aliasfox

Right now, I work east coast hours on the west coast, which means I'm able to take advantage of far more daylight into the fall than when I was on the east coast - being able to get 30-40 miles in two (or maybe three) weekend afternoons a week is great. That's nothing compared with the retired gentleman that I shared a few miles with yesterday, who talked about his metric century that day as if it were a regular occurrence. Sure, on fresh legs I outpaced him a bit going over a rise, but he probably has nearly 30 years on me (I'm 38) and 40 more miles under his bibs that day. I have no doubt I'd be sucking wind if I had caught up to him after most of a metric century.


I'll say that mileage definitely helps. I just beat my time up Old La Honda Rd (3mi, 8%) by 2 minutes last week, despite being 5ish lbs heavier and 18 months older than my last attempt. I also probably have over 1k more miles in my legs this year than I did at that point last year.

genejockey 

Exactly. And there's nothing like that feeling you get on the "Cycling God" days when every time you call down to the engine room for more speed, it's there, and you feel like you could ride forever - but you don't, because you know you can't.

terrymorse 

That's a good point. Most of us are not needing to bang out a VO2max performance, but lots of activities call for threshold efforts.

One event that's likely pure threshold is the 40km time trial. And, among the best athletes, not that much is lost as age increases.


From Friel, Fast After 50, 2015

Inspirational.

Koyote

This seems a rather odd (and OT) aside...And I must point out that the name was changed because it was offensive to the people of the Kaw Nation, from whom my state takes its name. If you understood the history of their treatment here, you might see the name change differently.

seypat

There's this, though. It somewhat contradicts the thread title. You might be competitive in an age grouped crit. Most likely not in a open crit.

seypat

The thread reminds me of a conversation I was having with a woman once about the meaning of the word competitive. For her, and others it means doing all you can do to be the best you can be. To me it actually means having a chance to win/place in an actual event/race/tournament/etc. Different meanings for different people.

wheelreason

Oh boy, Is 60 the new 40 again? I'll be 62 next month, and I get slower every year, and have for well over a decade, and it gets more pronounced every year.

OldTryGuy

..... Corporate imposed name ...... *Unbound Gravel* ???"

"...... One day after Cummins left the organization, Unbound Gravel’s parent company Life Time issued a statement confirming it would be rebranding. “We have been working throughout this year on options for a name change,” the statement said. “Our event name wasn’t created with ill-intent, and while we have worked with and received support from the Kaw Nation, we also understand that our name should not cause hurt. This process does take time, and we want to make this change in the correct manner. Please know that we will share progress as we work through this process.” ...............................
................................New name, new brandingOn Thursday, Life Time announced the new name of the event. The new name also came with new branding, an homage to the Flint hills of Kansas. Unbound says its new name is: “About self-discovery. We will come undone, reinvigorated, and undone again each time we’re out on those hills.........."

above taken from >>>> https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/...bound%20Gravel.

IMO, using the ORIGINAL NAME is DISRESPECTING the Kaw Nation

seypat

Speaking of offensive, I find it offensive that a poster with a star beside the name(moderator, correct?) would put a political statement in a post despite it being against the rules. You should clean that up before it elicits more political discussion. Too late.

Trakhak

Not universally true (although, in fairness, you did say "usually"). At 72, my position on the bike is pretty much the same as when I started racing, at 15. And as far as I can tell, cycling, especially flat-backed in my aero bars, has always supplied all the stretching I need, so I've never felt the need to do any stretching exercises.

Whenever I've strained my lower back by, e.g., moving furniture, I know that a couple of days of riding will almost always ease the discomfort.

Jughed

I'm not beating anyone that is truly athletic.

So, I compete with myself.

Even if I was an "athlete" - taking 20+ years off the bike & becoming a big ole blob, then joining an age group type race & matching up against athletes that have been doing athlete stuff their entire lives...

I ain't winning sheeeet.

terrymorse 

I interpreted OP to mean “I no longer want to crash and break body parts in a crit”.

CoogansBluff

Talk about your training, a typical week, etc. What has helped you maintain and improve into your 60s?

SoSmellyAir

All this talk about retirement and the near-unlimited time to ride is making me envious.

I am almost 50 and noticeably faster than I was at 40. Back then I was even more out of shape and did not even own a bike.

merlinextraligh

Did anyone from the Kaw Nation complain? I didn’t see anyone protesting when I raced it as Dirty Kanza. It’s the same root as the state’s name; are they offended by the name of the State?

The ‘Dirty” reference is in no way intended to offend. It’s A reference to the fact that it was a very hard ride on dirt roads. If anything the name honored the heritage of the place in which the race was held.

and the post by Old Try Guy appears to confirm that the name was not a problem when it was a locally run grassroots event, was changed after Lfetime sports bought the event,and was precipitated by a comment by the original race founder that had nothing to do with the Kaw Nation.

in fact the Kaw Nation, via its chair person in response to the name change petition said they were proud of the name,and that it honored their heritage. https://velo.outsideonline.com/news/...6-9268d2933332

merlinextraligh

The biggest difference for me is more time to train, and the opportunity to spend time in the Mountains.

The program is basically 5 days on with Monday and Friday being rest days, intervals on Tuesday and Thursday. Then an endurance ride on Wednesday. And a hard group ride or race on the weekend, and and another endurance ride on other weekend day.

the program also has rhythm of 3 progressively harder weeks before a recovery week the 4 week, then starting the cycle again with another 4 week block

Because my goals for the year were long events with lots of climbing, the intervals have been mostly focused on raising ftp, so lots of tempo, sweet spot, and steady states, and just a smattering of shorter intervals.

300,000 feet plus of climbing this year has definitely helped

merlinextraligh

So when I was doing mass start USA cycling races as a Cat 3, racing Masters was typically harder than racing my category. When you race Cat 3 events you’re only racing other Cat 3’s . When you race Masters it’s open to all cats, so you have cat 1’s and pros. Racing at Masters Nationals, I’ve raced against ex pro tour racers,and former Olympians. Way harder than a local Cat. 3 crit.

And I never intended this thread to be about what a great bike racer I am. Obviously not getting past Cat 3 I never set the world on fire.

it’s about not letting age limit what you can still accomplish

PeteHski

Athletes who continue to train consistently throughout their 50s and 60s barely see any drop at all in their VO2 max. Same goes for their maximal HR. Inevitably there will be a decline at some point, but the decline can certainly be slowed down, which will be proven by the next generation of older athletes.

At 55 I’m not expecting to beat competitive 25 year olds that are training seriously, but I am faster than I was in my 40s and my VO2 max has been stable for the last 5 years. My max HR has also remained the same and has only dropped about 10 bpm from my mid 20s.

merlinextraligh

exactly. While, I’m still thinking about doing some of the local training crits, when I factor in that they don’t really help me with preparing for my goal events and the risk of injury, it doesn’t really fit for me to be racing crits at this point.

TMonk

the 35/45+ is the fastest race behind the P/1/2 in SCNCA every time. For sure faster than cat 3. I won from some solo breaks as 3 (in 2019). The ain't happening in 35/45+ or the pro race. I need some other horses with me.

dr_max

Even Mark Cavendish won 4 TDF races at 37

Nachoman

I'm okay with slowing down as I age. Frankly, I no longer have the discipline (and perhaps the ability) that it would take to get faster.

bruce19

I didn't get/feel slower either until I hit my '70's. But, you are going to get slower. However, your attitude is the one to have. "Do not go gentle into that good night." I never will, regardless of the numbers.

cyclezen

All a matter of personal perspective, and timing...
Not to discourage, but aging is inevitable. Looking to max what one has, at any time, laudable and a positive way forward.
But slowing down is inevitable.
I'm much 'slower' than I was 10 yrs ago, and at that time slower than before that...
But that's OK! It's not a total collapse or surrender to the inevitable. It is still 'pushing boundaries' (personal). At the same time as loving every moment.
I think my level of 'Appreciation' & 'Love' is way higher than it's been at any point in my past.
I appreciate my past achievements and at the same time explore who I am, now.
But do 'keep pushing', the worth is in the effort as much, if not more, than the result.
Ride On
Yuri

OldTryGuy

The LINK ABOVE was dated April 20, 2020
The LINK in my post is October 29, 2020 --- 6 months so possibly a change of opinion ????