[Closed] Older riders - how old were you when you first started to lose performance?

16.

[i]but it's got me wondering when age starts to slow you down - what's the STW experience? [/i]

While I didn't start riding until I was 40, I'm finding that at 50 I've not the complete fitness I had when in my mid-40's but I've more mental stamina. Consequently I've no problem keeping up with folk 10-20 years younger than me.

This is not racing nor roadie stuff, but mtb-ing.

I,m struggling now to ride fast but can ride all day started going downhill when I moved to the Lakes 3 years ago I,m nearly 49 maybe its just the hills! 🙂

I doubt you slowing down that significantly at 42.
100 miles a week is not a lot to be fair. The good v40's I know ride on average triple that amount.
You probably need to ride more, and rest properly in between.
44 here. Last summer I was fitter than I can remember. My fitness only dropped because my time on bike has dropped ... I like to think I still got another 10yrs of hard riding left in me.

What I've found with increased age is that I don't recover as quickly, whether that's after a long ride or after efforts within a ride. As an example on a steep climb I'd be able to recover on an easing, wouldn't have to be flat, but just 50 metres and the next steep bit would be as if I was fresh. These days I need a kilometre or two to recover 😳

I don't know what your mileage has been up to now but 100 miles is not a huge weekly distance. Are you starting with a cold or fever? I'm 56 and my average weekly distance for the year so far is 288Km (170 miles?) but January and most of February were low mileage being mostly on the turbo so probably 80Km (50 miles) for those 6 or 7 weeks.

[i]"started going downhill"[/i]
😕 That's [b]good[/b] isn't it?

Just turned 55. I'm slightly slower than I was five years ago , but probably able to ride for longer periods.
Biggest thing for me now, is that I can't ride fast right from the start, I really need 15 to 20 mins very steady, even maybe slowly, to begin with.
Recovery to normal following colds and such seems to take longer too.
Riding anything from 20 to 50 miles a week,hilly off-road over usually 2 or 3 sessions.

5 years ago. and how i feel now, i cant see it coming back. i can however ride steady all day.

FWIW I'm clocking between 70-100 miles a week on a mix of cx and mtb and I am well chuffed with myself at the grand old age of 43.
I feel fitter than ever, only things stops me riding more is time to do it...

I've been riding recreationally for aaages, but started loosely "timing" myself on some road loops about 10 years ago (and have a few strava rides) when I was 40). Have never trained in any meaningful way. I always am at my fastest in August/Sept after a 2wk holiday where I do lots of mtb riding, in biggish mountains.

At 50 this year I can beat the shit out of my 40-yr old self but then I am riding a bit more now my kids are older. That said, I'm better than "only" 2-4 yrs ago for the same time of year, so I don't think I'm on a big physical decline just yet.

Biggest thing for me now, is that I can't ride fast right from the start, I really need 15 to 20 mins very steady, even maybe slowly, to begin with.

I think this year at the ripe age of 49 it has become noticeable. I was getting regular KOMs last year and the year before, and xc races was doing top 10's in the vets. Now struggling to get near any KOMs and haven't got the fight to do well in xc races. Some of it is mental, and some of it is losing strength, which I am sure is disappearing.
Supposedly the endurance improves, but the muscle mass declines, so you have to work at the muscle stuff to maintain speed.

Edited - read crap.

There is a point where the masking effect of youthful energy fades enough that targeted training is needed to maintain performance. Unless you were training really hard previously (and it doesn't sound as if you were/are?) then there's no reason why, if diligent, that you wouldn't actualy increase performance. I managed it from 50-51.

46 here, I don't train or race consistently but I don't think I've lost any performance due to age, just due to not training.

What affects me most is recovery - takes longer.

I'm 58 in a couple of weeks time, I've been on tablets for high blood pressure for quite a few years now and I had a bit of cancer a couple of years ago.
I've still got a few Strava KOM's but they're slowly being whittled away and I don't see myself earning any new one's as I don't feel the need to push myself to the max any more.

'Only' 37, and still getting faster - I've only been riding for 10 years though so, plenty of time to learn some new tricks.

I have 'eased up' on some stuff though, I was at FOD at the weekend, after our ride we fancied another go at the last few KM of the blue XC loop so we rode up the push-up road thanks to some info from a coupe of local riders - on the way we passed a couple of the crossing points on the DH tracks, "Oh sod that, that doesn't look fun to me" I said out-loud, it was only then my riding mate reminded me that we'd actually raced there, on that very track at some point last decade.

I'm technically better than I ever have been, I'm quicker than ever over the stuff I'm comfortable with, but I know deep down that there's stuff I would have thrown myself over 5 years ago and hoped for the best that I wouldn't ride now.

I'm not sure it's age, or the fact I'm a Dad now, a nasty injury a couple of years ago or just the self-confidence to say "no" rather than let peer pressure get the best of me - but the end result is the same. Cwmcarn DH for example, I used to be quite the regular on the uplift bus and could if the mood took me get down in a decent enough time - but these days I look at the second bit from the road drop and think, Nah, it'll only hurt ha ha.

49, fitter now that before. But I take longer to warm up, feel shit if I push hard until about 30mins into the ride.

I expect to compensate by riding with more skill, riding a lighter bike and doing longer rides.

But eventually will get slower - not sure if that's 5 or 10 years away though.

58 here and the difference is that I don't have a rapid change of pace so I am OK in a time trial but in a MTB or road race I would really struggle with the constant changes of pace . Did a 118km sportive with over 2000 metres of climbing on Monday though and finished stronger than most of those I was riding with who are all younger than me by some distance .

41, while this season has been pretty pants (toddler & newly self employed), I haven't noticed any drop off as such. Crappy w/kg this year is down to beers on the sofa and lack of quality training, not age. Maybe I have a shock coming but I don't think I'm taking londer to recover either, although I generally look after myself (plenty sleep, 20+ years vegan, low stress job etc).
Mentally, maybe. I've struggled to get out and train when the weather's bad in winter. Years past I'd be halfway round the route before noticing how bad it was, whereas now I'm grumbling in front of the weather radar over breakfast 😳

I train with some very good 40+ riders (from ex world tour to masters/elites), and kids (juniors to sub23 and elites) which is a good situation - some of the young 'uns are incredible riders but there's always an old dude in the mix so I can't feel sorry for my old ass.

I'm 37 and have been mountain biking since I was 14, I definitely don't have the fitness and recovery I did in my late teens when I would ride all day until I couldn't pedal any more and then repeat the next day etc etc. I notice a lot more aches and pains after a big ride, especially my back, hands and in winter my knees, and it takes me longer to recover.

Main thing in relation to mountain biking is I don't have the fearless attitude of a teenager, we used to rattle down stuff on rigid steel bikes with canti brakes I would really hesitate to ride down now on my modern full susser. If I crashed back then it was funny and we all laughed, now it bloody hurts and I have to think about missing work etc!

I'm 52 and its my body thats starting to let me down (sore back, frozen shoulder etc). I dont have any pace now but can ride steady all day, so no bad thing. Still do as many daft Mtb things as I used to, so not all bad.

49 here, don't race, but ride a few times a week, road and mtb. Fitness hasn't dropped through age, but injury and illness have taken a huge toll 🙁

41 here and had a bit of a dip in performance due to less riding. Installed Strava a few weeks ago and, combined with more riding and longer rides, I'm starting to get my fitness back to a decent (for me) level. I find Strava gives you a bit more of an incentive to push a little harder which translates into better fitness.

At 40 I was in the form of my life, running and riding, going for my 4th cat, chaingang, riding most days.
Then I somehow got chronic kidney disease and now I am happy to go for a walk.
5 years later, 50lbs heavier, a cocktail of drugs everyday and just getting by day to day.

Enjoy your health whilst you have it.

^^^ 🙁

must be horrible..

Recovery defiantly and noticeable this year (hit 48 in February) fitness ironical better but been training with a PM for a year now so been a bit smarter with my training. Also not frightened to take days off now rather than push myself to total exhaustion. Currently reading Joe Friel 'fast after 50' who advocates shorter higher intensity & weights as we age.

Good post.

43, 100-200 off-road only miles per week, distant and constant effort better than ever. Don't need much food on the bike either.

Differences? Harder work to sprint, much harder to recover, not as effortless uphill. Slightly more reticent downhill. Aches and pains of natural ageing.

But I think you just have to work harder yourself, and smarter to coin a clique. I've found holding a fast pace off-road for 50-70 miles my strength now. So I work everything around that, even dialling in KOMs as the challenge as my sprints along the way.

But no, I'm not slower - I'm faster overall.

Having gone through a real downer between 40-41, feeling like my fitness was done for, my mate just said to keep hitting back at the brick wall. 🙂

Biggest thing for me now, is that I can't ride fast right from the start, I really need 15 to 20 mins very steady, even maybe slowly, to begin with.

Biggest thing for me now, is that I can't ride fast right from the start, I really need 15 to 20 mins very steady, even maybe slowly, to begin with.

Not sure that's entirely an age thing. I'm "only" 35 but need a 20min warm up to get going for my training sessions. Before i started training i remember i used to feel rubbish until i'd done the first climb/effort then would feel great.

Depends on the event. I have a mate who is a good triathlete. Because he is spending an hour at threshold he hasn't noticed any performance loss at 49. He does say it takes him longer to recover though. He is a pure slow twitch guy too.

I'm 48, I'm faster now than when I was 38 but I am 3st lighter which helps. Crashes take longer to recover from though. Currently nursing bruised ribs & numerous contusions after an interface with the ground on Monday 🙁

I'm very close to 66 and I can depress you all by saying that after 60 your fitness level, combined with increasing lack of confidence, takes a nose dive; sorry.

Ramsey Neil - Member
58 here and the difference is that I don't have a rapid change of pace so I am OK in a time trial but in a MTB or road race I would really struggle with the constant changes of pace . Did a 118km sportive with over 2000 metres of climbing on Monday though and finished stronger than most of those I was riding with who are all younger than me by some distance .

I saw from the results that you must have had a good ride Neil - I, on the other hand, am just the same as I ever was - still mediochre, just older 8)

Been noticing it for the last couple of years but this year I'm 59 and the performance is dropping off as well as the recovery time; I seem to have permanently aching legs nowadays!

I gather than what you lose in speed as you age you gain in endurance so I may just [s]grow a beard and[/s] buy myself a tourer and start audaxing, and accept middle-age gracefully

I am looking forward to that 😉 🙂

Look up WAVA for runners for some quite precise and comprehensive analysis. But I'm faster than ever as a runner at 46. A lot depends on how much training you do!

I'm 46 and only started biking 6 years ago (I was a runner before that), so I don't have a go
direct comparison to make with my younger days!

A friend of mine who is almost 53 is fitter now than he has been in years.

Just made up 60 and I can definitely feel that my best years are behind me ....

38 and its been taking me two days to shift a hangover since I was 35

52. When I took up riding at 45 my 58 year old neighbour was much fitter than me. I would definitely subscribe to the view that you lose power and speed but can sustain endurance. I find my base level of fitness drops away quickly if I don't ride for a while these days, so its more important to get out regularly. Also the injury recovery is much much slower, lots of personal examples (sob stories). This then combines with fitness level dropping away so it can be along time to "get back". Also whilst endurance is OK I find long back to back days on say a weekend away are a really struggle, in fact haven't planned such riding for more than a year.

The legs do take longer nowadays to ease after a day in the saddle but I enjoy the lakes & generally 5 to 6 hour rides, from the of it's 20 mins to get things working & strangely I start to feel good after a few hours, 51 now & maintaining a half decent level gets harder plus working away month at a time is really naff for the fitness, but this year to date I've managed a few half decent times on strava, roll on the cod liver oil capsules & copper wrist band, do they really help??

Cheers Mark

I'm 47 and train regularly on the mtb and more so with 'Ard Rock approaching and I'd say my fitness is still pretty good and getting regular KOM's and beating the lads on their CX bikes ! on my trusty enduro bike so I must be doing something right.

But I'm finding that my recovery now from any injury is a nightmare, but that's age for ya ! 😕

A lot of this can be summed up as: "running to stand still"! Keeping strength, fitness and weight at whatever level takes more and more effort and attention.

In theory experience should let you keep going, know which battles to go for, etc. In practice you still push harder than you should before blowing up halfway up some climb 🙄

I would think on average it is around mid thirty's when you are past reaching maximum performance that a you are capable of reaching during a lifetime.

41 here (almost)

Stamina and all day fitness is as good as it's ever been, but outright speed/power suffer the minute I back off the effort. Work hard for a month or 2 and I can feel quite fast. Have a week off, and it's all gone.

Muscle rcovery is Ok (although I lead a fairly healthy lifestyle). Injury recovery less so.

Warm ups - It takes me a good 45 minutes to get properly going. The first climb from cold, if there's also a headwind makes me want to go home and hide under the duvet. Utter agony. (I usually start climbing ~100m from my front door)

I rowed at a fairly high level in my late 30's early 40's and packed it up when I couldn't continue to train 5 days a week without suffering like a dog for the other 2! Knocked out a couple of sub 4 hour London Marathons in my mid 40's but really hit my cycling stride at 50 - sub hour 25 mile TT's good run in the Duo Normand and a string of XC wins at club level 🙂 Since then I've gradually declined and find maintaining the training pain really difficult. Doesn't stop me trying though.

As good standard club runner, I would say 35.

42.

Punchy speed has gone, 55 now went late 40,s. Average speed still pretty good. I work on repeats of peak power so I can push and recover during racing.
I don't bother with shed loads of miles anymore. Just club rides and turbo training and some weights. Its a case of adjusting to the changes.
Like many here distance and stamina go with the age. Did a 600km non stop last year with no issue.
When I go on club runs even the most average newcomer is hard work for me to follow, then after a good few miles the tables are well and truly turned.

I recently turned 60 and had to have 3 months of following an operation been back riding for 6 weeks but can't seem to get back to the fitness I had like a lot of others I can do distance but only steady. At 57 I'd have been up at the front on the steep hills but now resigned to being middle to back.

50 - it all just broke? Health rather than fitness was the issue, my fitness is currently ok (nearly 52 now) but it disappears very quickly even if you have a week off the bike. I think health is a bigger issue in respect to your overall ability to maintain your fitness

50 - it all just broke? Health rather than fitness was the issue, my fitness is currently ok (nearly 52 now) but it disappears very quickly even if you have a week off the bike. I think health is a bigger issue in respect to your overall ability to maintain your fitness