Fifty Plus (50+) - Cycling past 50: What did you think?

I recently bought & read the book "Cycling past 50" by Joe Friel , would did you think of it ?
I found it full of good usefull info. but a bit dry! Too many charts, graphs & tables for me ! I tend to associate graphs & that with technical books ! but definatly a usefull book.

At 53 I don't really see any diff between cycling at 30 and 53. Maybe in 27 years I'll buy a book titled Cycling Past 80. :D

Sorry, I don't have any real comments on the book. I just wanted to make a statement.

Greywolf,

I've read the book and agree with you. It has alot of info, but is very dry.

I recently bought & read the book "Cycling past 50" by Joe Friel , would did you think of it ?


I rarely go over 50, generally my top speeds are about 35 - 40 mph.

I rarely go over 50, generally my top speeds are about 35 - 40 mph.

That is just too good. :beer:

I read it and I really didn't find anything in particular that applied to the 50+ rider other than recovery times might be longer. Overall the book said the same thing as most other books on cycling and cycling fitness.

That is just too good. :beer:

My day is made. SOMEONE finally got one of my jokes. A rare event, most folks take me seriously.

I recently bought & read the book "Cycling past 50" by Joe Friel , would did you think of it ?
I found it full of good usefull info. but a bit dry! Too many charts, graphs & tables for me ! I tend to associate graphs & that with technical books ! but definatly a usefull book.


Too many charts, graphs & tables? Why do people feel the need to over analize things? Cycling past 50? Yes, I do. I'm 60. Just go out and ride!

I recently bought & read the book "Cycling past 50" by Joe Friel...
I bought the book in 2001. I not a chart and graph person either so kinda skimmed the stuff with the graphs and charts but thought the book was great as a whole.

I am not familiar with the book. What were the author's primary theses?

I am not familiar with the book. What were the author's primary theses?
I'm not quite sure John,I'de have to annalize all those bloody graphs & charts :(

Too many charts, graphs & tables? Why do people feel the need to over analize things? Cycling past 50? Yes, I do. I'm 60. Just go out and ride!

amen brother (or sister)

I'm past 50 and I am reading Friel's "The Cyclist's Training Bible". He has a short section about the older cyclist racing. He sites the Aging Myth where almost all studies about aging compare cross sections of the population at different ages and draw the erroneous conclusion that older people have much less athletic ability.

The reason that most older people have less capacity is that they have lost it through in activity. He says "the few longitudinal studies that have been done show that when the intensity of training is maintained, aerobic capacity and other selected measures of fitness decline as little as 2 percent per decade."

Keep it up fellow oldies!

There's a lot to be said for just getting on the bike and riding away. I've been cycling for 35 years, since I was 24 (with about a 10-year break as a runner). When I decided to get back on the bike in my late 40s, I got a couple of books about exercising in your later years, and about a third of the way through, I just said "The hell with it" and went for a ride. Until the last couple of years (I'll be 60 in January) I was faster than I'd been in my early 30s, and I can still ride farther than I used to in those days (that's mainly technique and patience, though...). I imagine the graphs and charts and numbers would be useful if I wanted to train for the Senior Olympics or something, but I pretty much just like to ride enough to keep my weight down.

[QUOTE=pjuarez]I read it and I really didn't find anything in particular that applied to the 50+ rider other than recovery times might be longer. QUOTE]


ya, I noticed my recovery times getting longer too. My wife appreciates the extra breather :D

How many of you ride with your spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend ? My husband told me he is really glad I will ride with him (actually he rides with me) because the guys in his club tell him that most of the spouses aren't even interested in riding. Do you guys go at your spouses speed and forget about "racing" for the moment?

I rarely go over 50, generally my top speeds are about 35 - 40 mph.

That's still pretty darn good!

That's still pretty darn good!

That was supposed to have been a joke! :D :D :D

But it was accurate. I generally stay under 40 mph on downhills. I get passed by guys going 50-60 mph and get in their way. I have no desire to hit some gravel at 60 mph on a bike!

That was supposed to have been a joke!

So was my remark. Sorry it didn't work. :)

So was my remark. Sorry it didn't work. :)

Okay! :) :D :) :D

Pretty good book … I kind of keep it around as a reference book now.

How many of you ride with your spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend ? My husband told me he is really glad I will ride with him (actually he rides with me) because the guys in his club tell him that most of the spouses aren't even interested in riding. Do you guys go at your spouses speed and forget about "racing" for the moment?

My spouse beats me up the hills, then I pass her on the downhills; works for me. If we are just out for a ride or on a longer ride, then we are probably cruising at about the same speed. This is our first "season" (she's a triathlete and got me back into biking), but it has worked out quite well so far.

-Jim

I am probably not the best example of how to pedal past 50. I didn't read about it, or ask questions, I just did it. And I know, I could probably use some official advice on how to do it better now than I have been. But reading up and listening to "experts" just seems like it would take away from the fun factor. And if it isn't fun, I will stop. I don't care that cycling may lengthen and enhance my life after 50. I ride for fun. All the benny's I may get from it are but icing on the cake. I pedal for my mental health, the physical part just seems to tag along naturally.

I rarely go over 50, generally my top speeds are about 35 - 40 mph.
This is kinda like a joke but only larger. I normally say smaller but since I do not know you and don't want to appear rude. This really was a great post!!

At 53 I don't really see any diff between cycling at 30 and 53. Maybe in 27 years I'll buy a book titled Cycling Past 80. :D

Sorry, I don't have any real comments on the book. I just wanted to make a statement.

Buy it? Write it ! :D

Too much thinking. Just get on the bike and ride.
No, I don't want to minimize the importance of all the stuff you're supposed to do at our age to exercise safely. There's a lot to be said, though, for just DOING it. If you've been active most of your life, you can tell how your body is responding. After you have a decent base, if you want to go faster or farther, you can get seriously detailed about training.

Too much thinking. Just get on the bike and ride.


Ditto that.

I found it to be the most comprehensive and easy to follow program I have tried, and I used it for three years when racing. It's not really meant to be a "good read", but was written for those of us over 50 wanting to optimize personal performance. All those charts are there for a purpose. And while the "Just Ride" approach is fine for many, those of us who are competetive and serious about training have found it to be a truely outstanding book. Joe also has an interactive website designed to assist those following his program.

I think books are fine, however I believe that too many people get too involved in the technology and accessories and trying too impress people with the kind of bike they ride, all the accesories, and then get too involved with charts and figures, ect, ect. The important thing is that you ride, man , ride. Just do it. I had a friend of mine at work. He was of modest means, had a production job, and worked at night. Didnt own a car. But he rode all the time. He would buy old 10 speed rode bikes at pawn shops and garage sales.and then fix them up. He could out ride anyone I know, was a true urban bicycle commuter.

There's a lot to be said for just getting on the bike and riding away.... Until the last couple of years (I'll be 60 in January) I was faster than I'd been in my early 30s, and I can still ride farther than I used to in those days (that's mainly technique and patience, though...). I imagine the graphs and charts and numbers would be useful if I wanted to train for the Senior Olympics or something, but I pretty much just like to ride enough to keep my weight down.
I agree with that 100%. I am in better shape and have learned better technique (including understanding my body's abilities) over the years. I am a better, fitter rider at 57 than I was at 30.

I agree with that 100%. I am in better shape and have learned better technique (including understanding my body's abilities) over the years. I am a better, fitter rider at 57 than I was at 30.
What's there to think about? Just ride.

I found it to be the most comprehensive and easy to follow program I have tried, and I used it for three years when racing. It's not really meant to be a "good read", but was written for those of us over 50 wanting to optimize personal performance. All those charts are there for a purpose. And while the "Just Ride" approach is fine for many, those of us who are competetive and serious about training have found it to be a truely outstanding book. Joe also has an interactive website designed to assist those following his program.

I can see how the Friel book would be very useful to someone getting into racing or trying to improve century times. I found the first part on age effects interesting but I'm not ready for one of his strict training regimens that fill most of the book. Personally, I found Arnie Baker's Bicycling Medicine to have a lot more information on nutrition for cyclists, how nutrition relates to muscle function and performance, how heart rate and power relate to each other, etc. A good book!

Come on you guys, it's just age 50, not 100!

Oh, Fox! :roflmao:

Oh, Fox! :roflmao:

Very few people get my humor! Thanks for noticing it.

No one has yet noticed my response to the question posted in T&N forum:

How do you recover from being anaerobic??

which of course, is:

Anaerobics Anonymous?

It is terrible trying unsuccessfully to say some humorous things on this forum. But, I do try!

How do you recover from being anaerobic??

which of course, is:

Anaerobics Anonymous?

Oh $#!t!! :roflmao:
I wanna join!!

You just kill me!!

If you are looking for a book review, here is one by Rick Price of ExperiencePlus!. Disclaimer: Joe Friel works and rides with ExperiencePlus!. Joe designed our bike training program.

http://www.experienceplus.com/reading_room/archives/2002/12/cycling_past_50.html

"Why do we need a book of our own? (Yes, I'm fifty-three this year!) Because, as Joe demonstrates in the opening chapter, our systems begin to slow down, we tend to get slower, fatter (my word, not Joe's), and grayer. Take heart, though, fifty-plus readers, as only about 25% of our slowdown is physiological due to the inevitable aging process. The remainder is due to social/psychological factors. In short, we can stave off the aging process by following a "sensible program that combines high-intensity training, such as hills and intervals, with strengthening, stretching, a sound diet, and adequate recovery." As with anything, it takes time, focus, and good habits."

Folks over 50,60,70 have enuf already naysayers. Fuggetaboutem, I never read a "self help" or self improvement" book to date that wasn't about self helping the writer to a larger bank deposit. Seems most reasonably intelligent folks and that would include all posters I've read on the many bike forums in the last 14 months I've been here,have the intelligence to know one's own limitations, practical goals, body functions and can apply such to one's personal goals

The most rewarding thing I have found is that when I try, I can do.I can't remember a time when after I completed a great ride, or had a great gym workout, or yoga class which left me a bit limp,(change that to totally limp) that I wasn't pumped with personal satisfaction, and I sure in blazes don't get that feeling following someones ideas in print

BTW to the previous poster who lists a residence in Ft Collins Co.
Would a drive to Denver, Crested Butte, and Telluride in early October, 05 on my way to LV and Palm Springs mean I'm going to have to face an involvement with snow on the hiways??

The general gist here is "just go out and ride" and I agree. One of the benefits of not being a hot rod youth is the ability to relax and enjoy things. Staying fit does not mean being a single-minded aerobic machine....although it is fun to overtake children on Stingrays, people pushing shopping carts with all their possessions, elderly women returnng from the grocery store, and young mothers pushing strollers.

Denver, it took me a few seconds to "get your joke" and then come down from an envy/insecurity flash. 8-)

How many of you ride with your spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend ?

Ubermenches ride with their spouse and their girlfriend/boyfriend :D

Book, Book, Don't need any stinking Book. I'm 67 and ride 20 miles each day, slower and more carefully, but enjoy the views more.

How many of you ride with your spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend ? My husband told me he is really glad I will ride with him (actually he rides with me) because the guys in his club tell him that most of the spouses aren't even interested in riding. Do you guys go at your spouses speed and forget about "racing" for the moment?

I ride all the time with my wife and love it. She is beter on a long haul but I do better less then 4 miles.

We did 8 miles on Friday. Into the wind was a killer.

Joe

Amen to that!

:D

Book, Book, Don't need any stinking Book. I'm 67 and ride 20 miles each day, slower and more carefully, but enjoy the views more.
I love it, great book review steely knee :D

I bought the book and was very disappointed in it. It's more like it should be called "Racing After 50 For Those Who Were Racers Before Reaching 50".

As a duffer fitness / recreational rider, the book is a bit intense and serious for me.

I agree that the book should have been called Cycle racing after 50. Nothing on the jacket copy warned me that the book was really targeted toward cycle racing.

Beyond that, I have to say that this was perhaps the worst written and poorest edited book that I've seen in some time.

I was at a track meeting tonight and a number of cycllists were 50+ and competing with the 20 year olds. They lost of course, but nevertheless, I would be satisfied at being able to fit into lycra.