hi,
I’m 50 next month and unfortunately overweight.
I ride 4 miles to work everyday then ramp up the miles coming up toa bike ride (that I do 1 a year) on my mountain bike although for my 50th I’m buying a Dawes Ultra Galaxy.
I did the C2C this year (140 miles and very hilly) in a day.
I’ve learned that I can go all day at ‘my pace’ pushing big gears.
My target for next year is a longer ride The Hadrians Cycleway, 175 miles, solo in a day and have recently been trying to up my cadence and using lower gears while on my training rollers.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:13:29 +0000

I like to ride.

Dave 55

By: Jack Day

Jack Day — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:18:49 +0000

Three months ago I turned 65 and began an indoor gym routine on a mechanical bike. I have worked my way up to a resistance level which produces a daily 18.5 miles in 60 minutes (I don’t know how this compares to actual road milage as I really don’t trust the machine’s gauges), while rotating workouts on other muscles. I am new at road cycling but plan to compete this summer in my age group.I really have no idea how much to train, how to train, or what my goals should be to win. I was attempting to raise my level of fitness before worrying about it. Can someone point me in the right direction? P.S. Age does not seem to have slowed me down, nor am I sure that it is a factor. Yet I need to lose more weight. I have 120 training days left before my first race.Jack

By: doug hisington

doug hisington — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:12:31 +0000

I’m 68. Own a martial arts school. go to the gym 4 days a week. teach tai kwon do 3 days a week. tai chi one day a week. take classes in escrima and tai chi 4 days a week. and ride every day. age?????? forget about it. when people ask me how I can do it I tell them “I can do it because I’ve always done it”. I think it would be pretty hard to start training at my age to do what I do. but having been an athlete all my life I don’t know anything different. No matter if I’m in the gym, on a bike or teaching karate young people are always coming up to me and asking me my age. I love the look on their face when I say 68! with modern medicine and training methods I think there is no limit. Bruce Lee used to say “there are no limits, only plateaus”. I am definately slower than I was in my 20’s or 30’s but I think I’m stronger. My advice is to learn as much as you can about fitness, health and training. read, read, read. Accept no limitions. Age??? forgetaboutit

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:04:59 +0000

I am also 48 and here is my story. I bought a bicycle last year and rode with some co-workers who were near my age but experienced cyclists. I worked my way up by adding about 5 miles a week to my big rides. I learned to have a good cadence where is we fast enough to keep up but not too fast to bounce in my seat. I worked up to a 75 mile ride a the end of the summer. I moved to mountain biking in the fall/winter just once a week. This spring I started riding at lunches for about 20 miles a couple times a week. Then I joined a local bicycle club started longer rides on Saturday. My first ride was 46 miles. I barely made it and was dead on my feet. After a couple of shorter rides during the week I moved to a 60 miles ride that turned into a 80 mile ride when nobody I was riding with was turning back. It was real tough but I fought through it with the help of several people blocking the wind for me. I continued the short ride during the week with a day or two off, I continued the Saturday rides. Electrolytes (Cytomax and Gatorade) and energy bars helped a lot. I also lift weights, do running or swimming on off days). I did a couple of 70 mile rides, a 2500 ft climbing 85 miler riding with older experienced riders. It was tough but good for conditioning. This weekend I did my first century – 103 miles (I was suppose to go 82 miles but too a wrong turn). I felt strong the whole way. We made 4 stops to fill up on electrolytes and energy bars (Cliff, zone, whatever) to keep calories in my system. Now I attack hills, moved from 16 mph average to 17.5 mph and moving up. I am not up to the youngsters, but i am progressing.

By: David Hatcher

David Hatcher — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:49:33 +0000

I started riding with a group in 2004 at age 46. I rode Mt.Mitchell the highest point east of the Mississippi in 2007 104 miles with 28 miles of climbing. I ride 150 to 200 miles per week all year living in Tennessee. I have beat several 20 – 30 year olds in the club ride sprints, the latest this past weekend. I think the one comment I loved was the guy that said he would rather die riding a bike or running than lying in bed. Get out there and go hard, forget about age.

By: Faron Madderra

Faron Madderra — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:52:13 +0000

I just noticed, of all the comments nobody mentioned your bikes fit. Avoid alot of pain and get your bike fitted. Even if it was fitted 10 years ago. Our bodies have changed, like it or not.Ride Safe

By: LaBaron

LaBaron — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:51:08 +0000

As to age, I’m 53 and just started seriously riding last Oct. and lost 65lbs (was 285), My target is 180lbs. I ride a basic Brigstone MB6 (Classic), My advice is simple, Listen to your body!!! Eat resonably and by all means stay well hydrated. I usualy average about 60 to 100 miles per week but I also listen to my body and rest when I need to. Just a note: I’ve supprised more than one road biker with my old mountain bike. Faron Madderra

By: Bill Kaferle

Bill Kaferle — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:30:53 +0000

Age is only a number. Go as long and hard as you can. Like I told my wife, “I’d rather die biking or running then in a bed somewhere”.