> You are right at the threshold of age impairment.
Actually, it was about 4 years ago that I seemingly-suddenly lost max power
when climbing. Weird thing, that. I used to live for the steepest parts of
the climb, because that's where I caught up to others. Ironically, my
sprinting has greatly improved at the same time, and you'd think they'd be
related somewhat. However, I think sprinting benefits from being patient and
opportunistic. I simply don't give up, and sprints are invariably longer
than people believe... when they falter, I'm there. It's not a question of
if, but when.
> Every year at the show I keep running into more folks that I raced with in
> the sixties. They all still look pretty good.
For the most part that's true! Staying in reasonable shape has been a bit of
a battle though. Keeping the weight off isn't easy, and weight is just about
everything, isn't it? A few years ago I had to switch to rabbit food
(salads) for lunch. It worked. I don't look forward to it, but neither do I
look forward to a slow creep upward on the scale. I'm probably eating better
now than I ever did before, or at least I'm aware of what the stuff I eat
will do to me (and often eat it anyway... sigh). If there's one single thing
about getting older that's no fair, it's your body becoming more efficient
such that you need to eat less. Should be the other way around.
> The cycling works, that is for certain. It certainly beats shuffleboard.
> As
> we age the focus of performance changes. Forty years ago, I had fast legs
> and a stiff ****, now I have stiff legs and a slow mind. There is no
> justice...
Martin Mull said something about that. "Seems like a man's mind is the last
thing to go soft" or something like that.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Bruce Gilbert" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
>
> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> So this morning we're returning from our training ride (I guess it's a
>> training ride, although I haven't actually raced for a while) (but the
> other
>> guys do, so does that count?) and after successfully contesting the final
>> sprint one of the guys is expressing surprise at my strength, to which I
>> explain that those who can no longer climb, sprint. After which he said
>> something like "You climb really well for an older guy."
>>
>> Ouch.
>>
>> I'm 51, he's 42, not *that* much younger!
>>
>> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
>> www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>>
> Mike,
> You are right at the threshold of age impairment.
>
> Start investing in the sew-in name tags for your clothes, ID bracelets and
> adult diapers. Oh, never mind about the diapers, the bike shorts have it
> built in. Get used to the idea of people complementing you for the ability
> of a "guy your age." 
>
> Sunday I turned 57. We had a bunch of people over that I have not seen is
> a
> lot of years. Quite a number of them have switched their diets to
> incorporate eating whole basketballs. I mean these folks have not been
> able
> to see their toes since the Berlin wall came down. Keep riding the bike,
> it
> works. As we get older being in good shape can be useful to inspire
> customers. Lead by example.
>
> Every year at the show I keep running into more folks that I raced with in
> the sixties. They all still look pretty good.
>
> The cycling works, that is for certain. It certainly beats shuffleboard.
> As
> we age the focus of performance changes. Forty years ago, I had fast legs
> and a stiff ****, now I have stiff legs and a slow mind. There is no
> justice...
>
> Bruce
>
>
>
