Bike Forums - View Single Post - Too much exercise?

08-05-15 | 01:49 PM

#20

Campag4life

Voice of the Industry

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 12,572

Likes: 8

Good subject OP. I’m 61 and ride everyday and so something I think about as do many older riders. I probably average 20-30 miles a day. Rode a lot more a couple of years ago. It is always a question of how hard to push oneself. Unknowable. I am quite fit…also swim everyday. So I do probably 2-3 hrs of cardio everyday. I push my HR higher on the bike than in the pool. Lately I have been riding with a lower HR and less intensity. My LTHR is high for my age…about 175…and only certain group rides or riding with fast people in town do I hold that heartrate for a period of time and distance.
I have read the articles about prolonged intensity not being good for older riders. I believe that because each of us are so genetically different and have different levels of fitness with a given set of genetics, its pretty hard to extrapolate a given long term exercise intensity with helping or hurting longevity.
I do believe its quite possible however that prolonged high intensity training among older riders isn’t good for the heart. Not even diminishing return but rather not good for the heart. So a bit less intensity is better perhaps for overall health. Kind of like not running an older higher mileage race engine so close to redline which was less detrimental when the engine was newer.

Reply

0