Too late to start racing?

jkxw said:

I'm 26 years old. not great shape, but okay. Is it too late to start competitive cycling? How old is too old? Realistically how far do you think one could get starting at 26?

I'm 35 years old, have biked for 1 year to lose weight, went from 32%Fat to 20%fat at 168lbs, and I have hit a top speed of 32.9 mph on a flat road with intermittant 5mph or no wind.

I think your young for starting to race, but not too old for going pro. There was a stage racer who won a TDF stage and he started racing from a career as a truck driver -- they didn't give his age but maybe he was 29.

I'm over the hill at 35 and have no hope in racing, just Cat 5 30+ or Master level Cat 5 amateur racing. No reward for racing except knowing that you're fast on a bike.

At 26, what's your weight, Fat %, and top speed on a bike (flat road, no wind) ?

jkxw said:

I'm 26 years old. not great shape, but okay. Is it too late to start competitive cycling? How old is too old? Realistically how far do you think one could get starting at 26?

Your never too old

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jkxw said:

I'm 26 years old. not great shape, but okay. Is it too late to start competitive cycling? How old is too old? Realistically how far do you think one could get starting at 26?

You probably won't win the Tour starting at 26, but you can compete, have fun, and even win. I resumed training in April (at 39) after a lengthy layoff, and will be competing next February in local club competition. I might have a go at the national masters games at the end of next year mostly for familiarisation.

There is no such thing as too old, you just start to notice that the number of opponents is starting to dwindle 🙂

How far can you get? That's up to you. You will need to train properly, targetting specific short, medium, and long term goals. You will also need to keep fit and healthy. As you get older your body will succumb to injury much more easily, so your diet and training need to be tailored to look after it. But at age 26, you're only a spring chicken so get out there and have some fun.

jkxw said:

I'm 26 years old. not great shape, but okay. Is it too late to start competitive cycling? How old is too old? Realistically how far do you think one could get starting at 26?

Ride for yourself[I][U]. if you do that, you can race until you can no longer pedal.

I wouldn't care if I came in dead last every time. Having the chance to just race is good enough for me.

Luckily, I haven't come in dead last yet.

never too late... you could even go pro if you wanted!!...

check out Ludo Dierckxsens... hes 40.. collstrop pallmans(i think its them..) are pulling out the stops to get him a contract... and hes killing it!!...

Not that I plan on turning pro or anything, but I just picked up a bike last year (MTB) and recently just bought my first road bike since I was 10. I am now 30 years old and next year plan on enetering some local races. I have friends that do it so at the very least I will be hanging out with them, training and having a good time. Who knows I may even do well.