I have to admit that when I was younger I rode my bicycle as fast as I could.
Do any of you out there do the same? Have you slowed down with age?
On a group ride, did you ever turn a tour into a race?
I never had a cycling coach. I'm 40+ years old now. A while back I bought an electric bicycle, which is governed so the motor cuts out at 20MPH. I have to liken an electric bicycle to a tandem, the motor is the stoker and coach.
I haven't been riding the ebike lately, I'm back to just pedals, but it has left an impression on me. I have learned to pace myself. Instead of trying to accelerate, I stay at a steady speed and cadence. My legs no longer burn after a ride, I don't get cramps.
What makes you go at maximum speed? Is it [teenage]drivers honking and cursing? Is it the 30 MPH sign, which looks so attainable when you're going 25? Are the [teenage] drivers going to stop cursing if you go 5 MPH faster? (25 to 30)
Agree or Disagree- It takes a cycist a mile and a half to accelerate to 30 MPH. Snap acceleration will burn your legs out.
crtreedude
02-01-07, 10:53 AM
About the time I realized I am not indestructable or immortal, I found going slower had more appeal. Besides, I love to sight-see while riding. Going slower means I get to see more and enjoy more. I find a speed between 14 to 20 MPH is very enjoyable. With hills, it is a very good workout too.
genec
02-01-07, 10:58 AM
I have to admit that when I was younger I rode my bicycle as fast as I could.
Do any of you out there do the same? Have you slowed down with age?
On a group ride, did you ever turn a tour into a race?
I never had a cycling coach. I'm 40+ years old now. A while back I bought an electric bicycle, which is governed so the motor cuts out at 20MPH. I have to liken an electric bicycle to a tandem, the motor is the stoker and coach.
I haven't been riding the ebike lately, I'm back to just pedals, but it has left an impression on me. I have learned to pace myself. Instead of trying to accelerate, I stay at a steady speed and cadence. My legs no longer burn after a ride, I don't get cramps.
What makes you go at maximum speed? Is it [teenage]drivers honking and cursing? Is it the 30 MPH sign, which looks so attainable when you're going 25? Are the [teenage] drivers going to stop cursing if you go 5 MPH faster? (25 to 30)
Agree or Disagree- It takes a cycist a mile and a half to accelerate to 30 MPH. Snap acceleration will burn your legs out.
I have slowed down with age. There was a time when I would give skinny tire cyclists a good run for the money even while I rode my fat tire bike. I would ride that bike to bike shop weekend rides and ride right with the skinny tire riders. (much to their dissappointment)
Not today. Age and time off the bike have taken their toll.
Today I sprint only when the legs say it is OK. I can reach and hold about 25MPH regularly on my commute on the flats... but I can only do it for a few miles before I burn out. Longer rides leave me wrung out. 20 years ago an 80 mile ride was a "nice ride." Today 20 miles is a "nice ride."
I used to be able to spin up to about 140-150rpm and really sprint. (I did a lot of roller workouts back then) Today, 85-90 is typical, but the fast spin is limited to about 120rpm for very short periods.
Part of that is due to drugs I take to control the heart rate.
Getting older sucks.
Just ask Forester if he still rides like he did when he "Effectively Cycled."
ghettocruiser
02-01-07, 11:03 AM
Someday, I'll slow down and realize not every ride is a race.
Someday, but not today.
Az B
02-01-07, 11:06 AM
A lot of it is physical, a lot of it is maturity. Sure, I like to go fast, but it's not always appropriate. Advocacy rides, charity rides, fun rides with friends who aren't as fast... these are great times to go slower and enjoy yourself. When I was 20, I was too busy riding at the front trying to be the fastest.
Now I'm more likely to try to set personal records when I'm riding by myself, and enjoy the group rides for what they are. And I don't ride with the hammerheads because it's just not that much fun anymore. I'll leave those rides to those that need to prove something.
Az
SSP
02-01-07, 11:36 AM
It depends on the ride...mostly, I live for speed, and can't imagine going slow intentionally.
My morning commutes tend to be "brisk" but not "all out" rides (though I will sprint yellow lights).
My evening commutes vary - right now I'm focused on low cadence-high force workouts (with speeds around 18-20 mph), but as we get closer to spring they'll include more interval sessions.
My Saturday club rides are for hammerin', and trying to keep up with the young guns and big dogs.
My Sunday rides with my girlfriend are for enjoying the scenery (though I do try to get in some good workouts on each hill).
Helmet Head
02-01-07, 11:44 AM
When traffic conditions allow, the only thing that slows me down are my legs and my heart.
Yes, group rides often turn into races.
I'm in my mid 40s and I'm not planning on slowing down for at least another 10 or 15 years...
galen_52657
02-01-07, 11:55 AM
Will turn fifty this spring. Still hang with the front group on long hard training rides. Enter CAT 1-3 races for training (though I draft most of the races). Really you can stay fit and fast for a long, long time. Sure I come home tired a sore. But, it's a good tired and sore. I know I did something. Some food and a nap and I am good-to-go.
But... I don't try to ride as fast as I can all the time.
On the tandem, climbing is slow and my stoker determines how hard we will go. Average pace is about 5 MPH slower than me on my own.
Utility riding to the store or on errands I purposely go slow so as to not break a sweat in street cloths.
Filiberto_Duran
02-01-07, 12:01 PM
That maximum speed thing stopped when I was about four. Since then, I've been pacing myself. I've won a lot more races that way.
Tom Stormcrowe
02-01-07, 12:07 PM
Depends on the day, sometimes I'm like an active dog....I chase cars and trucks, and sometimes I'm like an ol' Blue Tick...not in a hurry nohow, so I might as well enjoy the lazy day!;) :p
zowie
02-01-07, 12:08 PM
While my speed capacity is certainly less because of physical reasons, I've also slowed down because of "maturity." I do not go bombing down hills over 30 mph or ride over 20 in urban traffic even when I'm up to it, because I've reached a point where I just have zero interest in any unnecessary road rash or worse.
I don't drive as fast as I used to either although my cars today are faster and handle better than then ones I owned 20 years ago. The thrill no longer seems worth risking the consequences.
caloso
02-01-07, 12:16 PM
No, not really. I keep getting faster. Incrementally, to be sure, but I'm definitely faster at 39 than I was at 32.
AGGRO
02-01-07, 12:48 PM
1. None shall pass!
2. Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!
hotbike
02-01-07, 12:48 PM
I just did a four mile ride, between posting my original message and now. Thanks for the replies.
Well, we're all different. galen_52657 says: "Will turn fifty this spring. Still hang with the front group on long hard training rides. Enter CAT 1-3 races for training (though I draft most of the races)..."
That's better than I'm doing, and I won't turn fifty for another eight years. Then again I don't ride a road bike or ride with groups.
I think I was burning myself out when I was in my twenties by doing too many sprints. I experimented with fairings , I was an IHPVA member, I built an upright streamliner which would frequently go 47 miles per hour, but no faster, no matter how hard I tried. I asked for volunteers to do sprints to test my aerodynamic fairings. One girl took the bike for a test ride and registered 55 MPH on the recording speedometer, but that was when I was in Florida. I realize I spent hundreds of hours building fiberglass/Kevlar fairings when I could've been riding.
I wanted to document my top-speed in case of any argument with a motorist accusing me of going too slow to use the lane. One time that worked, I was going 47 in a 30 zone, a teenage driver came up behind me, and a Police car was coming the other way. We both stopped and the Police car stopped. I showed the Officer my speedometer ; "47 mph" it said. The teenage boy said I was going too slow, but the Officer believed my speedometer and what he saw, so the 17 year old got a ticket for going 17 over...no more liscence.
(OT- I just now got a free sample of something in the mail, a Gillette razor with FIVE blades! Jeez, if the Post Office ever enforced regulations against shipping dangerous items.I'm afraid to use it. )
SSP
02-01-07, 12:52 PM
Agree or Disagree- It takes a cycist a mile and a half to accelerate to 30 MPH. Snap acceleration will burn your legs out.
Disagree...if I *can* get to 30 mph, it takes less than 100 meters.
And while "snap acceleration" may cause lactic acid build-up in your legs, it will also make them stronger over time (it's called the "training effect" :rolleyes: ).
SSP
02-01-07, 12:54 PM
1. None shall pass!
2. Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!
3. Never give up...never surrender!
4. To Infinity, and Beyond!
crtreedude
02-01-07, 12:55 PM
I can reach 30 MPH in about 100 meters. It is a lot easier than a lot of the hills I climb. As was said, it is about conditioning and training.
lyeinyoureye
02-01-07, 01:17 PM
I ride fast and drive slow because I need more exercise and less spent on gas. That being said, coming home from a nearby town requires a 1000ft climb over 6 miles, so I tend to go pretty slow. On the way there, I barely have to pedal.... :D
AlmostTrick
02-01-07, 01:25 PM
I go as fast as I can some of the time,
almost as fast as I can most of the time,
and slow occasionally.
But I wish I was faster.
Artkansas
02-01-07, 01:25 PM
I'm in my mid 40s and I'm not planning on slowing down for at least another 10 or 15 years...
It's not something you plan, it happens all by itself. ;)
Az B
02-01-07, 01:25 PM
3. Never give up...never surrender!
4. To Infinity, and Beyond!
5: "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Az
PaulH
02-01-07, 01:27 PM
Growing up, a bicycle was transportation, not a sport. I rode at whatever seemed comfortable, generally the same effort level as that of a fast walk unless there was a steep hill. Nowdays, I think I ride faster or at a higher effort level than I did when I was 13. This may be because I tend to be on a tighter time schedule now. On the other hand, I don't want to get sweaty, as that would mean having to change clothing and clean up, which would have the effect of increasing my total journey time. The only riding I ever do is commuting and errands, so no group rides or tours.
Maximum speed is reached under two circumstances. One is sprinting to make a difficult left merge. The other is coasting down a steep hill. Teenage drivers have never cursed me.
I don't have a cyclocomputer and typically ride 10-15 mph. Consequently, 30 mph is a downhill speed. There are certainly some hills where I must be getting to that speed in a short distance. I do snap acceleration all the time when the light turns green, and it hasn't caused any problems.
Paul
Az B
02-01-07, 01:28 PM
Since then, I've been pacing myself. I've won a lot more races that way.
On a long, difficult ride pacing is very important. I don't know how many times I've been passed climbing a mountain or early on a long ride only to pass those same people miles later. And without me speeding up.
Az
bac
02-01-07, 01:31 PM
I can't seem to stop myself from attemting to find the terminal velocity on every downhill I ride. I've tasted the pavement at speed (40+ on a downhill, behind still has scars), but it hasn't stopped me from bombing. There is just something that gets the chemicals in my brain flowing when I'm at full song. I'm addicted. :)
banerjek
02-01-07, 01:32 PM
A lot of it is physical, a lot of it is maturity. Sure, I like to go fast, but it's not always appropriate. Advocacy rides, charity rides, fun rides with friends who aren't as fast... these are great times to go slower and enjoy yourself. When I was 20, I was too busy riding at the front trying to be the fastest.
Now I'm more likely to try to set personal records when I'm riding by myself, and enjoy the group rides for what they are. And I don't ride with the hammerheads because it's just not that much fun anymore. I'll leave those rides to those that need to prove something.
For solo rides, I normally like to challenge myself, but I consider conditions, distance, and upcoming rides (i.e. how much pain is it OK to be in tomorrow or in a couple days) when choosing my pace. I am not as strong as I was when I was 25 nor can I sprint as fast, but I'm actually faster than I was then on distance rides and I'm a significantly better climber.
With groups, I like to maintain a more sociable pace. I cut the wind for slower riders and keep an eye on them to make sure they're not working too hard or riding at a pace they can't maintain.
sbhikes
02-01-07, 01:46 PM
I've never been all that fast. I only try to go fast if I'm riding with others who want to go fast. Otherwise, 15 is about right. Since I mostly ride as a commuter, I don't go very fast because I don't want to get sweaty.
Speed has never really been my thing anyway. I prefer endurance. Climbing big mountains or an all day ride appeals more to me than a speed workout.
Funny but for cycling I'm slower than most people, but when it comes to hiking, I'm often the fastest hiker in the whole crowd no matter what age or gender. And I don't even try to hike fast.
SSP
02-01-07, 01:53 PM
Funny but for cycling I'm slower than most people, but when it comes to hiking, I'm often the fastest hiker in the whole crowd no matter what age or gender. And I don't even try to hike fast.
My girlfriend's like that. I'm much faster than her on the bike, but throw a pack on that gal and I'm pegging my heart rate just trying to keep her in sight! Even though I've got much longer legs (I'm 6' and she's 5' 4"), she has a quick and very efficient stride and flies up the trail like a chipmunk on speed.
europa
02-01-07, 03:19 PM
I amused by the number of riders who come flying past me ... then don't manage to pull away (no, it's not me speeding up). Mind you, there are also those that come flying past me and who disappear into the distance :rolleyes:
Richard
catatonic
02-01-07, 03:26 PM
being able to "snap accelerate" and power through strong headwinds have a very similar muscular load....so to me strength training (thus speed) does go into every commute....since I would like to go faster than 8mph in a headwind.
Today was a great example of a heavy headwind....my god it was making my legs sore just doing 3 miles.
genec
02-01-07, 03:26 PM
I've never been all that fast. I only try to go fast if I'm riding with others who want to go fast. Otherwise, 15 is about right. Since I mostly ride as a commuter, I don't go very fast because I don't want to get sweaty.
Speed has never really been my thing anyway. I prefer endurance. Climbing big mountains or an all day ride appeals more to me than a speed workout.
I used to be a real monster... I would push good looking ladies up the hills at the Tecate-Ensenada rides and I would just hammer all the time.
That was back in the day.
Now I like a nice even pace and low gears. :D
DaveMaddux
02-01-07, 03:39 PM
I amused by the number of riders who come flying past me ... then don't manage to pull away (no, it's not me speeding up). Mind you, there are also those that come flying past me and who disappear into the distance :rolleyes:
Richard
I've noticed this plenty of times. Happened to me in a race, actually. My buddy talked me into doing a duathlon with him (run-bike-run, my first multi-sport event) and my road bike was in pieces, so I rode my commuter, an 80s-era Schwinn with flat bar, 28 size tires, 1x7 gears, rear rack, and fenders.
So I'm in the home stretch of the bike leg giving it all I've got, and here comes this guy creeping up from behind on a carbon fiber Cervelo TT bike, he passes me, and soon slows down significantly. Its illegal to draft in multi-sport, and I don't want to slow down, so I pass him and resume my pace. About 1 minute later, he passes me again, and SLOWS DOWN. So I pass HIM again. The 3rd time this happened I got a little frustrated and turned my anger into more speed, put the hammer down until the finish line, and I didn't see him again. I guess if you're riding a Cervelo, it must hurt to get passed by a guy on a clunker with fenders.
SSP
02-01-07, 04:54 PM
5: "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Az
6) A man's got to know his limitations.
sgtsmile
02-01-07, 05:30 PM
1. None shall pass!
2. Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!
That is me!
Get my behind handed to me all the time, but I dont care! I have gone out for casual after supper spins on my cross bike with slicks on it and have had some of the best fast rides ever playing "catch me if you can" with the local racers. Usually, I get pummeled, but always, I have fun.
The sad thing is when I try it loaded with rack and full panniers. Sometimes, I surprise myself....
I must spend more time off road this year to get my skills back; for me, nothing is as much fun as a "damn the torpedos" attitude when carving up some singletrack (and here is me, pushing 40...)
sgtsmile
02-01-07, 05:31 PM
5: "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Az
/bow. a great line.
sgtsmile
02-01-07, 05:36 PM
Mind you, there are also those that come flying past me and who disappear into the distance :rolleyes:
Richard
The BEST example of that happened to me last summer. I was moving at about 28kmph on the cross bike up a hill when a racer blew past me. All I could hear was his tires and spokes (minor Doppler effect from his bladed spokes - sounded cool). He was hunched down in his aero bars. I lit the after burners and managed to get up to about 45 to 50 kmph for a bit (ok, it was not much of a hill ...) and, er, he was still pulling away. I just laughed my butt off and dropped back to my cruising speed again. He did not slow, and took off. Saw him later the next week doing the same thing - hilly ride, cruising at about 50kmph. Very cool:) I love watching cyclists moving at that kind of speed.
Wogsterca
02-01-07, 06:40 PM
5: "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Az
That should be in the top 10 of all time movie lines. Believe it or not, that movie is 20 years old, ahh, Robin Wright, sigh......
TRaffic Jammer
02-01-07, 06:48 PM
At 40 I'm even better at controlling my speed than I was before, I just need to build up my endurance again. I converted the MTB to SS, so I'm spinnin' away at 42x18. I <3 speed. Going to the track for the first time next month, and hoping to do a little racing this summer.
dynodonn
02-01-07, 08:19 PM
Usually the outside temperature, wind and weather determines my cycling speed, and I try to keep my speed to within 90 percent of my max for that condition. When the temps are at my optimum of 70 to 80 degrees, with sunny skies and no wind, it's hellbent for leather.
Bekologist
02-01-07, 10:36 PM
some days i'm fast, some days i'm slow. I ride bikes that weigh 23-45 pounds.
I like to go fast. I can push 28 on the speedometer in a traffic sprint off the stoplights around town riding. it takes very little distance to get a bike moving fast if you got the ganks to put the hammer down. i'm getting older, and don't sprint like I used to, thats for sure.
love pushing 50 MPH downhills. have crashed fast, but that hasn't stopped my love of speed.
TRaffic Jammer
02-02-07, 07:07 AM
Once you lose the fear of crashing....all bets are off. A background in skateboard physics will usually smash the fear of 'crete out of an individual. :lol:
hotbike
02-02-07, 08:57 AM
Hi, thanks for all the replies to my thread.
I've heard a few of you say that you were maintaining a pace, and some hotshot passed you, and you caught up with him a short time later.
Some of you are still in your 20's and can move, do sprints.
Ahh, to be young again.
It's good we're talking about bike vs. bike , and not bike vs. car.
Cars can be quite annoying, and dangerous. It's not good sportsmanship to enter a car in a bicycle race.
In the past I did too many sprints, today I pace myself. I am working up to longer and longer rides again.
I rode about ten miles yesterday, which is a good improvement.
TRaffic Jammer
02-02-07, 09:06 AM
Cars can be quite annoying, and dangerous. It's not good sportsmanship to enter a car in a bicycle race.
Ah, but to enter a bike in the rush hour race, that's different. My racing is almost always against the cars, I don't care I just push them out of the way too. Show them your game face. :p
Bekologist
02-02-07, 09:06 AM
and a youth spent luging on the icy run at Lake Placid's Mount VanHovenberg will instill a love of speed that lasts a lifetime, TrafficJammer:D
TRaffic Jammer
02-02-07, 09:09 AM
Luging? *jelous* I totally want to try that...Skeleton...eh not so sure. I'd rather fold my body first .... I think. :lol: I'm supposed to try some babystep street luging in the spring. woohooo SPEED THRILLS!!!! Anyone done the local skihill on the MTB?
AGGRO
02-02-07, 09:12 AM
You don't have to be 20 to be fast. When I turned 40 I was faster than when I was 20 due to conditioning. One of my favorite things to do is work over the youngsters in the local events and rides. Sure I've had my door blown off.
Last week I pulled onto Fiesta perfect timing to do laps with one of the local tri junkies wearing a skin suite and all. 3 laps into it or not quite 20 miles and around 25-28 mph we get SMOKED by a real hotshot. I spun it up a notch but nope, this guy was movin :D I think I coughed a lung LOL
TRaffic Jammer
02-02-07, 09:19 AM
Fuuun.... Yea I'm not as fast for as long as I was, but I got some zoom left in me at 40 as well. I'm better now because of my handling skills at speed I find. I don't get nervous at speed like I would before.... Ok ok ... AS nervous :lol:
Bekologist
02-02-07, 09:22 AM
Luging? *jelous* I totally want to try that...Skeleton...eh not so sure. I'd rather fold my body first .... I think. :lol: I'm supposed to try some babystep street luging in the spring. woohooo SPEED THRILLS!!!! Anyone done the local skihill on the MTB?
Us lugers thought the skeleton riders were the real crazy ones :D I tried it, not too bad, but the concept of crashing headfirst at 70MPH was a bit much. the sled runners have no edges either, (not like skates or skis,) they were totally round in front with tiny skegs chiselled out of the rear third of a round polished steel rod; its like riding a 70 pound slab of lead.
skihills on the MTB? been there, done that :) lots of fun, but extreme issues once the front tire begins to dive. If you've seen videos, its just as pictured.
On bikes, going 50 MPH plus is quite thrilling. With the right setup, you can even do so with aplomb. last time I wqs pushing 50, my buddy behind saw ke hit a pothole, and he said the rear end hopped sideways about a foot. I was LOVING it! never felt out of control for a second... If anyone is thinking speed thrills, i strongly recommend wider tires, good rubber, and a damp heavy bike versus a lightweight racer.....
SSP
02-02-07, 10:16 AM
Hi, thanks for all the replies to my thread.
I've heard a few of you say that you were maintaining a pace, and some hotshot passed you, and you caught up with him a short time later.
Some of you are still in your 20's and can move, do sprints.
Ahh, to be young again.
Dude...man up.
You're not even 50 and you're whining about getting old. If you work at it, and stay healthy, you can be pretty fast well into "real" old age (which you're not).
I-Like-To-Bike
02-02-07, 10:26 AM
Dude...man up.
You're not even 50 and you're whining about getting old. If you work at it, and stay healthy, you can be pretty fast well into "real" old age (which you're not).
I bike for fun. If someone has a need for speed, good for 'em, I could care less.
I didn't give a poop about being fast in my 20's and I still don't. I'll be 60 tomorrow.