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Performance Degradation with Age

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Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Performance Degradation with Age

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Old 07-25-15 | 05:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Jseis
I'm 60 and switched to a fatbike in January as my wife thought it'd make great birthday present and would keep me off the road. Which it did. I've put 800+ beach miles on it and while climbing a dune trail (say 15% slope) I happened to glance at my HRM and it said 164 and I thought "Oh, sweet". I ride a back to back century every year, look to get in 200+ hours of riding a year, ride for distance, intervals, fun, fast, slow, and I enjoy riding now more than 40 years ago. Dad lived to 92 and I'm shooting higher.

You probably will.
Researchers Study 3 Promising Anti-Aging Therapies - Scientific American

Simple flip of genetic switch determines aging or longevity in animals: Scientists pinpoint start of aging, discover it is not a slow series of random events -- ScienceDaily
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Old 07-25-15 | 09:27 AM
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I've been lucky in a way, because I got into road biking in my late teens, then stopped when I went in the Army, and didn't pick it back up until I was 50. So I never overworked or got injured or any of that. I came into it fresh. I kept getting faster for 10 years or so. I started riding tandem with my wife almost exclusively at 62 and slowed down a bit. However as she's become stronger, so have I. I seldom get out on my singles, but I went out last week and did a familiar loop in the same time I used to do 10 years ago when I was 60. That was satisfying. Every year as I got older and potentially slower, I tried to train smarter, and for the most part, that let me keep up a good cruise. I've lost a lot at the top end. My hill sprint isn't much anymore, but my long distance cruise and hard climbing paces are still pretty good. Losing 10 lbs. off my fast event weight sure helped too, but that's part of training smarter. I think I could lose another 10 lbs. over the next several years.
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Old 07-30-15 | 12:59 PM
  #78  
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From: Creede CO in summer & Okeechobee, FL or TX Gulf Coast in winter

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Quote HawkOwl " We elders are already so far out of the general population others don't quite know what to do about us."
So true - just ask Strava about adding age groups. They refuse to admit we even exist! I am planning on a sub 10 century at 80 - in four years.
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Old 08-03-15 | 05:43 PM
  #79  
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I'm 60, and have not slowed over the last ten years. BUT---the gear has improved and is likely the reason. A lighter carbon bike, improved wheels, faster tires, etc. I've also trained a bit more over the last four years to do a charity endurance ride. Anyway, keep riding. It's good for you. ;-)
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Old 08-05-15 | 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by ctpres
Quote HawkOwl " We elders are already so far out of the general population others don't quite know what to do about us."
So true - just ask Strava about adding age groups. They refuse to admit we even exist! I am planning on a sub 10 century at 80 - in four years.
A friend recently did 80 miles on his 80th birthday and he looked pretty fresh at the end. There were some hills, too.
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Old 08-05-15 | 02:46 PM
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I'm a little less motivated, but I don't blame my age, it has more to do with this heat. I don't think I'm doing to bad for 75 though.
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Old 08-06-15 | 08:10 PM
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From: Oak Island North Carolina

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I still ride regularly on my MTB and road bike. I will do a 48 miler tomorrow. Cycling helps me keep my body weight low and edurance high. I am also an avid swimmer. I regularly do weight training. I measure my strength to weight ratio by doing pull ups. I can still do 10 strict pull ups. I will be 69 in 3 weeks.
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Old 08-08-15 | 06:01 PM
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I am 73 and have been riding my bikes for one year. I like riding my bike because I feel good about myself and I like the challenge each new situation hands me. Presently I'm riding mountain roads in the North Georgia Mountains with lots of climbs and descents. As my conditioning improves I push for longer rides and steeper climbs. I'm currently riding a heavy Trek Mtn bike and I ride twice a week for 18 to 20 miles with an average speed of 10.5 mph. I find that my endurance and strength continue to improve, you get instant feedback with a bike. The climbs I couldn't do last month without a rest stop I can do today. I also feel good about myself knowing that there are few seniors in my age group that are physically capable of doing what I can do or willing to pay the price (physical exertion) that it takes to get to this point. We as senior riders are a very small group of people, I bet < 0.5% of the general population and I am proud to be one of your group.


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