Is 67 Too Old to Ride an Event?

Question: I ama 67 yr old female. In very good health. Am I too old, too late to get involved in a local Cinderella event? I am motivated; I want to do this for me. I havejust been a recreational bike rider and would like to know if I should consider an event. The event is in April. I have until then to get into shape. Is that adequate time?

I just want to do the event, and be able to finish it.

It is a 63 mile women's event sponsored by Lifestyle RX Club in Livermore, California. Can you give me some of your thoughts on this?

Hi Darlene,

Our question to you is "why not?" You say you are motivated, so that's a great way to look ahead to an event ride. If you start to train up for it you should be OK, it's going to be hard, but that is the whole point.

I guess you have been doing more miles to help you get used to spending that much time in the saddle. Training with other riders is the best way to get used to the changes in speed that you will have to get used to if you are going to compete in an event.

Interval training can also do this, but the comradery by training with others is great for you well being, also interval training is very hard to do as you have to be very motivated to ride hard enough to make it count.

Train hard, but don't forget to rest well, as you get older it takes longer to recover, this doesn't mean that you will be slower than your fellow competitors, but it does mean that you must take a good rest after a hard training run.

Try to build up to three hard days in a week with a good rest day between each hard day, which means either not riding your bike or just going for an easy solo ride on flat roads and not pushing your self. If you can train up to 50 miles, at one go, then you should manage the last 13 miles on will alone.

Good luck Darlene and let us know how you get on.