New Older Cyclists

[senior rider]

Hi, I'm 63, started cycling last January. Wish I had started 20 years ago, but...... Cycling makes me feel wonderful and is keeping me young and thinner (I'm working on thin, not there yet) My DH and I ride together, our longest ride was 40 miles (we're working up to a metric century) and our pace is between 14 and 16 mph. Cycling has nothing to do with age, it's all about your attitude and health.

[mimitabby]

Welcome, Senior!!

You are an inspiration! I will be 55 in 2 months and bike riding is the best thing me and DH have ever done (well, that is, besides getting married and having two great sons)

I miss riding the most on days like THIS WEEK when all i do is sit here at work
and then go home and do a million OTHER things and dont' get to ride.

[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.

[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.

[Jen]

You are a mere child.

[suzieqtwa]

Ill be 53, in November ,and last year I ran the Portland Marathon ,I just bought a bike 3 months ago ,and I plan to train for a Century next October. I love it ,and it keeps me fit ,and feeling young. Age is a state of mind.........