Comeback oap’s - inspire me

what do YOU want to do? Are you missing it, or enjoying 'social riding' and not watching your weight intently?

When did 50 become OAP ? 🙄

When did 50 become OAP ?

This. Cheeky whippersnapper.

What are you enjoying most?

I’m being flippant IainC.

what do YOU want to do?

I want to make a more educated judgement based on other peoples experience, and see if there’s a theme which applies to me or inspires me.

Are you missing it, or enjoying ‘social riding’ and not watching your weight intently?

I can’t do nothing. Sitting around on a sofa watching my belly grow and being unfit sits very uncomfortably with me. Although not a natural athlete, I need to do some focused exercise and a reason for doing so is welcome. Re social rides, I’ve been enjoying so club-time and coffees on the road yes, but solo time on the MTB became a chore, possibly because of the psychological link to racing.

On the flip side. I don’t enjoy making time for stretching, avoiding biscuits and limiting the red wine.

I don't do much competitive cycling, but enjoy age-group road running. There are things like WAVA tables to encourage older runners (age-adjustment to speeds, so you can get relatively quicker while getter absolutely slower). Also lots of trivial prizes to pick up if you're the only decent one in your age group 🙂

Longer-term goal is to be (still) sub-3 for a marathon when I'm 60.

I've also really enjoyed doing some fantastic longer road and MTB rides this summer, just design a route and go and do it. Still got a lot of ideas for that, now I'm confident at enjoying rides around the 6-8h mark I can do a lot that would have been out of reach 5 years ago. Not competitive but a personal challenge to just do fantastic rides round the lakes and dales.

I think you have to decide what motivates you, really.

I want to make a more educated judgement based on other peoples experience, and see if there’s a theme which applies to me or inspires me.

I understand, but it's a personal thing so no matter what others tell you of their experience, doesn't mean that it's what you should do.

From my side. I used to play both football and cricket at a reasonable level (lower echelon of what i guess you'd call semi-pro football, good regional cricket where it was not unusual to play against either county cricketers on the way up or down and occasionally players with international experience)

Football, I got injured and missed a lot of a season. I was already getting on a bit and sensed time was running out and every week i missed I was champing at the bit to get back out there. I knew I wasn't done with it, there was no decision to make.

Cricket... I sensed I was slowing down in the speed of picking up flight of the ball and so on. I was pretty sure as the season came to an end that would be it. I could have dropped levels or just played sociably, but once the competitive instinct dropped I just couldn't get up for it. I netted a few times in the winter, but didn't play again, apart from an odd 'reunion' game or two. I haven't missed it in the slightest; I still love the game but as a spectator. I don't miss early nights on Friday because of the 10am start to travel to away games. I don't miss the 12 hours away from family, getting back in at 10pm. Although at the time I used to wear my medals like a badge of pride (as an opener getting hit was part of the job, to get in line and face down the quick short stuff) I didn't miss not being able to sleep on one side or roll over in bed for 4 days after each weekend.

In the end listen to yourself, and you'll know. But know one other thing - you are not defined by what you do on a bike, you are way more than that.

You should just read back all the various and many posts you've made on here regarding your racing and fitness. Then reflect on whether any of the constant whining was actually worthwhile. 😉

TBF, you're not the only cyclist I know who seems to have sucked all of the joy out of riding a bike due to a focus on competition. I also know that, for some folk, it's that structure that menas they'll actually get off their butt. I just know so many others for whom it remains a fun and enjoyable activity in its own right.

Riding a bike for the sake of riding a bike (rather than getting prepared for racing) is a different mind-set.

Can you set out with no aim other than a coffee/lunch stop at a particular time?

Then reflect on whether any of the constant whining was actually worthwhile

i kinda new I shouldn’t have posted this, despite the fact I deliberately avoided the chat forum. The constant bullying and sniping never ceases to end in this place, always the propensity to pick on certain individuals.

I look forward to reading the useful advice that some people kindly offer.

I'm not picking on you. I'd say the same to anyone in the same boat (in fact I have, to folk who are friends IRL). It's a serious comment on your interaction with the forum and perhaps a sign of your relationship with cycling.

It’s up to you, of course, but if it were me I might reason with myself that if I was going to do something competitive, do I actually need to do long form races which themselves necessarily entail extended periods on a bike. Is there not something a little more bite sized out there?

I'm 47 and for my entire life, have always had a fitness level which would see me finish near the back of any kind of race. 5 years ago started racing cx and was Johnny last place. Since then I've steadily improved to a level that has seen my move to mid-pack on o good day. I was making progress up until covid put my plans for 20/21 into the dustbin. 21/22 was the season which saw me finally get into the top half.
This year I decided back in march to go all in and get coached properly in an attempt to finish closer to the front, possibly this season, if not then maybe next.
During the 4 months I've been at it, I would personally say I've enjoyed cycling more than ever. I love those moments when going up a stinking climb that i've ridden hundreds of times and suddenly feel like I'm flying up without even trying, or a 3-4 HR zone 2 ride where how quickly I rip round a route or the distance covered doesn't matter any more it's just time spent riding steadily, absorbing my surroundings.
This year I felt confident enough to race MTB xc for the first time in 20 years and did my first ever crit race, both of which I enjoyed even more than CX. At 47, the thought that in a year's time there is a very real chance I could be even fitter than I am now is very intoxicating.
However, I can see that if you have been on the training/racing merry-go-round for a lot longer than I have then reaching a level where those improvements no longer come from a given level of effort, it could be hard to find the motivation.

Watch Syd & Macky on YouTube. They both have elderly parents who join in races on occasion. 🤘

Got my second cat license finally at 51. It’s not age, it’s application.

I recall your earlier threads. Whining is a bit harsh, but you've had some battles with what to do. Here's my opinion, and I will comment that I sacked off running when I was mid 30's as the rewards didn't justify the training anymore.

You'll be a bit older, so getting back where you were will be harder. That's a simple factual statement. Also, cycling is a lot more time intensive and intrusive than running, so do you have family buy in? If you just go back to where you were, but a little bit worse, how will that affect you?
But I appreciate your comments about needing some physical focus so if you come back I'd suggest doing something a bit different, or picking a target event you haven't done before. Are there European races you haven't done , but would like to , asan example.

I do some running now, but justfor fun, and occasionally an event. I climb a lot more tho', and focus on that, and eaxh year try to pick some stuff I'd like to that will be challenging, but isn't just chasing a grade(although there is some of that)

Watch Syd & Macky on YouTube. They both have elderly parents who join in races on occasion. 🤘

You just have to put up with Syd's whining.

I was planning on doing the local FNSS a few years ago but COVID put paid to that and was planning this year to do them but various medical issues and IBS put paid to that. Now at 53, I aim to do next year's series. I know I won't be competitive and be propping the back of the pack up but I'll just be doing it for fun.

I know it's way off as this year's series has just finished but hopefully, it gives me some motivation over winter to work on getting a good base of fitness and hoping to work to get some of the weight off.

Sounds simple but do what you enjoy doing...if the racing and training isn't fun then don't do it and do more of what is fun and enjoyable...once you get back there the racing and training is likely to return.
I'm in a similar boat - doing loads of biking stuff but very little riding (coaching, trailbuilding, organising, qualifications, etc.). The riding I am doing is because it needs done, I can't recall the last time I went out for a pedal for fun.
I'm needing to sort fitness out and I'm looking to get back out for some fun biking as I'm sure that'll make the difference.
So based on my thinking about my own situation - do more of what makes biking fun and enjoyable for you and once that is sorted, the rest will start to follow...

Thanks for the last few posts I think they are on point and TiReds use of the word “application” is important.

I took on a new job this year launching a new business, and also have a very busy sporting family, so with my training also time becomes a premium and consistent top 5-10 regional positions mean I need a lot of it to myself. I know November-March needs a lot of long hard bike work, disciplined diet and a some lengthy abstinence from booze for me to start well in Spring.

I think my choice is to fall back onto a trainerroad plan mid week plus a weekend club ride to stay fit yet accept my place in the lower order, step back at work, or accept very busy 17hr days squeezing everything in.

I know November-March needs a lot of long hard bike work, disciplined diet and a some lengthy abstinence from booze for me to start well in Spring.

Why?
Are you making a living from it?
Will your wife leave you if you drop 5 places in each race?
What do you gain from being in the second decile rather than the third?

Just seems pointless to put yourself through this for no actual gain.

I went through a ( quite long) phase of doing long rides to punish myself. Stuff like the eteap du dales in the rain. I'd go to landegla, grisedale or Gisburn and do a couple of laps, then do another one, then do a fourth just to make it really unpleasant.
I figured that if a cycle ride was good then four cycle rides in a row must be even better.
Then I did a gentle evening cycle in the dark at Glentress one evening with a mate, having already done 3 or so laps during the day, and totally realised what I was missing. I've since made a conscious effort to do much less, but try to do enjoyable stuff that's exciting and interesting and fun.

Doing some big rides has given me a certain amount of satisfaction, but doing shorter fun rides with my sons has given me much more.

Bin the shit bits and embrace the good bits

i kinda new I shouldn’t have posted this, despite the fact I deliberately avoided the chat forum. The constant bullying and sniping never ceases to end in this place, always the propensity to pick on certain individuals.

Could be worded better but I'd not say it's not useful advice. Basically it's saying examine your relationship with MTB and (if) you find it's moaning because it wasn't fun then try and get a better relationship ????

theotherjonv

I understand, but it’s a personal thing so no matter what others tell you of their experience, doesn’t mean that it’s what you should do.

And very much this ^^^^

I ride with my local geriatrics and got talked into doing an Enduro... one of the ringers in the group (40's) also races for the army. It started off my mate entering a eMTB event and me saying I'd go along then one of the other guys (not a regular of our riding group) posted a win when we know pretty much he's cheating so it ruined it for me... why enter an event where people are cheating?

When we worked that out I said sod it I'll just do it on the HT... as non of my bikes are competitive and I'm not spending money I don't have making them competitive. (mostly they are all 27.5 fun bikes) but entered as a Vet simply as I'm not racing 20'odd yr olds in the HT cat.

My mate racing for the army is already talking about buying a new bike for racing... and already advertised his old bike. Looks to me like he's going to trade in the "fun" bike, pay extra money and end up with a race bike that's less fun for 90% of his riding ...

I thoroughly enjoy riding with my mates... I've been out 5-6 times this week but racing seems like such a potential expense. I'm in a more geriatric cat than all my mates but I'm not that fussed where I place in that against people I don't know. If I manage not to crash terminally I'm hoping to beat my younger mates on FS... if not it's cost me little and we can have a good laugh together.

The other point that’s worth emphasising is that you really have to enjoy the process. Because I focus on longer distance road running events, most of my “training” is just a steady jog in some really lovely countryside. This morning I did 90 mins in the sunshine, exchanged a few words with others I met on the way, came back feeling thoroughly refreshed and invigorated. Through the winter there will be a bit more dodgy weather to content with and one or two hard sessions a week but not enough to burn me out. The racing is fun and gives a good sense of achievement. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t be doing it. It’s not like I’m getting paid for it.

I need to do some focused exercise and a reason for doing so is welcome

This rings true to me.
I actually don’t particularly enjoy many of the events I train for, but I love the training when I have an event to aim for. Love what the training does to my body, to my head and to my general well-being.
I sit here knackered having run 20 miles this morning. I ache, but feel amazing. I wouldn’t have done that run unless I had a marathon in October and an ultra early next year. I doubt I’ll have a great time at either event but I adore the process.
I suspect you’re a bit like me, with no goal you struggle to just ride. Get some events in the diary, set some realistic goals and get out there and smash it.

I seem to recall you have posted a few times before about all the training taking it’s toll and you questioning why you do it. Why not just ride your bike for fun, don’t worry about a few extra pounds, and if you want to race just do it for what it is, a bit of a laugh

Harsh reality is that you aren’t a professional athlete, this isn’t your job and noone other than yourself remotely cares if you come last in the fat biffers category or first in the local Vets race. Basically, if you think you’ll enjoy the training aspect of it and all that goes with it then bash on, but if not why are you even considering it.

I took on a new job this year launching a new business, and also have a very busy sporting family, so with my training also time becomes a premium and consistent top 5-10 regional positions mean I need a lot of it to myself.

another (harsh) thought that you can decide to use or file as appropriate. It's not all about you.

When your time comes what do you want your kids to say about you?

"He wasn't around much, but on the other hand he was regularly top ten in the regional rounds of the MTB XC"

I can’t ride my bike just for fun.

Racing, CX, trailquests, audax’s, even rides with mates and club were always competitive! It was an obsession.

High blood pressure and the pills associated with them stunted my performance some 10+ years ago. I’ve never found the spark again. Tried again earlier this year but I do 2 or 3 rides then the bike goes back in the shed for another few months. Seriously thinking about selling everything so it’s not in the back of my mind niggling at me.

So IMO - race while you can, but don’t obsess about the fine details.

👍👍

(Muffin - 54 soon!)

I suspect you’re a bit like me, with no goal you struggle to just ride. Get some events in the diary, set some realistic goals and get out there and smash it.

yup.

Why not just ride your bike for fun

I get bored.

noone other than yourself remotely cares if you come last in the fat biffers category

9th in a National 12hr meant a lot to me and was hardly a fat biffers race, I dont really care if no one else appreciates that, because I do, and perhaps that’s the point - remembering that feeling and what it meant, to appreciate the forthcoming effort.

You need to sort out what work-life balance you want andwhether or not your family will happily accept that.
It isn't about them tolerating what you want to do.

Trouble with National 12hr is that it's long, and that means a fair volume of training that you don't really have time for. How may hours a week do you reckon you'd need.

The 17hr days thing doesn't work so well at your/our ages. It's not an easy conundrum to solve in a busy life

I don't race so not on that level. But when i played squash i liked to be competitive, so would work on elements of that to stay fit, so understand that drive to compete, even if just for your own esteem.
But with cycling i was just doing the same old same old and getting bored. I changed to working towards a target (SDW in a day last year, Ventoux this year), and doing it with some mates, and building a training program that was different to what i was used to. That transformed my health physical and mental. Fitter than i was in my 30s
We didn't quite manage the SDW, but it was great fun working towards it. Won't manage Ventoux cos someone drove their mini into me. But me and the boys are going to do it next year instead, and that's giving me impetus for my rehab.
So if you're getting jaded and questioning what you're currently doing; mix it up, think about what you REALLY want to do, train with some like minded folk, build a different reason for getting out on the bike, and enjoy the new lease of life that gives you.

From my perspective looking back many years.... I joined a canoe/kayak club when I was around 13/14. I only joined because I wanted to potter around on the river. The club encouraged me to start racing which I was happy to try. I did well and raced long distance kayak races to start with then sprint races. I won a few national championships at junior level and raced for GB.

Although in the squad I never made the Mexico Olympics team but made the GB team for the Moscow European Championships but in the end the BCU ran out of money to send a full team... so I never ended up going.  This made me reassess what I wanted from my sport. I started to reduce the amount of time I spent training and think about my career a lot more. The bottom line was that although I raced for a bit longer I wasn't as competitive. That wasn't acceptable to me and I stopped racing altogether and never went back. In fact I stopped kayaking altogether.

Although I've returned to it briefly since it was only to do family type things and to give our son the opportunity to try it.

Without the discipline of training I couldn't  get the motivation to go out and do, what is, a very pleasant sport/past time. I guess this was down to around 8 years of it being my life dedicated to trying to win.

I do have my last sprint K1 still hanging in my garage. I can't bring myself to get ride of it. I spent many hours sitting in it.

Ive sent a direct message about all this as ive done similar.

On the flip side. I don’t enjoy making time for stretching, avoiding biscuits and limiting the red wine.

Sounds like you need something other than racing bikes to find what you think you are missing.

Ive sent a direct message about all this as ive done similar.

very much appreciated, and ygm.

Sounds like you need something other than racing bikes to find what you think you are missing. Ed

Yeah, more than likely. 😣

OAP at 50?!
Get in the sea.
I'm 66 on Monday. & even more grumpy.
So sod off. 😂😂

66, nubut a nipper! I'm 71. On a very nice Turner.

I used to be like you. Not racing but riding as much as possible, as hard as I could. Ditched the mountain bike for road back in 2015 / 2016 and rode thousands of miles. I was miserable; riding because I felt I had to and had to have a minimum average speed.

Then I hurt my back and couldn’t ride. Bought a new MTB and got back into that in a big way again. All about the fun and enjoying the countryside. Since then I ride a couple of thousand miles a year with no pressure to do any more. I’m fit, no belly etc. The added bonus is more family time and not feeling bad when I take a day or week off to do something different. I know I’ll always come back to it.

Spend the time with your family before they fly the nest. Expand your mind with new and different activities. Restart date nights with your wife, reinvigorate your relationship. Possibly have more sex 😀

There’s more to life than training for bike races.

(47 BTW)

9th in a National 12hr meant a lot to me and was hardly a fat biffers race

I didn’t say it was, but nice selective quoting there …

Having a pop at scotroutes hardly fair either, as whilst perhaps not true, your posts do paint the picture of a someone who doesn’t enjoy cycling as much as they perhaps should

My earlier point stands though you, you aren’t a professional cyclist so you don’t need to train and race if you don’t want to. If you think that the satisfaction and pride from the results you get currently are worth all the sacrifice you make then bash on. If not then you have your answer.

just go out and ride your bike....... for fun, because if it aint fun it is ****ing pointless.

ride to the pub, to the cafe, to the shop, to the gym, to the pub again.
ride with the wife, kids, mates if you have em.
take new people out for a ride. ride a tandem for a blind charity.
ride a audax or 2 or 10. ride on a bmx track, or a local jump spot.
just ride.
no need to race. racing is for saddo's who take life too seriously.

racing is for saddo’s who take life too seriously.

Bit of a **** comment. I imagine the majority of people who race do it for fun.

my last comment about saddo's was meant as a joke. obviously.

I still enjoy the odd race, always have done, never trained in my life though, just ride my bike because I like it. Seems to work for me.

Seeing your posts i'm struggling to see you get much enjoyment out of riding whether it's racing or riding, you say you get bored if it's just riding, but by the same account, you get unhappy with results when racing. So it's a lose-lose scenario almost.

I still do some very loose versions of racing, but it's purely because they're interesting trails, the side of a big hill and it's quality time with my lad. Sure i get a little disappointed in propping up the back end of the field... but i really enjoy the trails and trying to be less rubbish than last time.

But i'm not that serious that it drives me to sit and not eat a croissant or have a beer.

As people say "find what you enjoy"... but if i'm being harsh, i'm not sure you actually know what that is at the moment.

Re social rides, I’ve been enjoying so club-time and coffees on the road yes, but solo time on the MTB became a chore, possibly because of the psychological link to racing.

I'm almost a decade older than you and ride XC, enduro, gravel, bikepacking, i.e. a bike - basically anything, and none of it competitively anymore, except in my head 🙂

Consequently my aim these days are PR's and been in the top few of my age category - whatever I'm doing, and enjoying myself. Everyone I ride with is younger than me, some half my age but because I've the time to ride whenever I want (also ride solo 2-3 times a week which is probably why I'm already past 8,000m on this months Strava Climbing Challenge) it does mean I'm as fit, if not fitter than most.

Also helps that kids have all left home, I'm in semi-retired mode (in my head) and my OH has horses, so no time pressures on me.

Stop overthinking, just ride your bike.

I get bored.

Find something else in cycling that challenges you instead.

Both my ex and i are now too old and unfit (and busy) to race at the level we did.

She's moved on to playing around at enduro/big trail days and sold her xc bike, bought herself a bigger day to day bike and and even bigger bike for playing on (so effectively from 100mm of travel and 69 degree head angle to 160/150mm and a 64 degree head angle!). Also got rid of all her road bikes, just has a CX bike and two sets of wheels.

I got myself an unsuitable endurance road bike that i can take on gravel trails and go exploring and the XC bikes have been repurposed for bike packing.

I like weeksy's post a lot.
His attitude to his racing is spot on. He does it because it adds something positive to his life. Fair enough, he mainly does it as an adjunct to his son's racing, but he does it in an excellent way. He doesn't go to either extreme: ditching his own racing and just focusing the weekend on heaping pressure on his kid; or making huge changes to his lifestyle to propel him from decile 8 to decile 4 ( or whatever it is).

He just choses some races to do and sees where he finishes, and takes positives from that.

Regarding the " It's just boring" comment... this is just weird. It's not boring. There is no way mtb in all its variety and challenge is boring. You're just doing it wrong.

Am I right in thinking you have a kid about the same age as mine ( and weeksy)? (14 y) that does some biking?
I have a feeling that you posted something about it recently ( apologies if wrong)
It amazes me that we don't hear more about that side of it. Do you find that biking boring? My favourite thing in whole life is biking with my kids. It's just amazing.

There must be some aspect of your biking that could improve substantially with a bit of practice... north shore, jumps, downhill, endo turns. Work on those... preferably with someone fun.

I’ll respond in full later, but yes me and 13yo Jnr are today riding the west coast cami de cavell right now on the shiteist rented fat bikes with the brakes the wrong way round.

A lot of ROFL going on, (except the climb across the cliff edge).

For my 50th I deleted Strava and decided to ride for purely fun. Haven't looked back.

I'm 53 years old and 6 weeks into making a comeback after being diagnosed with terminal cancer 8 weeks ago.
I used to do loads of long-distance events but gave them up 15 years ago owing to deteriorating knees. My bad knees suddenly don't seem so bad! I have recently done several 4 hour+ mtb rides, and just completed a 100 mile solo ride (road) at the weekend. I'm planning on a 3-day mtb ride later this week and will keep building up until my Chemo and radiotherapy start. That will make the following months much harder, so I'll get an indoor trainer set up.
Going into next year I'm hoping to do some ultra-type events: GB Divide, GBDuro, that sort of thing. Also a 24hr event or two. I'll just be aiming to finish them. Hopefully anyway!

The racing experience and lifestyle is clearly important to you. Maybe target a few events but don't try to set PBs every time? Hope to see you at some of those marathon and 12 hour events next year 🙂

me and 13yo Jnr are today riding the west coast cami de cavell right now on the shiteist rented fat bikes with the brakes the wrong way round.

A lot of ROFL going on, (except the climb across the cliff edge).

Brill. Can we hear more about that? Not the cliff bit though. Heights terrify me!

If you commute, there's always commuter racing to keep things interesting. You'll need hairy legs and baggies for maximum gain. 😀

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/22/a-new-start-after-60-i-became-an-adventure-cyclist-at-65-and-rode-from-mongolia-to-scotland

Saw this and thought it might be of interest to this thread.

Life is short, do what you enjoy doing. If racing makes you happy then do it and enjoy it, if it doesn't then give it a miss.

If its the 2nd option, don't beat yourself up about it!

You’re just doing it wrong.

Gotta say, this sounds harsh, but it's true. There's always something to learn, or to look at. I only ever did "racing" as one of the pack" and I treated it as another riding experience rather than what I did for a hobby. Like others have done, I ditched Strava, a while back, as it was becoming a wee bit too distracting, and just ride where and when I want.

Stanley's post up there has floored me a little this morning.

@stanley - all power to you, and best wishes

Stanley’s post up there has floored me a little this morning.

@stanley – all power to you, and best wishes

Sorry and thanks, Dawson.
Life is too short so we should try and do what makes us happy. For some that is pitting ourselves against a challenge... be it others, ourselves, the weather, whatever.
And always ask for a PSA test once you hit 50 🙂

Stanley’s post up there has floored me a little this morning.

It did me yesterday, hence no response. I’d like to meet Stanley and Eddie. And if that’s the only reason I enter ‘23 events it’d be the right one, to meet some true inspirations of our mutual sport and hobby and celebrate their achievements.

After some thought, there is nothing more for me to post. There are some deep rooted (although incomparable!) issues I have to address across many aspects of my life which manifest through cycling and into this forum, but I’ll discover and deal with those in privacy.

Thanks for your contributions, I hope they are also a help to others.

to meet some true inspirations of our mutual sport and hobby and celebrate their achievements.

YOur job here Kryts, is to be one of them .... to yourself... No-one else... Just be someone who inspires yourself.. Do that and you've already won. Be that a small gap jump, or a top 10, or giggling when you fall over a root and land in a puddle.... Be an inspiration. You're equally as worthy of the term as anyone else.

Kryton,
Weeksy is correct.
I suspect that you judge yourself harshly. Maybe work on developing some greater compassion towards yourself? Please forgive me if I'm wrong.

Your kind words above have helped me this morning. I'm having a tough day... I've just dragged myself around a 6km walk with the 24hr ECG attached (another story). I've come back shattered and feeling like I'm failing and just want to fall asleep. But your words have helped me 🙂

More of my ramblings here if you ever fancy reading. I really, really appreciate even the briefest of comments.
Andypshaw.co.uk

Well, an update. Firstly I spent time thinking on this during the family holiday, and within that time I read and signed up to Andy’s blog above. What an inspiration, and what and inspiration to me. He posted another update while I was away.

I realised that - with my goal of enjoying my 50th year in a blaze of tardiness and beer, it’s just not me, its not made me happy and with reference to Andy’s situation I’m frittering away valuable time everywhere.

So I got off my arse and with a few warm up intervals during the week after 3 weeks off the bike, overweight, and quickly tugging my ignored MTB out of the shed i rode 103k off road (Tour of the cornfields) in 4:23 yesterday. I was so glad to be involved with a field full of racers, bikes and the general buzz. I was so amazed to find I could still constantly turn pedals over at target power for over 4 hours, and today even with all my 50yo aches and pains I feel I’ve turned a corner.

Life’s to short. I found XC riding & racing at 42 and it’s what I do. It gives me a purpose and a community that keeps me healthy and sane, it separates me from the Sofa dads (no offence). Who gives a monkeys if I don’t win, if races are cancelled or I’m ill from time to time. Yesterday during my ride I thought of both the posters in here who have shared their issues with me. When I had my dark moments I got my head up and rode for them.

I’m pleased to back, even if it’s at the back 🙂

Yay! Still waiting to hear about the clifftop riding though 😃

Having done the Run and Ride Summer Classic on Saturday, "FUN" category, today feel like OAP! (58)
First MTB "race" for any years and regret starting near the back - has made me consider another similar event as finished mid field despite being some what held up on first lap in a long train of riders, causing me and several to fall as the train stopped!

only reason for response was the OAP bit, no idea about training!

Club riding and mountain bike endurance riding sound like a compatible pairing. Sign up for a couple of longer events for motivation. Then use the social rides as your zone 2 type stuff and mix in shorter XC rides for keeping your off-road skills sharp. A bit of gym work would also be good to add.

Cycling shouldn't be a chore, it should be fun.

Excellent posts op, keep on trucking, remember it's more about the journey than the destination (spoken by someone who'll never win a race)

@stanley, I'm struggling to find the right words... Other than I hope the Chemo is easy on you and have as many good times on the bike as possible.

I'd like to hear about the cami de cavalles ride too. Assuming it's not in the weekly picture threads that I've been ignoring because I've not been riding myself and didnt want to see what I've been missing.
South West? Description of rubbish fat bikes makes me think you cycled out of Son bou.

Ah yes the Cami de Cavall. For those that don't know its a 184k rough path around the periphery of the island - more information here.

You should be able to access a few photo's I took on my phone in the Flickr Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA5W3N

We did indeed cycle out of Son Bou, having planned a small jaunt to Santa Tomas following the Cami north, stop for lunch and return. We hired bikes from Just Ride Bikes in Son Bou who on the plus side were helpful and flexible but on the minus side the bikes are worryingly in a bad state e.g. I discovered I had 6 of the 24 available gears working on my Trek - 3 out back and 2 upfront with a very worn chain. Junior's Fat Bike was better.

Anyway, expecting it to take longer, we headed off ay 9:15. Out of Son Bou the trail wide and gravel-like, a lovely early jaunt (photo's 1 & 2). There are several cattle cates made in the traditional style with olive tree branches woven together. As we exited Son Bou we found we above the village and along the 5km beach (photo 3) so we stopped for a pic, and then carried on. The path got rougher with embedded rocks but no issues for MTBr's and stone we were mid way atop an outcrop (photo's 4 & 5, sorry about the finger). We stayed here a bit be chase there were a couple of great looking boats and yachts sailing South, and also some wild horse wandering about with a seeming general interest.

Seeing the Hotel Victoria Playa projecting from Santa Tomas, we started off again knowing we were early for lunch and planning to extend our trip. As we made our way around the headline, it became apparent we were getting higher and near the cliff edge. In the lead, I rounded a corner where the bushes ended with a gasp.

The Cami had turn into a single track with with large embedded rocks and loose boulders - think a 2ft wide Jacobs Ladder on the edge of a cliff. To get to Santa Tomas we had to go up & over and down and carry the bikes - see photo 6 and look closely where the chaps is standing for the "fence" at the end of the little down hill section. The only thing stopping you going over is a) a bush or b) a splined Olive branch fence - think a square frame with a diagonal piece across the middle. I told jnr to sit and wait with the bikes while I navigated it solo. My biggest worry was that the Fat Bike - being heavy for him - would start to get away from him and take him / it over. So, we left the bikes, I walked him over to the other side and returned with the bikes one at a time. Nervous times, but.... phew.

We entered Santo Thomas where we completely lost track of the Cami. After a bit of wandering around, Jnr'd got nervous of of the cliff path and decide he'd rather go home by road. So, I decided to stop at a local cafe for Fanta Limon while I did some googling.

Anyway, it turns out to be a long slog via a road and motorway to get back, so we braved the return journey and were back about 12 in Son Bou.

Yet, despite the shorter than planned ride, it was a good bit of "us" time, and reminded me that you don't need to have a £5k carbon bicycle to have some fun and adventure experiencing new things. In fact, quite the opposite.

Ive not read all this thread but your last couple of posts seem to be like you have turned a corner.

Maybe its just me but life is too short to strive all the time. Sometimes just sitting in the sun and taking pleasure in simple things is enough. Certainly for me it is.

Look at the flowers. Sitand watch a sunset. Ride a bike for fun and to get places. Im nearly in spain now😎🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️

Its taken 3 months but i dont care how long. Its about smiles not miles. And cake

Good luck

Edit: I should have said we braved the return journey over the cliff again. And sorry about the typo’s, I was rushing.

OK - I'll chip in to this little debate -

I'm 56 and 2.5 yrs ago I broke my back in 4 places (documented elsewhere on here) in a gentle OTB job in my local woods - I wish I could say I was doing something stupid at the time, but I wasn't - I was just riding along......

Anyway, at the time I thought I'd never ride again, but over time I started to get better, got movement back, lots of painful but rewarding physio - eventually I invested heavily in a new bike (a Shand Bahookie Rohloff - I sold all my bikes in a rage after the accident and then thought I'd only ever ride canal towpaths or similar so went for a very nice bit of bling just for that) - a few months after the Shand arrived I'd got fit enough to make tentative moves to ride (nervously) with a group again....then progressed back to a road bike and the road group rides.....and then earlier this year I managed a 100 mile road ride on the 2nd anniversary of the accident in March - which then led me to get another 6 or 7 centuries in during the few weeks after that -

In many respects, I've ended up a bit fitter/faster than I was before the accident - but strangely I've managed to also bore myself - the group road rides have become a smash fest (not helped by my focus) and I've ended up bored (as well as a bit scared by a few close shaves with nutter drivers - I don't want another accident!)- so now I'm back to the MTB for a bit of "riding about" - just fancy some short rides in the woods with my lads to enjoy being out there and getting the fresh air.....

I think in the end it's just about reinventing yourself and making sure you feel happy, whatever that means to you - so many helpful comments up above about "no one else cares" - I think that's right - do what you have to and don't let yourself get stale/bored/fed up - you're in charge of your own time/dreams -

(and best of luck to @stanley - good luck with the chemo and keep us posted of your progress - you are an inspiration!)

Hee hee! Remember that year I went to Menorca the same summer as you? I rented a bike from Son Bou and rode the trail you mentioned. Bike was such a jalopy 🤣.
Middle of one day I took it up that hill to the monastery. Have never been so hot in my life and lousy cafe wouldn't give me any water.
Fond memories 😁

As you your original dilemma, I'm still working through it on a different direction. Trying to remove every last trace of the racer in me to free me up completely to pursue my dreams of adventure. The fellows over at BB have been a great help today.

"Old enough to know better" is a really good watch if you want some related entertainment. The recent news is incredibly sad and shocking.

I think you know it, but it sounds like you need to find some inner peace with a few things which will allow you to enjoy the things you love and things you are good at. I mean that in the very best way possible and don't intend to cause offence. Some of the simple answers like "take pleasure in simple things" and "enjoy the process" have some truth in them but these don't happen by themselves if you don't have the right foundations in place in my experience. All the best and Happy Trails 🙂

DanW thanks for posting that, albeit a hard watch considering. So many applicable sound bites from Rab, Nick and others.

The “having fun” bits and rabs skills sessions have made me consider the Hightower in the classifieds so that could be some spendy advice 😳

you need to find some inner peace with a few things which will allow you to enjoy the things you love and things you are good at

100%.

There are a lot of videos in the series and they only get better IMO.

One of the many legacies of Rab should definitely his proposition to the UCI for time bonuses for backflips in XC races- now there is a challenge that will keep you on your toes! 😀

At 50 you are very unlikely to ever get back to the level that you were at . So unless you are after age category results you will probably train hard for results that don't make you happy . Indeed quite the opposite may well be the case . Also marathon type events seem to be in decline from what I can see so you could end up training furiously and then having the event cancelled . Having said that if you want to give it a go then at least you will have got it out of your system whatever happens.Shame that you don't live somewhere where you have great trails on your doorstep and could just get out to enjoy riding the bike , taking in the scenery and getting the associated feelgood factor without powermeters , training programs and all the other " essentials " that you need to race competitively .

At 50 you are very unlikely to ever get back to the level that you were at

oh I don’t know, I didn’t start racing until 42, and was top 10 National 12hr at 48 🙂 But I take your point.

Also marathon type events seem to be in decline

Indeed, I’m intrigued as to what events manifest next year, as the impression I get is costs are outweighing entry fees. There have been a few other unfortunate issues though that have led to cancellations, but I note the latest Hope Marathon is going ahead. I am - mainly becuase I can - retraining for XC for the Gorrick Halloween event, maybe moving to XC is a good idea, although I know already I’m not powerful enough to be at the sharp end.

Shame that you don’t live somewhere where you have great trails on your doorstep and could just get out to enjoy riding the bike

Well, there are decent enough areas within an hour of me, but see BigDaddys Lakes post in the latest photos thread - I looked at that yesterday and really wanted to ride there. I have a friend in Keswick, maybe I’ll arrange a visit next year. This is also the reason I’ve been think of a bigger bike, riding something that’ll be less about hanging on flighty racing style and more about sitting up and looking around in relative comfort.

I’m glad you’ve reached some kind of a decision. For what it’s worth, I’ll add my experience of a racing comeback.

I’ll caveat it by saying I’m still young so it’s not directly applicable. I raced a lot at uni – mostly endurance stuff, 10, 12, 24hr. After uni I raced occasionally but after my racing partner died a decade ago, I lost a lot of motivation. That, combined with a move to somewhere with good riding but no one to enjoy it with, led to my weight going up to 14st, my riding dropping to around 1,000 miles a year and while I was very happy with my life, I didn’t like being that fat and unhealthy.

I moved back up to Scotland in 2018, having dieted back down to 11st, and decided to have a crack at racing again but not taking it as seriously. I ride about 80 miles a week, so not much or far, but I ride hard and with focus. That equates to around 8-10 hours mtb or gravel a week (I don’t road ride) and most weeks 15-20 miles of it is really just bumbling round town. I still have a lot of time to spend with my wife and to be honest I barely ride at weekends now because I’m busy enjoying myself doing other things. I ride about a 50/50 split of gravel and mtb, and a decent mix of enduro type riding and regular trail riding.

I’m now very selective about what races I do, and while I work to maintain fitness for them, I am only doing two this year. I got 7th in one despite a snapped chain (and then rode 45 miles home after it), and won pairs at 10 Under the Ben. I found that I could get the same satisfaction from doing well at a few races rather than racing every few weeks. I also found that meant I could let my training ebb and flow with my mood and the time of year and I wasn’t worrying about a two-week holiday ruining a year’s training.

It's good you’ve decided racing is for you – a lot of people don’t get it, but I absolutely bloody love riding my bike and never take it seriously, but I also love riding my bike fast and I love the thrill and tactics of a race. But you don’t have to do every single one – you can pick a small number, do them as best you can and get a lot of happiness out of it. That then lets you refocus on other things in your life too.

Good luck with it.

Appreciate that Munrobiker. Over the past few days I've been thinking about what DanW said, and specifically what this actually means for me personally:

you need to find some inner peace with a few things which will allow you to enjoy the things you love and things you are good at

An I worked it out, its very well described here:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/the-seasons-of-a-mans-life-the-mid-life-transition/

We can laugh and say that I'm having a mid life crisis, but I need to think on the "Possible Outcomes" para.

TLDR: As a metaphor for my issue, I hadn't realised Summer is over for me, and its Autumn - I need to open my eyes and see what that looks like.