chipmunk32

I am 61 and feel pretty good doing a 100 miles every Sat. I also do a hard 40 during the week (hills or fast pace lines). Does this seem too much? I suppose at some time we are supposed to slow down but it is hard to determine when that time might be.

Cyril 

On the one hand, its clearly not too much for a 61yr.old...you're doing it, aren't you?
On the other, you may be affecting your health in hidden ways. For that I suggest you see a physician.

gregf83 

If you feel good doing the rides it's not time to slow down.

StephenH

I know riders of similar age that ride 200k or more every Saturday. Do it now while you're young, you can sit in a rocking chair 20 or 30 years from now if appropriate.

chipmunk32

My physician thinks I should ride one century a year. He is not a cyclist and views centuries as the "gold standard." I raised the question because I can use a objective opinion. I feel great but I wonder how other cyclists over 60 might be doing milage. I think I love cycling s much I become stupid when it comes to an honest self appraisal. Thanks for your reply/\

unterhausen

"I'm not dead yet"

seajaye

Don't worry about what other people are doing, or what non-cyclists think.

The real question you should ask yourself is "Is riding a century every Saturday *enough* for this 61 year old?"

If you're enjoying it, and your body feels fine, then keep it up. If you become mentally burnt out, maybe change up your routine or take some time away from riding, maybe focus on other physical or leisure activities. If you become physically worn out, then rest up and get back to it when you feel like you're ready.

JimF22003

I've done one every weekend so far this year, since April. But of course I'm only 57

yote223

It's nice to know that you still have the "Mojo" to do it. But it is also good to take time to " Smell the Roses " so to speak. There is nothing wrong with being a "sleeper". Keep that Ace up your sleeve. Time spent NOT running centuries is time better spent "Properly Corrupting" the grand-kids.

10 Wheels

Oct 2010...2040 miles with 19 Centuries....I was 67 at the time.

thebulls

There are many riders your age who continue to ride centuries every weekend. The only thing I'd be concerned about is osteoporosis. There's some evidence that endurance bicycling leaches calcium and other minerals. Maybe that gets worse as we age? Maybe worth getting a bone density test, particularly if you are a lighter-boned person to start with?

Nick

10 Wheels

Are you a MD?

vwchad

Centuries every weekend at 61? You sir, are my hero. I hope I can say I'm doing the same when I'm 61. If you feel good, go for it.

bikemig 

There is no real pay-off health wise to riding a century as opposed to say riding a metric century. The literature is pretty solid that you reach a point of diminishing returns pretty quickly when it comes to working out. I think as we age--from what I've read--it is important to be holistic and take everything into account from nutrition to weight exercises to stretching and so forth. I found Gretchen Reynolds book, The First 20 Minutes to be a real eye opener. In any case, that's my 2 cents worth.

unterhausen

I would normally agree that shorter rides more often are better for you, but I find that riding a couple of 200km rides a month makes me a lot fitter than I would be otherwise. For randonneurs, 160k-200k is a short ride during the season, and plenty of 60 y.o. randonneurs are riding 10000Km per year, which is close to requiring a 200km ride per weekend.

Thulsadoom

My Goodness, what is wrong with you people? 100 miles? On a bicycle? At 61 years of age?

This man is obviously deranged and suffering from dementia. He should be spending his remaining few days sitting in a rocker, next to an old victrola with a blanket in his lap dreaming of the day when he can climb into a pine box and be glad that it's finally all over. For heavens sake, don't encourage him.

(There. If you actually feel the need to ask a question like that on an internet forum, then you should expect at least one sarcastic reply. At my age, I do what I want and anyone who doesn't like it can go jump in the lake.)

thebulls

No. But I try to keep up somewhat with the literature. If you have other info, please post it.

Nick

unterhausen

I'm not sure the osteoporosis study was backed up by any other researchers. It was a little on the thin side, IIRC, <30 out of 100 or something like that. I feel like it was one of those counter-intuitive results that people love so much. How many studies are going to get a lot of attention if they point out that people that exercise a lot are healthier than their non-exercising cohort?

mprelaw

If you're resting/recovering adequately during the week, which I assume you are if you're feeling good on your weekend centuries, I see no reason why you should stop.

By the way, there's a 63 year old doctor in one of my clubs who averages over 10,000 miles a year. He winters in Florida so he does 200-250 miles a week year round. Doctors who don't cycle sometimes overestimate the effects of riding 100 miles. It sounds like a Herculean effort to them.

bhchdh 

OK. This is just bragging. Cycle on McChipmunk32, and damned be he who says "hold enough."

chipmunk32

Update: Yesterday my younger brother (59), an elite runner/cyclist collapsed on a short intense run. Heart. Visited him in the hospital today and talked to him about soliciting objective advice from others about our athletic performance for a better perspective. Thanks for all your contributions. We have to have some sort of metric otherwise we ride until we end up injuring ourselves or others. He is scheduled for angiogram tomorrow. He is one of the lucky ones that did not "give up the ghost."

unterhausen

I hope your brother heals up quick. As we get older, there is definitely some risk of heart problems that aren't necessarily mitigated by exercise. And some heart issues that are actually made worse by exercise.

bbarnett51

61 is not old. Keep rolling! I ride with a 68year old that puts in 200miles a week. It's kept him young and he looks great.

pdlamb

Sorry to hear about your brother. Recommend you talk to at least one cardiologist who keeps up a decent exercise program. If you talk to two cardiologists, the one who doesn't exercise might very well say, "You almost died because you exercised so intensely." while the one who does exercise might say, "You were going to have heart problems anyway, but your exercise induced sufficient collateral vascularization that you survived the episode." Who knows? One of them might be right!

HardyWeinberg

I recommend talking to a doc or physical therapist who does ride, and if you can find one closer to your age so much the better. I do have a person around here like that I feel pretty comfortable about getting that kind of info from even though (especially when!) she doesn't much agree w/ what my mostly gym-bound family doc thinks about outdoor exercise. Best to your brother.