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Old Guys and Descending

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Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Old Guys and Descending

Old 07-10-19, 08:35 AM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg
I really admire the down hill decent speeds here. I know I can't/won't attempt them. Just be sure you understand the risks.. carry on.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-d...-older-2223520
A friend of mine told me (only jokingly), that this is the way of things:

You break your hip, you get pneumonia, then you die. lol

I think that study skirts confusing causation with correlation. As it notes, people with health issues are more likely to fall and break a hip, and also more likely to die of that same health related issue. My guess is that people in our demographic are a bit different.

But yea ... slowing down is a good idea. It's not the pain or even the expense that stops me ... it is the possibility of never being the same.
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Old 07-10-19, 08:43 AM
  #52  
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Low-speed accidents can be deadly as well. A friend died three years ago when his front wheel caught in a storm drain, on level ground at the end of his regular ride. Snapped his neck.
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Old 07-10-19, 09:10 AM
  #53  
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I try to keep speeds to be able to panic brake within the distance I can see around the curves. It's very easy to take corners at a speed that would be a disaster if the road ahead was blocked or full of debris. One of the local riders mentioned the automobile signs for curves -- A sign for a "25 mph" corner is about the speed I can go and see far enough ahead. I could probably go 35+ around that same corner if the pavement was good, but it's too fast to stop.

I'll go full speed on long, straight downhills without driveways and with trimmed back shoulders. That's up to the low 40mph range.

I've practiced very hard braking with just the front brake, so I can stop pretty well. (I once fishtailed when I grabbed both brakes hard. The rear wheel locked up. Letting off both brakes kept me from crashing.)
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Old 07-10-19, 09:31 AM
  #54  
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While I've cycled most of my life, I didn't consider myself a serious recreational cyclist until I was around 56 years old (will be 66 next month). I've never been very aggressive on descents. Reached the low 40's several times but, for me, it's more terrifying than exhilarating. So, since I've never been super aggressive anyway, I don't think I've gotten any more cautious on the descents I do ride. It's even possible I've gotten a small bit more aggressive (or maybe it's confident from repetition) since I've gotten more serious about cycling.
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Old 07-10-19, 09:38 AM
  #55  
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Funny to see this thread pop up now. I recently move to the North SLC area, where there are some really fun hills. Back when I rode DF bikes (uprights), my fastest descent was ~56 mph. It was a long straight hill with a lot of runout, so I could push as hard and fast as I wanted until gravity took over.

I switched to recumbents in 2011 when I was living in Seattle. There was one hill, a little over a half mile long, that was 12-15% grade, and I would hit 64 mph at the bottom as I was leaning into the left hand sweep before hitting a nearly identical uphill climb (took me three tries to get up before I didn't have to get off and walk!).

I recently got a velomobile, and managed 65.6 mph going down a relatively short, steep hill here. I think if I get the more aerodynamic race cap, and close off the footholes, it would be good for 70 on that hill.

I ride (and race) motorcycles, so the speed itself doesn't bother me much. I've seen over 160 mph indicated on my motorcycle many times on the track.

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Old 07-10-19, 12:15 PM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
Funny to see this thread pop up now. I recently move to the North SLC area, where there are some really fun hills. Back when I rode DF bikes (uprights), my fastest descent was ~56 mph. It was a long straight hill with a lot of runout, so I could push as hard and fast as I wanted until gravity took over.

I switched to recumbents in 2011 when I was living in Seattle. There was one hill, a little over a half mile long, that was 12-15% grade, and I would hit 64 mph at the bottom as I was leaning into the left hand sweep before hitting a nearly identical uphill climb (took me three tries to get up before I didn't have to get off and walk!).

I recently got a velomobile, and managed 65.6 mph going down a relatively short, steep hill here. I think if I get the more aerodynamic race cap, and close off the footholes, it would be good for 70 on that hill.

I ride (and race) motorcycles, so the speed itself doesn't bother me much. I've seen over 160 mph indicated on my motorcycle many times on the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7IWYp2eLrc
Have you ever crashed in the vmobile? My guess is that the consequences aren't nearly as bad. Less road rash and not so far of a distance to the ground.
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Old 07-10-19, 01:40 PM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by Biker395
Have you ever crashed in the vmobile? My guess is that the consequences aren't nearly as bad. Less road rash and not so far of a distance to the ground.
Sam Whittingham had the top speed record for a human powered fully faired recumbent for years. His record was about 83 mph, unassisted. He also said he had the record for the fastest crash. IIRC he wasn't badly hurt.
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Old 07-10-19, 01:56 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by Biker395
Have you ever crashed in the vmobile? My guess is that the consequences aren't nearly as bad. Less road rash and not so far of a distance to the ground.
Nope. Hope not to, but I've only had it for a month so far. In nice weather, I still mostly ride my 2 wheel recumbent. Just getting used to the velo's handling and getting it set up for me.
Originally Posted by big john
Sam Whittingham had the top speed record for a human powered fully faired recumbent for years. His record was about 83 mph, unassisted. He also said he had the record for the fastest crash. IIRC he wasn't badly hurt.
They broke that record this year. Just shy of 90 mph at 89.7! That's hauling! And on level ground. I'm bombing down a hill to get anything over about 30.
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Old 07-10-19, 02:46 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
They broke that record this year. Just shy of 90 mph at 89.7! That's hauling! And on level ground. I'm bombing down a hill to get anything over about 30.
It's absolutely amazing! I think they have to back it up by doing runs in both directions within a certain %.
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Old 07-10-19, 03:42 PM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by deacon mark
...So I ask this question to us over 50 are you much more cautious than you were years ago and how much slower would we be taking those long descends?
In a word, no. I'm descending as aggressively as I was five years ago. And I'm a big guy so I can go downhill pretty fast. [shrug] ;-)

But by all means, everyone should be as cautious as they need to be. No shame in that!
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Old 07-10-19, 03:49 PM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
I recently got a velomobile, and managed 65.6 mph going down a relatively short, steep hill here.
Gulp, that's crazy fast! If you want to come south a little bit, Squaw Peak Road off of Provo Canyon is a fun descent. So also is the Alpine Loop. But be careful, they are narrow and winding and there are a lot of really stupid drivers around...
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Old 07-10-19, 06:55 PM
  #62  
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I did a good bit of descending yesterday in the NC mountains on some fairly steep stuff...and the roads were wet......I was so happy to have my new disc brakes!!!!
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Old 07-10-19, 07:29 PM
  #63  
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Sometimes a guy just needs a bigger gear. This part of the descent is the fastest and steepest straight which is one-third of a mile at seven percent. I am in 50 on the front and 11 in the rear.
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Old 07-12-19, 06:39 AM
  #64  
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I don't think I've been over 50 mph on my bike since I started riding again, mostly because I can't ride up the hills that would enable those kind of descents. But I'm getting stronger, albeit more slowly than I would like. As a racer, the only limit was air resistance. In the Northeast speeds could get high, with steep hills, good, straight lines or sweeping bends, and good roads.

Even so, as fast as we went, I always felt more comfortable going really fast on skis. No blow-outs, critters, other riders, or loose rocks that weren't there "yesterday" to contend with.* Being able to take a run or two to get a feel for the current conditions and new bumps, before letting loose makes a big difference to the relative risk. That's still true now, though I'm not on pre-prepared, closed trails. Skiing is the only 50+ I've done without a motor since BITD, and that's fine. It takes many months to heal what took a few weeks when younger. I hated my last long down-time, and that was in '05!

* Independent suspension also makes a big difference. (Anyone here remember Franz Klammer's Olympic gold DH run?)

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Old 07-12-19, 07:21 AM
  #65  
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Originally Posted by nomadmax
I descend hills/mountains as fast as I can at age 60. I have less life to lose than I did when I was 17.
I am in my 60s and, like you, I accept the fact that I now have less life to live than when I was 17.

Dying is not my worry, once you are dead you are dead and that’s pretty much the end, physically speaking at least.

My concern is about sustaining a major injury that would negatively impact the years remaining in my life.

I am more cautious descending now that when I was younger...I still like bombing it downhill though; that’s one of the truly fantastic feelings when riding.

My three Colnagos are very sure footed in fast descents. The Bottecchia is a bit twitchy. So I “choose” my descent speed depending on which bike I am riding that day.
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Old 07-12-19, 09:59 AM
  #66  
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For me, the risk/reward ratio of a fast descent is simply too high. My road bikes have top gears around 95 to 96 gear-inches, which means I spin out (120 rpm) just below 35mph. I am much more interested in how fast I can climb than in how fast I can descend, and I often drag or pump the rear brake gently to check speed on a long descent.
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Old 07-12-19, 04:59 PM
  #67  
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Going fast on a straight is no big deal. I did my fastest ever at 53 mph, at age 66 this year. I take the corners slower because I have slid out from sand in the corners and it hurts. I've got permanent road rash scars to show for it. I have knee replacements and don't want to damage them. I've passed cars on the descent from 14,000 foot mount evans.
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Old 07-12-19, 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by DaveSSS
Going fast on a straight is no big deal. I did my fastest ever at 53 mph, at age 66 this year. I take the corners slower because I have slid out from sand in the corners and it hurts. I've got permanent road rash scars to show for it. I have knee replacements and don't want to damage them. I've passed cars on the descent from 14,000 foot mount evans.
How the heck did you get up there? Unless you hitched a ride, THAT'S a big deal! Congrats, my hat is off to you. Eric
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Old 07-13-19, 06:11 AM
  #69  
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Originally Posted by Last ride 76
How the heck did you get up there? Unless you hitched a ride, THAT'S a big deal! Congrats, my hat is off to you. Eric
It's a 28 mile ride from Idaho Springs to the top of Mt Evans. I've done it six times, but the last was when I was 53. My best time was 2:35. Look up Bob Cook memorial hill climb. There's a race every year.
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Old 07-13-19, 01:33 PM
  #70  
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According to my GPS I did 51.4 MPH today.



Strava mathematicians decided that it was really 53.2 MPH.

Either way, it was my second fastest recorded speed ever.

I'm 55.


-Tim-
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Old 07-13-19, 01:53 PM
  #71  
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I think I go down hill fast but then I ride with my 30 something sons and realize - I don’t anymore! I still get down pretty quick on mountain bike trails, but roads, not so much.
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Old 07-15-19, 12:38 PM
  #72  
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Old Guys and Descending

At 77 I can't get up to the same speeds I used to hit. I regularly get over 40 on group rides and used to hit over 60 mph on the "Markleyville Death Ride". 40 seems pretty tame after 60+. My eyes were pretty big at 60 for several minutes. It makes it a lot easier to compete on Strava on downhills as the comfort zone is pretty high. Also to develop skills in hitting apexes you have to ride pretty fast.
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Old 07-15-19, 12:41 PM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by Lemond1985
It's like the "running of the bulls" with them, closest I can figure. Impresses the lady squirrels, perhaps.
I have a pet theory that after a couple of close calls of this nature, squirrels get addicted to the adrenaline rush of the near miss and seek it out. Makes 'em extra squrrely.
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Old 07-15-19, 01:48 PM
  #74  
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My fastest ever was 98kmh (60mph) at age 62. Five years later can't imagine how I did that. Won't be surprised if 50mph never happens again. Glad I went for it last time my nerves and reflexes were up to it. Just didn't feel like a big deal at the time.

Yes, the pros get scared. Federico Bahamontes won the '59 TdF and was King of Mountains 6 times. Also KoM in Giro and Vuelta. Known as the Eagle of Toledo. He was terrified of descents. Was known to drag his foot on the pavement (if there was pavement) in downhill hairpins. He is the notorious one but lots of pros ride scared. Fearless descenders like Lemond or Hinault are exceptions. Riding down at the limit rarely makes any difference at the finish, no reason for a pro to take chances.

The new generation of tires seriously do have more grip. Wider tires the pros are using have more grip. This has not made descents faster. Hopefully more grip has made everyone safer. Larger part of safety is backing off before it is too late.
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Old 07-16-19, 01:36 PM
  #75  
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[QUOTE=deacon mark;21015177]So I naturally get more interesting viewing cycling with the TDF going on and leads me to a question. I like most of the group here I believe find those crazy descending speeds they go are unbelievable. So I ask this question to us over 50 are you much more cautious than you were years ago and how much slower would we be taking those long descends.

When racing it's all out and I never noticed how fast I was going. Now I'm a lot older the idea of waking up in the hospital has less appeal than it did once. (40 mph).
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