Older yet better?
07-20-17, 08:46 AM
#1
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Older yet better?
I have a 6.3 mi. TT that I try to do every couple weeks. I use it to measure my progress during the season. This is my third season of doing this ride. My goal this year was to do it at 18 mph by season's end, roughly end of September. It's been hot and humid here so I went out this morning at 7 AM to ride it. Nice and cool with little wind. My best ride to date was 17.4 mph. Today I did it at 18.1 mph. Way ahead of schedule. Totally pumped. At age 71 still able to improve. It's a good day.
07-20-17, 09:57 AM
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Good for you!
I tell you ... at some point, the age is going to catch up with me and I'm in for the long slow decline. But at this point, I feel as good or better than I did in my 30s and 40s, and I'm at least as strong of a cyclist.
Good luck on your TT!
I tell you ... at some point, the age is going to catch up with me and I'm in for the long slow decline. But at this point, I feel as good or better than I did in my 30s and 40s, and I'm at least as strong of a cyclist.
Good luck on your TT!
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07-20-17, 11:03 AM
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The feeling you describe is liberating. Makes you feel alive and grateful for your good health and good fortune. For me, this comes 4 years after having broken my neck in a crash and having C1 & C2 fused. I am just about the luckiest guy on the planet.
07-20-17, 11:20 AM
#4
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I figure Lance Armstrong is getting slower, and I'm getting faster, so at some point, those lines have to cross!
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07-20-17, 02:30 PM
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Some of it is genetic, some is the product of avoiding bad choices, and some is a product of making good choices. Some of it is just pure dumb-arse luck. But whatever the source, I am truly grateful for it.
I think a lot of us around here have a lot to be grateful for. That we understand that and actually ARE grateful is probably the greatest gift of all.
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07-20-17, 03:30 PM
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Way to go!!! 
Keep on your plan and the end of season TT will be even faster. Just make sure Smokey ain't around with the radar gun.. 
Keep on your plan and the end of season TT will be even faster. Just make sure Smokey ain't around with the radar gun..
Last edited by OldTryGuy; 07-20-17 at 04:46 PM.
07-20-17, 09:31 PM
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Within reason, age doesn't have to stop us. I hope to be riding for a lot more years, if not as many mph.
I used to ref soccer, and found that at 45 years old I was significantly faster than I was in high school. Don't ref now, but I do know that even after a heart attack that I don't have to stop.
David
Los Alamos
I used to ref soccer, and found that at 45 years old I was significantly faster than I was in high school. Don't ref now, but I do know that even after a heart attack that I don't have to stop.
David
Los Alamos
07-20-17, 09:35 PM
#10
Yo
I have a 6.3 mi. TT that I try to do every couple weeks. I use it to measure my progress during the season. This is my third season of doing this ride. My goal this year was to do it at 18 mph by season's end, roughly end of September. It's been hot and humid here so I went out this morning at 7 AM to ride it. Nice and cool with little wind. My best ride to date was 17.4 mph. Today I did it at 18.1 mph. Way ahead of schedule. Totally pumped. At age 71 still able to improve. It's a good day.
07-21-17, 04:04 AM
#11
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It's 6.3 mi. and relatively flat. No racing for me. I got into cycling late....I was right around 40. Riding on this Guru steel w/SRAM Red and Mavic Ksyrium Elites. Got it down to 17 lbs 10 oz w/Speedplay Zero pedals but nothing else.
07-21-17, 07:57 AM
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That is my intention. 
I taunt our riding police officers and have asked one if he wanted to race. He gave me a gamey "yeah!!". The other day one caught up to me to ask my name because he knew me from somewhere...gotta love smaller towns up here.
Hey Bruce, nice speed run! Knees to the breeze, bro.
I taunt our riding police officers and have asked one if he wanted to race. He gave me a gamey "yeah!!". The other day one caught up to me to ask my name because he knew me from somewhere...gotta love smaller towns up here.
Hey Bruce, nice speed run! Knees to the breeze, bro.
07-21-17, 08:15 AM
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07-21-17, 10:25 AM
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We're all just putting off the inevitable decline, but I think cycling is a very effective way of putting it off, both mentally and physically.
07-22-17, 06:07 PM
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Used to time trial once a week for a full hour 'til I hit age 80.
Now at age 84 I don't think I'll get any faster!
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem
Now at age 84 I don't think I'll get any faster!
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem
07-23-17, 08:37 AM
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I improve throughout the season. And, yes, each year, I seem to end it a bit faster than the last.
My failing is not keeping up on my cardio during the winter months. For years I've excused it as, "hey, it's only three months." But, as I get older, I notice those first few rides in late March are a bear. My plan was to do more trainer rides from Dec through March. I've thus far been lax on that effort. Upside is this past winter was only two months long.
My failing is not keeping up on my cardio during the winter months. For years I've excused it as, "hey, it's only three months." But, as I get older, I notice those first few rides in late March are a bear. My plan was to do more trainer rides from Dec through March. I've thus far been lax on that effort. Upside is this past winter was only two months long.
07-27-17, 12:50 PM
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I improve throughout the season. And, yes, each year, I seem to end it a bit faster than the last.
My failing is not keeping up on my cardio during the winter months. For years I've excused it as, "hey, it's only three months." But, as I get older, I notice those first few rides in late March are a bear. My plan was to do more trainer rides from Dec through March. I've thus far been lax on that effort. Upside is this past winter was only two months long.
My failing is not keeping up on my cardio during the winter months. For years I've excused it as, "hey, it's only three months." But, as I get older, I notice those first few rides in late March are a bear. My plan was to do more trainer rides from Dec through March. I've thus far been lax on that effort. Upside is this past winter was only two months long.
A young dude about 15 challenged me to a race to impress his pals. i enjoyed overhauling him on my bolt-upright shopper (with big basket) but all I got for my pains was abuse . . . . .
