My peri-meno. did last about 10 years. When I look back, I started having symptoms in my late 30s. My periods were always awful, horrible cramps on day one and pms like crazy, even though I have been exercising since my early twenties. OK, I had been cycling for about a year, maybe two when my periods stopped. So, I wasn't riding tons, maybe 1,000 miles a year and still doing step classes, etc. I was 48. For the first year, I felt great. A flash once in awhile. Then, the flashes started coming more frequently, maybe ten a day. I noticed they were worse at work, where I couldn't control the room temperature myself. I had a bad one every morning when I got up, but most of the others did not last more than 30 seconds. I just dealt with it, splashed some water on my face from my water bottle I kept on my desk. My worse symptom was vaginal dryness and pain, despite the "desire" still being there. About 4 years ago, I got an E-string, which has cured that. My flashes are pretty much gone. I still get one once in awhile, but my attitude has been, "it's part of life," just go on. But they do last for years after your periods stop.
I think dealing with the pain of riding and other sports did make me mentally tougher to deal with the menopause stuff. I know a lot of people who just lost it at the first flash and went on medication.