New Older Cyclists

[Trek420]

pyxichick, you may be our new Jeannie Longo.

TE gals, isn't she still competing? She still makes riders not even born when she started to race suffer, she's 2 years younger than me? IE; decrepit

As she says ~

"Everyone is trying to put me out to pasture. Maybe I just haven't found the right field yet," -- Longo-Ciprelli

[pyxichick]

Thanks for the responses, and I deserve some of that criticism for my bad choice of words.

I'm sorry, I didnt' mean to imply that anyone is decrepit
And by "older" I just mean relative to others I've met who are new to cycling.

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Pyxi

You should not compare yourself with senior women's levels.

You may be faster than some women either older and younger than you in training or recreational cycling, but if you are thinking competitively, then dont compare yourself with women in their 20s who are "at their peak" as far as age goes.

The sad truth is that the further we move away from 30/35, the further we move away from the potential we might have had in our 20s.

Compare yourself to the same age categories for guidance as to what is realistic to achieve and revel in being the best you can be.

I started cycling 2 years ago, and started competitively in March this year. I will never know what I might have achieved as a cyclist in my 20s, but man am I setting my goals high for what I can achieve alongside women within a ten year age span around me.

[velogirl]

Hey there Pyxi

You should not compare yourself with senior women's levels.

You may be faster than some women either older and younger than you in training or recreational cycling, but if you are thinking competitively, then dont compare yourself with women in their 20s who are "at their peak" as far as age goes.

Compare yourself to the same age categories for guidance as to what is realistic to achieve and revel in being the best you can be.

Unfortunately, in the United States, with rare exception, all women race together by category, not by age. So, she will be competing with women younger (and older) than her.

Women's racing is pretty diverse in this country. There are certain parts of the country (CA, CO, NY) where there are lots of women racers and there are separate races for separate categories. In CA, it's not unusual to race in a full field of 50 women. In other parts of the country, there might be one women's race for Pro through beginner and only 10 women show up.

Occassionally, you'll find a master's women's race (usually 35+). Even in CA, where we have tons of women racing, we don't see this very often. It's more common at District and National Championships, where you can race against your peers in 5-year age groups. The other exception is the rare mtn bike with age categories.

Now, back to your original question. You're not too old. Most women don't even begin to ride until their 30s. And then it takes 3-5 years to hit your potential. And yes, the 20 year olds are tough to beat, but you can be a successful bike racer into your 40s. In mass start races (crits and road races), being smart can win races just as much as being young/fit.

Give it some time. Train smart, learn everything you can, ride with groups, take a clinic, watch some races, and compete when you're ready.

[Mimosa]

This year (at the age of 32), after a decade of not cycling due to other commitments (work, relation, house etc), I started it all up again. I was so fed up with the fact that I was slowly gaining weight and having a poor health level.

That training really got me into the spirit again, up to the level that I am currently doing 150-200 miles a week. For next year I want to have a go (again) at competition riding. Luckely I found a team nearby which is of mixed age so I can start at club level with the team and gradually work my way up to the elite level. Which is going to pretty hard since that is a very high competition level. Still, you got to have goals in life. I will be one of the 'older' galls in that highest competition but over the last couple of years some of the 'oldies' have returned to the competition and proven to be able to defeat the youngsters.

My advice would also to just cyle for a year long and gradually increase distance and speed to slowly gain strength and technical skils. Riding offroad is also good to improve steering qualities. What you can do in that same year is to look for entrance level races near you and at first just look at how racing goes. And see if you can find a team to join, girls already driving can learn you the required race driving skills (how to I attack a curve, driving in a group, using the other driver to sit out of the wind etc) and race tactics.

[RoadRaven]

Unfortunately, in the United States, with rare exception, all women race together by category, not by age. So, she will be competing with women younger (and older) than her.

Yeah... we race by ability at club level, so my grade at Ramblers ranges from 15 - 60+, both men and women.

The club champs are graded by age and gender; under 15, under 17, senior, then the vet categories.

Our club races all the vet women together (because there is not usually a big turnout for the champs by women, though this year it was bigger than usual) so I raced against women last weekend aged from 35 up.

At National level it BikeNZ sticks to what I thought was international categories defined by age... I didn't realise that the USA didn't categorise people by age - thats very unfair.

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks for the responses, and I deserve some of that criticism for my bad choice of words.

I'm sorry, I didnt' mean to imply that anyone is decrepit
And by "older" I just mean relative to others I've met who are new to cycling.

I don't think any of it was intended as criticism. Maybe, um, chiding.

[SadieKate]

We were just laughing at, erm, with you.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Absolutely you can do it!!!

I hope to race one day as well, having started riding now at a little over 30, like you.

Plus another thing is that cycling has categories for all ages, masters, seniors, etc. In addition, all the literature I've seen of vo2max & muscle decline is very, very slow. So at say, 50 you may be a hair slower than at 35, but that would be a thin one indeed - assuming you train and stay fit.

Look at Jeannie Longo - she set the Mt. Evans hill climb record for women in 98, as a perky 40 year old and finished 10th in the olympic RR in 2004 as a whippersnapper of then just, 46.

Like I said, you can do it

[GLC1968]

I'm in a similar boat as you! I started cycling last year at 37 and while I was already quite fit and adapted well...I'm still working on my cycling skills (and I've got a long way to go!). It is odd to think that I am just starting out at this while a couple of guys I work with are 'retired' from racing and they are only a couple of years older than me. Of course, they've been competitive since they were in their early teens and now they want to raise their families...so the situation is very different.

I agree with what everyone said about giving yourself some time to get used to being on the bike. I completed two centuries this year and regularly commute to work, but I know that I still need a lot of experience before I'm ready to race. I've always looked young for my age...so maybe it'll come in handy! Oh, and my guess is that the 25 year olds are faster because they've been riding longer...not because their bodies are younger.

Keep it up and you'll get there...and likely it'll be long before you get decrepit!

[RoadRaven]

Oh, and my guess is that the 25 year olds are faster because they've been riding longer...not because their bodies are younger.

As I posted earlier... if you trained the same way as a 25 year old, and had the same genetic talent - the advantage goes to the younger rider.

However, if you train harder than 25 year olds, and they are not as committed as you, you will better them...

Its all relative... focus on yourself, because ultimately, that is the only factor you have control over. Enjoy

[pyxichick]

This is why I love coming here. Such great inspiration and encouragement! I love to hear about other women's accomplishments.

I'm not going to worry about racing until I feel like my body has had time to adjust to the bike. I guess if I think about it, it took a few years for me to get that body memory for skiing, too. I'm just so excited about cycling, I want to dive right in. But I know that I've already pushed myself beyond what I thought I would do on the bike in my first few months, so I'm happy with the strides I've made and I can look forward to only getting better.

[Bluetree]

I'm 39 and plannning on competing starting next year. However, because crit racing is so uber-competitive here I am focusing my training on triathlon. In tri, I can enter in age-group categories.

I have a cycling buddy who didn't start training until he was 40. Now in his mid-fifties, he recently completed a major tri in under 2:30, averaging nearly 22mph in the bike leg. As a comparison, my early-40s BF (a former collegiate track/cycling star who has been doing this most of his life) finished the same race in 2:40, averaging 19mph on the bike.

It's never too late to start!

[rocknrollgirl]

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Older...who you calling older??? 44, and riding, racing, and training hard...It is all about the age groups my friend! Win your age group!

[annie]

pyxichick,

Been there, done that. I waited till my thirties to start serious cycling. Got married, had my babies, and needed more in my life so took up cycling, since I had a younger brother who raced and I ALWAYS thought that was SO cool! Anyways, started riding, found others who rode, was encouraged to race, so did various road races in the midwest area. I was competitive, but not one of the best and where I was in my life, I still had other areas that needed the majority of my attention. Re: husband and children. I could never justify the time and expense it took to be gone racing every weekend. I just wasn't THAT good. Which was okay with me. I still loved what I could do. Raced when it fit my schedule. Rode with younger guys and gals, pushed myself to keep their pace and was mostly able to do so. I guess my point is, don't hold back. Go for it NOW, don't wait. Because, much as I wish it was not so, age will catch up with you. It gets us all eventually. Aerobic capacity declines. Muscles can't quite build to where they were 5-10 years ago. One becomes an 'age group' competitor, rather than an overall competitor. (NOT a bad connotation, please. Just not quite what it was....... !) As part of the "50 and Older" contingent on TE, I feel like a wise old mentor . Don't hold yourself back. Don't be timid. Go out and try. Show those 20 yr olds HE** when you race with them! It is most definitely do-able. Just don't wait too long. And have fun!!

annie