MoAlpha

Fifty-nine and still working and cycle commuting. Sailing is the main sport, which takes away many weekends and about 4 prime cycling weeks in June and September and limits my fitness, but I get to up to about 150 mi/wk when the weather is good and l can steal an afternoon or two. In the winter, I'm lucky to commute a few days a week and do a couple of interval workouts on the trainer.

Depending on fitness and distance, my average speeds are generally between about 15 and 17 mph in moderate, rolling terrain. The fact that I ride almost exclusively alone keeps my speed and distances down. I hang with groups from time to time, but generally would rather poke along at my own pace, thinking my own thoughts, than take on the mental load of staying on someone's wheel for an extra 2 mph and miss all scenery. I do miss the days of racing and going on long, hard, training rides with 5 of one's best friends, but I get that on the water now.

Some of you guys are animals (!) and my hat is off to all those cycling through adversity or taking it up late in life.

BluesDawg

60 and retired from corporate work, but still working 12-20 hrs/wk at a bike shop. My weekly mileage varies greatly by time of year and week by week. I'm averaging about 80 miles per week since I retired in 2012. Hoping for 100 per week this year, though I'm only doing about 40/wk so far. Warmer weather and DST will make commuting more practical and the weekly club rides and weekend events will help increase that.

Oldguyonoldbike

I work full time and have two elementary school aged kids. My wife works full time and is working on a master's in the evening. Time is pretty tight during the week, but I try to get 50 miles a week in most of the year, 75-100 during summer.

jskash

I am 58 (soon to be 59). I ride 120 and 150 miles per week. I ride every day. 16 miles Monday - Friday and 20 or more on the weekend. The longest I have gone is 26 miles. I really wanted to see if I could cycle a marathon. I have done that distance twice. I ride early in the morning well before the sun comes up as I am out of the house by 6:30 AM to go to work.

cccorlew

During the week I get at least 16 a day commuting. Add that to 30-60 most weekends, so around 100. During the summer I often do more and end up with 7000 for the year. I ride almost every day.

Jim from Boston

What is your average miles per week (or hours) for us old guys...

I have previously posted to this thread, ”Why didn’t I ride”

I have the opportunity to commute a minimal 14 miles one-way during the week (Commuter Rail home), and round-trip on Saturday all year-round, for about 100 miles a week. During the nice weather, I’d like to put in about 150-200 miles to train and do long rides.

In reality though, I probably get in about 20-30 miles per week during the winter, and maybe about 75-100 during the nice weather (to include early evening rides).

Just this week, I was presented with a golden motivation to achieve my optimal mileage. The organization I work for is promoting an “Activity Challenge,” for teams of five members to track their physical activity: type, intensity and duration, from March 6 to June 6, and points are assigned. Two of my co-workers are on an opposing team. Results will be posted weekly.

That may be just what I need to “win this one for the Gipper.”

OldTryGuy

66 in 4 months, retired with typically 1 to 3 days out, occasionally more. Tuesday-club, Thursday-club and Saturday-LBS. Last year had prostate cancer diagnosis in March and most miles biked at 7,000+. Tried to fulfill 65th birthday resolution to bicycle my age every time I went out on my Giant but sometimes life got in the way. Riding with the group I would contribute with my turns at the front of the paceline but as the zero testosterone levels continued to dish out its unpleasant effects, leading became wheel sucking then dropping off.

Had a turn around this week with feeling better and rides attest to it. 71 miles Tuesday. 80 miles yesterday. Both days kept up with the fast riders and yesterday I actually spent some time at the front. Tomorrow I am hoping for 100+ miles. If I continue to feel OK, the weekly mileage should increase.

BlazingPedals

This time of year, I'm lucky to get 25-50 miles per month, strictly due to weather. Once the weather gets warmer, I try to ramp up to at least 150 miles per week. I've had many, many 250-mile weeks, but I've never broken 1000 miles in a month.

edit: forgot to say, I'm 60 and still working.

John_V 

I'm retired and 69 years old with a wife that also loves to ride. Living in Central Florida, we can ride year round which gives us an advantage that most other states don't have during the winter months. My riding schedule is Tuesday thru Sunday, weather permitting, and my rides are between 35 and 55 miles. I normally ride with two other retired friends of mine and we average a 17-21 mph pace, unless we tag on to some of the younger kids riding in groups, then we go faster. I also ride with my wife, on occasion, and will do 20-25 mile rides with her. If I ride all six days, my miles range between 200-250 miles/week. This past January and February were pretty wet for us so that didn't happen as often as I would have liked it to but I'm ahead of last years YTD miles by almost 500 miles. Last year, I didn't ride but a few days in February, due to an illness, and didn't ride in August due to a three week vacation in Europe. However, I still managed just over 8,500 miles with 3 months of the year being 1,000+ mile months. Living in a location that offers year round cycling, being retired and having a wife that understands your passion is what it's all about. It sure beats playing golf.

bent4me

Hard to keep up with you Florida people but I averaged 125/wk. Will probably be more now that I am retired. 1100 so far this yr, not bad for this Jerseypedaler.

John_V 

There's a large community, just north of Tampa, where lots of retirees from up north come down for the winter months. From that community, there are quite a few recumbent riders that ride at the same wilderness park that I go to. They ride two to three times a week and usually stop at a Steak and Shake (next to the park) for brunch. Might want to consider spending the winter in Florida and adding to those miles.

wphamilton

In winter it's about 100-110 which is 80 commuting and 20 or 30 weekends (sometimes just the 80 when it's really nasty). 140 or 150 when the weather is nicer.

bent4me

Hope to be Fultime Rving next year which means finally getting to be a Snowbird.

Rick@OCRR

I was fit back in 2015, yes, but 2016 has been tough, so losing fitness quickly, unfortunately. Recumbent change-over still in progress.

I have ridden some in Cambridgeshire since my son was stationed at the U.S. military base outside of Cambridge for three years. Lovely roads for cycling!

Rick / OCRR

rydabent

Retired, 77, and ride right at 100 miles a week in the summer months. I pretty much ride every other day.

big john

I never commute to work by bicycle, I'm just too tired some days to ride home and don't want to be on the road with the angry masses.
If the sun is up when I get home I go for a ride on Wednesday, otherwise all of my riding is on weekends with 60-80 miles on Saturdays and 25-30 on Sundays.
When I do get time off there is a contingent of retirees to ride with. Some of my friends have done close to 25,000 miles in a year in hilly SoCal.

BF member Vertical Bob does a vertical century every year, usually over 650,000 feet of climbing in 8000 miles.

RockiesDad

Wow, I better get off my lazy butt and start riding a lot more! My commute to work is about 13 miles or so one way and I thought that was crazy to ride my bike but comparing it to what you guys do, it doesn't seem too bad. Plus, summer is coming and that means more daylight...

Thanks for the encouragement knowing that life still is happening even in our golden years. Sometimes my body tells me its not willing but my mind needs to take over and say "just do it". But most times once the blood starts flowing I find myself saying "this ain't so bad" and end up riding more than I thought I could...

Hermes1

I am 61 and still employed and my average per week is right around 75 miles.

Jim from Boston

For further motivation and suggestions, you may find this thread interesting “Describe your Commute”

However by way of disclaimer, I had posted to this thread. ”Beginner Commuting In a Big City”

nmichell

Some weeks in the winter I don't ride at all. Do bike trainer miles count Last summer I probably averaged 100 miles/week, with probably half of that in commuting to work. I just signed up for a multiday tour this June, though, so I need to crank it up this spring!

Sculptor7

At age 81 I average (in season) 75 to 100 miles per week usually consisting of 20 to 26 mile rides.

ltxi

I Hate You People! You all be makin' me feel so damn inadequate!

bruce19

I will be 70 in June. For the past two years (post C1&C2 fusion) I've averaged about 100 mi/wk, usually in a Sat ride of 50-60 mi. and two others of 20-25 mi.

bikeguy41

I just joined the forum today. I moved from Colorado to the Atlanta area two years ago and was terrified to ride on roads out here. So most of my riding was on bike paths, doing around 10 miles several times a week. Had a couple of injuries and stopped riding for several months. Gained 15 pounds!
I plan on getting an FX 7.2 this coming week. ( I have a Cannondale Road, but don't feel comfortable on it anymore). Now that the weather is getting nice I plan to ride at least every other day, if not more. Hope to consistenly do 15 miles and work on my speed.
i am 74, good shape for my age, retired, teach online classes that keeps me really busy. But I need to ride.

chasm54

The commute I did for years was 16 miles each way. Took just a few minutes longer by bike than it did by car in the traffic, so took very little time out out of my day. One year I commuted 28 miles each way. That was time-hungry, though, so I did it only three or so days a week.

Thirteen miles each way is pretty much perfect for a commute, in my view. Less than an hour each way, long enough to make it worthwhile but not long enough to seriously compromise your free time. And you'll feel better.