* Get a lighter bike?
* Train harder?
* Train smarter?
* Cheat?
* Be realistic?
* Stop riding with the young guys/girls? (Some of them are half my age)

Last night I got my butt kicked by my usual hammerfest bunch while doing intensive crit training. On the road I can hold my own, but last night I was tired and lacking.... maybe too many miles this week/month? Stop using classic steel bike?
Anyhow, I want to stay with these guys for a many years as I can in the future, maybe it's time for wily tactics?

I think it depends on your priorities.

If you can enjoy riding, knowing you will get dropped with the current group just find a different group to ride with.

If it is very important, you should train harder and smarter, get a power meter, do intervals (which I think are torture btw) and maybe even a coach.

EPO and a more expensive bike.

Rarely get dropped from this group, bad night maybe.

Steve,
What works for me is cutting back on riding with young fast guys and increasing your rides with young fast women/girls. More motivation. They smell better too.

While at 42 I'm not exactly in the twilight of my cycling career, IMO the best way to deal with getting older as a cyclist is to ignore it. It's worked pretty well for me so far. And it's ALWAYS time for wily tactics!

BL

I will leave this one alone, suffice to say CCFs

Yeah, I generally ignore my greying hair, (since my 20s), my weather beaten skin, sinewy legs......
What I do find is that the young guys are now beating me in the sprints, but they don't do a lot of hard work on the road, particularly when the real pressure is on.

Enjoy riding for its own sake.

Move up another level of distance. You should know from randonnees that as the distances increase, the numbers decrease -- especially for the young riders. There's also a reason why the average age of participants in PBP is in the high 40s.

You need this... then you won't care anymore.

Rowan,
Good idea, if fact my bunch is considering replacing one Sat morn hammer ride each month with a longer less competitive ride.
Would love to ride a PBP, either solo or tandem. Impressed by your recent 300 km on the tandem with Mackha.

SixtyFiver,
You know some of the bikes I ride already..... I have NO inhibitions!

Thank God I don't have that problem.

You put in your order for an opafiets too ?

They're doing it right. If you want to win the sprint, don't give everyone a leadout...

Maybe the young guys you ride with aren't very strong?

True.
Never been a good sprinter though, engine room type of rider and hills...gimme hills. Only won races by breaking away.

Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

A little bit of most of the items listed except for *cheat (unless you mean cheating on your real age- AKA ride a bit like you are younger than you are due to your higher fitness level). Otherwise it is just not worth cheating, as you are only cheating yourself and compromising honesty. I also do not see any advantage to not ride with someone younger. Even if you get dropped or whatever, just go ride as long as you can with the young group if it meets your training plan for the day.

Happens.

How old are you anyway?

The suggestion for EPO is off. Obviously the poster has no clue how to dope correctly.

As to a more expensive bike or not riding with a steel bike think about your problem here. You keep saying it's the sprints in the crit that's giving you the problem. I'd suggest a stiffer bike and lighter wheels.

If you would consider doping think about HGH and testosterone. And if you're gonna do that be sure to do what datlas says and get a power meter, do intervals and get a coach. Be a shame to not focus those hormones.

Not in bicycle racing.

Or maybe it's time to grow a beard and buy a recumbent.

+1

Put lead weights in the seat tube of your riding buddies.

Htfu

No, don't stop using the classic steel bike. The reality is we're not as young as we used to be, and we can't do what we used to be able to do. The biggest adjustment for me was coming to the realization that I NOW have limits to my endurance and capabilities. It's a life-changing realization. Really is.

I know there are dudes my age and older that can outride some of the young boys. I'm happy for them. But I'm not them. It causes me too much discomfort to try to do what I used to do, so now I just do enough to stay fit and enjoy myself.

Case in point, this summer was unusually hot all season. Record-setting hot. Instead of trying to keep up to my normal level I just cut back. It was just too uncomfortable for me to ride in that heat. I'm still in decent shape overall, GREAT shape for my age group. I'll make up for it next season . . . F' it!! The idea is to enjoy life, not keep trying to be something that's unobtainable. One of the hardest things there is, is to come to the realization that your youth and your athletic capabilities are gone . . . for good.

Now days HEALTH is most important. Athletic accomplishments fall back down the list.

And if you haven't yet arrived at this point in life, don't worry about it . . . enjoy what you got left . . . it'll let you know when it arrives.