churnman

I have been a recreational cyclist for more than 30 years.Due to the time constraints of employment, I was unable to become as serious asI would like. Now in retirement, age 66, an opportunity to acquire a trackbike, on the cheap, has arisen. A newish local velodrome gives classes on trackridership Am I too old to take on this sort of thing?

TimothyH

No, you are absolutely not too old.

There will not be many your age but you will have a blast.

If you have not ridden a fixed gear bike then I recommend learning the basics of pedaling and bike control first. A local soccer field is a good place to start.

Head into the Fixed Gear forum and ping @TejanoTrackie. He is in his 70's.


-Tim-

fietsbob

You mean like 'teaching an old dog Nutrix?'

Wildwood 

You will love the track. I tinkered on the track in San Jose, CA a good many times. Moved away.

Seattle area needs a covered or indoor track.

JanMM

And if you try it but don't like it, you should have no trouble selling the bike. Guessing that you will enjoy it, though.

fietsbob

Yea Portland Too .. (Alpenrose velodrome is concrete & outside )

England gets Gold Medals Because they have indoor tracks and Youth training Programs ,
Winter is track racing season in Europe..

No Olympic Cyclo-Cross, the new thing for fall/winter (US a latecomer on that)





...

KenshiBiker

At least you have one . . . I have to drive 2-1/2 hours (if there's no traffic - like that ever happens I the SF Bay Area) to get to the outdoor track in San Jose.

fietsbob

sub forums: Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Bike Forums

Masters Racing (All Disciplines) - Bike Forums

caloso

Dead is too old.
Are you dead? No?
Then you are not too old.

quod erat demonstrandum

Dave Cutter

We're about the same age. There is no track around where I live. But we do have plenty of MUP's and I find them fully populated with older guys during the mornings. I would be greatly surprised if you're the only retired guy at the track.

I restore an occasional Craigslist bike. Once I finished a fixie build that the guy that had started... gave up on. It was a hoot to learn to ride fixed.

Stratocaster

Nope, not too old.
In fact, one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen in my life was this past summer at the local velodrome. It was a seniors race during the Friday night pro race series.
This older gentleman (probably in his mid to late 60's) grabbed a lead and was attempting to hold on to dear life before totally spending himself and being overtaken. The crowd was going nuts as he approached the finish.
He held on for the win - the crowd loved it.

I'm not saying that you'll want to start racing..but maybe you will! But it's just another way to have fun on a bike.

shelbyfv

I wonder if it's similar to taking up mtn biking as an elderly person? Is falling and getting hurt part of the learning process?

1100 Springs

It's commitment not age. Do you want it or just think you might.

Cyril 

No.
And most likely you will find you are not the oldest guy there.

Bandera

Having competed in both disciplines of racing there is almost no comparison.

The velodrome is a well controlled environment designed specifically for bicycle racing with structured rider certification, well defined/repeatable events and immediate medical help. Do falls hurt? Yep.

MTB racing has none of those elements of control.

My worst race injury (totally the fault of my Evil Twin Skippy) in decades of road, track, 'cross and MTB racing was in an early NORBA event.
Do falls hurt? Yep, and you may be miles from medical help in inaccessible terrain.

Would I enter a MTB race again? No, damn you Skippy!
Would I compete again on a velodrome? Bring it on!

-Bandera

one4smoke

Gweedo1

Don't let your mind wright cheques your body can't cash.

Beware the injury bug-a-boo. Push yourself too hard, tweak a knee, for example, kiss your season goodbye.

Crashing might finish your cycling career out.

I understand, **** happens, but employing harm reduction/risk management techniques with regards to declining physical activities is prudent.

Recovery from injuries easily sustained in your 60's, takes forever.

Enjoy yourself, but don't be foolish. Easier said than done.

qcpmsame 

If you are in decent, healthy condition, its completely doable to start track cycling and eventually racing. If you have a question as to your health, get a thorough physical work up and talk with the doctor about what your goals and intentions are. Ask around about a physician that is a cyclist, ideally one that has some track time under their belt.

@fietsbob has a great link in his reply, the Track Cycling sub-forum, in the Racing Forums section will put you in touch with folks here that are experienced in track work and hos to get started. Also, there is a specific Master's racing sub-forum:Masters Racing (All Disciplines) - Bike Forums
This will give you a group of similarly aged people that race, several began their racing by using the more experienced members as mentors and guides. There are a couple of them that race at the national level as experts, and I believe there is a track racing, age group national champion in the mix as well.

Best of luck in starting your beginners class, from what I have read here, you need to make the most of this experience to have a good understanding of what you need to commit to doing. Having a fixed gear, track framed bicycle isn't what it is all about, there is an entire new type of riding and rules to learn. Until you begin the class, go to some of the sessions at the velodrome and see what is happening, if you haven't already done so.

Here is a thread taken from the Track Racing Forum about getting started in the discipline that merits reading:https://www.bikeforums.net/track-cycl...t-not-new.html Sarals writes in a good understandable style that is easy to read and there are some good points in the thread for anyone starting out.

Bill

carleton

Hi, Churnman.

You aren't too old. If you don't want to do mass start (bunch races) you can simply focus on solo or team time trials. There is something in track racing for everyone. The track forum is fairly active. Come over and read some and ask the random questions that you are sure to have.

Some good threads:


https://www.bikeforums.net/track-cycl...ions-here.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/track-cycl...ack-racer.html

Camilo

I agree that taking on any new physical challenge in the 60s is doable. To me, that would not be the issue. The issue for me would be falling - even in a controlled situation. When I fall or have any physical mishap these days (mid-60s), it is a bad situation. It can take weeks or months to recover, if ever (I have a long list of injuries that will limit my abilities for the rest of my life, they get added to every year).

What is just a painful nuisance in one's 20s, 30s, 40s, even 50s, can be a problem in the 60s. You have to think - "if I injure myself doing this (new) thing, what will it then prevent me from doing?" I gave up CrossFit when the Olympic weight lifting and gymnastics emphasis caused me injuries that are now limiting my ability to do long, strenuous hikes and bike rides, not to mention daily chores and household activities which I enjoy too.

So if you think you're going to fall on the track, I wouldn't do it.

Dave Cutter

I thought falling and getting hurt.... then getting back up.... was part of the living process.