moto367

This may not be the correct forum but I'll start here. I'm closing in on the 50 mark (currently 47). Just curious what kind of diet/physical exercise/mileage/etc...changes you had to make as you got older? Things really started to change for me when I hit the 45-46 yr mark. I'm finding it way more difficult to drop the excess pounds and to tone up. I'm not riding the mileage I used to but most of my riding partners have quit riding or moved away so most of my efforts are solo. And sometimes I just can't "rise to the occasion" like when i was 20 I guess I'm not growing old gracefully

Cyclist0108

It is a good time to start looking into nursing home and assisted living facilities, and perhaps make a living will so that your relatives will know it is time to have you euthanized when you start repeating anecdotes about earlier years.

Hondo Gravel

At 50 you get issued the Old Man card. Just keep at it, recovery is more important. Heck jppe is 66 and can ride a century no problem. 47 ain’t that old no panicking.

big john

No, it's the correct forum to ask about age related issues. You can expect more of the same, it's not going to turn around. If you are a performance-type rider you will have to keep working hard to maintain your abilities. Things didn't start to go south for me until around 55, prior to that I could always do a hilly century any Saturday. Now I have to train a bit to do long rides and the fitness goes away faster than ever. I'm 65 and just stopped working so I am going to try and regain some of my strength and endurance.

gobicycling

Closing in on the big 80 (6 months to go). Want to share anecdotes?

bobwysiwyg

+1.

Boy, these young whippersnapper whiners.

02Giant 

Come back, when you're 50...

moto367

LOL!!! Thanks fellas. I guess I'm whining.

FiftySix

People age differently. My boss is 70 and he has more energy than I do at 54.

He doesn't exercise, but he spends his physical energy on projects at home that he does for pleasure. Most of my physical energy is spent at work so I'm usually tired before I do anything for myself. Especially when I have a 14 hour work day like I did on Tuesday.

The biggest thing that has changed for me is the quantity of sleep I need. Not long ago, 6 hours of sleep was plenty of rest for me to wake up with a clear mind and energetic body. Now I need 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep to feel the same way.

TimothyH

It is a valid question.

Recovery is very important, as well as nutrition - we can't recover as fast and can't eat pizza and hot dogs every day like when we were 20.

At 55, getting enough quality sleep can be difficult for me. Take naps when you can.

The most important thing for me is to accept that I'm getting older with grace. It doesn't mean I won't ride or train hard but I don't beat myself up and feel guilty if I need to take a few days off due to injury or rest or just life getting in the way. I'm not as fast as most 30 year old's and that's OK too. It's OK to just ride and not compete.


-Tim-

Cyclist0108

That's way too healthy.

I just sit in a corner and cry "why me?"

Bmach

Everyone ages differently. IMO I think if you think, old you are old. Think young, set goals and go for them. You are to young to think OLD.

eja_ bottecchia

Youngster!!!

BTW, not being able to rise to the occasion is not always a by-product of getting older. Just saying!

Cyclist0108

Yeah, in all seriousness, it can be indicative of a cardiovascular issue, or a number of other concerns. Get it checked out if you are being serious about this. That shouldn't be a significant problem at age 47.

downtube42

Meh.

I discovered randonneuring at 50, started 24 hour races at 52, set an ultracycling PR at 55. Oh, and the year I set my PR at 400 miles in 24 hours, the event was won by a 55 yo who covered over 500 miles.

Increase your training intensity, improve your diet, take rest days seriously. Unless you've been a highly competitive athlete, your best athletic performances can be in front of you.

delbiker1 

Cherish yesterday, dream tomorrow, but live for today.

OldTryGuy

Dr. George Sheehan ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_A._Sheehan ) quote ---- "We are each an experiment of one."

Reflect on your past, consider the present and decide for your future.

Will be 69 in July
.....Diet -- decades of heart healthy and cancer preventing eating fish, feathers, very little meat, VEGGIES, fruits, nuts & seeds, minimal alcohol, NEVER SMOKED, lots of spices
.....Exercise -- ride 2 to 3 times per week (9,000+ miles last year- just bicycled 141 miles on Tuesday), walk (can't jog/run due to bad knees) up to marathon distances, swim (max 2.4 miles Ironman event)
.....Even being PRO-HEALTHY, in 2015 diagnosed with very aggressive PCa (prostate cancer) like Dr. Sheehan. Been treated, came back, treated again, expect more recurrences = expect death well before wife's.
.....Recommendation --- take control, do your utmost to remain healthy, live in the moment hoping for a great future but prepare for the worse

Now get out --- RIDE and HAVE FUN!!!

OldTryGuy

Member here on BF is Chris Miller who finished 2019 Bike Sebring 24 Hour RAAM in overall 3rd at age 54 with 497.50 miles.

https://my5.raceresult.com/117563/#0_3EF1B7

Machka 

I turned 50 in 2017.

When I was 48 (2015), I dropped 25 kg and started cycling more.


When I was 49 (2016), I got back into Randonneuring and cycled the following rides over 160 km:

30-Jan-16 ..... 200.2 km
26-Mar-16 ..... 307.43 km
18-Jun-16 ..... 200.23 km
16-Jul-16 ..... 164.9 km
13-Aug-16 ..... 408.0 km
8-Oct-16 ..... 390.0 km


When I was 50 (2017), we cycled a Century-A-Month, plus some 200Ks and a 300K. Plus we did some good hikes. And I ran my first 10K event. First time I think I've ever run 10K!! Training for that was the first time I've really ran since I was a teenager.

26-Jan-17 ..... 161.9 km
11-Feb-17 ..... 161.300 km
4-Mar-17 ..... 212.700 km
18-Mar-17 ..... 202.900 km
14-Apr-17 ...... 301.200 km
16-Apr-17 ..... 203.300 km
6-May-17 ..... 163.300 km
24-Jun-17 ..... 213.400 km
1-Jul-17 ..... 161.500 km
19-Aug-17 ..... 183.800 km
2-Sep-17 ..... 161.900 km
21-Oct-17 ..... 164.000 km
18-Nov-17 ..... 162.300 km
10-Dec-17 ..... 161.000 km

Jim from Boston

Closing in on the big 50I recently replied to a similar post by @OldTryGuy:

donheff

It's all over the board. My wife and I started late (57 and 53 respectively) and were never racers or randonneurs. We typically did 20-35 mile rides with a lunch break in the middle. Approaching 71 I feel a few tweaks of arthritis and we typically do 20-25 mile rides (still with the food break). We still occasionally do 30-40 miles, usually on trips. But we are purely recreational riders cruising for fun and fresh air. I participate in a 65+ Facebook group that is full of folks older than me who are still cranking it out like kids - high average speeds and significant mileage (60 - 100 miles). If you are oriented to that kind of riding and keep your training up you can easily sustain it up through your 70s. With some compromises on speed and distance and a bit of luck health-wise you can keep spinning into your 80s or beyond.

FiftySix

Short naps have saved many a productive day for me. Love 'em. Absolutely love 'em.

Flip Flop Rider

we'll see you in 3 years

dennis336

While I've ridden bikes much of my life, I didn't ride more seriously until I was 56. Did my first century ride when I was 58 (I'm almost 66 now). I've never been a racer or tracked speed as a primary goal - if I did, I'm sure I'd notice a difference from when I was younger. But, in my late 50's and now 60's, I'm riding longer and more difficult rides than ever. Not to say I may not walk a bit on an extended, steep climb or that I don't need to be conscious of proper recovery, but on balance, I'm very thankful to be able to do the rides I'm doing. Barring a genetic issue, or a health issue that crops up, you should feel confident that you can enjoy riding, and riding long distances for a very long time. You'll learn efficient cycling techniques, find equipment that's most comfortable, and refine nutrition, hydration, and recovery approaches that suit you and help offset (somewhat!) the aging trajectory. Now ... come back when you're actually 50

BobbyG

Don't worry, any necessary changes will present themselves to you.