Fifty Plus (50+) - How frequently should an older guy go out riding - and how far???

Okay, I'm age 63 - until December. I love riding my bike. Sometimes it's a short ride to my girlfriend's and back. And sometimes, it's riding someplace I've never been before and I keep going way too far before I decide it's time to turn around and start heading back. I try to ride at least every single day. Sometimes, it's more than one ride per day.

I don't seem to be able to ride too fast, unless it's going downhill. Mostly, I'm just cranking along enjoying the ride.

But here's the question that comes to mind: I keep seeing all the younger guys in these threads bragging about how many miles they can grind out in a single day, and how many hills they can climb. I realize my age but still, I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't try to kick it up a notch.

Because this section is aimed at mature guys and gals age 50+, I wonder: What is your motivation, and what are your daily goals? What's your bicycle style???

Ok, I'm 62 until December, have been riding 2 years after a 26 year hiatus. The more I ride the more I can ride. Let's face it, we really can't keep up with the young bucks anymore but it is great to see our own improvement
Rod

There are two things I know: You can always get better, and there is always someone better than you.The reason I do this (and, I expect, most of the folks on this forum) is to make the rest of life better. I think you should ride as much as you need to so as to improve the other things you do.

Your goals are your goals and they needn't change because others are doing more, unless you find that inspiring. I know a bunch of people (and I'm pretty sure that there are people on this board who are similar), who are cranking out brisk metric centuries and more at your age. I don't know your overall health and ambition, but if you want to work up to more miles and faster miles, age alone is not a limitation. If that's not your cup of tea, don't let peer pressure affect your enjoyment of what you're doing now.

This forum is for those who ride at least fifty miles every day, isn't it? That's how far and how often.
Any more questions?

You are allowed to take a rest day, as needed.

I'll be 63 in Jan. Started riding in March of 09. Ride 3 or 4 days a week, 40 mi at a pop. I've done numerous "Metrics" and several centuries" Average 17.5 here in flat fla.

Ride as much as you can, and as often as you can. I ride any chance I get: errands, pick up the grandson at school, etc.

The thing that helped me the most was wind sprints. Go out for a ride, warm up for 10 min at a good pace, then hammer as fast and as hard for as long as you can, all out. Maybe for 2 or 3 min. Then ride show and recover for 5 - 8 min and repeat. Do that 3x for the first week, 4x for the 2nd, etc. Work up to about 6 reps.

You will be amazed how quick you will improve. Check with your Dr first if you have any health issues or have not been check out recently.

Okay, I'm age 63 - until December. I love riding my bike. Sometimes it's a short ride to my girlfriend's and back. And sometimes, it's riding someplace I've never been before and I keep going way too far before I decide it's time to turn around and start heading back. I try to ride at least every single day. Sometimes, it's more than one ride per day.

I don't seem to be able to ride too fast, unless it's going downhill. Mostly, I'm just cranking along enjoying the ride.

But here's the question that comes to mind: I keep seeing all the younger guys in these threads bragging about how many miles they can grind out in a single day, and how many hills they can climb. I realize my age but still, I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't try to kick it up a notch.

Because this section is aimed at mature guys and gals age 50+, I wonder: What is your motivation, and what are your daily goals? What's your bicycle style???

News flash!!! YOU set how often and how far you ride based on how you feel that day and your doctors advice so don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

I'm 64 3/4 years of age and I ride when and where I want to letting my body tell when it's time to go home. I also wear a helmet and carry a cell phone everytime I ride. I'm riding for my health and enjoyment and for no other reason. Are you?

Bicycling is not a competitive sport unless you make it one. I ride as often and as fast or slow as I feel like riding. No goals, no mileage or average speed. It's like walking, which I also love. I go for a walk when I feel like going and walk for as long as I feel like walking. I'm almost 63 and feel healthy and strong.

Okay, I'm age 63 - until December. I love riding my bike. Sometimes it's a short ride to my girlfriend's and back. ?

Wondering what your wife thinks of that.

Seeing as you say you are from CO maybe this will have some meaning:
Both rides in the Denver area.
Yesterday: Platte River trail from C470 to a couple miles north of Confluence Park and return; 34 miles.
Today: C470 trail from the Carson Nature Center to Morrison and return; 35 miles.

I will be 74 next month.

Got it?



(Just in case: Age is not a criteria. Desire and fitness are. Note: No comments about speed or bicycle or anything else. They don't matter except as a temporary motivator by me to me and are soon shed)

68 here. 610 miles past 6 days.
812 miles total past 10 days.
Get pedalling........

I'll be 66 in December. I ride the hills and rolling terrain in the Atlanta burbs (east side). Joe Friel says in his book, Cycling Past 50, that older riders need a rest day between hard rides. Thus, every other day for me. Usually 30-40 miles, except yesterday. There was a strong headwind during the ride out and I was getting whipped. Had a crosswind on the ride home. Only managed 26 miles. :o

Wondering what your wife thinks of that.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. She's obviously checking the odometer on his car so he shouldn't get a bike computer.

xizangstan, Short answer is to ride whenever you feel like it, whatever distance you're comfortable with and when there's time to do so. You can improve on your speed and distance as subtly or as aggressively as you feel capable medically to do so.

Cycling should be fun, but to improve any skill set in any physical activity there is going to be some hard work. Faster and further relies mainly on faster. All out intervals as mentioned above are my favorite. Learning how to spin at a higher cadence and practicing it helps me for when my bum knee isn't very happy on a ride as I'm more of a masher.

Brad

Older folks are doing all sorts athletic things from summiting the great mountains to long cycling tours of thousands of miles. I'm 72 and typically ride 30 to 50 miles but I'm working up to a century for next year. I like to ride as fast as I can but that is not as fast as what a lad of 50 will call fast. Do as much as you can when you can - don't worry, be happy.

I'm 69 and live in very hilly part of PA, have been doing a training ride of 15 mi 4-5 times a week. Feel I'm ready to do distance now that I can ride average of 18 mph and end with ease.

Xizangstan, it's all a matter of personal preference, and what your personal schedule permits. At the present, most of my riding is in the evening, and a ride is typically 20 miles. I don't use a cycling computer, so I'm really not certain. I ride a fixed gear, and I don't follow any particular route or schedule. My motivation: I just like riding. It does seem to clear my head, and and does seem somewhat physically addictive. I'm sure most folks here agree on that.

65 going on 66, been riding since August after a twenty plus year layoff. I agree most with what Latitude65 states -- it is fitness and desire that are the issues. Fellows younger than myself are riding faster and more often or slower and less often .... some older than me are riding super fast and very often or just poking along. For me, about four time a week and working on carving out the time for 5-6 days a week, sometimes it is a quick fifteen miles around a local lake and other times it is 30-40 miles on the bike trails and streets. Desire, fitness, and the time are key issues for me in determining how much, how far, and how hard I ride .... plus I really need a new bike to make any real progress!

Wondering what your wife thinks of that.
:roflmao2:

You will get peer pressure both ways, from "don't push the speed or distance, just take it easy and smell the roses" to "get off your butt and HTFU". Just decide what is best for you.

I started commuting to work in March of '09. After a year of that, and getting an inkling of what cycling could do for me, I bought a road bike and started pushing things a bit, and then started joining a club on their Sat morning rides. The first question from a club member was "Are you retired? You can't really get fit until you retire." I am getting fitter every week, but am not yet anywhere close to what these guys can do. Several of them are in the "Century Hall of Fame" for riding more than 50 centuries. Many do double centuries. The fast group averages 22-23mph on a ride. The slower group cruises on the flats at 20, and averages 18 or so.

I've gradually lengthened my commute to where the round trip is about 25 miles, which I do 4 days per week. I then do a weekend club ride of about 50 at as fast a pace as I can handle. For me, cycling has been the lever to improve my life in many ways, leading me to develop goals for everything from my weight, to my nutrition, to how I affect those around me on a daily basis.

I ride for fun, for exercise, to stay in shape or just because I feel like it. On Saturdays, I ride 50 miles. On weekdays I work out in the gym on a spin bike early in the morning. I used to ride with lights in the predawn but after getting hit head on by a traffic safety instructor, my wife put an end to that practice. I do a few centuries a year.

I used to ride considerably more but my schedule has changed.

The thing is that a cyclist can ride just about as far as they feel like riding. It is a great endurance sport. Because it is low impact, you can keep it up for inordinant periods of time.

You can even ride each and every day. The thing is that if you do that, you have to do easy rides at least every now and then.

Something to think about though, any exercise that you actually do, does you a whole bunch more good than the "best" exerise that you don't do.

I'm a youngster here @ 51.

I was in a motorcycle wreck about 15 years ago,
the Dr said I may never walk again. I guess he was mistaken.

It took a LONG time, but I have been able to ride a bike for the last 4 months.
I'll never ride like I use to, (75 a day, every day) :(.
But I ride about 25 a day now. :) Even if it is a bit slow.!7-18mph.

I ride because I love it, and I missed it, when I couldn't.
Ride as much as you want, or as little as you want.
JUST RIDE!

Perenial problem that rears its head occasionally.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=299032

And the distance some of these youngers get in- I used to do 100 milers- Offroad. That was hard but the last one I attempted was in 2006 and even then I failed. That was when I was 59. Got more sense now as the training for this event took most of the year and included plenty of Road 100 milers- Plenty of gym work and plenty of chasing the fit 20 year olds up the hills.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=197532

It does depend on where you want to get. Just enjoy riding with the occasional longer ride- then just ride. Want to get to the Metric century- then start longer rides- tackle a few hills and get the speed up a bit. Doesn't take long if you work at it but do you want to work that hard? (Not hard but it could feel it at the time)

Now if you want to join the local Club and get out on the "A" group rides- then you are too late- about 20 years too late.

My best friend's father is 92 and he rides every other day about 20 miles. That's my goal... to be able to do that when I am 92!

Right now don't ride as often as I should but I can still crank out some miles (did a century in August). I have a "been there done that" attitude and now like to ride just because I enjoy cycling - either road or trail. I look 15 years younger than I am, I feel younger and act younger (I'm 60) all because of my love of being outdoors. Staying active, long ride or short, keeps me living...

But I ride about 25 a day now. :) Even if it is a bit slow. 17-18mph.

!

Slow? Slow for Lance maybe... slow is like 5 mph. Come out for some of the "newbie" rides I organize, now those are slow!!!!

My friend is 64 and last weekend he completed the Furnace Creek 508 in about 40 hours. That's 508 miles with 30,000 feet of climbing.
He also did solo RAAM twice after he turned 60, so age is not stopping him.

First of all, at 63, you a youngster,http://www.cehoward.net/badteeth%5b1%5d.gif as you can see from all the replies you got from 70+ peeps on this forum.

I am 70, I just want to add, that at this age, we shouldn't have NOTHING TO SAVE. We have already beat the wheel, so do what you body feels like doing, just keeping doing it..

I hear tell that we ain't coming back this way anymore, at least not with two legs!!http://www.cehoward.net/badteeth%5b1%5d.gif

My first goal is to keep a promise to my wife. She said she would marry me if I promised to out live her. She buried her first husband and she doesn't want to plan another husband funeral. I realized how badly out of shape I was after a game of golf one hot July day. I thought the guy I was paired with was 10 years younger than me. Turns out he was 15 years older than me.

Riding is enjoyable and has reshaped my life. Resting HR is down to low 60s from the high 70s. Lost 25 pounds and the blood pressure is "like you stole it from a 35 year old." said the nurse. So in keeping a promise to my wife I am the big winner.

Last year a 10 mile ride knocked me out of commission for a couple of hours. This weekend I am riding the 115 mile vivaBikeVegas. I didn't do anything magical, just rode 3-5 times a week. 10wheels advised me to get some +4Hour rides in. I wish he was local so I could let the air out of his tires. BUT, I have experienced that whenever I can squeeze a 4+ hour ride in that I get really good results.

Do some interval training, see your doctor and have him track your health and get a couple of 4+ hour rides a month. Eat right as well, the Training and Nutrition thread has helped me with that.

+1 your girlfriend will appreciate your improved health as well. :thumb:

My friend is 64 and last weekend he completed the Furnace Creek 508 in about 40 hours. That's 508 miles with 30,000 feet of climbing.
He also did solo RAAM twice after he turned 60, so age is not stopping him.

We should make jersey's with this guys picture on it. He is my new hero, what a blast.

Just ride until you loose interest, loose your mind, injury, or drop dead. My wife's cousin in Italy did just that. He pulled up to a stop sign, unclipped, in a few moments he fell over and expired. He was an avid cyclist and was 58. When its your time to go, you go. It just happened that he was doing something he loved. My wife now gives me a big smooch before i go for a ride, and looks at me kinda strange. All in all the pluses far out weigh the minuses. Ride safe.

You're looking for a definitive answer, so here it is:

Ride 5 miles a day, 3 times a week, average speed is 10 MPH.

Anything above that means you're really good.

We're all really good around here.

You're looking for a definitive answer, so here it is:

Ride 5 miles a day, 3 times a week, average speed is 10 MPH.

Anything above that means you're really good.

We're all really good around here.

Well said....

Most of us have some kind of phyical limitation with our body.

Ride safe and as far and fast you feel.

This weekend I am riding the 115 mile vivaBikeVegas.

So you are getting to cross the new bridge over the dam? Dang that thing is up there. Don't look down! Or I guess maybe do, since that's part of the point of it. The ride with the bridge in it sold out...

Slow? Slow for Lance maybe... slow is like 5 mph. Come out for some of the "newbie" rides I organize, now those are slow!!!!


I would LOVE to.
I haven't been to Cal since I did the Death ride, before the wreck I was in.

When and if I do get there I will take you up on your offer.
I enjoy newbie ride. I feel it is a way to give back to the biking world.
Of course I am the guy, who asks every stopped rider if they are alright.
I give away a few tubes that way.
Most find me the following few days and replace them, and a few don't.
Oh well, it's paying it forward, as well as the way I was taught to do things.

So if I do get the chance I will look you up and help with the newbies.

So you are getting to cross the new bridge over the dam? Dang that thing is up there. Don't look down! Or I guess maybe do, since that's part of the point of it. The ride with the bridge in it sold out...

I'm taking my camera to get some pictures. But I am so clumsy that I am afraid I will drop the camera into the Colorado River.

I've heard I can triple my money selling my prepaid registration. TEMPTING! I'm saving for a new bike, but then, aren't we all?

I'm 55, I have two reasonably high end Road bikes and I wear appropriate "Road Cycling" clothing.
I ride 4/5 days a week and aim to do 200 to 250 miles a week, come what may I will do 10000 miles this year.
I absolutely love my cycling and have already set myself a target of 12000 miles for 2011.
One thing that I don't do is worry about what anyone else is doing in terms of mileage or speed. If you go down this road you are on a hiding to nothing, there will always be someone older than you who can go further or faster. Set you own goals, stretch yourself a bit and above all enjoy it.

How frequently should an older guy go out riding - and how far??? (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=11580947&page=2)

I don't know. Does anyone?

How often should an older guy urinate? how far is the stream?

My answer would be as often as he needs or wants to, and the stream should be as far out as one likes or can do :).

And, around here, 63 is not an "older guy." For that, you need to post in the Road forum.

[QUOTE=

Because this section is aimed at mature guys and gals age 50+, I wonder: What is your motivation, and what are your daily goals? What's your bicycle style???[/QUOTE]

I would not worry about the young guys. I think the way you ride is fine. I am 57 soon to 58 and ride a road bike with drop bars. My goals are staying fit. My motivation is staying fit and just the pure joy of riding. I ride anywhere from 20 to 70 miles each time I go out. It all depends on how much time I have. I never race just go right along enjoying being out on the bike. As far as hills go I don't avoid them if their there I just do them. To me its all part of riding. Don't worry about what others do just enjoy the ride. From what your saying it seems that you do. :thumb:

Am 64, commute 23.4 miles round trip most every day, used the car 4 times this year to go to work, biked in 183.5 work days so far this year. This is the fifth year of doing this. I first started commuting toget back into shape and to dump high cholesterol drugs, blood pressure drugs and diabetes 2 drugs........they were gone after 6 months so I set a goal to do the Southern Tier....... In Sept. '08 I started from San Diego. After 17 days, I dislocated my knee while off the bike by Ft Davis in west Texas.....had to stop 2 days later in Del Rio...last sept. I rented a car and took the bike back to Del Rio and 20 days later was here in Cape Coral.....so 2,932.8 miles in 39 days total...you can do anything....your only limiting factor is the guy you see in the mirror in the morning. I don't focus on speed, although my commute speed is usually between 18 and 23 mph, depending upon my mood.....at night when I leave the office, am the usual stressed out condition after a 10 hr day.....within a few miles, that is gone....when I cross the river, sometimes I see Manatee, sometime dolphins or manta rays, rarely a shark or tarpon.....I go by Osprey, and Pelicans......yesterday saw 2 Bald Eagles just down for the winter.......I pass 9 different Burrowing Owl nests.....sometimes a few 8-10 year old kids will meet me and want to race....even though we are only going 8 mph, I always let them just edge me out.........when I get home during the summer heat, I grab a beer and cool off in the pool.......the stress is history.........life is just so much better this way...that is why I ride.

I'm 60 and ride a 2010 Specialized Allez...just started back on the bike.

I ride 5-6 days a week...15-20 miles weekdays 30 or more on Sunday. Weekday rides are always a race with the setting sun. I usually don't get on the road until 6:00 pm and the sun sets around 7:11 pm. The terrain I ride on is rolling hills...

It's simple;
Ride as long as you enjoy,
as fast as you enjoy,
as far as you enjoy.
At 63 why do you give a hoot(being nice) about what any body else thinks about anything?

Enjoy the ride.

I used to be one of THEM: How far, how fast, how often. Now I'm one of YOU, and i ride when I damn please, at whatever speed I want, wherever I want to go. My mileage is down a bit over 15 years ago, and my speed's down a lot, because I'm 65 and screw it, I don't mind being passed by a 24-year-old. Still riding and enjoying it, though.

Im 72 and generally ride every other day doing a little over 30 miles.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. She's obviously checking the odometer on his car so he shouldn't get a bike computer.

Long story short - I've been married 3 times, but divorced only 2. I haven't even seen wife #3 in 5 years this month. I need to get some paperwork done, I suppose. But right now, I'm staying with a (lady) friend in Nebraska. While she's at work, I ride over to another lady's house (who used to be a friend of the lady I'm staying with) and we have our fun and games. About every other day, this daytime girlfriend and I go bike riding together. And every day, there's plenty of fun indoors. :)

I get my minimum exercise riding to and from her place. And the bike's easier to hide around back than my car would be, in case my night time friend drives by checking.

See how practical bicycle riding can be?

We should make jersey's with this guys picture on it. He is my new hero, what a blast.

His name is David Jones and he holds some age group distance records. When I have ridden with him, he's not fast compared to, say, a cat 2 racer, but he never slows down. I guess he also does well with sleep deprivation.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/jones.jpg

There's a guy in my group that took up biking two years ago, after retiring from a full career as a teacher and HS football coach. He is 70. He rides a few hundred miles per week in the summer, and this year he competed in the Avita Water Black Bear, which is a 100 mile road race, er, 'timed personal challenge tour.' He won the 61+ division with a 4:36.

Older cyclists can cycle as much and as fast as they want to.

There's a guy in my group that took up biking two years ago, after retiring from a full career as a teacher and HS football coach. He is 70. He rides a few hundred miles per week in the summer, and this year he competed in the Avita Water Black Bear, which is a 100 mile road race, er, 'timed personal challenge tour.' He won the 61+ division with a 4:36.

Older cyclists can cycle as much and as fast as they want to.

Man, I thought I was getting fast. I couldn't touch that guy.:thumb:

be inspired: Jack Thacker - 96 years old

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_16197396?source=rv

Years ago on a club ride with the SFVBC one table at the rest stop was joking about the press coverage one of them who was over 65 got. He had won some seniors race. The jokes were because he was the slowest of the guys at the table and they were all over 65.

Let's see. When I ride it feels the same as when I was 37. The only difference is that now, at 61, it takes longer to recover not to mention I am a bit slower. There is no harm, at this age, in taking one or two additional days off per week.