When I hit 90 two years ago, I finally conceded that being fast up hills, or even climbing them effectively at all, was a thing of the past. Varied flat routes being few and far between where I live, I added a ligtweight e-assist friction kit to my road bike, so the hilly routes are on my agenda again for as long as I manage to keep going. Hats off to all who keep going - do it as long as possible.
Yes absolutely brilliant, I’m 65 and already have an e-bike with a little assistance or I would never get up a hill with the knees I have! But I never want to stop riding as I love love love it and hope I’m still doing it when I reach 90🎉😊
I did an 888 mile tour across France. With us there was an 82 year old guy who had his 83rd birthday during the tour. He climbed Mont Ventoux quicker than me (58 at the time). Whenever I struggle I think of him.
I’m coming up quick on 67 and just got back on a bike a month or so ago. I call it meditation on two wheels. Not competing with anybody but myself. I so much appreciate videos like this - common sense stuff - flexibility, strength training, diet and such. Now that I’m retired, I have the time to really focus and get serious about this stuff to maintain my health and to be able to enjoy my daily ride.
62 here. Did a bike tour across Switzerland last year. Started in Geneva, crossed into Italy after a weeks and did the Stelvio and Gavia. Spent a rest day riding round the shore of Garda and rode back to Geneva the following week. Tagged onto a few training pace lines on the way too. I’m still as fast as I was in my forties.
I am 79 and have been cycling for 45 years and since retirement at age 64 have maintained an average of 12,000 km per year. I agree with all you said for the over 60s. I ride 10 months in Toronto and Jan & Feb in Florida. This last year and now I take two days a week off the bike for recovery. Rainy days are when I rest and recover. Once a week for 30 minutes is for weight training and daily stretching exercises. Daily is important to keep the body agile otherwise it will seize up and not recover enough to ride pain free. Cycling is my raison d'etre.
The problem with Cycling in the U.K. is the Weather, haven’t been able to go out on the Bike now for a Couple of weeks because of Torrential Rain and Wind!!
I’m 62, and I’ve noticed that 100k-ish rides don’t feel much different than they did 10 years ago, but they do take longer. I’d say my average speed has dropped about 15% (or more) over the last 10 years. It’s funny how I (probably many people) ride to a perceived level of exertion and that level has (apparently) dropped over the past 10 years, but it _feels_ the same. At least I can still do 100k rides.
@@Kitiwake now that you mention it, yes. Prob 10% more or less. Coincidence? I think my slower speeds are prob a function of both, but I’m feeling like my power loss is the bigger factor. Of course, now I have motivation to drop 15 lbs, for science, to to test the theory. Thanks for the motivation!
64 year old woman, I'm converting to cyclist from runner because running hurts now ! I'd just done transport cycling until then, now I do long rides and enjoy trying new routes as much as possible. For the moment I do a weights session once a week, run twice and cycle a bit or a lot every day. Was in the "most active 1% " on Strava for last year and cycled about 16 500 km... not fast but do have a few QOMs (mostly in a corner of the Dordogne where not many people cycle). I think I eat more healthily than in my 30s- 40s.
I am 65 years old from Norway. Due to osteoarthritis, I had to switch to an electric bicycle. I have been cycling since I was a boy and now I can still enjoy cycling. I no longer dare to cycle in the winter, which is long and dark. Taking care to train so I'm ready for a new season. Not giving up cycling until I have to. I like nature best on quiet forest roads.
64 and I’ve been mountain biking for the past 30+ years and began racing XC and Enduro for the past 3 years. I don’t win, not even in my age class, but racing just makes me feel so good that I might actually be addicted. Literally for 48 hours after a race I feel like I can do anything. Not stiff or sore, I’m just full of that sweet adrenaline/endorphin cocktail. I try to do at least 8-10 races a year.
I’m 74. Max heart rate 178. Pulse 54. Rode 12000 k last year climbed over 400,00 feet. Average speed on flats 22 mph. Can still do 400 watts for 30 minutes. I’ve raced at national level when younger. Did the John Muir Trail Sierras in 10 days 70,000 vertical 211 miles long. So yes it’s kept me healthy
I just hit 1,300 consecutive days of cycling. (June 6th, 2020. A Pandemic project ...) Cycling everyday just becomes a part of my routine, like brushing my teeth! The energy hit sure makes me feel like "conquering the world" as I am faced with the reality of the day! ... the muscle memory is the hidden "golden egg"!
Well I'm a 68yr old posting the 68th comment. Been cycling for 60yrs and I use it for my everyday riding, commuting and food shopping. My go to bike is a Jamis XR26 Trail mountain bike with 21speeds. (22 to 89 gear inches) I can go up a hill sitting down in low gear and the top gear is fine for me. The bicycle is mechanical and very easy to fix. Cycling has kept me healthy over the years. I'm not a competitive cyclist. In 2007, I sold my last car. My bicycle riding is part of a very healthy lifestyle.
Going on 56 this year , fighting Leukemia and riding mountain bike 15 miles a day on average. I have to rest a couple of days a week to recover because the TKI drug I take for Leukemia causes fatigue. But, I give God all the Glory for my Healing! In Jesus name Amen!
I’ve been riding my bike since a very young age and never felt the need to race or even go really fast. To me, many decades later, I feel the same way. Racing and going fast would actually spoil cycling for me!! Enjoy the exercise, seeing the sights around me (and not through a car’s windshield), people, landscapes/cityscapes, stopping at cafes, meeting new people, going to farmers market, and mostly whiffing the wonderful fragrances of the flowers, trees, pizzas, Asian foods, and most of all just enjoying the serenity cycling can bring while simply thinking good thoughts, and so on. Typically cruise at 12 mph, sometimes more sometimes less on my Specialized Crossroads hybrid bike with rear “saddlebags” and an action camera in tow on the handlebars. For me, cycling is about the bike taking me where I want to go around my leafy small city (instead of my car). And, of course, it’s so much more fun than driving! I occasionally see guys “flying by” on their super road bikes and actually think how much they are missing as they zoom down the roadways. Oh, well, to each his own! By the way, I hit over 20 mph on a downhill slope a couple of times. If I really wanted to go faster than that, I’d probably buy a motorcycle.
This advice is spot on. The simple joy of riding on 2 wheels and just how far you can go, is priceless whatever your age. I've ridden well over 100,000 kms in 14 countries (MTB), and still enjoy the freedom of simply getting out there. My recovery time is longer and I need to work more on flexibility. Bottom line, cycling has positive effects no matter what your age or how far you want to take it.
I have been cycling for 8 years constantly long distance 50 70 100 miles a week . I am 65 . And feel like I am in my 30s I have been on chemo for Amalidosa AL for 3 years every wensday. The same day I get chemo I am riding 80 miles .... And not slowing down . First, I have to give God the Gloy my Savior Jesus Christ . In my weakness, I am strong in His Strangth . It's also a mindset .. if you think your old . You're old !!!! I am training for a 200-mile bike race .for this spring... And also Mammoth lake s grandfondo. 107 miles 7000 feet of climbing. Tour of Big Bear 110miles 10,000 feet of climbing . Eat healthy. Keep cycling and don't stop . Also I am a surfers and I surf when the waves get overhead .HB or Trussles in California. Don't have to get old ........
I will be 59 this May and have recently gotten more in to cycling. I started eating much better, cut out alcohol, and feel great! Thank you for the tips! Great video.
Excellent video. As a 65-year-old man who just underwent a radical prostatectomy, the hardest part about this is being told to stay off the bike until at least the first week of March. I only ride indoors and on Zwift and it is sheer hell looking over and seeing my Stages bike and knowing I'm still five weeks away from just pedaling easy. I do know that in a couple of weeks I'll be given the green light to do some light resistance band work. I miss riding!
You'll be amazed at how quickly it all comes back to you after your recovery from surgery. It's very hard to gaze at a bike without touching it but you'll be rewarded for your patience. Happy riding when the day comes. 0:13
I had my Prostatectomy in Sept 2023, i have only recently started going back out on the bike, took my time waited until i had the all clear from my surgeon before going out. Just doing 25 mile rides at the moment but waiting for the weather to improve before i get back to my regular 65 mile routes. I will be 63 in March and still feeling pretty fit, i had a heart pacemaker fitted in 2007 which has helped matters somewhat.
I had a RP 2 years ago, it took me about 6 weeks to get back on the bike. My advice is don't force it, but you'll bounce back quickly. I've felt so much better and stronger on the bike post surgery. Good luck with your recovery, hope you keep the all clears on the PSA
As a 70 year old all of these points are spot on. I have engaged a personal trainer to ensure that I am not doing things wrong as I never trained in a gym ever. The proof is in the pudding as they say as I have improved my Hour record over the one I had at 64-69 Two Canadian age group hour records and looking forward to the next one. Thanks and keep on keeping on
You just get out there and do it. I've been cycling since 17, 67 now, doing 20-30 miles 2 to 4 days a week. Just get out there and do it. Simple. Take the time! I speed walk the other days and hiker. I try and exercise daily. It's a habit I formed
@@54andBoredHe’s not bragging, he’s offering advice & encouragement. I’m 63 and cycle about 2,600 mi a year, as well as golfing, walking and lifting weights 2-4X per week. That’s not bragging, it’s stating what you can do when you’re committed to it. Oh yeah, I’m also a cancer survivor.
77 yr old still cycling but now just fair weather ,after winter it takes a long time to get bike fit again but good fun 😊 hills are now painfully slow but are there to be ridden
I had some bad crashes commuting in the rain. Now I have a stationary trainer in the garage and Zwift during rainy days. Even got my PT to write it into my recovery plan and insurance helped with the cost!
Great points raised guys..I’m not quite 60 yet but just about to turn 56 ..and will be applying a lot what you discussed to my cycling and fitness 👍🏻👍🏻
All great advice guys. I'm 67, been a cyclist over 60 years. Ten years ago I stopped using a bike computer and just riding by feel; I can check what Strava says later. On the recovery side, I completely agree with all you've said. It certainly takes me longer. I should pay more attention to protein. I find my heat tolerance is reducing so I give more attention to hydration. Ride on, folks, ride on!
Wow- what great testimonials to biking. I’m only 81, but still biking to work every day. Recommend a step through frame for our limited hip flexion and an e-bike for catching up with the girls.
I am over 70 and cycling is now my form of exercise as I can no longer run. I also have atrial fibulation (irregular heartbeat). My average speed on my rides between 20k and 30k has dropped from 30kph to 22kph the last 10 years. My maximum heart rate does not exceed 130bpm, no matter how hard I push it! In my 30's it was high 170's. My GP reckons it is all part of ageing, which is unavoidable. My milage now is a modest average of 60km a week. I don't ride in the wet weather . I live in Perth, Australia, which has a medditeranian climate, so dry summers and short wet winters. We also have a very good network of cycleways, so I can avoid riding in traffic. I recently got a titanium bike for my birthday, which is a very comfortable ride. I hope to continue riding as long as I enjoy it, and am confident enough to handle a bike easily.
I'll turn 75 soon. Winter is about over so I'm still in the gym where I do 100 swings with kettlebells and then 50-60 squats and lifts with kettlebells before doing intense ex of 3 sets of-2min spurts on the stair stepper, dreadmill and occasionally on the rowing machine. Also on the elliptical, I do 11mins trying to keep up with crescendos in Scheherazade #4 (Rimsky-Korsakov) where I end with sweat dripping. Then I cool off with a second round of kettlebells. During the summer I do kettlebells and then 20-50miles on the bicycle. For the last 4 yrs I've managed 3k miles/summer and 5k the year prior when I began cycling. I drove down from Chicago to south of Miami in Jan to bike but only got in 300m because of cold and windy weather. I'm hoping to do another 3k this year. I am still putting getting an electric bike.
I'm 63 and still can beat almost all of the local kids on our mountain bike trails for one lap and still have KOM'S for multiple laps set in the last few years. I always say I'm a diesel engine now. I work my core twice a week along with push-ups, also twice a week. I commute an average of 3 days a week 22 miles round trip. Keep moving!!
As a ahem, mature cyclist I train hard and also do heavy weights twice a week. Proper lifts, bench, squat etc and go to max when possible. This is key to maintaining muscle mass.
I am nearly 75 and I have been cycling most of my life since I was 6 years old. I now have an electric bike and go cycling nearly every Sunday morning. It keeps me active.
I moved to a 9 day week a few years ago and I'm now trying a 12 day training period, with the last 5 days as recovery. All in the aid of improving recovery and avoiding overtraining as I age.
Thank you so much for this content as I am turning 66and love riding my bike as it always gives me the feeling of freedom and that five year old that initially discovered that freedom to go anywhere 😊
A few years ago, I finished a workout on Zwift when a small group of riders came by. I decided to ride with them for a bit. They were having a conversation about how frustrating it is trying to improve as you get older. I had to chuckle when one guy posted, “ Ah, it’’s not that bad. It’s just a matter of managing expectations”. So now at 73, my workouts are an exercise in “Managing my Expectations”. :)
61 year old ex road racer , agree with all this , but would add the importance of getting out every week , if I miss one week ,I really notice a downturn in performance , where as when I was younger I could get away with a week off .
I'm 64 and thankful to still be riding and representing. And I'm having fun this winter with a project, upgrading a '90s Specialized Rockhopper Ultra into a gravel bike. And just so y'all know, I will be contending for a trophy in the over-60 class at some gravel races this year. Or an also-ran ribbon. Either way, it's all a blast to still be riding with that competitive fire and not really care all that much about overall placement if you've done your best. And truly, just being out there is victory for older riders and on dirt, for sure, I'll be there to represent the Schwinn Sting-Ray riders of half a century ago. We got around on those bikes, pretty much everywhere until sunset. 😀
Not everyone is lucky to have a good domestic situation. Cycling helps mental health by allowing an escape to the countryside where you can chat with friends away from domestic stress. Caring for your bike provides a sense of purpose & pride. Not ideal but better than just festering in a depressed state
Me 62. Cycling from Coleman Tx to Key west Florida March 1-31 1700miles. Fly back to Dallas April 3 To watch the total eclipse on April 8. Then ride my bike home 200miles back to coleman Tx.
I’m 62 and I not only road cycle but I also do road running throwing in a half marathon a month. I’ve been doing them for a lot of years. I might be slow at both now but happy I can still do it. Long may it last. My rides are mostly in zone 3/4 and my runs are now falling into those zones. Thanks for the informative video. It people like yourselves gives different information where I take your advice.
Strength and conditioning is important as well as flexibility. I have done and still do Judo (I'm 61) I teach more than fight these days but picked up more injuries in my early days as we didn't really do enough stretching and strength and conditioning. Interestingly if I push myself hard for a few days on the trot my VO2max plumets! I have come to learn the 80% Zone 1-2 20% zone 4+ seems to work well being a heavy guy at 112 Kg my Vo2 max is around 42 with a resting heart rate of 48 which I feel is not bad! and I can just about do 100km in under 4 hours so pretty happy with that.
Great information im 65 been riding also since a kid, had a heart and liver transplant in 2019, but im back on the bike, did the seagull centry 66miler in 2022 missed last year due to kidney stones, not the same power as b4 transplant but the same love of cycling, keep pushing!!
Turned 71 last week . Started riding in 2000 but started weight training at 12 back in the 1960s . I have no plans to stop the workouts. I can eat what I want and stay the same as when I was 25
I only started my road bike odyssey during the pandemic. I'm now 63 and hoping to do this year's l'étape an hour faster than last year's. Losing weight will help most, but I've started the year with an 8-week training plan. Starting late in life, I can only get faster!
‘BikeFit’ wasn’t a word as much as a process, in CTC days. I’ve been a bike commuter-tourist since the age of nine, sixty-five now and still not setting my bikes up like a racer, but for extended-ride comfort - which is admittedly much more difficult with most new frames.
I guess I qualify,but just started cycling during Covid - to relieve the boredom. I’m 68 next month. Bought a bike for $100. Just to see how it would feel after not being on one for about 40years. Nervous about the cars at first but the rest is history. This was the one and only good thing about Covid.
Never thought of not stopping cycling. Yes I have raced in many sports including cycling. Now in my early 70's and into fatbikes and bikepacking to get out into nature. My knees and hips do not like me so much anymore with arthritis and 25 pounds over racing weight. It is still fun when combined with Nordic skiing in the winter. Max HR has dropped 45 beats and min. HR has risen just about 15 beats. Just an old laborer who keeps on riding. :)
I’ve just turned 60, and with the right weather and my lightweight bike, I can still achieve an average speed of 18 miles per hour over 40 ish miles. This is better than when I seriously took up road cycling in my early 50’s. Wish I’d started earlier, but you can’t turn the clock back, but you can still improve with age.
I started back on a bike at 60, (eBike, easy in!) & did my 10 k commute. 2 years later progressed onto a "real" bike up to my pension at 65. Now at 70 always looking for "excuses" to ride (To the shops, visit friends etc.) trying to hold on to my fitness. Diving is my hobby, & Bike, Yoga, & Dancing are doing a good job to help me pass my yearly health test. Thanks for the good, solid & clear advice, which is also good for "flat handlebar" cyclists.
I'm 58 this year and I think all theses things are obvious. I feel fast and I can still beat the taxi home but man I can't keep up with so many cyclists anymore.
I lived on the flat coast area for a while and lost power over time. Then I moved to the mountains. It took a while to adjust but now when I go back to the flat lands I am 2mph faster than I was 10 years ago. Im 69.
i am 64 and have a 6 speed Brompton, I cycle out of Central London via Euston Road upto Mornington Crescent , at the main lights there are always 10 or 15 racing bikes, mountain bikes or other specialised bikes I used to ignore the race as the lights changed but decided I would compete, so gradually over about 3 months built my speed up to be out in front the whole way!!! I do not like to compete don't ask me why but I did feel a little something for leaving all the much younger guys behind!
I'm 61 and have been riding bikes all of my life, I love riding the hills and trails in the San Francisco Bay Area East Bay Regional Parks I'm avid mountain biker and I've just purchased my first Ebike, a Wired freedom!!!! I can't wait to get it! Ill still pedal but will have a bit of extra power when the trail gets tough, the tough gets going!!!! ; )
I am too young for this video, I'm only 59 🤣🤣, and I've been a runner for 4 years, (I started at 55) had to stop because of osteoarthritis in the knee. Doctor said start swimming or bicycling instead. So I did last year in September 2023, I got my first gravel bike ever. ). I rode it all winter, and I'm in Sweden with snow n ice! I love it so much I even got myself a good eMtb as well, so now I'm going to start learning to go downhill. I try to do 3 gym 2 cycling days a week, and Id say its never ever to late to start. Ill come back to this video in a year when I have the correct age :). Great video, good talk and I'm subscribed!!
I'm 63 and am over halfway round the world in my virtual challenge to circumnavigate the globe in less than 500 days. I'm on track to finish 50 days ahead of schedule. I cycle on average 63 Km a day, every day, at an average of 27 kph in an average temperature of 35 C on a fitness bike with a high coefficient of aerodynamic drag. I completed my first 100 miles century ride in September 2023 in 6:22:43 in a tropical temperature of 36 C . Next year I will complete a half triathlon: 1 Km swim, 40 Km cycle ride, 10 Km run. A year ago I was in an ICU with a severe respiratory illness at 92 Kg. Today I'm 70 Kg with a physique rating of 9 (out of 9). Cycling was my least favourite discipline of triathlons ~40 years ago but is now my favourite by far.
Very many thanks Elizabeth. I'm now up to 72 Km a day on average, every day, at 28 kph and just this month have so far climbed over 4000 m@@elizabethsheplermusic
63 in April and i love every minute of cycling out side. Home trainer that's another question. ha ha ha!! has to be done in the winter as i live in Austria now and with the weather conditions its just impossible here.
Nice talk! In the Zwift Racing League are a few 60+ riders in the top 10 of their Class. Myself nearly 60 challenge myself with younger ones, and I win often.
Speed can also be dependent, in part, on the type of bike you ride, gearing etc. I like to go fishing as well. So I pile on additional weight into a back pack, stick the rods on the back of the bike for a touch more weight and then select a difficult gear, not the easier bottom 7 as I find them way too easy, and then start on the local hills around Torbay out towards my local fishing venue. A nice hill climb with additional weight in a harder gear is ideal. I would love a good racing bike to be honest. I also keep myself seated during the climb for that touch more stress.
It is not - age - that keeps people off a bicycle. It is the overemphasis on speed, going fast, being hunched over on a over priced bike, wearing skintight uncomfortable clothes, being crushed by an irate SUV. That is what keeps older people off of bikes. I live in Japan, and pevery single day, I see hundreds, maybe thousands of people of all ages including grannies who can barely walk downhill, on their bicycles going around town doing their shopping, going to work, visiting their friends on safe, sane and sensible bicycles and they would never dream of going fast, or competing with traffic.
I'm 75 and bike 8 miles a day (or more) to get to the pool and back. My PCP just told me that my stats are better than some of her patients in their twenties. I started taking glucosamine and cycling twenty years ago to deal with osteoarthritis in the knees. It's worked. After recent MRI's (for a torn meniscus - from a construction accident years ago) I was told that the cartilage is in good shape.
at 72 i've been riding for a year now. sometimes i've overdone and learned about recovery. I definitely need some exersize and stretching in my routines, and learning to fuel my body has been a challenge also.
As far as riding on the road as a 67-year-old, I've seen too many stupid accidents and careless people driving vehicles. So, when I ride my head is on a swivel and my ears are the most important sense I have for situational awareness.
I am now 77, I started cycling on my 14th Birthday 1961, I raced until about 6 years ago, but once my speed dropped below an acceptable level I started riding 'Retro' events in France Belgium and Italy. they are quite tough, but speed is not essential survival though, is the target. Retro Tour of Flanders in June 80k. can't wait.
I'm now 61 and riding 100 miles (and a bit ) in a day, doesn't concern me. I've managed it a few times in 2023 and will do so again this year, if a little slower than 20 years ago, although I don't expect to replicate Reg Harris!
I'm 73, my Mantra is - Strength in Mind then Strength in Body. I believe that if I listen to my body then you can continue. I do push myself but never to the extent when I was 50.
I am 64 and pre Covid I was Zwifting 30 - 45 minutes three to four times a week in the morning before work. At that time, I could do a 20 to 30 mile outside ride on an occasional weekend without any effort at all. Started working at home, got lazy, and stopped Zwifting on a regular basis for the past couple of years. Fast forward to last weekend when I picked up a new bike and took it on a 20 mile outside ride. It just about killed me! My legs were fine, but my backside hurt something fierce!
interesting info as I turned 59. FWIW I gained a bunch of muscle mass from age 50-55, and position-wise I'm still slammed with a -20' stem and comfortable. I do measure myself against anyone who can grab a kom and still average about 10-12 a year. Looking forward to my 60s.
injuries are the tough part for me at 59-1/2 (roadie and cyclocross racer). I had an accident last June 6th and am still healing. Everything takes longer at a certain age. Be careful folks. You might still be fast, but injuries aren't the same as when we were 20-sumthing.
Lol, I thought I'd quit bmx in my late 20's.......over 30 years later still I ride and just started sending MTBs!! Ps after crashing real bad (late 20's), i stared doing yoga....made me bendy...super great.
50 year old vegan here, love cycling and running. My fitness is good, health is good, blood good. Plant based is the way to go, I'm high carb vegan use no caffeine or other stimulants (which are terrible for the body) and I recover super fast and keep up with younger lads no problem.
Well, still cycling at 71, and the main thing I noticed during my 60's decade, is that the potential to lose a lot of strength / muscle mass increased a great deal. I have to make more of an effort not only to challenge myself on the bike, but to hit the gym at least a couple of times per week for basic strength training. Other than the obvious physical health benefits, I find cycling to be a huge mental stress relief at this stage of my life - particularly if I focus on finding routes mostly devoid of automobile traffic. To avoid overuse injury, these days I've adapted to what I call the "three rule" - never do challenging rides more than three days in a row.
One day you may find that regardless of how much you pay ,or get a good bike fit, your body may just break down enough that what we have taken for granted all these years of riding , now makes us uncomfortable!! I developed nerve damage in both hands , found that regardless of what seat i was saddled with , or how upright I rode , there was still an uncomfortable bike beneath me. So I went hiking . I also changed the diamond frame bike to a recumbent touring bike Bacchetta Giro A20 and yes I modified it a bit. I went from 170 mm crank arms to 153 mm all the power and a higher cadence. I realized after many years riding / touring/commuting / leading rides, that 27 gears gives a good spread of choice but I just can not spin at 85-90 rpm in a high gear unless down a hill, so now I have an 18 speed 42-22 on the front with 9 gears for those long slopes fully loaded and 9 gears for everything else . There is very little need to shift the front chainrings unless I am loaded on a tour. As I am now holding the handlebars with 2 positions down from the 5 positions on drop bars , I no longer have any weight on the hands to contend with. Ahhhh yes the seat, I have a full mesh seat that I sit in, not on . There is no standing up to relieve any butt pains on a long ride like I did with the diamond frame so that seat I have on the recumbent has to be comfortable. A diamond frame now would give me speed which I like , however the recumbent gives me speed and comfort , what more could you ask for? Recumbents are Not UCI approved . Unless you are racing ( elbows scraping the ground low ) , a recumbent stands out in traffic and regardless of our looking into the beady eyes of car and truck drivers , we have to be aware that we may or may not be recognized as a vehicle or object that should be avoided. Stay safe out there
You talked about getting an annual medical each year - but where do you go? Getting an appointment at my GP is near impossible so what are the alternatives? Where do you go and to what extent do you get checked?
Two years to go until I hopefully reach 80. Still cycling several times a week and enjoying my pedal assist bike, which is a boon for my arthritic knees. My pet hate is rainy days, as I hate cycling when the rain is driving into my eyes. My other pet hate is inconsiderate drivers. I'm now officially just a grumpy old cyclist!
Hi, I'm 70 I haven't road racing bike for 20 years or more at the moment I've got a on road off road mountain bike which I take out twice a week but I am looking into getting a Trek domane SL6 gen 4 call me crazy, but you can't take it with you. the Bike world out there. clothes. Much more expensive than in my early days specially for an XXX size anyway I have a plan and I'm going to stick to it and get as fit as I can. Hope to see you in 10 years.
My position on my stationary bike is much more relaxed than my road bike because aerodynamics isn’t going to slow me down in the garage, but I do feel the difference with more neck and shoulder stiffness after an outdoor ride. Nothing with the core though, but maybe the neck and shoulders are compensating for my core??
I realized in my late 60's that I'd lost 2" of height over the previous years and wasn't comfortable on the bike anymore. This wasn't a position problem as you addressed but I needed a different size frame. So I turned my 30-yr old "good" bike into my grocery getter and bought a new bike based on the size recommendation from a professional fitter. That made a big difference and felt like I was taking years off my age. Bottom line: pay attention to your height which directly affects reach.
Joe Friel said in one of his books that it's important for older riders not to take extended breaks over a 'certain' age, or you might never retain the lost fitness. I can't remember the age of length of break, but it could've been over 40 or 45, and 'several' months.
I’m coming up on 69 soon and only came up to average sixty miles per week these last few years weather permitting, have lost weight through diet changes and only wish I’d have started in my 40’s but family and work always prevailed I ride mostly flat and try to push myself and am concerned about upper body strength, looking at new endurance style bikes could you recommend?
Keep up the good work, we'll have our latest endurance bikes buyer's guide live on the road.cc website very soon, you might want to take a look at the Lauf Uthald which we recently gave 9/10
When I hit 90 two years ago, I finally conceded that being fast up hills, or even climbing them effectively at all, was a thing of the past. Varied flat routes being few and far between where I live, I added a ligtweight e-assist friction kit to my road bike, so the hilly routes are on my agenda again for as long as I manage to keep going. Hats off to all who keep going - do it as long as possible.
Bravo Sir!
Inspiring to hear
Champion
What matters is that you're still on your bike.
Yes absolutely brilliant, I’m 65 and already have an e-bike with a little assistance or I would never get up a hill with the knees I have! But I never want to stop riding as I love love love it and hope I’m still doing it when I reach 90🎉😊
I did an 888 mile tour across France. With us there was an 82 year old guy who had his 83rd birthday during the tour. He climbed Mont Ventoux quicker than me (58 at the time). Whenever I struggle I think of him.
Hit 65 last November, no plans on stopping anytime, being on my bike makes feel better than anything else!
great, but perhaps get a 21 year old girlfriend
I have a friend who is 79 and he finds his gravel bike enjoyable .@@lifesaver3499
@@lifesaver3499Are you trying to kill him?
68 here and I know what you mean.
65 here and a couple of years ago I bought SL7 Pro ❤️
I’m coming up quick on 67 and just got back on a bike a month or so ago. I call it meditation on two wheels. Not competing with anybody but myself. I so much appreciate videos like this - common sense stuff - flexibility, strength training, diet and such. Now that I’m retired, I have the time to really focus and get serious about this stuff to maintain my health and to be able to enjoy my daily ride.
I did the same ,easy as ya go.but I do 2500 miles on more a year.
It's nice just nice to ride and enjoy it ,🍺🚴🍺
72 here. Climbed the Stelvio last June, Ronda Sella and Campo Imperatore in Abruzzo. Take it slow and steady. Enjoy your kit and being out in nature.
Stelvio! Go you!
62 here.
Did a bike tour across Switzerland last year. Started in Geneva, crossed into Italy after a weeks and did the Stelvio and Gavia. Spent a rest day riding round the shore of Garda and rode back to Geneva the following week.
Tagged onto a few training pace lines on the way too. I’m still as fast as I was in my forties.
I am 79 and have been cycling for 45 years and since retirement at age 64 have maintained an average of 12,000 km per year. I agree with all you said for the over 60s. I ride 10 months in Toronto and Jan & Feb in Florida. This last year and now I take two days a week off the bike for recovery. Rainy days are when I rest and recover. Once a week for 30 minutes is for weight training and daily stretching exercises. Daily is important to keep the body agile otherwise it will seize up and not recover enough to ride pain free. Cycling is my raison d'etre.
Thank you I'm on the right track at 54 .cheers
The problem with Cycling in the U.K. is the Weather, haven’t been able to go out on the Bike now for a Couple of weeks because of Torrential Rain and Wind!!
@@steveturner609 yup unfortunately weather is the for the birds lol. Hit the gym for me lol
I love cycling in Toronto been here for 5 years much better than cycling in the UK
@@steveturner609 You should try a stationary trainer/bike maybe in the garage or shed. Take a book or your phone and you can multitask.
A man from my home community in Indiana died 4 years ago at age 102. His daughter told me he took his last ride 2 weeks before he passed.
I’m 62, and I’ve noticed that 100k-ish rides don’t feel much different than they did 10 years ago, but they do take longer. I’d say my average speed has dropped about 15% (or more) over the last 10 years. It’s funny how I (probably many people) ride to a perceived level of exertion and that level has (apparently) dropped over the past 10 years, but it _feels_ the same. At least I can still do 100k rides.
Weight increase?
@@Kitiwake now that you mention it, yes. Prob 10% more or less. Coincidence? I think my slower speeds are prob a function of both, but I’m feeling like my power loss is the bigger factor. Of course, now I have motivation to drop 15 lbs, for science, to to test the theory. Thanks for the motivation!
15lb is roughly the weight of the bike 😀
64 year old woman, I'm converting to cyclist from runner because running hurts now ! I'd just done transport cycling until then, now I do long rides and enjoy trying new routes as much as possible. For the moment I do a weights session once a week, run twice and cycle a bit or a lot every day. Was in the "most active 1% " on Strava for last year and cycled about 16 500 km... not fast but do have a few QOMs (mostly in a corner of the Dordogne where not many people cycle). I think I eat more healthily than in my 30s- 40s.
I am 65 years old from Norway. Due to osteoarthritis, I had to switch to an electric bicycle. I have been cycling since I was a boy and now I can still enjoy cycling. I no longer dare to cycle in the winter, which is long and dark. Taking care to train so I'm ready for a new season. Not giving up cycling until I have to. I like nature best on quiet forest roads.
64 and I’ve been mountain biking for the past 30+ years and began racing XC and Enduro for the past 3 years. I don’t win, not even in my age class, but racing just makes me feel so good that I might actually be addicted. Literally for 48 hours after a race I feel like I can do anything. Not stiff or sore, I’m just full of that sweet adrenaline/endorphin cocktail. I try to do at least 8-10 races a year.
I do 10 mile TT's at the age of 75 and my ambition is to break 30 mins still a bit out but I will keep on trying - only myself to beat.😊
I’m 74. Max heart rate 178. Pulse 54. Rode 12000 k last year climbed over 400,00 feet. Average speed on flats 22 mph. Can still do 400 watts for 30 minutes. I’ve raced at national level when younger. Did the John Muir Trail Sierras in 10 days 70,000 vertical 211 miles long. So yes it’s kept me healthy
Nice
U ever race against John Howard ?
Damn impressive! Keep up the great work.
That muscle "memory" is a great thing!
that heart rate stat is outstanding. How do you think you've done it? And how much has it declined since you were, say, 54?
77 and did the Alps with my Son last year. Alp d’Huez Galibier etc Just a joy to sharing special time
I just hit 1,300 consecutive days of cycling. (June 6th, 2020. A Pandemic project ...) Cycling everyday just becomes a part of my routine, like brushing my teeth! The energy hit sure makes me feel like "conquering the world" as I am faced with the reality of the day! ... the muscle memory is the hidden "golden egg"!
61 years young , did the Zwift climbing portal , top 91% overall . Riding mtb , gravel and hiking , push ups , some plyometrics feels good to me.
Well I'm a 68yr old posting the 68th comment. Been cycling for 60yrs and I use it for my everyday riding, commuting and food shopping. My go to bike is a Jamis XR26 Trail mountain bike with 21speeds. (22 to 89 gear inches) I can go up a hill sitting down in low gear and the top gear is fine for me. The bicycle is mechanical and very easy to fix. Cycling has kept me healthy over the years. I'm not a competitive cyclist. In 2007, I sold my last car. My bicycle riding is part of a very healthy lifestyle.
Going on 56 this year , fighting Leukemia and riding mountain bike 15 miles a day on average. I have to rest a couple of days a week to recover because the TKI drug I take for Leukemia causes fatigue. But, I give God all the Glory for my Healing! In Jesus name Amen!
Ive got CML and take drugs for it. good for you my friend! keep living.
I’ve been riding my bike since a very young age and never felt the need to race or even go really fast. To me, many decades later, I feel the same way. Racing and going fast would actually spoil cycling for me!! Enjoy the exercise, seeing the sights around me (and not through a car’s windshield), people, landscapes/cityscapes, stopping at cafes, meeting new people, going to farmers market, and mostly whiffing the wonderful fragrances of the flowers, trees, pizzas, Asian foods, and most of all just enjoying the serenity cycling can bring while simply thinking good thoughts, and so on. Typically cruise at 12 mph, sometimes more sometimes less on my Specialized Crossroads hybrid bike with rear “saddlebags” and an action camera in tow on the handlebars. For me, cycling is about the bike taking me where I want to go around my leafy small city (instead of my car). And, of course, it’s so much more fun than driving! I occasionally see guys “flying by” on their super road bikes and actually think how much they are missing as they zoom down the roadways. Oh, well, to each his own! By the way, I hit over 20 mph on a downhill slope a couple of times. If I really wanted to go faster than that, I’d probably buy a motorcycle.
This advice is spot on. The simple joy of riding on 2 wheels and just how far you can go, is priceless whatever your age. I've ridden well over 100,000 kms in 14 countries (MTB), and still enjoy the freedom of simply getting out there. My recovery time is longer and I need to work more on flexibility. Bottom line, cycling has positive effects no matter what your age or how far you want to take it.
I have been cycling for 8 years constantly long distance 50 70 100 miles a week .
I am 65 . And feel like I am in my 30s
I have been on chemo for Amalidosa AL for 3 years every wensday. The same day I get chemo I am riding 80 miles ....
And not slowing down .
First, I have to give God the Gloy my Savior Jesus Christ . In my weakness, I am strong in His Strangth .
It's also a mindset .. if you think your old . You're old !!!!
I am training for a 200-mile bike race .for this spring...
And also Mammoth lake s grandfondo. 107 miles 7000 feet of climbing.
Tour of Big Bear 110miles 10,000 feet of climbing .
Eat healthy. Keep cycling and don't stop .
Also I am a surfers and I surf when the waves get overhead .HB or Trussles in California.
Don't have to get old ........
Amen brother. Go for it
absolutely - we're getting younger as we go on . God Bless !
I will be 59 this May and have recently gotten more in to cycling. I started eating much better, cut out alcohol, and feel great! Thank you for the tips! Great video.
Good work!
Good, that stuff was poisoning you.
Excellent video. As a 65-year-old man who just underwent a radical prostatectomy, the hardest part about this is being told to stay off the bike until at least the first week of March. I only ride indoors and on Zwift and it is sheer hell looking over and seeing my Stages bike and knowing I'm still five weeks away from just pedaling easy. I do know that in a couple of weeks I'll be given the green light to do some light resistance band work. I miss riding!
You'll be amazed at how quickly it all comes back to you after your recovery from surgery. It's very hard to gaze at a bike without touching it but you'll be rewarded for your patience. Happy riding when the day comes. 0:13
I had my Prostatectomy in Sept 2023, i have only recently started going back out on the bike, took my time waited until i had the all clear from my surgeon before going out. Just doing 25 mile rides at the moment but waiting for the weather to improve before i get back to my regular 65 mile routes. I will be 63 in March and still feeling pretty fit, i had a heart pacemaker fitted in 2007 which has helped matters somewhat.
I had a RP 2 years ago, it took me about 6 weeks to get back on the bike. My advice is don't force it, but you'll bounce back quickly. I've felt so much better and stronger on the bike post surgery. Good luck with your recovery, hope you keep the all clears on the PSA
As a 70 year old all of these points are spot on. I have engaged a personal trainer to ensure that I am not doing things wrong as I never trained in a gym ever. The proof is in the pudding as they say as I have improved my Hour record over the one I had at 64-69 Two Canadian age group hour records and looking forward to the next one. Thanks and keep on keeping on
Great to hear!
You just get out there and do it. I've been cycling since 17, 67 now, doing 20-30 miles 2 to 4 days a week. Just get out there and do it. Simple. Take the time! I speed walk the other days and hiker. I try and exercise daily. It's a habit I formed
@@54andBoredHe’s not bragging, he’s offering advice & encouragement. I’m 63 and cycle about 2,600 mi a year, as well as golfing, walking and lifting weights 2-4X per week. That’s not bragging, it’s stating what you can do when you’re committed to it. Oh yeah, I’m also a cancer survivor.
77 yr old still cycling but now just fair weather ,after winter it takes a long time to get bike fit again but good fun 😊 hills are now painfully slow but are there to be ridden
I had some bad crashes commuting in the rain. Now I have a stationary trainer in the garage and Zwift during rainy days. Even got my PT to write it into my recovery plan and insurance helped with the cost!
Great points raised guys..I’m not quite 60 yet but just about to turn 56 ..and will be applying a lot what you discussed to my cycling and fitness 👍🏻👍🏻
All great advice guys.
I'm 67, been a cyclist over 60 years.
Ten years ago I stopped using a bike computer and just riding by feel; I can check what Strava says later.
On the recovery side, I completely agree with all you've said. It certainly takes me longer. I should pay more attention to protein. I find my heat tolerance is reducing so I give more attention to hydration.
Ride on, folks, ride on!
Wow- what great testimonials to biking. I’m only 81, but still biking to work every day. Recommend a step through frame for our limited hip flexion and an e-bike for catching up with the girls.
I am over 70 and cycling is now my form of exercise as I can no longer run.
I also have atrial fibulation (irregular heartbeat). My average speed on my rides between 20k and 30k has dropped from 30kph to 22kph the last 10 years. My maximum heart rate does not exceed 130bpm, no matter how hard I push it! In my 30's it was high 170's.
My GP reckons it is all part of ageing, which is unavoidable.
My milage now is a modest average of 60km a week. I don't ride in the wet weather . I live in Perth, Australia, which has a medditeranian climate, so dry summers and short wet winters. We also have a very good network of cycleways, so I can avoid riding in traffic.
I recently got a titanium bike for my birthday, which is a very comfortable ride.
I hope to continue riding as long as I enjoy it, and am confident enough to handle a bike easily.
Fast uphill now that’s where it’s at, I’m still trying at 61, those 13% grade are a killer
I'll turn 75 soon. Winter is about over so I'm still in the gym where I do 100 swings with kettlebells and then 50-60 squats and lifts with kettlebells before doing intense ex of 3 sets of-2min spurts on the stair stepper, dreadmill and occasionally on the rowing machine. Also on the elliptical, I do 11mins trying to keep up with crescendos in Scheherazade #4
(Rimsky-Korsakov) where I end with sweat dripping. Then I cool off with a second round of kettlebells. During the summer I do kettlebells and then 20-50miles on the bicycle. For the last 4 yrs I've managed 3k miles/summer and 5k the year prior when I began cycling. I drove down from Chicago to south of Miami in Jan to bike but only got in 300m because of cold and windy weather. I'm hoping to do another 3k this year. I am still putting getting an electric bike.
I'm 63 and still can beat almost all of the local kids on our mountain bike trails for one lap and still have KOM'S for multiple laps set in the last few years. I always say I'm a diesel engine now. I work my core twice a week along with push-ups, also twice a week. I commute an average of 3 days a week 22 miles round trip. Keep moving!!
As a ahem, mature cyclist I train hard and also do heavy weights twice a week. Proper lifts, bench, squat etc and go to max when possible. This is key to maintaining muscle mass.
Guys, don't be afraid to lift heavy. Focus on technique, and then add load. And add load.
Go Jason. My old team mate in CC Abergavenny. Unfortunately, this advice is becoming ever more relevant.
I am nearly 75 and I have been cycling most of my life since I was 6 years old. I now have an electric bike and go cycling nearly every Sunday morning. It keeps me active.
I moved to a 9 day week a few years ago and I'm now trying a 12 day training period, with the last 5 days as recovery. All in the aid of improving recovery and avoiding overtraining as I age.
Overtraining is good to avoid!
Recovery is getting slower, and hydration is getting harder :-)
Thank you so much for this content as I am turning 66and love riding my bike as it always gives me the feeling of freedom and that five year old that initially discovered that freedom to go anywhere 😊
A few years ago, I finished a workout on Zwift when a small group of riders came by. I decided to ride with them for a bit. They were having a conversation about how frustrating it is trying to improve as you get older. I had to chuckle when one guy posted, “ Ah, it’’s not that bad. It’s just a matter of managing expectations”. So now at 73, my workouts are an exercise in “Managing my Expectations”. :)
61 year old ex road racer , agree with all this , but would add the importance of getting out every week , if I miss one week ,I really notice a downturn in performance , where as when I was younger I could get away with a week off .
Yes, that edge soon goes, but the base fitness is still there.
I'm 64 and thankful to still be riding and representing. And I'm having fun this winter with a project, upgrading a '90s Specialized Rockhopper Ultra into a gravel bike. And just so y'all know, I will be contending for a trophy in the over-60 class at some gravel races this year. Or an also-ran ribbon. Either way, it's all a blast to still be riding with that competitive fire and not really care all that much about overall placement if you've done your best. And truly, just being out there is victory for older riders and on dirt, for sure, I'll be there to represent the Schwinn Sting-Ray riders of half a century ago. We got around on those bikes, pretty much everywhere until sunset. 😀
Nice! Keep it up Robb!
Not everyone is lucky to have a good domestic situation. Cycling helps mental health by allowing an escape to the countryside where you can chat with friends away from domestic stress. Caring for your bike provides a sense of purpose & pride. Not ideal but better than just festering in a depressed state
Well said Charlie!
Me 62. Cycling from Coleman Tx to
Key west Florida March 1-31
1700miles. Fly back to Dallas April 3
To watch the total eclipse on April 8.
Then ride my bike home 200miles back to coleman Tx.
I’m 62 and I not only road cycle but I also do road running throwing in a half marathon a month. I’ve been doing them for a lot of years. I might be slow at both now but happy I can still do it. Long may it last. My rides are mostly in zone 3/4 and my runs are now falling into those zones. Thanks for the informative video. It people like yourselves gives different information where I take your advice.
Strength and conditioning is important as well as flexibility. I have done and still do Judo (I'm 61) I teach more than fight these days but picked up more injuries in my early days as we didn't really do enough stretching and strength and conditioning. Interestingly if I push myself hard for a few days on the trot my VO2max plumets! I have come to learn the 80% Zone 1-2 20% zone 4+ seems to work well being a heavy guy at 112 Kg my Vo2 max is around 42 with a resting heart rate of 48 which I feel is not bad! and I can just about do 100km in under 4 hours so pretty happy with that.
“Built for distance, not speed” - the time old adage coming from this 70 year old. Cheers, mates.
Great information im 65 been riding also since a kid, had a heart and liver transplant in 2019, but im back on the bike, did the seagull centry 66miler in 2022 missed last year due to kidney stones, not the same power as b4 transplant but the same love of cycling, keep pushing!!
Turned 71 last week . Started riding in 2000 but started weight training at 12 back in the 1960s . I have no plans to stop the workouts. I can eat what I want and stay the same as when I was 25
Off the bike I use a TRX Suspension Training kit for strength; super low impact but it does the trick (63)
Great video! Thanks! See you in 10 years hopefully for the 70s version.
Riding a bike makes me feel like a kid again!
Cheers Anthony, hopefully we can make something in the meantime worth watching haha ;)
I only started my road bike odyssey during the pandemic. I'm now 63 and hoping to do this year's l'étape an hour faster than last year's. Losing weight will help most, but I've started the year with an 8-week training plan. Starting late in life, I can only get faster!
‘BikeFit’ wasn’t a word as much as a process, in CTC days. I’ve been a bike commuter-tourist since the age of nine, sixty-five now and still not setting my bikes up like a racer, but for extended-ride comfort - which is admittedly much more difficult with most new frames.
I guess I qualify,but just started cycling during Covid - to relieve the boredom. I’m 68 next month.
Bought a bike for $100. Just to see how it would feel after not being on one for about 40years. Nervous about the cars at first but the rest is history. This was the one and only good thing about Covid.
Never thought of not stopping cycling. Yes I have raced in many sports including cycling. Now in my early 70's and into fatbikes and bikepacking to get out into nature. My knees and hips do not like me so much anymore with arthritis and 25 pounds over racing weight. It is still fun when combined with Nordic skiing in the winter. Max HR has dropped 45 beats and min. HR has risen just about 15 beats. Just an old laborer who keeps on riding. :)
Who would want to cycle in their 70s
haha most all cyclists I know who ride in their 70's can put just about any cyclist to shame. They are also avid Nordic skiers@@54andBored
@@ucanskixc568 well not me but we'll see what technology brings in 20 yrs lol
@@ucanskixc568 I do see a guy looks in his 70s zipping around here like a Maniac lolol
I’ve just turned 60, and with the right weather and my lightweight bike, I can still achieve an average speed of 18 miles per hour over 40 ish miles. This is better than when I seriously took up road cycling in my early 50’s. Wish I’d started earlier, but you can’t turn the clock back, but you can still improve with age.
I started back on a bike at 60, (eBike, easy in!) & did my 10 k commute. 2 years later progressed onto a "real" bike up to my pension at 65. Now at 70 always looking for "excuses" to ride (To the shops, visit friends etc.) trying to hold on to my fitness. Diving is my hobby, & Bike, Yoga, & Dancing are doing a good job to help me pass my yearly health test. Thanks for the good, solid & clear advice, which is also good for "flat handlebar" cyclists.
I'm 58 this year and I think all theses things are obvious. I feel fast and I can still beat the taxi home but man I can't keep up with so many cyclists anymore.
I'll be 70 this July, can't wait 10 years for your next Top Tips!
I lived on the flat coast area for a while and lost power over time. Then I moved to the mountains. It took a while to adjust but now when I go back to the flat lands I am 2mph faster than I was 10 years ago. Im 69.
i am 64 and have a 6 speed Brompton, I cycle out of Central London via Euston Road upto Mornington Crescent , at the main lights there are always 10 or 15 racing bikes, mountain bikes or other specialised bikes I used to ignore the race as the lights changed but decided I would compete, so gradually over about 3 months built my speed up to be out in front the whole way!!! I do not like to compete don't ask me why but I did feel a little something for leaving all the much younger guys behind!
I'm 61 and have been riding bikes all of my life, I love riding the hills and trails in the San Francisco Bay Area East Bay Regional Parks I'm avid mountain biker and I've just purchased my first Ebike, a Wired freedom!!!! I can't wait to get it! Ill still pedal but will have a bit of extra power when the trail gets tough, the tough gets going!!!! ; )
Brilliant, practical common sense advice and some great funny remarks 😆😆
74 have gone over to electric mountain bike its the best move I have ever made and the mountain bike can cope with our terrible potholed roads.
I’m 39 and fat, might as well be 60. Tips noted.
I am too young for this video, I'm only 59 🤣🤣, and I've been a runner for 4 years, (I started at 55) had to stop because of osteoarthritis in the knee. Doctor said start swimming or bicycling instead. So I did last year in September 2023, I got my first gravel bike ever. ).
I rode it all winter, and I'm in Sweden with snow n ice! I love it so much I even got myself a good eMtb as well, so now I'm going to start learning to go downhill. I try to do 3 gym 2 cycling days a week, and Id say its never ever to late to start.
Ill come back to this video in a year when I have the correct age :). Great video, good talk and I'm subscribed!!
I'm 63 and am over halfway round the world in my virtual challenge to circumnavigate the globe in less than 500 days. I'm on track to finish 50 days ahead of schedule. I cycle on average 63 Km a day, every day, at an average of 27 kph in an average temperature of 35 C on a fitness bike with a high coefficient of aerodynamic drag. I completed my first 100 miles century ride in September 2023 in 6:22:43 in a tropical temperature of 36 C . Next year I will complete a half triathlon: 1 Km swim, 40 Km cycle ride, 10 Km run. A year ago I was in an ICU with a severe respiratory illness at 92 Kg. Today I'm 70 Kg with a physique rating of 9 (out of 9). Cycling was my least favourite discipline of triathlons ~40 years ago but is now my favourite by far.
So inspirational!!♥️
Very many thanks Elizabeth. I'm now up to 72 Km a day on average, every day, at 28 kph and just this month have so far climbed over 4000 m@@elizabethsheplermusic
63 in April and i love every minute of cycling out side. Home trainer that's another question. ha ha ha!! has to be done in the winter as i live in Austria now and with the weather conditions its just impossible here.
Nice talk! In the Zwift Racing League are a few 60+ riders in the top 10 of their Class. Myself nearly 60 challenge myself with younger ones, and I win often.
Nearing 67 .. first raced a stage race just before turning 60 .. still learning and fitting it in with work ..
Speed can also be dependent, in part, on the type of bike you ride, gearing etc. I like to go fishing as well. So I pile on additional weight into a back pack, stick the rods on the back of the bike for a touch more weight and then select a difficult gear, not the easier bottom 7 as I find them way too easy, and then start on the local hills around Torbay out towards my local fishing venue. A nice hill climb with additional weight in a harder gear is ideal. I would love a good racing bike to be honest. I also keep myself seated during the climb for that touch more stress.
It is not - age - that keeps people off a bicycle.
It is the overemphasis on speed, going fast, being hunched over on a over priced bike, wearing skintight uncomfortable clothes, being crushed by an irate SUV. That is what keeps older people off of bikes. I live in Japan, and pevery single day, I see hundreds, maybe thousands of people of all ages including grannies who can barely walk downhill, on their bicycles going around town doing their shopping, going to work, visiting their friends on safe, sane and sensible bicycles and they would never dream of going fast, or competing with traffic.
I'm 75 and bike 8 miles a day (or more) to get to the pool and back. My PCP just told me that my stats are better than some of her patients in their twenties. I started taking glucosamine and cycling twenty years ago to deal with osteoarthritis in the knees. It's worked. After recent MRI's (for a torn meniscus - from a construction accident years ago) I was told that the cartilage is in good shape.
at 72 i've been riding for a year now. sometimes i've overdone and learned about recovery. I definitely need some exersize and stretching in my routines, and learning to fuel my body has been a challenge also.
As far as riding on the road as a 67-year-old, I've seen too many stupid accidents and careless people driving vehicles. So, when I ride my head is on a swivel and my ears are the most important sense I have for situational awareness.
I am now 77, I started cycling on my 14th Birthday 1961, I raced until about 6 years ago, but once my speed dropped below an acceptable level I started riding 'Retro' events in France Belgium and Italy. they are quite tough, but speed is not essential survival though, is the target. Retro Tour of Flanders in June 80k. can't wait.
I still love going fast, that's what hills and mountains are for :)
I'm now 61 and riding 100 miles (and a bit ) in a day, doesn't concern me. I've managed it a few times in 2023 and will do so again this year, if a little slower than 20 years ago, although I don't expect to replicate Reg Harris!
I'm 73, my Mantra is - Strength in Mind then Strength in Body. I believe that if I listen to my body then you can continue. I do push myself but never to the extent when I was 50.
I am 64 and pre Covid I was Zwifting 30 - 45 minutes three to four times a week in the morning before work. At that time, I could do a 20 to 30 mile outside ride on an occasional weekend without any effort at all. Started working at home, got lazy, and stopped Zwifting on a regular basis for the past couple of years. Fast forward to last weekend when I picked up a new bike and took it on a 20 mile outside ride. It just about killed me! My legs were fine, but my backside hurt something fierce!
interesting info as I turned 59. FWIW I gained a bunch of muscle mass from age 50-55, and position-wise I'm still slammed with a -20' stem and comfortable. I do measure myself against anyone who can grab a kom and still average about 10-12 a year. Looking forward to my 60s.
Old man strength you can't beat it
injuries are the tough part for me at 59-1/2 (roadie and cyclocross racer). I had an accident last June 6th and am still healing. Everything takes longer at a certain age. Be careful folks. You might still be fast, but injuries aren't the same as when we were 20-sumthing.
Lol, I thought I'd quit bmx in my late 20's.......over 30 years later still I ride and just started sending MTBs!!
Ps after crashing real bad (late 20's), i stared doing yoga....made me bendy...super great.
Great video. Very pragmatic. Thank you guys
50 year old vegan here, love cycling and running. My fitness is good, health is good, blood good. Plant based is the way to go, I'm high carb vegan use no caffeine or other stimulants (which are terrible for the body) and I recover super fast and keep up with younger lads no problem.
Well, still cycling at 71, and the main thing I noticed during my 60's decade, is that the potential to lose a lot of strength / muscle mass increased a great deal. I have to make more of an effort not only to challenge myself on the bike, but to hit the gym at least a couple of times per week for basic strength training. Other than the obvious physical health benefits, I find cycling to be a huge mental stress relief at this stage of my life - particularly if I focus on finding routes mostly devoid of automobile traffic. To avoid overuse injury, these days I've adapted to what I call the "three rule" - never do challenging rides more than three days in a row.
Bodyweight and Dumbbell exercises at home are wonderful for Exercise off the bike to stay strong.
One day you may find that regardless of how much you pay ,or get a good bike fit, your body may just break down enough that what we have taken for granted all these years of riding , now makes us uncomfortable!! I developed nerve damage in both hands , found that regardless of what seat i was saddled with , or how upright I rode , there was still an uncomfortable bike beneath me.
So I went hiking .
I also changed the diamond frame bike to a recumbent touring bike Bacchetta Giro A20 and yes I modified it a bit.
I went from 170 mm crank arms to 153 mm all the power and a higher cadence.
I realized after many years riding / touring/commuting / leading rides, that 27 gears gives a good spread of choice but I just can not spin at 85-90 rpm in a high gear unless down a hill, so now I have an 18 speed 42-22 on the front with 9 gears for those long slopes fully loaded and 9 gears for everything else . There is very little need to shift the front chainrings unless I am loaded on a tour.
As I am now holding the handlebars with 2 positions down from the 5 positions on drop bars , I no longer have any weight on the hands to contend with.
Ahhhh yes the seat, I have a full mesh seat that I sit in, not on . There is no standing up to relieve any butt pains on a long ride like I did with the diamond frame so that seat I have on the recumbent has to be comfortable.
A diamond frame now would give me speed which I like , however the recumbent gives me speed and comfort , what more could you ask for?
Recumbents are Not UCI approved .
Unless you are racing ( elbows scraping the ground low ) , a recumbent stands out in traffic and regardless of our looking into the beady eyes of car and truck drivers , we have to be aware that we may or may not be recognized as a vehicle or object that should be avoided.
Stay safe out there
You talked about getting an annual medical each year - but where do you go? Getting an appointment at my GP is near impossible so what are the alternatives? Where do you go and to what extent do you get checked?
AWESOMENESS!!! thank you for sharing this!!! 😎
At 76, 6yr resuming biking, I wonder if higher (harder but slower) gears are better for muscle maintenance or if lower, easier gears are best.
Two years to go until I hopefully reach 80. Still cycling several times a week and enjoying my pedal assist bike, which is a boon for my arthritic knees. My pet hate is rainy days, as I hate cycling when the rain is driving into my eyes. My other pet hate is inconsiderate drivers. I'm now officially just a grumpy old cyclist!
Hi, I'm 70 I haven't road racing bike for 20 years or more at the moment I've got a on road off road mountain bike which I take out twice a week but I am looking into getting a Trek domane
SL6 gen 4 call me crazy, but you can't take it with you. the Bike world out there. clothes. Much more expensive than in my early days specially for an XXX size anyway I have a plan and I'm going to stick to it and get as fit as I can. Hope to see you in 10 years.
My position on my stationary bike is much more relaxed than my road bike because aerodynamics isn’t going to slow me down in the garage, but I do feel the difference with more neck and shoulder stiffness after an outdoor ride. Nothing with the core though, but maybe the neck and shoulders are compensating for my core??
Hitting 60 this year. I am looking forward to aging on my bike…..my bigger challenge is gravity, at 2.04 metres and 135kilos!
I'm only happy on the bike when I am punishing myself. I can't help it.
I realized in my late 60's that I'd lost 2" of height over the previous years and wasn't comfortable on the bike anymore. This wasn't a position problem as you addressed but I needed a different size frame. So I turned my 30-yr old "good" bike into my grocery getter and bought a new bike based on the size recommendation from a professional fitter. That made a big difference and felt like I was taking years off my age. Bottom line: pay attention to your height which directly affects reach.
Always enjoy your analysis, interesting that the Sony model numbers leaked so far did not look to have any 98" models.🤔
Joe Friel said in one of his books that it's important for older riders not to take extended breaks over a 'certain' age, or you might never retain the lost fitness. I can't remember the age of length of break, but it could've been over 40 or 45, and 'several' months.
I’m coming up on 69 soon and only came up to average sixty miles per week these last few years weather permitting, have lost weight through diet changes and only wish I’d have started in my 40’s but family and work always prevailed I ride mostly flat and try to push myself and am concerned about upper body strength, looking at new endurance style bikes could you recommend?
Keep up the good work, we'll have our latest endurance bikes buyer's guide live on the road.cc website very soon, you might want to take a look at the Lauf Uthald which we recently gave 9/10
I am 66 and don’t plan stopping at all but I have a higher awareness of injury avoidance
My takeaway; "Gotta keep on moving!"
Absolutely!