Mountain Biking - How many over 40???

I've been riding a road bike for almost a year, but am thinking about giving mountain bikes a try.
However, I'm over 40 and wondering if this is for the young - :D I just wanted to see how many are out there doing MTB at 40+

:beer:

I've been riding a road bike for almost a year, but am thinking about giving mountain bikes a try.
However, I'm over 40 and wondering if this is for the young - :D I just wanted to see how many are out there doing MTB at 40+

:beer:
Ned Overend is over 50, and he still is a possible top 10 finisher in any race he enters.

I'm knocking at the door of 40, and see no reason why I would quit anytime soon.

I am 42.
I read in Dirtrag last night where due to the perceptions of mt biking being almost totally freeride and more extreme that less people over 30 are taking it up. they said that it is the advertisements and magazine coverage, even though xc type bikes still do over 60% of the sales annually, but I say that they are covering what is popular and will bring in more $ and that the best way to find out if you want to try something is ask those who do it( like you have done). Lance wining the tour a few times has made roadies more prevelent as well and since some are losing their riding places and are hooked on bikes but need an alternative, offroad is the best solution.
excellent question, excellent topic too. thanks for bringing it up.
BTW Ive been riding off road since the early 90s and find that there are still many still over the hill yet riding like banshees in the woods. its a great sport

40+ is a great time to start (actually any age is, but it's never too late). I didn't start until my mid-40s; I'm 51 now and am more addicted to gravity and adrenaline than ever.

I'm 43 and have been riding for 4 years. I bought my first XC FS bike in July and ride 4-5 times a week. This is the best exercise program I have been on in my life and I'm in the best shape of my life. It's awesome to be able to kick someone's ass on a long climb who is 20+ years younger than you...

My dad is 44 and he rides with me all the time. He was hesitant last year when I made him go riding with me...now he’s officially addicted! :D

I dosn't matter what age you are. I have seen a guy around here that is 55 and is still going stong.

42 here, and I have been mountain biking since 1991, back when the idea of suspension is a pair of low pressured fat knobbies. I still have my Bridgestone from back then, now converted to a rigid singlespeed. It's a blast to use on nice singletracks and shares equal time with my newer hardtail Litespeed.

42 here, and I have been mountain biking since 1991, back when the idea of suspension is a pair of low pressured fat knobbies. I still have my Bridgestone from back then, now converted to a rigid singlespeed. It's a blast to use on nice singletracks and shares equal time with my newer hardtail Litespeed.

So you have been biking for 15 years? I know this becuase of my age.

Age doesn't matter.

40, yeah baby!

40, yeah baby!

I guess you'll be going DH from now on 66 :D

Got back into biking at 58. The first bike I bought? A used mountain bike that I promptly took on the local trails. I know I can't keep up with those that are younger than me, like say those that are only 40, but I get a real rush from tackling a trail.
I took up road biking this year to supplement my mountain biking. It's fun, but the trail is way more exciting.

I guess you'll be going DH from now on 66 :D

DH is good......:D

So you have been biking for 15 years? I know this becuase of my age.

Mountain biking since 1991, been biking since I was a kid. I love bikes, they're an integral part of my life, and I'm sure lots here feel the same way :)

I'm 17, but my dad is 59 and still bikes. In fact, he was stronger than me until only a little while ago, and can still go for longer than I can.

Not 40 yet, but agree that age doesn't matter. I entered a raid last year and there were people 60+ that were entered.

I'm 63 and still ride mbt. Mostly old phosphate pits in central Fl.


2005 Specialized Expert FS

57 here, wife is 55, we were roadies that just started mountain biking this year. Mostly New England single track and have the scabs to prove it! We still ride road, too.

40 years/watts/ounces here

my 60 y.o. uncle rocks a rigid singlespeed. age means nothing.

I am 40 and going ape**** up and down Big Mtn.(went over the bars 2X on the 10th), Going to the Sun etc. in Montana and luvin it...40 is the new 20 I'm sayin.

I am 40 and going ape**** up and down Big Mtn.(went over the bars 2X on the 10th), Going to the Sun etc. in Montana and luvin it...40 is the new 20 I'm sayin.
How are the DH trails at Big? I'm thinkin' I need to get back there next year for sure. And do they still have the monster 4X course?

my dad's almost 60 and has a Giant Iguana which he rides all over Colorado

55 here; got back into riding 5 years ago (hadn't since my mid-twenties). Only have one bike (good h/t with two wheelsets [slicks/knobbies]) and pile up total about 4000 kms/year riding the roads, commuting, going to the store, and on trails. Totally hooked, and can't see any reason to stop till I literally can't get on/stay on a bike. By the way, now in better overall physical shape than any time since my late teens.

There are some fast racers over 40. I should know. I was just passed by some last weekend. :o :D

117 here. i smoke kids a century younger than me.

I dosn't matter what age you are. I have seen a guy around here that is 55 and is still going stong.

55! A youngen! I have a guy in my bike club whose pulling 80 (and pushing 90) pretty hard who just this year had to slow down because of heart problems. He just rides a little slower now (which is still pretty fast ;) ) I wanna be like him.

I don't think age is an issue. Seems to me that "heart" or "want to" is all you need.

You're not going to be jumping off cliffs, but getting a good workout while riding some trails can be done by anyone at any age.

My ex-father in law used to come riding with me and he was in his 60's, without a problem.

I'll be 48 in a couple on months and took the sport up this summer. It is quite a challenge, very exhilarating, and much more fun than any other aerobic sport I know of. I do feel it is dangerous though. Not "death" degree dangerous, but this might really hurt dangerous. I tore my hamstring waterskiing this summer, so you never know what will hurt you.

I got back into cycling (since being a little kid) when I was 48. Four years later I'm road riding for exercise, racing Vet Class mtb in the local club and recently started commuting by bicycle. Do it!!!! You're only young once...but you can be immature forever.

I got my (60+ yr old) dad his first decent bike in decades, he used to do road centuries on his Falcon a lot in the 80s. I got him a Giant Boulder last month, best entry level MTB for the bucks I could find in his LBS.

He's been telling me every night this week about his latest escapades, normally involving 25+mph, a single trail and a mountain somewhere. I think he's outgrown his Boulder in less than a month, I need to upgrade him to a DH bike.

I'll be 48 in a couple on months and took the sport up this summer. It is quite a challenge, very exhilarating, and much more fun than any other aerobic sport I know of. I do feel it is dangerous though. Not "death" degree dangerous, but this might really hurt dangerous. I tore my hamstring waterskiing this summer, so you never know what will hurt you.

The danger is part of what makes it fun.

I started road biking commuting 3 yrs ago at 46. My 28 yo friend talked me into mtb with him about a year later and I had a blast. He smoked me on the tech sections and I got him back on the flats. I still love hitting the trials and am heading out with my son in the am. I still road bike for fitness, but mtb is a lot more fun.

However, be forewarned that falling was part of my learning curve ... including some otb's. I probably pushed harder trying to keep up with someone who had several years of experiance ... but it is still part of the sport. And I notice I definately do not heal up as quick as I used to ;)

55! A youngen! I have a guy in my bike club whose pulling 80 (and pushing 90) pretty hard who just this year had to slow down because of heart problems. He just rides a little slower now (which is still pretty fast ;) ) I wanna be like him.
There was a famous cross country skier in Quebec when I was a kid. His name was Jackrabbit Johansen. He spent his winters in the bush cutting XC trails, smoked a pipe, skied past 99 years and died at 112. I imagine he would have liked a MTB and maybe he would have gone a little longer if he had. He had a great positive attitude from what I have read and I bet he liked Blueberries. I wanna be like him!!

Didn't even take up cycling till I was 44 been riding ever since and always on mountain bikes. Only just this year got a road bike and it is boring- Nothing to do except pedal and only the odd 25% hill to keep things interesting.

44, riding Mtn.bikes seriously since 1993.

Got into the sport by accident. Used my old 10-speed
to get to more remote trout fishing spots.

Soon I realized the bike riding was more fun than standing on a rock fishing...

I wanted to thank everyone for their inputs, it looks like I may have underestimated just what ages ride MTB!!! I think I am going to give it a try!! I actually have two things in mind for getting and MTB ride, one is to use one with street tires for a little night riding this year and the other is to have some fun at a park that's a little far from my house, but is supposed to have some great trails. I was originally going to get a trek 4300 or up, but also considered a fisher and giant. But I have now decided to have a little fun and build one up instead - I know it can be more expensive this way - but I've always wanted to build one - so I'll let you know how things go!! I'm just going with a hardtail at this point.
Thanks again, everyone!!

40 + here too :-)


Herbert
Litespeed

www.litespeed.com

I'm 51. I've been riding road and MTB for many years. I consider myself more a road rider than mountain biker, but I'm getting more involved in offroad lately. In fact, I've just bought a new RockHopper Comp and plan to race next year for the team my LBS sponsors.

I happen to be 41 (at least my daughter likes to remind me of that)I don't try to get into the big drops and stuff but I do like to ride on back roads and a light off road trail now and again.I don't do anything radical I guess is what I am saying.

I'm 55 soon to be 56 but I have been riding MTBikes for at least 15 years.

2 of the stronger riders I know are 62 and 68 respectively. They routine leave the young'ums in the dust.

One concession, at least for me to being older, I don't take risks like I used to. Have been seriously injuried and well, healing just takes too long. I ride within my limit and strive to improve that limit but within reason.

Mountain biking is not just for the young (now downhilling/freeriding different story!!!)

I'll be 56 this Dec. and still mtn.bike. My wife is 53 and still mtn.bikes. A friend of ours is in his 50's and rides often with us. I met a rider of a Speicalized full susp. who was flying thru rock gardens, over logs, whatever happened to be in his path--he's 62. There's more than a few of us over 40 (and over 50!).

45 here, hoping to lose the training wheels next year!

48, I log about 100mi weekly RB, MTB combined. Just got into night riding (time change). Very Cool!

It's all in your head. If you're concerned that being over 40 is too old for the sport, then you probably are and shouldn't dive. If, on the other hand, you get your head out of the nursing home and realize it doesn't really matter how many of us are over 40, it's what you are capable and desirous of doing that matters, then you'll have a ball!

45 getting over "catastrophic" injury, broke my ankle into corn flakes a couple
years ago..did 20 miles today though...starting to get back to were I was.

Dealing with midlife crisis, playing with old bikes, driving the wife nuts.

Just turned 40 back in October and just took up mtn biking this year. I have a lot to look forward too...that's for sure.

Just turned 40 back in October and just took up mtn biking this year. I have a lot to look forward too...that's for sure.

Oh yeah, you're good to go!:D