Slowing down

in message <[email hidden]>, "Brian

Drury' briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom ('') said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact
cycling?

At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two
years there has been no improvement.

It has to come, but anyone got an idea on this? 60 maybe?

I've known formidably fast cyclists in their eighties, and regular
(although no longer fast) cyclists in their nineties. I passed IL[1] at
the weekend and celebrated with a 77 mile trip to Britain's highest
inhabited settlement and back yesterday.

[1] Yes, I'm now officially il for the rest of the year.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Ye hypocrites! are these your pranks? To murder men and give God thanks?
Desist, for shame! Proceed no further: God won't accept your thanks for
murther
-- Roburt Burns, 'Thanksgiving For a National Victory'

In article <[email hidden]>,

Brian Drury' briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact cycling?

Don't know.

But I've done club runs with oldies up to and including late eighties,
without any hint of having to keep the speed or distance down for them.
I've not ridden with - but was aware of - a man who was doing a century
across the Yorkshire moors into his nineties.

I hope I'll be able to do that when I'm old enough to qualify for a
pension. If that ever happens.

--
Nick Kew

Brian Drury said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact
cycling?
At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two
years there has been no improvement.

It has to come, but anyone got an idea on this? 60 maybe?

Assuming illness and joint problems are ignored (bit optimistic
perhaps) are we simply looking at a gradual muscle loss with time and
a relatively steady decline with advancing years or do we just run
into an age related bonk?

Not sure. But pleased to report that I recorded a new PB for my 10 mile
commute this year at age 55. (Last PB at age 51)
Note that this is not a FAST time, just MY best.

The muscle loss is probably less important than lung function. If you can
still import oxygen efficiently, you'll be OK untill that age related bonk.

--
Cheerful Pedalling
John Mallard

"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom> opined the
following...

Quoted message said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact cycling?

At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two years
there has been no improvement.

It has to come, but anyone got an idea on this? 60 maybe?

Assuming illness and joint problems are ignored (bit optimistic perhaps) are
we simply looking at a gradual muscle loss with time and a relatively steady
decline with advancing years or do we just run into an age related bonk?

From a decidedly youthful outlook, I think you slow down when you stop
wanting to go fast. I see no reason why you shouldn't just keep going!

Jon

Brian Drury said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact cycling?

At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two years
there has been no improvement.

What's wrong with that? Top pros don't necessarily see a year on year
improvement, why should you?

Quoted message said:

It has to come, but anyone got an idea on this? 60 maybe?

My pal Finlay is somewhere about 70 (possibly over). I saw a recent pic
of him on his MTB a couple of weeks ago and it was on the summit of
Mayar (that's a >3000' mountain, btw) after he'd ridden it there. He
probably /is/ slowing down, but not to the point it's impacting what he
can do in terms of places rather than raw mph compared to his youthful best.

Quoted message said:

Assuming illness and joint problems are ignored (bit optimistic perhaps) are
we simply looking at a gradual muscle loss with time and a relatively steady
decline with advancing years or do we just run into an age related bonk?

Your outlook is /very/ depressing. Why not just go a bit slower and
enjoy aspects of cycling beyond pure velocity? You'll still probably be
going at a fair rate (I know Finlay does, from trying to keep up with
him once...)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Brian Drury said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact
cycling?

At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two
years there has been no improvement.

What's wrong with that? Top pros don't necessarily see a year on year
improvement, why should you?

I rather think he is expecting a modest year on year decline, which
seems broadly reasonable assuming no changes in exercise regime.

Quoted message said:

Your outlook is /very/ depressing. Why not just go a bit slower and
enjoy aspects of cycling beyond pure velocity?

I don't see anything depressing about his post, it is just realistic. I
would suggest looking at the RTTC age handicaps for a vague guide as to
how performance could be expected to drop off. Of course that only
applies to time trial efforts, and many of us know people who continue
to enjoy cycling indefinitely at a more sedate but nevertheless
purposeful rate. I remember hearing someone well into his 80s describe a
tour in which he crossed Rannoch moor in a blizzard. I guess he didn't
actually enjoy that bit so much!

James
--
If I have seen further than others, it is
by treading on the toes of giants.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/

"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact

cycling?

Quoted message said:

At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two years
there has been no improvement.

It has to come, but anyone got an idea on this? 60 maybe?

Assuming illness and joint problems are ignored (bit optimistic perhaps)

are

Quoted message said:

we simply looking at a gradual muscle loss with time and a relatively

steady

Quoted message said:

decline with advancing years or do we just run into an age related bonk?

Brian

When they pop you in a box and the family start arguing over your assets.

T

Tony W said:

When they pop you in a box and the family start arguing over your assets.

Which can of course be preserved by using a Terry Liberator saddle.

Brian Drury said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact
cycling?

At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two
years there has been no improvement.

It has to come, but anyone got an idea on this? 60 maybe?

Assuming illness and joint problems are ignored (bit optimistic
perhaps) are we simply looking at a gradual muscle loss with time and
a relatively steady decline with advancing years or do we just run
into an age related bonk?

Brian

A member of our informal group recently had his 65th birthday.

This year he has hardly missed a Sunday run, keeps up with us 'younger' ones
(20 - 50 ish) and led us home in the Maracycle in June. This is a 200 mile
charity event run over 2 days. As he is semi retired he is now planning an
Irish End to End for June next year!

He has stopped wearing an HRM as the rule of thumb (MHR = 220 - your age)
'frightened' him!

The rest of us in the group agree there is hope for us all. Fingers crossed
..........

David

--
[email hidden]

"James Annan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

Brian Drury said:

As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact
cycling?

At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two
years there has been no improvement.

What's wrong with that? Top pros don't necessarily see a year on year
improvement, why should you?

I rather think he is expecting a modest year on year decline, which seems
broadly reasonable assuming no changes in exercise regime.

Quoted message said:

Your outlook is /very/ depressing. Why not just go a bit slower and
enjoy aspects of cycling beyond pure velocity?

I don't see anything depressing about his post, it is just realistic. I
would suggest looking at the RTTC age handicaps for a vague guide as to
how performance could be expected to drop off. Of course that only applies
to time trial efforts, and many of us know people who continue to enjoy
cycling indefinitely at a more sedate but nevertheless purposeful rate. I
remember hearing someone well into his 80s describe a tour in which he
crossed Rannoch moor in a blizzard. I guess he didn't actually enjoy that
bit so much!

James
--
If I have seen further than others, it is
by treading on the toes of giants.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/

Indeed, no depression here. Since starting to cycle only 7 years ago my
health has improved year by year until now I am healthier than I have ever
been and as happy as Larry.

It was just curiousity and the group response is very encouraging. In case
you did not already know, cycling is brilliant. Someone should tell the rest
of humanity 🙂

Brian

in message <[email hidden]>, "Brian

Drury' briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom ('') said:

"James Annan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

Brian Drury wrote:

> As the years roll by I sometimes wonder when does age really impact
> cycling?
>
> At age 54 my average speed is at its best although for the last two
> years there has been no improvement.

What's wrong with that? Top pros don't necessarily see a year on
year improvement, why should you?

I rather think he is expecting a modest year on year decline, which
seems broadly reasonable assuming no changes in exercise regime.

Quoted message said:

Your outlook is /very/ depressing. Why not just go a bit slower and
enjoy aspects of cycling beyond pure velocity?

I don't see anything depressing about his post, it is just realistic.
I would suggest looking at the RTTC age handicaps for a vague guide
as to how performance could be expected to drop off. Of course that
only applies to time trial efforts, and many of us know people who
continue to enjoy cycling indefinitely at a more sedate but
nevertheless purposeful rate. I remember hearing someone well into
his 80s describe a tour in which he crossed Rannoch moor in a
blizzard. I guess he didn't actually enjoy that bit so much!

Indeed, no depression here. Since starting to cycle only 7 years ago
my health has improved year by year until now I am healthier than I
have ever been and as happy as Larry.

It was just curiousity and the group response is very encouraging. In
case you did not already know, cycling is brilliant. Someone should
tell the rest of humanity 🙂

For what it's worth I've just come back from a meeting about cycling
provision in the new statutory Core Paths Network. The only person who
cycled home from the meeting retired - *retired* - 48 years ago. He's a
founder member of the Rough Stuff Fellowship, and still an active
campaigning member of the CTC. No, I don't know how old he was when he
retired. No, I don't know how old he is now. But I'd be very surprised
indeed if he'll see 90 again. He cycles round to visit every now and
then, and lives thirteen miles away; and he's out cycling most days, on
road and off, in all weathers, on a hardtail Specialized mountain bike
with an extremely ancient Brooks saddle and Carradice saddlebag,
covering around fifty miles a day.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Morning had broken. I found a rather battered tube of Araldite
resin in the bottom of the toolbag.

Brian Drury said:

Indeed, no depression here. Since starting to cycle only 7 years ago
my health has improved year by year until now I am healthier than I
have ever been and as happy as Larry.

Welcome to The Miserable [censored] Association of Great Britain... ;-)

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

"David K" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

He has stopped wearing an HRM as the rule of thumb (MHR = 220 - your age)
'frightened' him!

That "rule" is complete nonsense.

--
Dave...

Dave Kahn said:

"David K" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

He has stopped wearing an HRM as the rule of thumb (MHR = 220 - your age)
'frightened' him!

That "rule" is complete nonsense.

--
Dave...

Surely it's fairly accurate as an average over a large section of the population? It just doesn't work very well for many individuals because of the spread.

Quoted message said:

Surely it's fairly accurate as an average over a large section of the
population? It just doesn't work very well for many individuals
because of the spread.

Assuming the ubiquitous bell curve distribution of thingies, then yeah.