Fifty Plus (50+) - I got blown away by 2 ladies today

While doing loops of Prospect Park, my most frequent ride by far, I got blown away 2 different times by 2 different 20 something girls. And the funny thing was the conversation was exactly the same both times.

Me, as I speed up to catch her: "Do you race?" They were both doing a steady 22+ on the flats without a tailwind or a draft! Neither looked like the racer type, nor had race worthy bikes (A Lemond and a Giant TCR C2, not bad but not racing bikes)

Her: "no, but I'm training for a Triathlon, how about you?"

Me: "No, I'm getting too old for that. I bought the bike as a 50th bday present for myself"

Her: "I hope I'm still going like that at 50." And then I realize I can barely breath keeping up with them. And they drop me.

I know the feeling!

I'm a slow'ish rider, and am slower on my bent than my other bikes. Today I was on a dirt/gravel rail trail on the bent. So I expect to be passed & don't care much about that.

However most of the time on rail trails, I pass several more people than what pass me. Today was different, I was on a different trail and the riders were fitter & riding nicer bikes than what I usually see. I think I passed four riders and was passed at least 18-20 times.

Two of the passes were by the same woman. A 30-something, somewhat overweight woman riding a hybrid. She blew past me twice, once on my way out and again on my way back. She was clipping along at what I'd estimate at 14-15 like it was nothing.

I got passed by a woman towing a kiddie trailer on a local bike trail last year. She was doing at least 18 mph on a level stretch, riding a hybrid! Very nicely muscled young woman! :)

I got passed by a woman towing a kiddie trailer on a local bike trail last year. She was doing at least 18 mph on a level stretch, riding a hybrid! Very nicely muscled young woman! :)

I find that having a nice song in mind helps my speed and endurance. In the case of this thread, Queen's song Breakthrough might be appropriate: "if I could only reach you, that would really be a breakthrough".

Happens on occasion. I'd like to think I'm macho speed racer, but that's not reality, and there's lots of reasonably fit women that can ride circles around me. That's okay, I'll just keep pedaling.

That happened to me about a month ago. Completely smoked by a very strong, fit young woman on a long, winding downhill. She just blew by me. I caught up with her at the bottom - as she was on her way up for another run. Teach me...

We have literally dozens of top women riders around here.

They blow by the guys all the time.

Heck, just about everyone blows by me, come to think of it!

So far, I haven't been passed by any kids on tricycles, though.

Knock on wood!

Nothing wrong with getting passed by a cute girl, I would much rather look at the back of a girl then a guy that's for sure.....:eek::thumb:

I got passed by a woman towing a kiddie trailer on a local bike trail last year. She was doing at least 18 mph on a level stretch, riding a hybrid! Very nicely muscled young woman! :)

That speed must have been pretty entertaining for the child in the back.

Neither looked like the racer type, nor had race worthy bikes (A Lemond and a Giant TCR C2, not bad but not racing bikes)

WTF! I guess no one ever told me that my TCR wasn't "race worthy". :rolleyes:

Someone should tell Giant that their race geometry bikes aren't race worthy.

We have literally dozens of top women riders around here. ...
Same here. I hold my own on Coast Highway 101, passing about the same number of cyclists (men and women) that pass me. The local elite cyclists and triathletes are far faster than I ever was, but I have always been more into long slow distance and climbing than sprinting, sustained or otherwise.

The Monday night shop ride I do attracts a lot of women racers. Billed as a recovery ride, their recovery pace gives me a real workout.

Last Sunday I was really feeling my oats. Told the group I was riding with I'd wait for them, then took off. Ten miles down the road I was cranking along in the low 20s and was absolutely smoked by a chick on a Cannondale. Nice looker too. Orange with black trim and components...

She was clipping along at what I'd estimate at 14-15 like it was nothing.

It IS nothing! :lol: :giver:

The women I ride with are all mountain goats. When we climb I think it's sweet if they slow down and ride with me. Yesterday we did a ride with 8500 feet of climbing and Valleygirl (who is older than me) dropped me big time. She's too much, she doesn't even realize what a great climber she is.

WTF! I guess no one ever told me that my TCR wasn't "race worthy". :rolleyes:

Someone should tell Giant that their race geometry bikes aren't race worthy.

You're probably right on that count. I've been on them myself and they are nice bikes, so make that one not race worthy, and the other a decent race bike.

You're probably right on that count. I've been on them myself and they are nice bikes, so make that one not race worthy, and the other a decent race bike.

I think it is HIGH TIME we stopped insulting the bicycles on this forum.

(A Lemond owner):D

If we are not careful, the bicycles will all be taking a leave of absence.

I was "chicked" many times over the past week on BRAG. Among the hundreds of riders that passed me, several were women. Most were very fit and riding in pacelines, but some were just riding along at a faster pace than I was at the time. On the final day as I was nursing a sore knee and a dying bottom bracket, I was passed by lots of people of many levels of fitness on all kinds of bikes.

The great thing about BRAG is that throughout the week as I averaged 14.5 to 16 mph each day, I was passed by hundreds and I passed thousands of people.

On an MS150 ride a few years ago, with about 8-10 miles left to go, I was passed by someone on a tall
unicycle. (going uphill)

On an MS150 ride a few years ago, with about 8-10 miles left to go, I was passed by someone on a tall
unicycle. (going uphill)

That was a thread ender, right there....holy cow. Top that, boys.

You see a problem, I see opportunity.

I kind of enjoy the view from back here.

The view would have been good, except I lost sight of them.

One of them drafted behind me for about a minute, but instead of getting behind her to take a turn I rode beside her. That's when she dropped me. I generally don't draft in the park as there are too many places where people cross and I want a clear view of them.

A few years ago, there was a series of Ladies World Cup races in the Eastern Townships of Quebec where we have a cottage. Late one afternoon I was out on my old steelie, cranking up a hill when one of the racers out on a little training run blew by me at the most astounding speed going up hill. The delightful part, aside from the visual treat of this beautifully fit, spandex clad 20-something, was the fact that as she passed she actually smiled and said, "hello." Made my day. ...Sigh.

Don't let it bother you. According to some of the other forums all racers are doping.

My views do not represent this forum, are my very own and written with a smirk on my face. I am not a member of any core group or clique, just did my longest ride of 64+ miles and feeling pretty darn good (endorphins). I have now realized that any road with the word "gap" in it involves a hill/mountain and my new mantra is "Embrace the climb."

I do not understand the "ladies" point of this post. You got smoked by two riders. For me, "20 something" is more important than gender. Title IX should speak to that issue and many of us experienced the equity attemps at the inception of that legislation.

50+ is the new 30+. Go for it, even if you are a gentleman!

Don't forget I am smirking while writing and am not the least bit torqued about it!

I think if you edited your thread title by a word or two you would get much more traffic on this thread. Maybe even some pictures.

Then a moderator would move it to the road forum. I don't mean that in a bad way.

On the ride today- there were plenty of girls riding. Luckily- the ones that did not have the cute Butt- were slow enough to stay behind me.

And on this ride- I reckon that at least 40% of the riders were female. Or was it that I was riding like a "Girlie" and found myself among the Slower riders. But several girls made even the fit youngsters break out into a sweat.




(Not meant to be Sexist- but just an observation of today.):innocent::innocent:

There are a number of "A" level female riders locally. I love it when someone new comes into the group talking smack about being on a ladies ride up to the point where the girls ramp the ride up to "eyes bleed".

Our usual ride is a mix of solid "B" people with some A's joining us for a social visit. Invariably someone new gets bored and rides off thinking this is the best our group can do. Sometime later down the road (after the girls are done with him) we catch up and hear completely different talk. Had at least one never ride with us again.

While doing loops of Prospect Park, my most frequent ride by far, I got blown away 2 different times by 2 different 20 something girls. And the funny thing was the conversation was exactly the same both times.

Me, as I speed up to catch her: "Do you race?" They were both doing a steady 22+ on the flats without a tailwind or a draft! Neither looked like the racer type, nor had race worthy bikes (A Lemond and a Giant TCR C2, not bad but not racing bikes)

Her: "no, but I'm training for a Triathlon, how about you?"

Me: "No, I'm getting too old for that. I bought the bike as a 50th bday present for myself"

Her: "I hope I'm still going like that at 50." And then I realize I can barely breath keeping up with them. And they drop me.

WTF?? "too old for that"?

I hope to never get too old to pin on a race number.


There's plenty of guys still racing past 50 - check out National Senior Games (http://www.nsga.com/), USA Cycling (Masters). And nearly all running races and tri's have age bracket racing (most with 5 year brackets).

Racing is a great way to stay motivated, and have fun going all out. It's also been shown that "vigorous" exercise (as opposed to just toodling along) is an important component of health, and a predictor of mortality.

I don't doubt there are people over 50 still racing, but starting at that age seems daunting. I considered it last year when I was getting my average speed up around 21 solo (on the same stretch of Prospect Park), but it is still a stretch to race against people that have been doing it. I guess the only way to find out is to try it. That being said though, I definitely lost a step since last year, not necessarily because of age, but I just haven't had as much time.

And I NEVER just toodle along. I can't even slow myself down enough to allow some cute young thing to catch up to me. That's why when they blew by me it was so startling.

There are a few lookers on club rides - I rarely see one when I am riding by myself or with my friends. Usually the club rides are 50 or more miles in length so I need to pace my self and not spend it all in the first hour. I just can't help myself though - I stay with the young girls until they lay waist to my old tired body, it feels so good for awhile, all that heavy breathing. Then I give out and they keep going - I have to crawl the rest of the ride. I'd like to think those miles in fantasy land are making me a better rider, I should probably know better but hey - I'm a guy and all guys have one thing on thier mind, even the old ones :D.

WTF?? "too old for that"?

I hope to never get too old to pin on a race number.


There's plenty of guys still racing past 50 - check out National Senior Games (http://www.nsga.com/), USA Cycling (Masters). And nearly all running races and tri's have age bracket racing (most with 5 year brackets).

Racing is a great way to stay motivated, and have fun going all out. It's also been shown that "vigorous" exercise (as opposed to just toodling along) is an important component of health, and a predictor of mortality.

My thoughts (almost) exactly. Thank you!

I've had this woman chasing me for the past several hundred thousand miles . . .
But then she'smy tandem partner!

I don't doubt there are people over 50 still racing, but starting at that age seems daunting. I considered it last year when I was getting my average speed up around 21 solo (on the same stretch of Prospect Park), but it is still a stretch to race against people that have been doing it. I guess the only way to find out is to try it. That being said though, I definitely lost a step since last year, not necessarily because of age, but I just haven't had as much time.

And I NEVER just toodle along. I can't even slow myself down enough to allow some cute young thing to catch up to me. That's why when they blew by me it was so startling.

Well, if you can average 21 mph, you're fit enough for racing!

I'd recommend Senior Games and "Masters 45+" or "Masters 55+" (note: for USA Cycling, your racing age is your age at the end of the year). That way, you won't be racing against the young 'uns.

I've found it to be a great motivator - there's nothing like paying a race entry fee, and marking it on the calendar, to motivate me to get out there and train.

It's also a lot of fun - most of the older competitors are very friendly and supportive. I've been given lots of good tips, and even some equipment and gear.

And it also gives you a whole new level of appreciation for what the pros are going through when they're racing in the Tour de France, the Giro, etc.

The only downside is - you'll need to budget more money and time for your cycling. But, maybe that's really not so much of a downside after all...:D

We have literally dozens of top women riders around here.

They blow by the guys all the time.



Been on the receiving end of that kind of thing more than once. Makes me wish I could "ride like a girl"...

SP

I gave up... I'm going Fred. Nothing to prove.

I don't doubt there are people over 50 still racing, but starting at that age seems daunting. I considered it last year when I was getting my average speed up around 21 solo (on the same stretch of Prospect Park), but it is still a stretch to race against people that have been doing it. I guess the only way to find out is to try it. That being said though, I definitely lost a step since last year, not necessarily because of age, but I just haven't had as much time.

I only just began racing last year -- 3 time trials (2 on a tandem). This year I've done a few crits, 1-1/2 road races, and more time trials coming up. It's fun! And SSP is right; folks are friendly, and the atmosphere in the Masters races seem more congenial. I plan to keep racing until it ceases to be fun.

You should try it -- again, SSP is right; you're certainly fast enough.

I also started racing this year at age 55. It has been a blast to date andf I can't wait until next year because I'll be retired and able to train full time. I've rode in three crits and three road races so far. I have also rode on two of my teams "training rides". There are several women who also ride on the. Guess what happened on the trining rides?, I got smoked by the ladies! No skin lost and at my age I guess I should get used to it.:D, until next year...

On my commute home tonight I passed a group of 7 women on road bikes, going the opposite direction (into the wind). They were steaming along, keeping up with 25-30 mph traffic, and they were serious. I got an acknowledgment from the last rider (a casual nod), I guess for my PC commuting effort with a messenger bag stuffed with my work clothes over my shoulder. The humiliation factor was low this time, but I'm very happy to have been going the other way. I would have been impeding traffic and they might have buzzed me - or at least honked at me.

I was back in the park tonight for a quick ride. I was feeling great, doing 20-23 mostly, and cresting one small rise at 27 before the descent. The faster you start the descent, the faster you'll go, except that there was a rider that was on the ground at the bottom to keep you from going too fast. None of the hills are very big, just so nobody gets the wrong image.

Anyway, only one person passed me, a guy in his late 20s or early 30s. A few others tried but then couldn't keep up since I was riding a pretty steady fast pace. And no women at all. There were just a handful of women in the park riding, mostly slowly.

So I'll see how it goes before I decide to take up racing. I've got a layoff coming up next week as I'm traveling on business to Copenhagen. I know that it is a cyclist town, and I'll try to use on of the 'city cycles' but it won't be a training type ride. After that I'm free all summer, most of the time my kids will be away, freeing up a lot of riding time. I think the one thing I must do if I want to race is to lose my middle. It does slow me on the hills.

>I got blown away 2 different times by 2 different 20 something girls<

Age is relative - my 95 year-old mom was apt to call any male 60 or under a "boy" - however, I think a "20 something" is a woman, not a girl.

When I was 24, and heading up a steep hill from my college town, Chico, CA, in the Central Valley, to the town of Paradise, nestled in the pines, I was passed by a woman. For the first time, I realized an out-of-shape young man is no match for an in shape young woman - thus ended my male chauvinism.

I can relate in the sense that I have finished 2 Marathons, and I was pretty happy to cross the finish line, but I was coming in with "real" Grandma-types. I'm talking silver hair and 70's looking. I was 26. Ouch.

Slackerprince

I think if you edited your thread title by a word or two you would get much more traffic on this thread. Maybe even some pictures.

Good one! (and I'm even a chick!)

Happens on occasion. I'd like to think I'm macho speed racer, but that's not reality, and there's lots of reasonably fit women that can ride circles around me. That's okay, I'll just keep pedaling.

As in life, you will always meet up with someone tougher than you eventually.

I don't let anyone pass me. I always turn at the first street when someone is approaching from behind, even if I hadn't planned on going that way.:D

I don't let anyone pass me. I always turn at the first street when someone is approaching from behind, even if I hadn't planned on going that way.:D

:thumb:

That was a thread ender, right there....holy cow. Top that, boys.

That would be hard to top. Got blown away by a chick on a mt. bike with aero bars on the MUP several years ago, that is as close as I can get.

I'm a slow rider, I turn about 66rpm's and thats that.
I enjoy getting there as much as I enjoy being there.
On a clear day I can ride for ever. I hear everything and smell everything.

+1 no doubt about it!

I wish I saw more women riding up here....<sigh>....reminded me of my first 24 hours of Moab. On my second lap I decided to go all out and ride the sand filled climb just the other side of the low point in the race course.
I had noticed on my first lap that most people (99% it seemed) were walking it, as was I. Since i was worn out at the top from walking it, I thought I might as well be worn out from riding it. Maybe pass a bunch of people and get some style points in the bargain. I came into it in my middle ring and 3rd gear spinning like a madman. Then dropped onto the granny and kept spinning as I worked my way up to the 34 tooth in the back. Lots of kudos from the people I was passing. "Nail it dude." "Gnarly climbing" stuff like that. Then, as I neared the top, where the trail popped over an exposed root then finished the ascent I hear "on your left". sounded like Shirley Temple was asking to pass. Looked over and, yep. Some young girl with about 5% body fat just nailing the climb. Looked as if I was standing still. It was getting dark so I was not ale to ogle her for long as she dropped me like a bad habit.
The moral iseems to be that there's always someone faster and fitter, no matter how fast anf fit you are.