New Older Cyclists

[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

[Bikingmomof3]

You can do it.

I just learned to cycle this summer at age 37. I have every intention of doing a triathlon and some racing.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hey SadieKate-
I was trying to figure out in your avatar what Liberace had to do with bicycling....then I finally read it right. Ha Ha, I guess that kinda dates ME!!

[CyclChyk]

PyxiChick - I am .... ahem..... 38 and I jsut started riding in July. I too average about 100+ miles a week (when I manage to stay "upright" that is).

This is how I look at it:

I am becoming the tomboy I always wanted to be. I am reliving my youth the way I would have wanted to the first time. I am getting HEALTHY for the first time in ... well.... EVER. I want to do a triathalon BADLY (altho I think my feet will prevent that from ever happening).

I live off MTV (lovelove the RealWorld/RoadRules challenge shows); teenage agnst movies are my favorite. And in my mind, I am 23.

Am I too old to cycle?? Who cares. I am just having the time of my life!! And stick around here for a bit. You will find you are far from being alone.

[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

[Dogmama]

I was 36 when I started riding. I'm 52 now. I used to ride about 5,000/year but neck problems & surgery got in the way the last couple of years.

I think I have improved because I've learned a lot about bike handling, how to fuel during a ride and when to lay back.

I've never raced, nor had any desire to do so. I'm sure my aerobic capacity has declined but it has been so subtle that I haven't noticed it. I ride to keep my head on straight.

[spokewench]

You're still a puppy. I started riding in my late 20's. I started racing maybe a year after I started up riding and my only aerobic activity before that for many years was riding horses (doesn't get you ready for bike riding/racing). Raced mostly in my 30's off and on. Got back into it again in my early 40's - did a lot better - now I don't race anymore except for a few cyclocross events.

It really depends on what you want out of racing. What kind of racing do you want to do? Mountain/Road/cyclocross?? Do you want to race into shape or are you the kind of person who just can't stand being beat? I'm the kind of person who got beat for years before I ever got good enough to be competitive and that was okay. I was never really super competetitive but I have had my moments.

Road racing will be harder - cause you have to keep up with the pack and if you get dropped its very discouraging. Mountain biking you can race at your own speed and it is not as discouraging. There are all levels of racing and you should start out at the bottom to find out where you are. Cat 4 (mix it up with younger 20's girls); The masters women are usually just as fast at the 20 girls in 4's and sometimes 3's; and they have more experience. Some of hte master girls are 1's and 2's so beware you can hit a field that is really fast so don't be discouraged when you move up to masters. Masters are USUALLY Safer cause they usually have more experience (there are always exceptions to be careful)

Anyway, racing should not be all about winning! It should be about improving on your personal best at first. If you start winning, Yahoo, that's icing on the cake. Try a time trial if you are road racing. It is safe, you are by yourself and you can gauge your fitness against your peer group. Mountain biking, just enter in your age group, beginner and see where you stack up.

Any more specific questions?

[Bike Goddess]

Senior Rider- What does make a difference as you age (I'm now 66) is time for recovery both on hills and after long rides. I also take awhile to warm up my muscles. After about 25 miles, I'm usually up to speed.

Now that I have a carbon bike, recovery on hills is a little faster than on my steel bike. This has something to do with the nature of carbon.