New Older Cyclists

[pyxichick]

I've taken up cycling at the age of 36. (I'm amused at the idea of starting a sport at the master level.) I'm not completely new to physical activity, as I've been a nordic skier for several years, but I feel like my body is still adjusting to cycling.

I'm out there riding 100+ miles a week, try to train smart with varied workouts etc., but I still get smoked by the 25 year olds on my rides. I'm not sure if it's their youth or cycling experience that beats me.

I'm interested in doing some races, but wonder if I'll ever have the potential to be competitive, based on my late start.

I'd like to hear about other women's experiences with starting a new sport later in life.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Older? Late in life? To me, 36 doesn't qualify for either of these labels. I don't consider myself "older" or "late in life", and at 54 I'm almost 20 years older than you.

As far as your speed goes, some people are naturally faster than others - I suspect it's experience and not your age that is letting others pass you.

--- Denise

[SadieKate]

I'm trying to compute "older" and "36."

[mimitabby]

yeah, me too! my "real age" on that health test is 45 BECAUSE i'm biking.
I'm going to be 55 in November. I was all excited, wanting to read about some 66 year old gal who just got onto a bike for the first time.

having said that;

You're not older, you're about middle of the road. And why not bike? It's low impact aerobic exercise...

have fun.

[SadieKate]

Ok, now for a more thoughtful answer (and on a Friday!). Last night's insomnia reading (let's talk about "older" ), was Joel Friel's Cyclist's Training Bible. He feels that anyone just taking up cycling with the dream of racing needs to spend a year just riding. Their bodies need to adapt to the motion and stresses, etc., of cycling before they start to train for racing. That was very badly paraphrased, but I think it is the same thing Denise is saying. It takes experience and muscle memory and a whole bunch of other things to become competitively fast. If those 25 year olds have been training since juniors, you have a long way to go, baby. Just don't give up. Do some reading, get a coach, train smart.

[SadieKate]

Mimi, my friend Marty went from 0 to 100 at age 65. She started cycling in July 2005 and in June 2006 rode her first century at the Little Red Riding Hood in Utah. She wasn't 66, but is 65 close enough?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Older?? ....36 is like being a kid just out of the starting gate!

Lisa- 52 and just hittin' my stride...

[Trek420]

Older? Older? Bwaaaahaha I need another cup of coffee now and to clean the screen Thanks

Somewhere here there's a thread "over 40 show of hands" which changed to "over 50 show of hands" here:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=oldest

and suspect we'll need "over 60..." etc soon, sure hope so

Trek-I'm 50 but it is the new 30-420

[SouthernBelle]

I'm checking for decrepitness here.

[Squeaky]

I've taken up cycling at the age of 36. (I'm amused at the idea of starting a sport at the master level.) I'm not completely new to physical activity, as I've been a nordic skier for several years, but I feel like my body is still adjusting to cycling.

I'm out there riding 100+ miles a week, try to train smart with varied workouts etc., but I still get smoked by the 25 year olds on my rides. I'm not sure if it's their youth or cycling experience that beats me.

I'm interested in doing some races, but wonder if I'll ever have the potential to be competitive, based on my late start.

I'd like to hear about other women's experiences with starting a new sport later in life.

Sounds like we have the same goals. I'm "old" too at 39 (I guess that makes me older than dirt) and just started. I think you had a valid question about whether or not it's silly to consider racing as a goal, since you're just starting out "at your age." But really, how cool is that?? I know we're still spring chickens in the scheme of things, but it doesn't always feel that way.

Anyway, the thought of being fit enough and good enough to race one day really gets me motivated. Sadie Kate had some good ideas. It's definitely a long term goal and one that I'll reevaluate after at least a year. In the meantime, I think it's great and you should go for it!

Um, did you say master level? Oy! Talk about making someone feel old. And don't think about those 25 year olds... if you don't ever catch them, that's okay, and if you do... teehee....

[Eden]

Don't worry or give up! Many of the top level women cyclists in this country are in their 30's or older.

I started riding competitively this year and I'm 34. Many of my team mates are older than I am (who can kick my butt by the way). Just remember that even if you are already fit, it takes time to "get your legs", some people say about 2 years and that sometimes knowing racing tactics is more important than merely being strong. Keep riding and you'll be smoking the 25 y/o's.

[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.

[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.