Backing off . . . suggestions?
10-19-18, 12:24 PM
#26
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Saxophone (or other instrument) lessons .... time to get in touch with your creative side. Plus it will feed your obsessive appetite.
10-20-18, 06:21 PM
#27
Let's do a Century
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That captures the issue pretty well. But for me, it should be, "Hi, my name is . . . and I'm a racer." Therein lies the issue. Deep down, I like the fitness aspects of cycling, but I'm really in it for the competition. If my knees weren't so decrepit, I would just switch to running -- because running has reasonably narrow age group categories from cradle to grave. Cycling doesn't have that and that's my issue.
Can I be just as fast at 5,000 miles as at 10,000 miles? No way. I've tried it both ways. A bigger base is always a lot faster. But again, if the oldest "Masters" category at the race is 40+, I might acquit myself well, but I will not be winning. (I like winning. I don't want to be the old guy also-ran.)
And I have friends who do the long, slow tour and rando stuff . . . but when forced to trundle along at touring paces, I tend to go insane.
I appreciate all the input. Several of these ideas definitely warrant consideration.
Progress report: I thrive on planning things. (Maybe I should do more coaching.) Last night, I cut the races out of next year's schedule. I tried to reduce my training load below 7 hours a week -- and ended up with about 9.5 hours per week on the schedule. And I increased the number of gym workouts per week on the schedule. "My name is Flash, and I'm a racer." I'm working on it!
Can I be just as fast at 5,000 miles as at 10,000 miles? No way. I've tried it both ways. A bigger base is always a lot faster. But again, if the oldest "Masters" category at the race is 40+, I might acquit myself well, but I will not be winning. (I like winning. I don't want to be the old guy also-ran.)
And I have friends who do the long, slow tour and rando stuff . . . but when forced to trundle along at touring paces, I tend to go insane.
I appreciate all the input. Several of these ideas definitely warrant consideration.
Progress report: I thrive on planning things. (Maybe I should do more coaching.) Last night, I cut the races out of next year's schedule. I tried to reduce my training load below 7 hours a week -- and ended up with about 9.5 hours per week on the schedule. And I increased the number of gym workouts per week on the schedule. "My name is Flash, and I'm a racer." I'm working on it!
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10-21-18, 10:15 AM
#28
Chases Dogs for Sport
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10-21-18, 10:31 AM
#29
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I've been a competitive cyclist for a long time. But lately . . . I've begun to realize that my days of racing with the young folks are numbered. And I'm old enough that most races don't include Masters classes that fit my age group. I've also begun to realize that, if I back off of my habitual / obsessive training regimen, I will have a lot more time for life. No injury issues. Maybe I'm growing up. I'm thinking of cutting up to 50% of my training miles for 2019. Should be easy, right? Problem is . . . you don't ride 8,000 to 10,000 miles a year without being at least a little obsessive. (Yes, there are people who ride a lot more. That's a LOT obsessive.) It's going to be hard psychologically to cut that many miles / hours. Has anyone else gone through this transition? How did you handle it psychologically? Do you have suggestions that will make the lifestyle change / transition easier to handle -- and more likely to be successful?
Try fishing. Tennessee has many fishing options. I get bored with biking I go fishing it is a good balance.
10-21-18, 03:47 PM
#30
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Got it. I can relate. My speed and power were still such I was able to do similar as you at that age range. However I started noticing a drop in power a few years later in my early sixties so it was easier to transition to more of a endurance style of riding than a race style. The ability (and willingness) to ride slightly slower speeds but longer saddle time was perfect for my ride across the US. Lots of hours of steady watts at a comfortable pace.....I could see howt it might be harder to start backing off if your skill level hasn't diminished unless you're mentally ready to head that direction.
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Last edited by jppe; 10-22-18 at 02:03 PM.
10-22-18, 05:44 AM
#31
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A friend who's a strong cyclist (although I don't think he raced) had set KOMs for most of the local segments worth noting, and he was in his early 50s when he did that. Some of those still stand although a few have been snagged by much younger folks including some local pro and amateur racers.
After those accomplishments he moved on to centuries. Last year he rode more than 100 centuries. Incredible. I could barely finish the one century I rode last year. I enjoy the metric and half centuries, but the fun wears thin after about 75 miles for me. An old neck injury and recent shoulder injury tend to limit my rides to under 50 miles.
Last time I chatted with him he said he felt like he finally got all the competitive and goal oriented stuff out of his system. He still rides a couple of centuries a month, but he mostly rides in the 20-50 mile range at a much more leisurely pace (for him). His "leisurely" pace is still a clip that would leave me huffing and puffing.
After those accomplishments he moved on to centuries. Last year he rode more than 100 centuries. Incredible. I could barely finish the one century I rode last year. I enjoy the metric and half centuries, but the fun wears thin after about 75 miles for me. An old neck injury and recent shoulder injury tend to limit my rides to under 50 miles.
Last time I chatted with him he said he felt like he finally got all the competitive and goal oriented stuff out of his system. He still rides a couple of centuries a month, but he mostly rides in the 20-50 mile range at a much more leisurely pace (for him). His "leisurely" pace is still a clip that would leave me huffing and puffing.
10-25-18, 02:35 PM
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You'll need to maintain fitness to a certain level. I hated gym bikes (spinning and otherwise, but instructor led classes are fun for all ages. It's been good for me last 10 years. Since I did bike classes (sprint, RPM etc, Les Mills stuff) I've never looked back; you meet a lot of like minded folk.
And I've not crashed a Gym bike yet . . . . .
Cheap rates for oldies! I'm 70 and lovin' it!
And I've not crashed a Gym bike yet . . . . .
Cheap rates for oldies! I'm 70 and lovin' it!
10-25-18, 06:55 PM
#33
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Easy-peasy: Take up rando. That's what I did when I couldn't climb with the leaders anymore. As you get older, your endurance gets better for quite a while, and you have lots of experience to bring to a new way of expressing your fitness. Randonneuring is really fun. It's not necessary to ride all night in the rain. I never did that. One can pick and choose one's brevets and permanents. One can do brevets like time trials, which is fun, or one can do them like a bike tour and take one's time. If one's fast enough, it's possible to take long breaks, photos, meals, all sorts of entertainments. But I guess for you, the TT aspect would be good. No AGs, but results of brevets are published. In my late 60's I'd be in the top 10% if I had a good ride. I rode ~5000 miles/year during that period. It's neat to have 400k over which to work your strategy and tactics. I thought it a cool feeling to be able to ride forever. When I wasn't competitive in rando anymore, I took up tandeming with my wife, competitive tandeming, as it were. Trying not to age out of that now.
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10-26-18, 11:10 PM
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Do any of the local schools have a cycling or mtb team? Might want to offer to volunteer as an assistant coach or mechanic. I heard of people doing this and finding it quite rewarding. Volunteering for a cycling advocacy group might be a possibility too. You’d definitely know the issues cyclists face on the roads.
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10-28-18, 07:46 AM
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To be honest, the concept of someone being obsessed with cycling (putting in miles or never taking some time off) never really crossed my mind. I can ride 5-6 days a week and then take 2 weeks off. Maybe I'm just lucky not to have the "competitive" gene. I ride strictly for the enjoyment of riding. If I don't think I'm going to enjoy it that day, I don't ride.
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