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ClassifiedsWarton - i can think of a lot worse ways to go.
what age do you give up cycling ?
(152 posts) (93 voices)-
Posted 1 month ago #
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Warton,what a way to go! I'm 48,as fit as ever. No plans to pack in.
A chap in our club is 74,just having a Yeti 5 built-up. He's an inspiration to us all.Posted 1 month ago # -
I would hope I never give up even if it's pootling to the shops... I'll just get a bigger spread of gears (actually I may even get gears!)
crusty old cyclists are to be wary of, they don't bother sprinting but have gazillions of years of conditioning, and can hold a tempo. Whenever my uncle Dennis (GB tricycle TT champion in the 70s, which is technically a world champ as anyone was welcome to enter
says 'oh I don't do racing or anything like that any more' I never believe him, he'd still hammer us all
Posted 1 month ago # -
Age is just a number, allright, some are higher than others. After being harrassed by my 29 year old son to get a MTB, I did! I havn't looked back since, and love the regular rides into the peaks and visiting trail centres around the country. Too old my arse!
Posted 1 month ago # -
FGS I've never heard anything so pathetic. 45? That's only 10 years older than me. I won't be giving up in 10 years. Go to the Cavendish Pavillion at Bolton Abbey on a saturday morning, then you'll see what an old cyclist looks like!!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Did a time-trial a few years ago, a 25m. I had a handicap of about 5mins, most people had 5-10 mins, the odd person with something-teen and one guy with a 35min handicap. I asked how come he got such a big one and got the answer 'Well, he is 84.'
He did 25miles in around one hour 30. Hope I'm that quick at his age.Also, a friend in his late fifties or early sixties I see at the races tells a storey of taking his road bike to the Pyranees, which ends with '...doing 78mph. I could have gone faster but I got scared.'
Posted 1 month ago # -
Some people are 'old' in their 20's. It's only a state of mind and judging by the replies, most of us (I'm 50) would not consider that there is a specific time to hang up your pedals. Most of the people I see on the trails around here ie. those who have ridden their bikes for any distance are 40++.
I've spent today building up a 456 and am gutted that I didn't finish it before it got dark as my lights are knackered.
The people who think you should stop doing certain things at certain ages "because it's a young mans/womans sport" are the ones missing out.
BTW one thing that really annoys me are reps in ski resorts who assume that you ski because of your age.
Conversation 2 years ago -
Rep: will you be hiring ski's sir.
Me: No thanks
Rep: You have your own ?
Me: No
Rep: Well there's lots of things to do for non-skiers.
Me: I know
Rep: Would you like some details?
Me: No thanks
.............Rep moves swiftly onto next person
Me: Excuse me, I'll need a ski pass please
Rep: A ski pass ?
Me: Yeh, at my age I get a bit knackered if I have to walk back up the slopes all day carrying my board !!Posted 1 month ago # -
.....it never ends, I still ride cross, xc and road
61 this year, just bought a new road bike and off to the pyrenees in July. I'd like to do some more cycle touring when I get older!
Posted 1 month ago # -
My girlfriends Mum asked me when I was going to 'grow up' and stop riding bikes.
I replied I'll stop moving when I'm dead.
Posted 1 month ago # -
63 next month and seven years after a heart attack...did 20k over the purbecks on sunday after five weeks off with shin splint and could have done another 20k if it hadnt been so friggin cold!
Posted 1 month ago # -
There are some great stories here!
Made me smile no end.Question though:
im struggilg a lot more now
Can you elaborate? What are struggling with? Age takes its toll, but mid 40's is a good age, especially for the endurance type of riding. We bounce less well, and maybe learning to DH might be a challenge, but your fitness is going to be partly related to the time you spend in the saddle each week.So, get some lights, hook up with some other riders and just pedal - simple I know, but it's what will see you doing just that for many years to come. Stop and getting back into the saddle becomes ever more difficult, especially as fitness comes slower the older you are, but getting back your fitness after a layoff if doubly difficult the longer you leave it.
So just keep up the riding would be my advice as it definately has proven long term implications for your physical and mental wellbeing.
PS - The only real drawback to age as I can see it, is trying to remember where it is exacly you left the bike!
Posted 1 month ago # -
We bounce less well
is that true or another age fib ?
Posted 1 month ago # -
i have trouble remembering where i leave my car half the time... then remember i walked to work that day ! oh dear...lol.....
Posted 1 month ago # -
Simon - of course.
Go and talk to anyone in the fractures clinic of any NHS.
I had the pleasure of taking my mother to several such appointments in the summer. She'll take 2 years to mend and her consultant related a couple of annecdotes about similar breaks in different aged patients and they were up and about far, far quicker than a woman in her mid 70's.Now where did I leave my zimmer frame?
Posted 1 month ago # -
and her consultant related a couple of annecdotes about similar breaks in different aged patients
but that's osteoporosis - is there any evidence that people become any more fragile before that kicks in ? I fall off my bike all the time, but usually a day or 2 later I'm fine
Posted 1 month ago # -
I've got osteopenia (osteoporisis for the under 60's) and had a broken hip as a result.
Bone density is on a scale you don't suddenly become brittle - it just creeps up on you with age. There is evidence that cyclists are more prone to low bone density than other sports due to lack of impact (l;ess so with mtb's I guess) and also that sweating a lot leeches calcium out of your body so cyclists who tend to exercise for longer are also at risk.
Posted 1 month ago # -
it just creeps up on you with age
what, not only if you're a lazy git and don't apply loads to your bones ?
There is evidence that cyclists are more prone to low bone density than other sports due to lack of impact
hmmm, that's not how it feels to me
Ow, ow, ow 
and also that sweating a lot leeches calcium out of your body so cyclists who tend to exercise for longer are also at risk.
presumably only if you have a calcium deficient diet ?
Posted 1 month ago # -
"a calcium deficient diet ?"
I think you have to make a point of eating more calcium than a 'normal' person so, yes, in that respect you are calcium deffiecient if you just eat the recommended amount. I think the problem is that until somethign snaps you don't know you have an issue.
Interesting view on it here
"[cyclists] more likely to have osteopenia and osteoporosis than those in the control group, despite the fact that the cyclists had a greater calcium intake."
Posted 1 month ago # -
I'm looking forward to a retirement of long day rides.
I expect to be meeting lots of old buggers in the hills. Cycling is good for old people 'cos its low impact right? As long as you don't fall off.
You don't see that many old MTBers because the sport is new. See quite a few roadies and tourers.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Cycling is a low-impact sport that puts little mechanical load on the bones.
I wish this were true :o)
Posted 1 month ago # -
Boardmen gave up due to lack of bone density thingy didnt he. I have the same hip problems as Llyton Hewitt the tennisist. I could cycle again if I had a hip replacement but I'm currently waiting to see if the two hip operations I've already had were successful.
Posted 1 month ago # -
it's all relative simon - compared with running we're bad, compared with swimming good.
Posted 1 month ago # -
compared with running we're bad, compared with swimming good.
the article was talking about athletes so lazy people like me need not be concerned
Also nearly everyone I've ever talked to that runs mentions stress injuries...
Posted 1 month ago # -
We had a chap who was in his 70's still riding round on a 3000 quid mountain bike near us.
He was a legend, spent his whole life womanising, smoking pot, and drinking everything your not meant to, used to thoroughly enjoy his tales of going to the gym to letch on flesh a quarter of his age, some would call him a pervert or a sex pest and you'd probably have been right
Almost predictably lung cancer got the better of him, he was still on a bike about 2 weeks before the end. Sound bloke who'd do anything for you.
Stay on the bike is the gist of this...
Posted 1 month ago # -
Rode in France with a guy that's 71 proper fast, found out he was ex GB though.
Like the way he refers to things like Camelbaks as water butts and Fixies are ever-pedals, and he get proper cross at the sight of a frayed cable
Posted 1 month ago # -
44 when i started nearly 3 years ago, our local club has plent of guys in thier 50s and a couple over 60 .
Posted 1 month ago # -
I was told that if you are old, and break something, you get a lower priority in the NHS compared to a younger person. A form of Triage maybe?
I'd hate to find out that is true the hard way.
Posted 1 month ago # -
you get a lower priority in the NHS compared to a younger person
I went to see if I could get a replacement finger joint yesterday and was told I was too young...
Posted 1 month ago # -
Can't see that being the case in anything other than a major incident.
Can you imagine: 10 patients arrive in ambulances and private vehicles at A&E and the only criteria is age! Broken finger of a 10 year old is seen to before broken hip and leg of a 60 year old in massive pain on the guerney.PS - Why do you want a replacement joint? I'm having the same issue with Wiggle as they don't seem to sell jockey wheels for XT reat mech's
Posted 1 month ago # -
My dad is 66 in July and still hoons it around Brechfa every weekend. Don't think there's a cap to an age to stop riding. I'd like to think that I could still ride after I stop driving but don't really want to think about giving up to be honest
Posted 1 month ago # -
Why do you want a replacement joint?
dislocated middle left finger 5 years ago, now limited movement
Posted 1 month ago # -
There was a 72 year old doing an ironman tri-athlon on tv last wk and he was'nt last!
Posted 1 month ago # -
take the metalwork out simon it can't be helping.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Simon - healing of all sorts takes longer the older you get. Its just the nature of the beast.
Being fit will reduce this effect but it remains true - as does decreasing muscle strength with age
Posted 1 month ago # -
healing of all sorts takes longer the older you get
or is it just that's what people expect ?
take the metalwork out simon it can't be helping.
done that thanks:
Posted 1 month ago # -
38 next weekend haven't been out for months, just feel run down and shagged the whole time....
Posted 1 month ago # -
just feel run down and shagged the whole time....
that's not age!
Posted 1 month ago # -
No simon. Its is a proven physiological fact. As your body ages its repair mechanisms become less efficient.
Posted 1 month ago # -
shagged all the time
that's unlikely to be age but a culimination of factors.
Run a self diagnostic and see what your likely isses are, namely: work, stress, sleep patterns, food and liquid intake, weight, expectation and so on.I'm struggling with some darn cold or somemsuch which has been hanging about for 10 days now.
This matters as the older you get, the longer it seems to both recover ones fitness but also improve upon fitness levels. 2 weeks out is going to more akin to 1 month's step backwards as far as my own training is concerned at a guess. Woe is me!
Posted 1 month ago # -
As your body ages its repair mechanisms become less efficient.
when ? By how much ? Why haven't I noticed it yet ?
This matters as the older you get, the longer it seems to both recover ones fitness
people keep saying this like a mantra "Every day, in every way, I'm becoming a clapped out old hasbeen". What of positive attitude ? I'm much fitter than I was when I was 30 and get ill less too, my joints work just the same and I can still bite my own toenails (should I choose to)
Posted 1 month ago #
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