I'm 72 yrs. old/young (whatever!) and located in California's central valley near Modesto. In the spring of '15 I plan to retire and get on the road with my Surly LHTD and BOB YAK trailer plus my little dog. Right now it's a strain to finish 5 miles but my legs are already feeling stronger after only a few rides and as the weather warms up there'll be a lot more opportunities to train. If things go right I'll be strong enough to pretty much stay on the road indefinitely. Preliminary plans call for a ride starting in Grant's Pass, Oregon, down Hiway 199 to Crescent City and then up the coast to Seattle. THEN, the plan is to head cross country to Miami, FL. Yeah, I know that's a BIG chunk for a guy just starting out. However, the thought process is that by taking small bites at first, and then adding the miles as my endurance builds, I'll be able to do it by virtue of bull dogged determination. Proper diet and frequent rest periods are a part of the plan. Feedback please.

Update: 3-23-14, I'm up to 15 miles/day.

I'm just a "kid"-68. Looks like an interesting ride. Are you sure it is only 2.500 feet of elevation gain? That is really flat. :) If I ride it I'll ride my fixed gear bike. I did the Piney Woods Purgatory this past October on the fixed gear and it was around 4,500 feet of climbing in 102 miles.
Mike

Elevation from strava ride history - same event - last year I think. I will know more May 4th.

Please be VERY careful on 199. I drive it frequently. There are many areas along the Smith River where there is NO shoulder, and no where to even step off. You are against a rock cliff. In these places there isn't any room for the drivers to give way, especially when meeting an 18 wheeler. All that said, this is the area I grew up in, and to my mind it is the most beautiful place on earth going from river side vistas to Redwood forests in the blink of an eye, ending at the Pacific Ocean beach. Also be prepared for the 20 degree temperature drop as you exit the forest and drop down to ocean level. Have fun :)

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GASP actually stands for Greater Austin Shiner Pedal

Looks like we have the five riders for the GASP, (free) jersey design in process and expect delivery by the end of April. If anybody else wants in - I need to know in next few days.

Thanks for the "heads up" RG.

Retired last November at 68. Haven't felt this good in years. Mileage up a bit at ~100 miles/week and weight down around/below 190 lbs @6'0". I've always been and continue to be a sound sleeper, typically getting up at 0500 which gives me time to eat breakfast, let the dog out and feed the horses. Here's my question: how many of you find you are sleeping a bit less? Even after a tough 50 mile ride I'll sleep no more than 7 hours and sometimes I just pop up after 6 hours.

I'm sleeping less because the sun comes up earlier in FL and it wakes me up. ;)

I am 70, and I typically sleep 7-8 hrs per night, but therer are times when 6 hours are enough. Also if I overtrain ,too many rides or a lopt of hard rides back to back, I don't sleep well. Then I back off a day and let the body rest.

Hooray!

We went together and picked out a decent budget hybrid for my wife's 66 birthday.

She is active and healthy but she resisted biking mostly because she didn't think she could keep up. I finally convinced her that my intense road riding has nothing to do with us enjoying some leisurely recreational riding together. There is also a riding group of woman retirees in our area that she might join.

She done me proud

Century question for the 70+ riders. One month of training to go before my first century in twenty five years. What was your highest miles ride before the century? Twenty - thirty years ago the wisdom was 75 or 80 was good enough before the 100. I am trying to figure out what level I need to reach before I can feel confident about doing well on the Shiner G.A.S.P. 100 on May 3rd.

Sounds right to me. Build up to that but taper the weekend before and week of.

A local 8K running road race that I participate in, kinda like a rite of spring, only had 36 M and F entries 65 and older out of 1230... and half of those were walk/jog times

That's some drop off

The percentage must higher in bike rides

I don't think so, if current Strava Specialized spring challenge world wide numbers are right. Out of 52,470 total riders only 131 are 65 or over. VERY small percentage!

Not so bad here in Austin, TX. We were in the Capitol 10K yesterday: 12000 timed runners, of whom 5580 were men. 250 of them (>4%) were over 65, with 117 (2%) over 70. Not so many women in these age groups. My wife was 8th in the 70-74 division with 1:26;10. I was 24th of 72 in the men's 70-74 division with 1:15:40 (much better than being 7th out of 7 in the Marathon last month!). I was beaten by 8 minutes by a 94-year-old!
Next week the Austin 10/20, a ten miler, after which I have to get to church to sing in the choir for Palm Sunday service. Then I can start preparing for the G.A.S.P!

A marathon?...wow!

I managed a 52:37 (10:35 pace) for 6th out of 13 in the men's 65-70 8K

Well, here's to all of us that can still do it

Let me introduce you to the concept of the "pee can"!! Mine has a lid on it so it don't get spilled in the tent.

That's EXACTLY why I've taken up cycling. Next year I finally quit working at almost 72. Most people who retire take up the recliner full time and have serious health issues in three to five years. I'd rather get run over by a truck out on the highway than to die laying in a hospital bed wearing a paper diaper.

x2

Agree on getting out there. Today rode 64 miles averaging 16.8+ and turn 69 tomorrow. Been riding over two years on a road bike.

First fitting, new bike and first time trainer all worth at least one MPH although 15 to 20 MPH winds so think worth more.

As for century, I rode 70 before doing but was doing regular 45 to 55 before which gave the foundation

Let us know how you do.

Ed

Louis you are doing great. Still working so you are building your foundation. Not sure how long you have been riding but most people our age need three years to reach a very strong level. Of course depends on shape, strength and number of miles ridden.

i rode a hybrid for three years before getting a road bike and have more work to do. Can't keep up with a riding club but getting there. They do 18-25 generally. Today averaged about 18 into the wind with them for 14 miles. Will get dropped for a while but beginning to see the light.

Anyways keep riding, build your core, get a fitting and ride some more. Great sense of achievement huh?

How much you weigh, Miami Biker?

just wonderin'

Sure lenA. Weigh over 210 which hurts in stop/starts with groups. Hence working on core with trainer and riding hard to get heart rate over 90% of Max.

lost 45 pounds since starting biking about six years ago and 80 pounds in last dozen years.

I would say that makes you an exceptionally strong rider.

I wish there was a place for age and weight in the profile...it would put people's accomplishments more into context.

Thanks lenA, very kind. Working hard to build my speed and endurance before my body says "no thanks."

in the end we are really competing with ourselves to do what we can physically and mentally.

Recently joined Strava premium. There you can filter by age (65 and over) and weight. In my area am only one over 65 and 200+ pounds. So what now? Trying to get stronger and faster to move up regardless of age and weight; by doing hope to lose more weight, my original reason for biking. Of course now it's a lot more than that.

Knowing what others are doing in our age group gives a lot of encouragement about what we can do. Very grateful for this Forum!

Older must be tougher. In Strava Specalized Spring Classic I am in top 25% overall but 40% in over 65.

How do y'all taper off or rest the last few days before a century. At fifty I didn't even think about it. At seventy five I am betting it could make a big difference.

Hello again. First someone sent me a private message about Strava's filters. Do not have 50 posts so could not answer (: Answer: Must purchase premium account to filter for age, weight, gender. Can do monthly or annually.

Second, rode with a friend today and did 17.7 MPH for 58 miles. My fastest yet and frankly very excited. New bike and exercising seem to be working!

Ed