Ih8lucky13

Started Racing when I was 16. Quit when I was 28. I had an intracerebral hemorrhage when I was 45, going to restart racing at 46.

jmikami

I have been running in competition since grade school and did both sprints and endurance all the way through high school. After high School I bought a bike and flirted with Tris for a bit before figuring out it was much easier to just ride and not have to worry about running any more. So my first race bike was bought at 17 and I raced around for 8 years on that bike before attempting to get serious and make my big upgrade run. 25 to 33 were my peak racing years and I basically just raced everything I could find, then took a few years off for family and kids and started again 2 years ago at 41 to help set a good fitness example for the kids and work on my stomach. I am now 43 and turning 44 and have been on a training schedule for the first time in my life and find that it really works well for me and is a good way to have fun and stay fit.

grolby

Started racing at 22. I'm 28 now. I was competitive in my category when I started out, but no special talent. I've improved, sure, but a lot more of that improvement has been psychological than physical. As I've moved up the categories (not too far, I'm a 3 now), I've found myself pretty limited in longer road races. Just not a strength of mine. Probably why I prefer criteriums and cyclocross.

I've never had a season where I didn't race at least a little, though 2011 was a very lean year. I have no doubt that I will take a season off at some point, at least from road racing, but whether that is soon or a long way down the road, I have no idea.

Voodoo76

First crit at 21, was an injured college CC/Track runner. Always an odd ball tweener as a runner, could run 15m 3mi and sub 23s 220 at the same time but never great at either. Started full time at 26 or so, loved crits, still hanging in Cat 2 fields till I was 40 then stopped (was faster at 40 than 30). Picking it up again now at 58. Already dropped 20 lbs, almost to race weight, want to get in race shape for 60+. Not sure if it's gonna be Track or Road, as it looks like I'm still all sprint & **** for endurance.

echappist

the 15 min 3 mile says otherwise. I think you'd do well in a track point race and track endurance events given that background. Or alternatively, give it a go in the individual pursuit
welcome back, and good luck!

Dan333SP

Started road riding at 24, raced for the first time at 26, currently 28. I suppose I've "improved", but in the last year my training volume has nosedived thanks to getting married, being back in school, and working a 9-5 job. I'm still stronger than I was when I started racing, but that's mostly because I'm more experienced, mentally prepared, and my workouts have some structure to them. It was nice to have 15-20 hours a week to ride (not that I'd use all of that time, but it was available), now I'm lucky if I get 6 and every missed opportunity to ride stings.

ShutUpLegs

Well starting swimming competitively at 6 and all the way through college. After college took up triathlons and at 24 a friend thought I'd be good at bike racing so I gave it a try but stayed mainly in tris. Well turning 27 this year and have fully turned to solely bike racing. Even training just on the bike has made a huge difference in my strength. I also feel training wise its less stressful since I only have to think about riding and not having to fit in 2 other sports. Wish I would have converted sooner.

Wesley36

I did a short stint as a bike messenger in my early 20s, during grad school I spent less and less time on the bike. Started riding again more around at 30, which led to centuries and brevets.

Last year I wrenched at a racing-oriented LBS, which plunked me in the middle of the local racing community. Tried out a hilly RR and crit, both were hard but lots of fun. This year is my first proper season as a licensed racer, racing age 36.

Creatre

I don't think most people know this but I started racing at 13. I only did 1 race though and mostly rode with my dad around 20 miles. Wasn't very serious and transitioned to running for HS sport.

I took it up seriously at 21. Cat 2 by 23. 24 now. Burned out, not racing this year.

MDcatV

I got married when I was 24, am still married to the same wonderful woman, and we have 2 kids.

Andy STi

Started racing citizen races at 15.
USCF license at 16 and raced pretty much through to 29 doing everything - road, track, cross and MTB.
Took a bunch of time off but still rode a lot and got back into it a about 4 years ago starting with cross.
Racing age is 44 and this is my 3rd season getting back into road again.
Having a ton of fun too!

SteveM

Riding seriously : 47
Tour De XXX rides/"race" : 49
MTB XC Cat3 : 50
Road Crits/Circuit : 51

Upgrade to Cat4 as soon as I could. Mainly pack fodder, able to hold my own against racers 20-30+ years younger than me. I have also done a couple age class races.

hubcyclist

Started riding (regularly) at 33 back in August, now 34 and I'd like to do some racing next year maybe, need to find a group to ride with this summer first. But I made a KOM and 2nd place on a couple of Strava segments yesterday (out of 30 riders), so surely I'm ready to compete (kidding!)

Voodoo76

Thanks! I faced the same dilemma on the Track. Could train hard and ride a mediocre 3K and still turn a decent 200. Or I could change up my training and turn a decent 200 and a mediocre 3K. Was solid in a points race, sprints but not laps. Nearest Track is 2 hrs away. I'm very interested in the impact of having Power as a tool now. See if it can break the 40 year stranglehold mediocrity has on me.

jsutkeepspining

I started racing when i was about a 15 and 11 months. I have not taken a true year off, although last year was the least i've ever raced (raced 9 times).

rkwaki

She's a Cougarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

zitter

rode a road bike for the first time at 19 (freshman in college), started racing and now 22 (senior, last year), cat 2. injuries from waterpolo forced me to quit swimming

needmoreair

Started around 16-17; started racing immediately. Quit around 23. Picked it back up at 29. Didn't improve much in the time off.

rkwaki

Sucks about Tim's series getting cancelled for the year, hope you get back at it in some of the other stuff.

koolerb

45, officially started racing and getting my butt kicked about two weeks ago. I'm going to sign up for a racing clinic next month. At least I'll have good form getting my butt kicked after that.

globecanvas

Rode bikes obsessively in my teens and 20s, bike messengered and so forth, never raced. Put the bikes aside and didn't ride at all for 15 years.

Bought a road bike at age 43. My first ride I barely went 4 miles. Started racing at 44. Currently 46.

Racer Ex 

BMX'd as a kid on converted Stingrays (broke a lot of frames)...watch this from 2:33 and this was me:



Got a DL and started twisting a throttle at 15. Ended up road racing motorcycles pro. Quit. Raced motorcycles again on dirt ovals. Quit. Got fat in between there. Started back on MTB's in my 40's. Picked up road as a whim. Did a race. Back on heroin. Farted around local. USCF 5-3 first year at 45. Cat 1 at 48. Still here.

kevmk81

Currently: 32
Started riding for recreation: 25
Triathlon: 26 through 30
Bike racing: 30 through current

gsteinb

video is gone. are you saying you did that, or that you were actually in the film?

Ygduf

bought a bike to commute on May 8, 2008, 28 years old.

First double century was a year later,end of May 2009.
First race August of 2010.
cat 4, 2011
cat 3, 2013 (didn't race often as a 4 and kept getting hurt!)
cat 2, 2014

....

by 2020 I hope to downgrade and become a coach.