BikeArkansas

It appears the time to slow down has come. I have dreaded this, but now that it is here I do not think it will be all that bad. At 67 I still can keep a good time in a bike ride, but it hurts more and more to finish with a 20 MPH average, or even close. A century at 20 MPH is becoming impossible. A couple years ago I could and did finish that way. This year I have had a couple metric centuries at 20 MPH, or a little above, but it hurts. I am ready to slow it down. I have not tried a century or metric where my goal was not holding a 20, but I am about to ride the Hotter'n Hell Hundred with no such goal in mind for the first time in several years. I think I am mentally ready for it.

10 Wheels

70-74 is when you really Slow Down.

Enjoy your youth.

Biker395 

Cripes. A century averaging 20 MPH!?! I'd be thrilled if I could ever have managed that!

BikeArkansas

I was wondering if I was backing off too young.

JohnDThompson 

Stop keeping track of your speed and ride at a speed your body is comfortable with.

OldTryGuy

Do what allows you to continue to have FUN on the bike.

"We are each an experiment of one" by Dr. George Sheehan runner extraordinaire.

Slowing down comes at different times for everyone. My 88yo mother complains about this and that happening to her aging body and I have to remind her that at my age of 66, she had none of those issues many of which I currently have. I tell her I hope I don't live to be 88 because as bad as I am now, I would most likely be spending more of my day horizontally than vertically.

OldsCOOL

A century at 20?!?!

takenreasy

I agree, throw away the gadgets and just ride.

BikeArkansas

Sure, but not in the past two years. Metric century a few weeks ago was just over 20 MPH average, which included a flat tire I had to change. However, I can no longer last the full 100 miles. Cramps etc. get me.

Rollfast

THIS!


And I ride because nobody will come here to look at my blinky blue stereo lights, even if I play Elvis, so I have to go out and buy crap to meet nice married women (and they all are at 50, it's about the same as getting a date in junior high for the dance).


At least I meet people. And nice dogs out walking their owners. And I see stuff I wanna get when I get paid...food, others.


I think it's groovy that you are out there being competitive, no matter how you finish. The goal is to continue finishing.

Papa Tom

+1 to all the comments above. I come to the 50+ Forum so I don't have to listen to people beating themselves up about their speed and their mileage.

I'm 53 and 15mph is a joy ride for me. At 10-12mph, I get to see and experience everything along the way, and that's why I don't just get in my car and drive everywhere.

Sorry if it sounds like we are beating up on you, but you sound a little bit like you're bragging about having been able to do 20mph at 66. That's awesome. I can probably average that if I'm headed downhill with a bowling ball in my shorts for 100 miles, but at this point in my life, I am in no hurry to get off the bike any time I have an opportunity to get on it.

TimothyH

Same here.

53 and did a metric in 4:10 rolling time at 15.0 mph today.

Felling okay about that.

canklecat

I can still average 10-12 mph between pubs.

Biker395 

And you should too. Unless you're just rolling along in a pace line on a flattish course (in which case, averaging 20 MPH is no biggie) there are damn few people who can sustain a 20 MPH average speed over that kind of distance.

I know lots of people who enjoy riding centuries and DCs for time. It's never appealed to me. Weather is a huge wildcard, so comparing one year's time to another year's time is of limited value. And unless it's a declared race, what's the point of comparing your time to others?

jppe

I came to the realization a year or so ago that I'm just not as fast I used to be and I'm perfectly okay with that. I've done a number of 100 milers in 4 HR 30-45 mins but never again......

I have found I can ride further and longer plus enjoy it more just by slowing down a tick. Getting older is great and I for one am enjoying the heck out of it. I keep reminding myself just how many folks can actually do the distance riding and enjoy it.

BikeArkansas

Hello JPPE. It is good to hear your take. You are a much faster rider than me, by far. Therefore, your comment does gets to what I have been thinking. Just ride the distances, at a reasonable pace and back off the times. Next question is: Did you have riding partners you had to slip away from? I do have a few guys and one younger female, that I normally ride with at events that I will need to let go. Did you do the same?

mapeiboy

You are in better shape than I ever going to be . I average 15 mph max and on a very windy day with the wind on my back I might get up to 20 mph .

BlazingPedals

On Sunday I did 95 miles at 20.2 mph. It was pretty flat, but I had to contend with winds gusting to 30 mph.

But then I'm only 61.

jppe

Interesting question. My regular group is aging with me and all of us took a similar approach. Over the years I've found myself out front pulling them along so they were riding whatever pace I set anyway. I still give them (and me) some good training miles!!! Maybe more short bursts than the longer hang on if you can rides.

In events, I've just had to let it go. Of course the conversation afterwards is around how everyone rode, comparisons to previous times for the same event etc. I've just had to let go of all that. There has still been a day or two when I've even surprised myself and I savor those.

However I've refocused my "training" to just focus on riding a pace I enjoy. I just don't enjoy the suffering parts anymore. I'd probably ride less and might even stop riding if performance was the goal.

Funny, but my more moderate pace has put me riding with folks that are really more fun to ride with anyway, if that makes sense...

I hope you find what you enjoy as there are some really great miles left out there!!!

BikeArkansas

WOW - You expressed just what I was feeling, but have not been able to write it down like you did. I especially noticed the sentence: I just don't enjoy the suffering parts anymore. Thanks for your response.

fishboat

If every natural change in life comes with a sense of dread..you're locking yourself into a future of living in dread...phooey. Waste of time. Ride a comfortable pace and enjoy the fact that you're out there riding at all. If numbers are important to you..your comfortable pace will be faster than 99.9% of you peer group +/- 5 years.

No one ever died wishing they'd smelled fewer roses, but rode 2 mph faster.

TakingMyTime

Heck, I don't think I could have done 20mph average in my glory days let alone now. But that doesn't bother me. I enjoy riding and I like to see other people out enjoying themselves. There will always be competition between others and even sometimes yourself, but age has mellowed me and at least for right now... I ride for the fun of it (mostly, lol).

Doohickie

I can verify this. I even have photographic evidence.



To the OP: 20 mph? Maybe it's time you came back to earth with the rest of us.

Dave Cutter

So is this caused by old age?!?!? Or could this be caused by something a little more like a magnesium deficiency.... or something else like that?

I think I'd run this "hurts" symptom... past an actual doctor (instead of other old guys on the Internet) before I would diagnose "hurt" as a symptom to age.

TimothyH

Keep in mind the experience you all have as older riders.

I've recently taken up riding with two younger guys just getting into cycling. Seeing the look on their face when they get to the top of the climb and I'm waiting for them on my 48/16 fixed gear is kinda fun.

To them I'm that hard-as-a-rock old guy who has been riding forever. I remind them that I've been riding since before they were born.

My point is that they look up to me and I try to mentor them and it is a great experience for both them and I.