bsmith77328

Just turned 55 and had my trek 7.2 for about 6 weeks. I tried to ride every other day and was doing good till last week. I have been riding about 6.5 miles per ride and increasing distance every week. Last Monday I rode and pushed pretty hard but not over doing it with no problem so I decided I would ride Tuesday. From the start I was struggling, not with cardio but legs were just not going to do it. No sourness but just no energy in my legs. I waited a couple of days and it was somewhat better I pushed 4 miles and came back not the results I wanted on the last two rides. I'm 6'3 195. I'm not over weight it's getting hot. I'm in Texas I don't drink a lot of water I thought may be it. Any suggestions? I want to continue riding and was going to start riding to work soon, it's a 6 mile ride there

doctor j

Just keep riding. The miles will come, little by little.

Last year, I rode 6,500+ miles, including 8 centuries, but I started cycling when I was a little older than you are now. I was overweight, and I was struggling to quit smoking.

I started out with rides, the length of which you described in your post, and I was proud of each of them. I kept riding. The miles increased. The weight decreased. I quit smoking.

Keep riding. You will need to learn on your own about hydration and fuel on the bike. It will come.

Sounds like your body was speaking to you on Tuesday.

Edit: Currently, I'm a lean, mean 66 years of age.

Kindaslow

I have ridden for many years, but had been very inconsistent for the past 10 years. Last summer, in an effort to lose weight and get back into shape I got serious again. My first ride was relatively flat and not all that long, given I had let things go a bit, yet I suffered. Things improved slowly, but consistently. Now, both yesterday and today, I did quick 20 milers with significant elevation gain just to get used to a new bike.

So, take it week by week, and give yourself time. Also, nutrition and hydration are very important.

downtube42

+1 on just ride. Listen to your body, and rest when it says to rest. Keep it fun and you'll keep riding. In Texas heat I'd carry at least one water bottle regardless of how far I was riding.

grampa.sjb

Texas gets darn hot and the humidity is nothing to laugh at as well - You're gonna have to drink, so you can sweat, and you'll probably need some electrolytes in the water as well.

Regarding distance: Don't do the same thing each day. Ride longer one day, shorter the next. Throw a couple sprints or a hill the next day. Then take a day off. Then do it all over again, but a little longer each day. Then do a long, slow ride. Mix it up. Train your body to not expect the same thing each day. Take a day off when your body complains too loudly, and go hiking, or lift weights that day. Gradually, over months, ramp up the distance and effort. Cuz we're old, and our bodies don't adapt like they did when we were 20!

Don't ride to work until you can do 10 miles twice in a day, morning and evening. Then you'll be a hero at the office, not a sweat-drowned rat!

texbiker

Congratulations on trying biking. Don't give up so quickly. Your plan makes sense. Remember your legs need exercise to strengthen. Texas heat can be challenging. Drink plenty of cold water, 20 oz each of your rides will help. I ride each day northeast of Houston and sweat a lot. I don't think you can drink too much water. Some days my legs are not the best. I'm 68. This month my goal is 968 miles and I am 59 miles away.

bikemig 

The weather where you ride is just tough. Finding a way to drink cold water on a ride is a big help. Personally I like using a camelback (one of the smaller ones that hold around 50 ounces) and filling them with ice and water.

The main thing is you need to learn to listen to your body. Your legs will come around but be patient. One advantage of being north of 50 is that you have all the time in the world to get in shape, .

zonatandem

Overnight put your water bottle that is half full of water in your freezer.
Top it off with cold water on your next ride. Put water bottle in a sock to help keep it cooler longer or a beer can foam holder.
Ride easier gears, and don't over extend yourself.
Ride every other day and increase mileage slowly as the weeks go by.
Am 82 years old and still ride 100+ miles a week year around.

MinnMan

All good advice here. Here's a little more.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT PERFORMANCE. JUST MAKE SURE TO RIDE FREQUENTLY AND ENJOY THE RIDE.

Don't get in a rut - vary your routes, your distances, and your intensity.

If your goal on a particular day is to do something a little harder, and once you get out you find that it's just not happening, don't get upset- just do less and enjoy yourself.

Do that, and the distance and performance will come.

Get out and ride frequently. Every other day is ok. It's not bad to ride on consecutive days, as long as you don't string together too many. take 2-3 days off/week, in what ever order happens. Try not to take more than 2 days off in a row unless there are extenuating circumstances (weather, travel, sickness, etc.)

Oh yeah and hydrate well *before* your ride. Don't overdo it, but just take a long cold drink before you head out, (making sure to visit the john too, if age has done to you what it has done to many of the rest of us)

BTW: lots and lots of us started out like you. I remember the day when I actually rode 12 miles and I was so eager to brag to my wife. That was June 2009. By September 2009 my longest ride was 38 miles. And by July 2010 I was riding 200 miles/week.

bumperm

Now that's great!! Gives me hope for many more years of riding :c)

I'm 70 and getting back into it, every other day at least 11 miles or so for the last couple of months. Trying to build up to going around Lake Tahoe again. Last time was 4 years ago.

bykemike 

Keep riding as many times a week as you can. It gets better because you get better.

K100Fran

Rest is just about as important as riding. Stay hydrated even off the bike. Add distance slowly, even if it's just a few blocks or .25 mile. Take pride in your accomplishments. Above all, enjoy the ride.

OldsCOOL

This is normal. Welcome to cycling. Water...drink early and often.

highrpm

zonatandem, I have to tell you that you really are a source of encouragement for me and probably a lot of folks on this site.

I hope to maintain healthy habits so that I can be as spry as you are at your age!

BlazingPedals

Weigh yourself before and after a ride. That'll give you an idea of how much (more) you should be drinking. If you're looking to improve performance, you should be doing some hard intervals. Not all the time but maybe once a week. You get stronger by stressing your muscles and then resting them. Push until muscle failure a few times.

bsmith77328

Thanks for the encouragement. It's good to see I'm not the only one. I'll keep pushing and work through it
ill start to drink water more and increase the ride more slowly and change the routine. I really like to ride. Will give a update later. Great forum

qcpmsame 

Welcome to the Forum, I'd say to increase the water intake, hydration is a tricky thing to balance out, we all have different needs. It sounds like you do need more water, and don't get disappointed in being slow to get started, many of us here were really low in our mileage as we got going with cycling, both returning cyclist, and first timers. As said above, let your own body tell you how much to do, as you build up some fitness, and an aerobic base. Texas summers can be brutal, play it safe. Also, make sure that you are safe in doing strenuous activities, let a physical be a part of your plan, if you haven't already done so.

When I got back in to cycling I was disheartened that I was struggling with 2 miles each day, 4-5 days a week. I was very serious about cycling, in the 70s and 80s, logged a lot of miles, and raced some. Time, and my age/health, caught up to my fitness, and my total health. Stay with the riding, and take joy in the miles you manage. We all look up to Rudy (Zonatandem,) and the other mile-eaters around here, use them as a source of encouragement.

The 50+ forum is a great place for returning riders, the people here are a good source of knowledge, and encouragement not to stop getting your cycling started, and going well. Its worth the effort, and the pay back is a great feeling about yourself, and some healthy years, ahead.

cfcdjb

Wow! I am 62, just started riding 2 years ago, was overweight, out of shape you name it............I was it. My first ride was a little over 4 miles and I thought I had gone around the world. I still only average 80 to 100 miles per week during riding season, but don't give up! It is a major gas and is really a good way to get into some sort of shape and feel better about yourself............keep pedaling man!

fishboy316

Go for it! I have days when the legs just don't seem to have it. Those days I do what I can do and seems like before I know it I have gotten loose and it giets to the point of not wanting to get off the bike. May not be as fast as I am used to but I do get the workout in. Some days are better than others.
Do keep yourself hydrated! I try to drink a BUNCH of water on the days I am going to ride, before I ride. Helps me a lot.

Bill

Dave Cutter

I returned to cycling after I retired.... and a couple decades of inactivity. Progress was quick.... but with definite spurts and pauses. Enjoy yourself! The fitness will naturally increase. For now worry less about fitness progress and more on cycling skill and knowledge. Learn cycling paths and create some favorite routes. Have a good time and everything else will follow.

Biker395 

+1

Ride hard when you feel like it. Ride easy when you don't. After all, we ain't paid for this!

fietsbob

for my 50th year I started in the Dublin Ireland air port , and took my sweet time riding their west and north coast,
then crossing over to Scotland, and riding and Island hopping that coast, took a few months and several Pints

tg16

I live in South Louisiana and could write "hydration is critical" a million times and I wouldn't be emphasizing it enough. I will give you the best piece of advice I received on hydration. "If you wait until you're thirsty to drink, you've waited too long."

As for encouragement, you are inspirational. I need to ride as often as you do.

obed7

nothing unusual in the op's story... I think all of us have felt that...
I ride in Houston and yes it is hot and the air is "heavy"....but ride anyway...
when I first started riding, I would do about 3-1/2 miles... stop and rest and drink water, then do the 3-1/2 miles home...
this time of year I ride early in the morning, take two water bottles and ride for awhile, stop and have a drink then ride some more...I do not worry about how many miles it is, or what my speed is... I just ride the bike and enjoy it...some days I seem to feel better than others, some days the legs just do not seem to have it...but if I just go for it anyway... when I check the garmin after the ride, it turns out Iam about as fast and went about as far as the days I thought I felt good....

jeromephone

like everyone says hydrate and I find that I need to eat a certain amount and time before a ride. Also good days and bad days are part of the deal what you don't realize is that as you get into it your "bad performance" is better than you thought. I think that stuff like Map my Ride helps me to see how I am doing on certain routes. Keep it fun or you won't keep at it.