Retro Grouch 

I've been doing WW on line for a couple of months. I'm down almost 20 pounds without feeling too deprived. To me the big surprise was which foods WW discourages. I have to be really careful with restaurant meals or I'll burn off my whole day's point allowance in one sitting.

Retro Grouch 

What a wonderful find! I hope that you have a lot of fun with it.

RCPlains

I'm 65 & just went 20 miles with a 15.0 mph average on my Trek FX 7.4...just curious what it takes to compete in the 65 and over class in competition (i know i'm not there yet)...

RonH

^^^
I've never competed but I would guess you'll need strong legs and lungs and a fast bike.

lenA

30TH ARIZONA SENIOR OLYMPIC GAMES SATURDAY EVENTS: 5K & 10K CYCLING TIME TRIALS ******************************* UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - 40K BIKE ******************************* TIMING AND SCORING BY: CEP TIMING (480)315-1321 - P.O. BOX 30575 - PHOENIX, AZ 85046 - WWW.CEPTIMING.COM PHOENIX, AZ * SUNDAY - MARCH 3, 2013 * Weather: SUNNY, 75 degrees_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50-54PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 703 JANIE WHITE F 54 1:14:19.2 20.1 F5054 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 50-54PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 744 VINCE CLARK M 51 59:08.8 25.2 M5054 , AZ 2 711 EDUARDO NAVARRO M 51 59:10.5 25.2 M5054 , AZ 3 708 JEFF BIEVER M 51 59:12.4 25.2 M5054 , AZ 4 709 TYRONE HOLMES M 51 1:04:42.5 23.0 M5054 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55-59PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 736 JAN HERTZFELD F 55 1:22:45.3 18.0 F5559 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 55-59PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 737 MICHAEL GABER M 56 59:12.5 25.2 M5559 , AZ 2 729 WALTER FLOM M 56 59:16.9 25.2 M5559 , AZ 3 730 PAUL MITTMAN M 56 1:01:31.7 24.2 M5559 , AZ 4 746 GEORGE CATALANO M 55 1:01:31.7 24.2 M5559 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60-64PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 749 DONNA INGLE F 62 1:14:20.9 20.1 F6064 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 60-64PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 750 CURTIS INGLE M 62 1:09:05.4 21.6 M6064 , AZ 2 713 RON WALLER M 63 1:09:05.9 21.6 M6064 , AZ 3 731 HOMAYOON FARSI M 60 1:09:09.3 21.6 M6064 , AZ 4 739 AHMAD DANIELS M 64 1:18:58.7 18.9 M6064 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65-69PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 722 JO JOHNSON F 65 1:14:25.8 20.0 F6569 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 65-69PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 733 TERRY STAGER M 65 1:09:08.5 21.6 M6569 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70-74PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 705 BARBARA GICQUEL F 72 1:14:25.2 20.0 F7074 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 70-74PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 717 JAMES HOOVER M 70 1:06:32.8 22.4 M7074 , AZ 2 756 ALVIN RAVICHER M 70 1:08:48.2 21.7 M7074 , AZ 3 725 GEORGE POTTER M 70 1:15:20.0 19.8 M7074 , AZ 4 726 NELSON GOULD M 73 1:17:13.9 19.3 M7074 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 75-79PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 706 ANN CHADWICK F 75 1:22:06.8 18.2 F7579 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 75-79PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 748 ROBERT PAGANINI M 77 1:06:32.8 22.4 M7579 , AZ 2 743 RICHARD REYNOLDS M 78 1:08:48.8 21.7 M7579 , AZ 3 719 PATRICK BUNCH M 78 1:08:49.9 21.7 M7579 , AZ 4 735 ROY BEAL M 78 1:08:57.1 21.6 M7579 , AZ 5 742 KARE LID M 76 1:15:23.1 19.8 M7579 , AZ 6 741 WAYNE MALMBERG M 75 1:26:00.9 17.3 M7579 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________40K BIKE - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 80-84PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ======================______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________40K BIKE - MALE AGE GROUP: 80-84PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ====================== 1 747 WALT AXTHELM M 80 1:08:49.4 21.7 M8084 , AZ 2 720 JIM RIGNEY M 82 1:16:50.2 19.4 M8084 , AZ 3 721 JOHN SANMARTINI M 83 1:48:00.7 13.8 M8084 , AZ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________

RonH

^^^ Explain please.

10 Wheels

Depends Who shows up to race....Guessing you need to up the speed to 19/21 mph.

DougG

The heading and numbers don't line up, but you can pick out the pace. For example, the guy that won the 80-84 AG averaged 21.7mph for 40K! I'm 66 and an above-average rider and I often ride with a couple of guys in their mid-70s that can kick my butt on a bike.

lenA

I want his autograph.

RCPlains

In the heading it says "5K & 10K CYCLING TIME TRIALS"; in the results section it says "40K BIKE"...wasn't sure of the distance...

I assume the "20.1", "25.2", etc. is the mph?...or is it kph?

Is there a 100 and over class?...maybe? i could compete in that!...lol...

Actually, when i asked the question about possible competitions, it was with the thought that there might be skill level classes in some competitions, ie. 65-70 Masters, 65-70 Advanced, 65-70 Intermediate, 65-70 Beginners, etc...i've only been doing this for a little over a year so i wasn't pretending that i would be competitive with those who have been doing it for 30-40 years...it appears that there is only "Masters Class" in the over 65 so i think i'll put my competition ambitions on hold until my next life...

Sandy Barringer

Reply: I'm with RonH. How do you have any energy to cycle is you are eating only 1500-1700 calories per day? Like Ron (when I can get out there and ride) I'll burn that many calories and sometimes much more on one ride. On one long, day ride, I burned over 6,000 calories.
Congratulations on losing all that weight!

Sandy Barringer

It will be a ton of fun I know. The brake lever is not broken after all (it was notched not cracked as I first thought), but the cable is so frayed on the end that I'm getting a new gear shifter anyways.
Plus, it can be upgraded easily to higher gearing (24/27). If I stay with an internal hub upgrade, it could get real pricey. So, I'll be looking at hanging a sprocket set on the rear and a triple on the crank set. -- This is too much fun to be legal or moral!

Sandy Barringer

Reply: I'm glad you have the energy to want to compete. Go for it. You're a faster rider than I. I belonged to the local bike club for several years but never got past being a D-level rider, that being an average of 10 miles per hour. I just don't have the engine to crank faster speeds. I've tried all the suggestions by "the pros" but nothing made me much faster. I love riding long distances but at my own pace. I'm out there to enjoy the weather (sun, wind, rain, snow--yes, I ride in the snow, whatever) and countryside. If faster riders pass me, I'm glad they can do that.
However, riding a recumbant could make a real difference since you can put some real serious pressure on those pedals, kicking your speed up significantly. Since I do have a little competitive spirit, I just might give that a try.
But, you, if you can crank good speeds after training, go do it!
I am so impressed with the average speeds that 70 and 80 year olds can do. I intend to ride until I'm 100 or more, but these riders are so awesome.

3bluebikes

Thank you for posting, lenA. Very impressive numbers! Hats off to the riders, no athletes.

RollinGeezer

I can relate to that! Just did the Medicare Maze. Hope they cover fried brains.

Rocky1405

I had a back injury and bought a BIKE-E recumbent bike which I rode for 4 years. I put about 4,000 miles on it and wore out the shifter twice because I found on a recumbent I rarely got to coast, I was peddeling at a pretty steady RPM and shifting a lot to keep a constant speed. I loved the seat but didn't like the bike so much. As soon as my back got better I sold the recumbent and bought a "comfort" type bike. A Raleigh Passage 4.0. 24 speeds and a front suspension. It took me 9,000 miles to wear out the running gear and last season I had it re-built and am still riding it about 5 days a week. Most of my rides are 20 miles and under and I enjoy every one of them. The bottom line is to just get out and ride, you will always find somebody faster and with more durability than you have so don't let that keep you from riding. You are doing it for your health - both physical and mental and its a wonderful investment whether you are competitive or not. When I'm not riding the one I love I love the one I'm riding and while I am "only" 70 I attribute me good health to regular bike riding and intend to keep it up as long as I can. Biking is a wonderful hobby but we aren't all put together to be racers so don't let your lack of competitive ability stop you from riding. Just get a good quality bike that fits your and climb on and go. When I do I can't stop grinning! See you on the trail!
8-)

rdlange

I now qualify here. I'm too pragmatic to be competitive, and too practical to cycle just for fun, so I'm usually on the Utility forum. And I still work more than 40/wk.

Now I am trying to justify cycling for healthy exercise, so I bought an old mixte to restore and I'll have a 'real' bike to take somewhere without getting laughed off the trail.

My neighborhood is not a really a bike friendly area. Most cyclists I see around here are kids, elitests, poor or eccentric. None of the shopping moms on their Yubas with a couple of kids and a trailer full of cat food and lettuce. Maybe an occational spandexer.

But I am trying, and other than wally world and the usual high end places, I did manage to find one good bike shop run by a real 'wrench' who looks like Sheldon Brown, so I guess I'm not totally out of luck.

I'm sure there are plenty of places around here to just cycle, so I'll be posting my 'new' ride pictures where appropriate and updates to my 'useful' ones when I get the chance.

Ranger63

Ahhh blame this on 'old age'
I cannot remember if I ever posted (and there are far too many posts to go back thru em all)
The morning crew I ride with (NFBC in western ny)run between 65 and 77.
While I can hang with the 20mph crowd, the 'younger' guys and gals are up around 23-23+ and that's too quick for this 70 year old.
What I find truly amazing are the number of older riders who don't seem fazed by the climbs. I think some look for alternate routes that incorporate a climb.

Rocky1405

20 plus MPH!!! Wow, that's flying - wheels a-singing and the scenery rushing by. If you ever fall at that speed IT WILL NOT BUFF OUT!!! 8-) I just crank along at 10 to 12 MPH and enjoy the feeling of motion and watching the scenery as I go. If I could ride a "Go-Faster" bike I would cuz I love speed too but I can't because leaning over forward and tipping my head back to see puts my arms to sleep so I ride sitting upright and that way nothing gets numb. You do what you can with what you have where you are. Hey, that works for me. 8-)

gregscott

Considering a century at 66, the other half wants me to seek therapy,

fietsbob

I moved to a wee house with no stairs .

RonH

That's what my wife keeps telling me. She rants on about reading that 30-60 minutes of exercise 3 times a week is sufficient. Maybe for her.

Joe1946

Wow, I missed this thread the last time I was here but I guess I was not 65 back then since I just turned 67 earlier this month. All of my bikes are getting wore out so I just ordered a 29er hardtail from BikesDirect since the roads I ride on suck for road bikes. My old bike is a Surley Pugsley with custom offset SnoCat 29er wheels with 2.35 Big Apple 29er tires. I may put the new 2.00 Big Apple Plus on the new bike since it comes with 2.25x29 knobby tires.

DnvrFox

Welcome back, Joe1946. BTW, this was your 300th post!

I have not yet tried a 29er - still stuck on my 26er mtn bike!

Sandy Barringer

rdlange,
About your competitive attitude, or lack of. I used to have the competitive attitude but got over it when I discovered that I didn't have the engine to push the bike at higher speeds. I can do 100 miles in a day, but not in the time allotted during a tour. It takes me a lot longer and I have to have running lights since I always come in after dark, even when starting at dawn. So, I altered my attitude and now ride for fun, fun including challenging myself to do long distances. It's part of staying healthy. I do League of American Bicyclists bike tours, but keep my distance shorter than the "road studs" distance. The main reason I do the tours is that they offer SAG vehicle support if you break down, and road bikes are easy to break. I don't ride a road bike for general riding any more, especially if I'm going to do a longer ride of 50 miles or more, alone. That's because I hate having to change inner tubes constantly which is what you end up doing with a road bike. Hybrids are my choice for distance riding, despite the ridicule I get from the roadies. I have 32c tires mounted on my hybrid, and the only time I have had to change an inner tube was when I changed the tires themselves when they are worn out or for winter riding. Riding should be a pleasant occupation, not a challenge to see if you are a bike wrench or not.
Don't be concerned about what kind of cyclists you have in your neighborhood or whether it's bike friendly. Most of us live in areas where there are very few roadies who ride all the time. Mostly it's kids and casual riders who don't ever do more than a couple of miles and think they did something fantastic.
Yup, post your pictures.