Cyclist0108

Lots of threads on being old and fast ...

But are you old and fat?

Have any stories about whoopin' the younger guy's fat rear ends on a group ride?

Have you gotten to the top of the hill first, or at least not last, despite your accumulation of adipose tissue?

Pried your helmet off and unfurled folds of neck fat surprised the thinner guns?

I'd love to hear about it.

Machka 

Nope!

Lost quite a bit of weight when I was 48.

John E

I am old (turned 68 last month), but not fat, although I admit to knowing some heavier guys who can leave me in the dust on the road or trail, particularly on a flat course.

I was a chubby pre-teen and teenager before I took up cycling, and I weighed 8 lbs. more (and was 2 inches shorter and much less muscular) at the start of my senior year of high school than I do now. My most gratifying moment came when the father of one of my childhood friends popped by the bike shop where I was working my way through grad school. A mutual friend had told him who I was, but it took a few minutes before he blurted out, "Oh ... you were that little ROUND kid."

Biker395 

Years ago, I was riding a double century out in Marin County. A heavy set guy and I traded places on the course ... on the climbs I would pass him, and on the downhills and flats, he would pass me. It got to be kind of a joke and we had a good laugh about it. We ended up riding together much of the rest of the ride.

Climbing is all about power/weight. Some people have extra weight, but they make up for it in power. It only becomes more problematic on the really long climbs ... on the short ones, they can definitely keep up.

bruce19

I've given up trying to figure out how to classify myself. In college playing football, I was 5'10 1/2" and 185-190 lbs with a 34" waist. Today I'm at 187 lbs but now 5'8" and 36-37" waist. I should mention that I am now 72. Last year I rode about 100 mi. a week. This year I'm riding about 50-60 miles but much more HIIT. I am climbing better than I have in years. Sort of just off the best climbers in my clubs' B ride. Last year I had a PB of 17.4 mph on a 6.35 mi. (250 ft.elevation) TT that I try to do once a week. Yesterday I did it at 19.1 mph on a muggy but still day. I have no idea what to make of it all.

AmFaeEmbra

To turn it around, you could ask how old they are over on the Clydesdales and Athenas group
https://www.bikeforums.net/clydesdal...-200-lb-91-kg/

slorollin

Used to be very fat. 385 lbs at my peak. Now just a little fat at 205. I'm 6'1" and a month shy of 64 yo.
I don't beat anyone. I only go fast when it's fun to do so.

jpescatore

I'm plenty old and plenty fat (61 and 230 lbs, 40 lbs above my long ago "pleasingly plump" weight). Whenever I ride I give myself 1 point for passing anyone younger and skinnier or on a bike with skinnier tires and deduct one point for getting passed by someone older and fatter or on fatter tires. I'm usually a few points on the positive side, but of course it all depends on where you ride! In a group ride I could gain a lot of points starting with the D level riders, but would lose a lot of points starting with the Bs...

Whenever one of those skinnier riders pass me I just tell my self "Let's see how fast he/she would be if he/she had 2 more bicycles strapped around their waist..."

FullSpeedAgain

It's cool the fact passing people makes you happy, but I guess you're conscious that doesn't mean you're in better shape right?

Unless you're racing, where everybody put the maximum effort to the pedals, the intensity of a training and therefore the speed, can be much different from one day to another!

Wildwood 

I've been called an 'old fart', so holding around 200# kinda makes me a fat fart.

And the fast story? Well...……….

Uhhhhhhhhhh
Yeaaaaaahhh



……...got it = i'm not generally LAST.

TimothyH

I ride with some pretty heavy guys who can kick my ass on a bike any day.


-Tim-

Dan Burkhart 

Old fat and slow here. About to turn 65, somewhere between 240 and 250. I'm the guy at the back of the pack, although I don't really ride in packs. On the short, steep climbs though, I almost always gain on my fellow riders and even pass some times.

Rootman

Old, fat, slow and never have been a strong rider, even as a young, thin rider. I always fade on hills. In 2014 I was in my best shape ever as a senior and I still sucked. Far fatter guys would always pass me. I just got an ebike and it still only raised my average speed to 15 mph.

canklecat

I'm only 5 lbs over my optimal weight and I still get dropped by overweight guys on climbs. Losing weight has helped me move up from dead last on every climb to middle of the pack. But it hasn't made me faster on climbs than stronger cyclists who are aerobically fit but overweight.

Years ago when I was stationed in SoCal and racquetball was all the rage, I played pickup games with anyone who was available. One of the toughest guys on the court was Bo, a guy who was built like a beach ball. He was one of only two people I ever knew in the military who were officially warned to lose weight. Bo was pretty active and nimble for such a pudgy guy, but he never lost an ounce... or a racquetball match to me.

I didn't spend enough time around him to know why he was still overweight, but it was almost certainly due to diet. Every overweight person I've known who also had good strength, aerobic fitness and overall agility was healthy but an over-eater. Not just quantity but quality of food -- lots of carbs and sugar. More than they could burn unless they rode 100 miles a day, or shorter routes with lots of climbing. Obesity will probably finally take its toll but for folks under age 40 they can often get away with excess weight and still be fit in terms of athletic performance. A classic example was boxer James Toney, whose optimal weight class was middleweight (around 160) but who continued to be remarkably successful at heavyweight against guys who were naturally much bigger and stronger.

I've known some folks who were unwell, had legitimate endocrine disorders or other problems that predisposed them to weight gain. However those were usually due to both over-eating and junk food, combined with inactivity because they were too weakened by illness.

caloso

Cyclist fat = normal person skinny.

GuessWhoCycling

Yes! 230 pounds, 10,000 ft of climbing timed event. #1 23 out of 400, far from last. Skinny guys hate to be passed on a mountain climb.

Conditioning is #1 no matter how fat you are!

Cyclist0108

I started this thread to make fun of "Old Fast Guys", but I am finding this quite inspiring.

jlmonte

Colnago Mixte

You sir, are a beast. A freak of nature. Us non-Clydes curse your magical powers over gravity. Tell me, did you sell your soul to the Devil to gain the ability to do that?

slorollin

That's big of you. Your perspicacity is only challenged by your noble spirit.

Dan Burkhart 

Cool. Another new word to look up and learn. Thanks for that.

MaxKatt

I don't win, but I consistently place very well in the sub-category of guys over both 50 and 220 lbs., but under 6'.

GuessWhoCycling

Ha ha ha! It sure felt like it when I was training in the mountains. I actually did 4 the same timed event 4 times over a period of 10 years of 100 miles and 10,000 ft of climbing. Then I did another 114 miler timed event with 12,000 ft of climbing. My goal was to not be last so I was really happy finishing in the top 25 to 30% percent each time as a fairly good size Clyde. The things we do for fun!

Aubergine 

bruce19

"Dude, you look lean."
"I''m a cyclist. I'm too fat."