Fifty Plus (50+) - What level of cycling fitness are you seeking?

What are your goals and interests?

I ride to be so fit and fabulous that not only do "duh wimmins" stop and drool at my awesome pedaling circles, the TdF guys throw down their bikes and give up all hope of matching my rock hard thighs and V02max numbers.

Believe that and I have a bridge to sell you real cheap like.

Sorry if you wanted a serious answer.... funky mood today.

For me it's being able to stay with the group. This is my sixth season, and the first where I can stay with the faster group.

Yesterday was incredibly satisfying. I led a ride for the club--a nice little 40 miler through rolling hills with a couple of decent climbs. On account of the rain, only four other riders showed up, all of us 50+, all of them with many more miles and seasons under their wheels than I.

Not only was I able to lead the ride from the front (a first), I handily outclimbed the other guys, despite spinning a standard double to their compacts and triples. The best was when a guy I last rode with a few years ago said, "Bruce, you're a machine!" as I drifted past him on the way to the back after a particularly long pull.

Last weekend I led a metric with wide range of riders. I spent a lot of time in the back helping others along, and was delighted that when I had to, I could easily bridge the gap to the fast group.

I'll never be a racer, the nearest mountains are hundreds of miles away, and my ADD makes rides longer than four or five hours a real life-force sapping chore. My goal has always been not to get dropped on the club rides, and this year I've finally achieved it.

Being able to simply ride where I want when I want. The "when I want" part is important. I cycle year round and it a whole different level of fitness to ride through winters in the sub freezing temperatures with wind gusting up to 30 mph. I have no need to race; given I don't get much joy from competitive activities. Because I like to ride in different places I have to be able to climb and being able to do 75 to 100 miles allows me to go about as far as I want on any given day.

To rage against the dying of the light.

I'm going after my first century in about a month. That's all I can set my sights on right now. Got the route chosen, amassing ride time and enjoying the thought of doing something I never thought I'd have the time to do. After that...who knows.

Think I am there. Don't want to do "Excessive" milage till I do get some more fitness back but 2 to 300 a month will do for this season. And providing it is not over 15% with an average of no more than 8% then 3,000ft climbing on a ride is about normal in our area if you want a hilly ride. Only problem is that it has to be taken in 5 to800 ft stints. I'll have to get back to the alpes.

Maintain pace despite advancing age. Just got back from a 50k charity ride and my average speed was 18.4 mph - 0.4 mph slower than when I did the same ride in 2006. The horror!!

I want regular exercise and that level of fitness, but about 400-450 miles per month during the "season" or thereabouts. As most of you know, I am also into muscular fitness, stretching and cross-training.

I want to crush the souls of those I race against, regardless of their ages.

Dang, I am not worthy here. I just want to go out and exercise enough to eat pie... Oh, and dropping people half my age is a bonus. :D

I am in my early 50s and everything still works mainly, I don't want to change that. I hike a lot, swim in rivers, etc and like to mix it up. I do have a shoulder I dislocated many years ago that does make it hard to go for more than two hours comfortably. Perhaps a recumbent in my future.

I worked on hill climbs, I figure if I can do that well every thing else will fall into place.

Perhaps a recumbent in my future.

Oh man, I'm sorry.

Perhaps a recumbent in my future.

Not on your estate on the rough trails. Do they have roads in Costa Rica?;);)

Of your choices, I guess "double century" comes closest. I doubt I'll ever be in a position to hang with the fast dogs, but centuries and hilly rides are no problem. Mileage-wise, I'm doing OK. I fell a few miles short of my goal of 500 for May, but I'm not stressed about it. Mainly just keep having fun on the bike.

For the past year I have averaged 140 miles weekly (206 this week). I weigh 215 and am 64 years old. I want to weigh 190 (I don't care what amazing shape one is in, 215 lbs is 215 lbs on hills!) and in two years, when I retire, I want to increase to 300-400 miles weekly.....over 100 weekly (very hard ones) has proved to be the fountain of youth for me.
BTW, that's roadie and Mtb.

My goal for this spring was to get my Super Randonneur award, and to complete the Texas Rando Stampede 1200k. Both done.

My goal for this spring was to get my Super Randonneur award, and to complete the Texas Rando Stampede 1200k. Both done.

Congrats! (I think you surpassed the double century level)

I ride because I enjoy it and find it relaxing. Any fitness or exercise is an added bonus.

Hill climbing and regular exercise are my goals. Being able to climb any hill of my choice and riding 250+ a month (actually 400+) is my goal since it would allow me to enjoy most group rides, events and solo rides without lingering residual fatigue. Or in other words, it allows me to enjoy my riding the way I like it.

I'm regaining my fitness after some health problems. I've done one race so far this year, and one century. Normally I'd have done a number of each by now. I just got a ticket for the Death Ride next month. It'll be the 9th time I've done it. If I do ok then my goal will be the Everest Challenge stage race (29,035' of climbing in 2 days) in September.

Not on your estate on the rough trails. Do they have roads in Costa Rica?;);)

There is a gorgeous flat road, asphalt, at least 60 kilometers of incredible scenario, and almost never even see a car on Sunday mornings. Got to love Catholic countries. :lol:

You have a "None of the above" option but no "All of the above"?

You have a "None of the above" option but no "All of the above"?

Ha Ha! ...but it is multiple choice.

I want to be able to say that I finished this: http://www.winthefight.org/granfondo/diabolical_double.htm

My answer really limits me, I rec. ride, lite touring, use my bikes for transportation/utility/errands, get exersize and keep me car free so my poor bike is used for "everything" BUT racing. :D

I am riding for fitness, but have started riding 20 miles a day, and rarely take a day off. I don't see myself in a race, but hopefully will be able to finish a Century at some point, and do a few group rides.

I've been riding for forty years as an adult. I do it for the pleasure and sense of independence it provides. I ride whenever I don't specifically need the car (abt 150-200 miles per week). No other goals in mind just the fun, everything else is just a fringe benefit.

Marc

When I was a teen it was that sense of total freedom riding from town to town in our rural area that put a passion for cycling in my soul. That hasnt left. And now at 53yrs I'm still loving the freedom and riding a vintage Trek that has all the components and construction that I couldnt afford in a bike at that age.

Life is good. And it's too short to do something you dont like.

I am training for a century. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get there but I am gradually increasing my distance rides. My longest ride so far is 30 miles. Next weekend I plan on going for 40 miles.

I am training for a century. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get there but I am gradually increasing my distance rides. My longest ride so far is 30 miles. Next weekend I plan on going for 40 miles.And you'll get it. Just remember to pace yourself until the second half, evaluate your strength in the last half and ride accordingly. It really is an easy jump.

I am training for a century. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get there but I am gradually increasing my distance rides. My longest ride so far is 30 miles. Next weekend I plan on going for 40 miles.

You have made, and are making, tremendous progress. Keep up the good work.

I am training for a century. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get there but I am gradually increasing my distance rides. My longest ride so far is 30 miles. Next weekend I plan on going for 40 miles.

I'm in the same boat - training for a century in September. My longest is 36. Found a saddle that I think will work, but my neck is still a problem.

if your helmet has a visor, take it off. Make sure your glasses rims aren't blocking your vision and making you have to tip your head back. You should be able to look at the road just below your eyebrows.

If you have done all that and your neck still hurts, do wrestler's bridges to strenghen your neck.

I'm a "none of the above" rider. I don't do any sanctioned racing, but weekend stuff, sure! Or even evening rides during the week. I gauge my performance by how many other bikes I pass on rides without being passed myself. At this point in the season, I'm still trying to beat myself back into shape after spending 7 months off the bike. I really oughta stop doing that! Last year I did a 100-miler with my buddy, relay-style (half done by each person) and averaged 25.1 mph for my half. No draft, of course.

No neck problems, I use a padded head rest. :)

Regular exercise here. I'm also training for the C&O canal 182 mile charity ride (2 days) in September and the Seagull Century. I have a long way to go and 20lbs+ to loose by then.

A century this fall (from none in 65 years), an inch off my waist, less daily pain and a comfortable saddle. No racing, just a goal for myself. Only recently begun riding after a LONG layoff. I've been on the bike seriously now for about a month and my first 100 mile day is still a couple of weeks away.

Congrats! (I think you surpassed the double century level)

Well, the first two days on the 1200k were 222 and 240 miles, the 400 for the SR was 256 miles, so that's basically double centuries plus a bit.

I love to ride but it is only part of what I do. I lift weights on the days I don't ride. I am 67 and I want to be all over fit. I like to keep my bike mileage down to about 100 miles per week.

I'm going for as much as my body will give me. I still don't know what that is! I'm nothing more than an average person athletically, but I never even knew that until last year. I was a confirmed couch potato until just a few years ago - a little round blob! I started cycling in 2006 to loose weight and get fit for an up coming major surgery. After the surgery, I got back to cycling sooner than I was supposed to because I missed it so, and I was so afraid of not being able to get back to the gains I had made up to the surgery. Seven months after the surgery I did my first triathlon. After that, I started running regularly, and now I compete - yes, compete - in 10K runs! I've done two centuries so far this year, and one Olympic distance relay triathlon (I was the runner). There is more to come. Now, I just get stronger and stronger, and I am doing things I never knew I could - even though in the larger world of athletes, I am average! To me, I'm super woman, and I love it.

I do feel I'm up against the clock. As I age, I know I'll slow down, maybe get hurt, and who knows what else. I know something like that will happen sooner than later. For now, I want what I can get, and I'm having the time of my life trying to find just how much my body will give me.

I chose Double Century, but I would like to add hillclimber, regular exercise, and fresh air/recreation as well. I rode my first double centruy last December, and will ride my next June 25 at the Grand Tour Double Century. Hearing some other club members refer to the Triple Crown, I would like to try for that next.

I just enjoy riding!

I ride for fun,commute and mostly to cross train for running.I seek a high level of running which transfers nicely to a high level of riding.I do love to ride though and find that I have to make myself not ride sometimes when I am training for a specific race,as I enjoy it so much.

I love to ride but it is only part of what I do. I lift weights on the days I don't ride. I am 67 and I want to be all over fit. I like to keep my bike mileage down to about 100 miles per week.
+111111111 Thats what Im talking about!!! I am 34,and consider myself a runner,but am looking for the future also.I want all over fitness and when I am your age hope I am still out running and riding!!! Good for you man,keep it up!!!

I ride to keep my 65 yr old body in the best shape my legs will allow.

If I make 150 mi a month I'm good. If I ever made 250 mi I'd do a happy dance. http://s20.rimg.info/5e70e6347e4397c99c9b24a9f99123e6.gif (http://smiles.int-world.com/smile.172690.html)http://s20.rimg.info/5e70e6347e4397c99c9b24a9f99123e6.gif (http://smiles.int-world.com/smile.172690.html)

I'm with TSL. I want to be the best I can be, and get respect from the other riders. I'm the oldest regular rider in our club at 63, and though I've only been riding 2 yrs I'm a pretty solid b+ rider. I can hang with the A group for 20 mi or so.

At my age I'm in a race to get to "the best I can be" before I hit the down slope of the age related performance curve on it's decline.

. . . I am 34 . . . .

I am 34 ??

I am 34 ??

What are you asking??? I am 34 years old. The guy I qouted said he was 67...I said I was 34...:bang:

What are you asking??? I am 34 years old. The guy I qouted said he was 67...I said I was 34...:bang:

Welcome to the 50+ forum!! :)

Enjoy

New post(s) icon---Clicked---seen this thread---posted---my bad---

New post(s) icon---Clicked---seen this thread---posted---my bad---

You are welcome here. We just don't get many 34 yo folks, which is why I asked to be sure.