Getting Old ?

kingrollo

Barteos wrote:

To those concerned about apparent "age related" fitness losses (medical problems aside), unless you've been cycling regularly +20h/w for a long time and you've (almost) reached your maximal genetic potential, it's the riding time that is the limiting factor, not age.

Your av speed will be mainly limited by number of hours you spend on the bike and the quality of your workouts.

Ask yourself how many hours a week you REALLY ride. I mean REALLY, not your best week when the weather is nice, but an average, including winter, rain, holidays, Christmas etc... How consistent is it? Can you honestly say that you've clocked at least 400-500 consistent quality hours of riding in the last year (and previous years)?

On warm dry summer days I usually see +20-30 riders (at least half of them 40+ y.o.)
In winter I can hardly see anyone. Go figure.

P.S. As for lack of time for riding, your life is as busy as you make it

Don't think anyone was disputing that.

-Although I wouldn't think I would be off the the bike with Back \ arse ache if I were 19

Takes you longer to recover from injuries as you get older

Lucky Douglas

Barteos wrote:

To those concerned about apparent "age related" fitness losses (medical problems aside), unless you've been cycling regularly +20h/w for a long time and you've (almost) reached your maximal genetic potential, it's the riding time that is the limiting factor, not age.

I like this idea!
Is the 20 h/w based on personal experience, something you've read or a random punt?

Barteos

Lucky Douglas wrote:

Barteos wrote:

To those concerned about apparent "age related" fitness losses (medical problems aside), unless you've been cycling regularly +20h/w for a long time and you've (almost) reached your maximal genetic potential, it's the riding time that is the limiting factor, not age.

I like this idea!
Is the 20 h/w based on personal experience, something you've read or a random punt?

Not my experience I'm afraid.
I just assume that +20h/w is plenty of riding time to get most of people very close to their potential.

Re: kingrollo
I didn't mean to trivialize your problems and I wish you sort them out soon.

kingrollo

Yes - Today I went out and 4 miles on my MTB !

Back not 100% - but being off road meant I was out of the saddle and shifting around

My charge spoon has arrived and fitted - might venture out for a 10 this week....!

geoff_ss

I was at my fittest when I was 50 years old. At that time I was commuting at least 140 miles/week (further if the weather was nice and I rode the long way home) so that kept me fairly fit. I did a 400k audax in under 20 hours which pleased me no end. Especially as I finished at over 23 mph as I wanted to beat the 20 hours.

Unfortunately that year I had an accident with a cat which damaged my spine and ever since I get chronic pain in my limbs and really bad neck and shoulder pain when I ride. So at 71 it's pain rather than fitness that limits my cycling. Mind you I was never fast but I could ride at a steady pace for a long time. I didn't usually bother with a computer but my usual time for the 14 mile ride to work was about 45 minutes.

Because of my back and neck problem I ride using a flat bar road bike I assembled myself because no-one made what I wanted. I think it helps.

kingrollo

O/P Here.

Just an update. I went to see the surgeon today - and to my surprise he did the jab there and then. Its not a steroid but something called prolotherapy - apparently this provokes a reaction which encourages the body to make new fibres - he reckons it was what I had last time (although i was pretty sure it was steroid last time) but as long as it does the trick . He has pencilled me in for 2 more jabs.

Tomorrow I go to Adrain Timmis for a bike fit -which I am quite excited about. I could be back on my bike by the weekend .....!