Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Training & Nutrition
Reload this Page >

Midlife cyclist

Notices
Training & Nutrition Learn how to develop a training schedule that's good for you. What should you eat and drink on your ride? Learn everything you need to know about training and nutrition here.

Midlife cyclist

Old 12-29-25 | 09:26 AM
  #1  
George's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 100
From: Katy Texas

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Midlife cyclist

Do you think I could get any benefits from this book, being 85 years old.
Thanks for any replies.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 09:32 AM
  #2  
Iride01's Avatar
Facts just confuse people
Titanium Club Membership
5 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,288
Likes: 7,035
From: Mississippi

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Only the pleasure of reading. You probably already have a decent enough grasp of the things it talks about.

Since you've been lurking around here for about 20 years, you've probably read and seen discussions of most everything in it.


And for the record, I have not read the book.

Last edited by Iride01; 12-29-25 at 03:57 PM.
Iride01 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 12:20 PM
  #3  
George's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 100
From: Katy Texas

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Thanks for the reply.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 12:21 PM
  #4  
work4bike's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 1,993
From: Atlantic Beach Florida
I do wonder how many people read this book...I did not read it, so I'm clueless....but curious.




.
work4bike is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 03:55 PM
  #5  
epnnf's Avatar
Full Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 479
Likes: 139
From: SW Ohio

Bikes: 2025 Surly Orge, 2026 Trek Verve 3

I have that book! Got it @ used book store. I started to read, but got bored; did not finish. The subject matter was not my thing. FWIW I am 70yo.
epnnf is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 04:18 PM
  #6  
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
just another gosling
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,554
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Haven't read it. It says it's about cycling past 40. I read Cycling Past 50. It was OK. I think it would depend on how much you've already read about appropriate cycling training. The principles are pretty much all the same at any age. Main thing which is different is that as we age, strength training keeps getting more important. If you're not in the gym twice a week, you're making a mistake. Basically, you want a lot of zone 2 and a hard ride about once a week, which advice is about the same for any age, really. I'm 80. Take your morning resting HR every morning and if it goes up by 6 beats, you're in serious need for a couple days off. There's not much more to it.
__________________
Results matter

Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 04:40 PM
  #7  
George's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 100
From: Katy Texas

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Thanks, I’m sitting here with cycling past 50 right now. I bought it a while ago and I think I’ll just dig into it more now. I have high blood pressure and I thought I could get a little input on that subject.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 05:02 PM
  #8  
work4bike's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 1,993
From: Atlantic Beach Florida
Originally Posted by George
Thanks, I’m sitting here with cycling past 50 right now. I bought it a while ago and I think I’ll just dig into it more now. I have high blood pressure and I thought I could get a little input on that subject.
I can't add to Carbonfiberboy's recommendations in post # 6. However, WRT blood pressure, I just learned about the best exercise to reduce Blood pressure, which is very surprising and counterintuitive, but the research supports it.

I would go with Carbonfiberboy's recommendations, but you may also want to include some isometric exercises to help lower blood pressure as much as possible. And isometrics are also a great exercise for strengthening connective tissues/joints.


Believe it or not, isometrics beats all other exercises, by far, on reducing BP.






This attempts to explain the why in how isometrics is the best exercise to lower BP, but really we don't really know yet

work4bike is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 05:42 PM
  #9  
George's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 100
From: Katy Texas

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

I just watched the video and it’s pretty interesting. I’ll have to try it out and see what happens.
I lost 17 pounds already but it didn’t stop the high blood pressure. I down to 190 pounds now and 6 feet tall. All the bmi scales say I should lose 5 more pounds but I don’t think I will.
Thanks again.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Reply
Old 12-29-25 | 09:00 PM
  #10  
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
just another gosling
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,554
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Medication is a pretty good way to lower BP. Talk to a doctor. I know that some can affect your heart output, not good for cyclists. I take clopidogrel 75 mg and don't notice any negatives.

Wall-sitting is a great exercise for skiers, used to do that. It sure won't hurt your cycling any! As the study author said, “Our main message is that actually engaging in exercise is fantastic and any exercise might reduce your blood pressure,” I just had a go, 2' was hard but I'm way out of shape. I seem to remember being able to go much longer, but that was back in the day when . . .

Way back in my 60s, I did 3 sets of 30 at the gym for a year. That really made a difference. Only reason I went back to doing shorter sets is that it took a lot more time. Super effective for cycling and other endurance sports. A major benefit is that the weights are light enough that injury is not an issue.

A really good and effective book about cycling conditioning is The Cyclists Training Bible by Friel. It's a manual, really. I think it works for everyone.

__________________
Results matter

Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Reply
Old 12-30-25 | 08:30 AM
  #11  
George's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 100
From: Katy Texas

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Yes, I was off the whole month of August, do to a bowel obstruction, lapicoptic surgury and I'm still not back to where I was. That's how I lost the 15 pounds. Im starting to feel decent again.
Thanks for the help and the videos and stay safe.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Reply
Old 12-30-25 | 01:34 PM
  #12  
spclark's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 1,967
Likes: 1,208
From: "Driftless" WI

Bikes: 1972 Motobecane Grand Record, 2023 Specialized Tarmac SL7,'26 Spesh Diverge, '22 Kona Dew+

Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
I take clopidogrel 75 mg and don't notice any negatives.
You likely won't, unless you bruise yourself or suffer a cut. That medication affects how your blood platelets behave, typically has nothing to do with controlling blood pressure.

I was on it for about four years after having two stents place in one coronary artery early in 2006. Also prescribed two different meds for high blood pressure, Amlodipine and Benazepril. My PCP took me off the first one last year, I still take the second at the minimum recommended dosage.

I've read that book, found some of the content informative. You spend enough time reading posts here you'll get all the important points over time. Regular exercise is a good way to control BP if you can start without a lot of health-issue baggage to overcome. Best practice is talking with your primary doctor, see what they suggest.
__________________
"Bramo assai,poco spero,nulla chieggio."
spclark is offline  
Reply
Old 12-30-25 | 01:53 PM
  #13  
George's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 100
From: Katy Texas

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Amlodipine Is what I’m on now and it doesn’t effect my output at all.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Reply
Old 12-30-25 | 11:51 PM
  #14  
tempocyclist's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 932
Likes: 768
From: Australia

Bikes: 2002 Trek 5200 (US POSTAL), 2020 Canyon Aeroad SL

Originally Posted by Iride01
Only the pleasure of reading. You probably already have a decent enough grasp of the things it talks about.
That's a very good answer.

I have read the book. It was interesting, nothing ground breaking, nothing you can't get from online resources, and you probably know most of what is in the book and what you need to do already.

If you like reading and are interested in the subject matter, then you'll likely enjoy the read.
tempocyclist is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-26 | 01:20 PM
  #15  
rumrunn6's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,447
Likes: 4,541
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

knowledge is power
rumrunn6 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-26 | 06:42 PM
  #16  
terrymorse's Avatar
climber has-been
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,147
Likes: 6,041
From: Palo Alto, CA

Bikes: Scott Addict RC Pro & R1, Felt Z1

Originally Posted by rumrunn6
knowledge is power

__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse


terrymorse is offline  
Reply
Old 01-08-26 | 09:48 AM
  #17  
rumrunn6's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,447
Likes: 4,541
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Originally Posted by terrymorse
nice

a lot of evil going around right now ...
rumrunn6 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-15-26 | 08:55 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 729
From: Columbus, Ohio

Bikes: Lynskey R230, Trek 5200, 1975 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Falcon ,Trek T50 Tandem and a 1968 Paramount in progress.

Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
Haven't read it. It says it's about cycling past 40. I read Cycling Past 50. It was OK. I think it would depend on how much you've already read about appropriate cycling training. The principles are pretty much all the same at any age. Main thing which is different is that as we age, strength training keeps getting more important. If you're not in the gym twice a week, you're making a mistake. Basically, you want a lot of zone 2 and a hard ride about once a week, which advice is about the same for any age, really. I'm 80. Take your morning resting HR every morning and if it goes up by 6 beats, you're in serious need for a couple days off. There's not much more to it.
I have read some of the popular books too and the above pretty much will save you 400 pages. The next 100 pages are essentially, common sense nutrition, don't smoke and wear your seatbelt.
bblair is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.