I was skipping around the Internet tonight. Consider these 40km (25 miles approx) TT times/speeds for some of my old NJ pals/training partners from the 2002 NJ TT championships:

Jean Claude Favreau (55+), 59:13, 25.1 mph

Jack Angevine (60+), 1:01:39, 24.1 mph

And the winner for the 60+ category Joe Sailing (not friend of mine but a legend in East Coast vets racing): 58:13, 25.6 mph

So the question for you junior acheivement weenies who seem to get a charge out of busting my 48 year old ass for being so old is:

Do you REALLY think you're faster than me?

Don't be so sure kid : ). At 48, I may have a few hard rides left in me yet. At least another 15 year's worth I'd say. And when I slow down I'll still be riding. Will you?

By the way Jack Angevine is, year for year and pound for pound, the toughest sonofa***** I ever raced or rode with. None of us are good enough to pump up his tires.

We'll see, if you ever drag your butt up to the gunks to do some riding that is. ;)

I think there are two parts to this-Many many years of building a huge base, as well as cycling unlike the vast majority of sports is low-impact, which allows older folks to continue beyond the normal ages of most sports.

Penguin, isnt' that the Monty Python sketch where they're debating about whether they customer is actually getting an argument for his money? What a total classic : ).

Unfortunately, these are the fastest senior TT times. The fastest TT times by people in their 20's and 30's are probably upwards of 30mph.

Another part of this is that my training partner Jack went to college on a full track scholarship. I think his best mile was 4:10 or so. Faster than I ever was - maybe a 5:04 or so, probably could have gotten that down to 4::50 or less with a season of specific training - but I doubt sub 4:45 would have ever been possible for me. Genetics does help, and you don't lose that edge as you get older. Not in your age group at least.

God knows how fast Jack would have been racing a bike @ age 30. I don't think he started until he was in his mid-40's.

As for 30mph+ TT times - you're talking national championship/pro caliber there. In the real world of amateur racing 25mph+ at ANY age is very respectable. And ultimately relatively few racrers really crack that one hour barrier.

Faster than 25+ mph for 60 year olds? Well in 2002 in Jersey that Joe Sailing time was the best time. And NJ is a big state with lots of amateur racers. I'm sure there are a few guys that can beat Joe nationally. But they're not in NJ. And I'd bet he can crush 99% of the weenies here. At 60 : ).

Remember I don't have to ride the same speed as some kid to hold his wheel. I only have to put out 90% or less of his energy to suck his wheel. That means to ride me OFF it he has to go 28mph to my 25mph. Which is the beauty of cycling isn't it? If my presence pisses you off - ride me off your wheel big boy. THAT's how old guys like me still hammer. Lots of training and the finely honed art of wheel sucking science....

By the way, I once yelled at Mr. Sailing in a race in Central Park (he cut me off on the Harlem hill) - and was later told that I dissed one of the local amateur racing legends. Sorry Joe.

Hate to tell ya, but those times are not that great.

We have guys in my district in their late 50's doing 55-56 minute flat 40k TT's.

Sources?!

Just as the OP cited sources, so we all should when stating 'facts'.

Unfortunately, on the net, everyone seems to get away with 'I heard', 'I saw', 'I read somewhere', 'Its common knowledge' etc.

For me, if one can't cite sources, its irrelevant at best.

But that's not really the point of the thread. When 60 year old guys can AVERAGE 24-25mph for an HOUR. There's hope for those of us pushing 50 : ).

Not much, but some.

Here is MY source:

http://www.lmsports.com/time02.htm

No it isn't..

Our states (Kansas) TT overall results for 2005 were won by a 50 year old - 25 miles in 55:53


I look at it the same way - there's hope for me yet, I got about 15 years of training to get there :)

Those NJ 60 year olds may be slower than some - but they're faster than me - and probably YOU too : ).

>>Our states (Kansas) TT overall results for 2005 were won by a 50 year old - 25 miles in 55:53<<

First off, a 50 year old is MUCH younger than a 60 year old, particularly in bike racing terms. Secondly you'd sort of have to have these riders competing on the SAME course. For all I know the NJ course was a slower one (wind, hills) than the Kansaas course - or vice versa.

Any way you slice it 24-25mph on a bike for an hour is HAMMERING weenies. Try it some time. Let us all know how close you came - or how many of you could even crack TWENTY mph for an hour all alone. It's not easy. Now try doing that @ retirement age. Good luck.

Try cracking 20 with MS.

Are you having trouble getting oldER? I'm seeing a thread here.

Easy there DuraAce.. we're all very happy for you.
On flat ground, I can halfway coast in the drops at 20mph for hours and I'm plenty sure there are MANY people here who can beat 20 easily. I think that chick that used to be a dude was saying how he was holding 27+ mph in a tt and now he's wearing skirts and putting on make up...
I'm not sure what all this bragging is about if you admit that you have to draft behind someone to keep up. I like annoying people by getting NEXT to them about 3-4 ft away and shadowing them.

Damn patentcad, you're a freaking genious for pointing out the obvious.

I was supporting your general idea in case it went way over your head.


Chill, man, go drink some more coffee or have a cup of tea. lol

Yes, it is.

>> not sure what all this bragging is about if you admit that you have to draft behind someone to keep up. I like annoying people by getting NEXT to them about 3-4 ft away and shadowing them. <<

I'm sure this concept is quite elusive for you.

I nominate this comment for the 2006 fred of the month trophy.

He said it's not, so it musn't be.

Florida State TT championship last year. Juniors 17-18 winner 29:49 for a 20k. Masters 55-64 winner 55:45 for a 40k. Masters 45-54, 51:35, Masters 35-44 51:04. The Masters top ten finishers in each age group were dramatically faster than the 18 year olds. The Masters 55 winner would have placed in every category, except the 1-2. The Masters 45 winner would have taken second in the Cat 3 race, (and only because the guy that won the Cat 3 should be a 2). Discount the old farts at your peril.
Personally I road an even hour, (ok 01:00:41) and wasn't close to top ten in the Master 45.

http://floridacycling.com/USCF/DataA...asp?RaceID=153

In literally less than 30 sec., I found these results:

http://www.ambikerace.com/2005/resul...sults%2005.pdf

If you look down the list, you'll see:

65+ 56.39.45
60+ 55.57.38
50+ 50.04.20

and while you are there, look at the recumbent times.

43.51.04 for a guy that I'm sure is in his 60s
46.48.10 for a guy that i know is in his 40s

I pulled these down in seconds. I'm sure across the country, one would find more results like these or better.

No it isn't.
Yes it is.

:p

I'm 40 in May and I definately feel I'm as fast as I was 15 years ago. My endurance isn't as good, but that's indicative of how my riding schedule has changed. My riding skills, both handling and efficiency are far superiour now. I've seen some wicked quick older gents out there.

There are two mountain bike pros in my town and two more of us who do or have raced Cat1, and there's a 60 year old that none of us can drop on the road, unless we go to the mountains.. and even then it's not easy.

And you might want to look at the distance of this TT....

Here's some results for an actual 40k, almost dead flat course on a day without much wind. Check out the tandem elite time...

http://www.ncnca.org/road/2005/DistTTResults.html

30.34 mph ::ackkk:: I don't think our tandem will ever go that fast.

i think i did that math correctly.