[Easyup]

I think your body will tell you what will work and what will cause problems which can cause program issues. I am fortunate to retire in an ideal climate for daily rides so for me at 62 it's 5,500 miles per year at only 16 to 18 miles per day max, averaging 16mph. Week in and week out the back and neck are in good shape, learned that if I push it I can have problems. It's all good.

 

[desertgeezer]

I'm 65 and ride about 5,000 at year. If it didn't get so freaking hot, I'd do more milage. I also play tennis at the 4.0 level and play golf at the pitiful level. I can run rings around guys half my age. God didn't make me a rocket scientist, but he did give me excellent health and endurance. (I know that will drive the Christo-phobes nuts.) It's sad to see guys in their thirties and forties that can't see their feet when they're standing up. If you take care of your legs, everything else will follow and you can ride until you fall out of the saddle dead.

 

[Schneiderguy]

I'm 66 and not retired. I use to race or be race fit years ago. Then I got off the bike and became a couch potato for 8-9 years and put on a lot of weight. I started rididng again in late 2004. I ride about 7000 miles a year on five days a week. It took me three years to get enough fitness back I could ride with good riders. Two-three years ago I was riding really well hanging in on the Tursday Night Worlds race team ride with cat 5s and 4s in their 30s and 40s. Then I had two surgeries and was off the bike five months and haven't been able to get back to that level of fitness and don't know if I can. Those guys are now good 4s and cat 3s. I agree with Grumpy that to ride faster you need to do intervals whether they be formal or less structured. You got to have sufficient recovery-a point I ignore until I become too stale, not recommended. Also I'm riding poorly in the heat and humidity north of Houston. My Saturday morning group is killing me. They are strong rec. riders averaging around 21mph for 55-65 miles through rollers. They are 10-15 years younger than me and the heat and humidity doesn't seem to bother them as much.

 

[Mr. Versatile]

I'm 69 & in April/May I rode from San Diego to Bethany Beach, Delaware. It was about 3800 mi. i usually ride 5-6000 miles per year. I's still an "A" rider, but just barely. My speed is fading fast, but I still have plenty of endurance.

 

[burkeqc]

I'm 72 & pretty much in agreement with Mr. Grumpy & Schneiderguy. I finally quit the Wed nite worlds last year, but stay motivated with time trials. Recovery from a hard interval session is 2 days so I usually get in 2 per week, along with 2 or so recovery type rides (20-40 miles) with friends or solo. Winter is some time on trainer, depending on weather. I don't keep track of miles, just time & intensity. Cycling is fun, you just have to adjust a little.

 

[George M]

I'm 72 next month and I started riding when I was 66. I'm averaging around 6000 miles a year. Yes I am getting faster, but that's from a lot of riding. I'm not trying to beat myself to death. I rode 50 miles today and I averaged 15 mph. Good enough for me.

 

[D. W. Davis]

I'm also 65 and doing 6,000 miles per year. My daily route is 10 miles up a nasty but beautiful climb and then back down into the valley, giving me just under 150 miles each week, half of which are downhill. The secret to my success is being retired and having nothing I'd rather do.

Best wishes to you.

 

[BelgianCyclism]

Woaw

 

[Terex]

Dave Kay who rides with Morris Area Freewheelers in NJ is a local legend. He was riding about 15k miles per year until he was about 80. Two years ago at 85 he was still riding 7,500 mi/yr.

http://www.northjersey.com/community/96023269_Biking__exercise_while_being_social.html

 

[paredown]

Just turned 60--probably am doing around 2000-2500 miles/year as a born-again former racer.

I got knocked off pace by two bouts of Lyme disease, but this year, everything seems to be working as it should, and I'm trying to get out for a shortish ~25 fast ride every second day, so my mileage may be higher this year.

Like Terry B, I don't seem to have the enthusiasm for the 5+ hour rides, although once things improve financially, I hope to go on some more week long or two week tours.

(Speaking of which, the last one I was on, I was one of the youngest, and we had 2 women riders who had turned 80 who completed almost every day, despite some serious heat and terrain.)

 

[SkiRacer55]

I just turned 64...

...raced some, but not much, have ridden for 35 years, do it for the fitness and because I just like being on a bike. I'm not real heavy into the miles count...not saying it isn't important, just that I'd rather ride tempo and have fun than just log the miles.

I am still working, and this summer's been a trying time trying to fine time to ride, if that makes sense. I have a 10 mile loop starting at my home in Berthoud, Co, that has about 400 feet of climbing at the front end, and most days, like today, that's about all I can manage. But it's always worth it, especially since the forest fires are out and rain has come back to Colorado...beautiful view of the Front Range from the high point of County Road 1 this morning.

I'm also really enjoying being on my new ride...a 2012 Specialized Roubaix Pro SL3 frameset built up with SRAM Force, Boyd Vitesse wheels, Michelin Pro3 rubber, and Spec carbon bars and a Spec Avatar saddle. I had a Specialized BG 3D fit done, and I feel like I'm sitting perfectly on the bike, like I could ride from here to Kansas City, no sweat. I'm not like to do that, or repeat Ride the Rockies, which I did in 2009, but I am going to do the 3 day Pedal the Plains in Eastern Colorado in September. And every day I spend riding, and looking forward to that, is going to be a good day.

Speaking of racing, and just so we all have a few laughs at my expense in this thread, check this out, which I wrote a while back:

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/ra...eview.com/racing-training-nutrition-triathlons/stupid-sports-tricks-102643.html

 

[Richard]

I'm 66 and, despite working full time (in a bike shop), I managed 6000 miles last year.

Speed and climbing ability diminish with age, but endurance hangs on. I regularly do the "A" group ride with my Sunday "club" outing. I'm often the oldest guy in the group and I will get gapped on the climbs, but I can generally hang in on any paceline they dish out.

For inspiration, however, there is a couple that rides with us regularly. They go to France every summer for some serious timed randonneur rides up Mt. Ventoux. They hold the record for a mixed couple combined age over 150. Boo Yeah!

 

[Lije Baley]

I'm 63 and just returned to cycling after a 20-year absence six weeks ago. I'm retired and riding Mon-Wed-Fri with a group of mostly retirees, doing 30 to 40 miles at an average 15mph pace. I try for a solo day additionally each week and managed a 17mph average for 40 miles last Sunday. It's all flat, beautiful central California agricultural country on two-lane roads. It's incredible fun and even after fighting strong cross- and headwinds (what happened to the tail wind we kept wondering) on Monday, I can't wait for tomorrow's ride. Except for a couple of nurses and a late-shift worker with work schedules that allow morning rides, everyone riding is not only over 60, but most are 70+, and one of our best riders is 93! He's our inspiration. Everyone in our group loves, and I mean loves, to ride. We're not busting any speed records, but we're having a wonderful time. After 40 years in this area, I'm discovering roads and places I never knew existed, doing something that was never among my expectations of life in retirement.

 

[Sun Rider]

Great motivational thread. I'm 74, raced as a teen, rode with a touring club for several years in my 30's. On and off the bike over the years but now back on and really enjoying it.

 

[Sun Rider]

Did you see the story of the Frenchman, Robert Marchard, who set the world record for his age group for the one hour distance bike ride? His age group is 100 and older.

100-Year-Old Robert Marchand Sets Cycling Record | The Hub | Bicycling.com

 

[lblanch40]

I turn 61 this December and have been riding only for 18 months. It has become a passion for me and I get out 2 times a week. On plan to ride 2500-3000 miles this year. I ride 25-65 miles per ride with a 17-18mph average. Hopefully, after reading all of the posts on this thread, I'll be riding for a long time and, hopefully, stay in good health.

 

[Len J]

I'm 57 and still ride......need more recovery than when I was younger.

My inspiration was a friend whose goal was to ride his age in miles on each birthday. I rode with him thru his 85 th birthday.....he died at 86.

Never did a ride with him where I didn't come away w a smile.

Inspiring thread.

Len

 

[David Loving]

Don't worry about the vast and uncharted future. Stay in the moment with us. Work a program that suits you and keep riding. I'm 68, retired, and ride and swim - just for fitness. Most of the riding is fixed gear or single speed. I measure riding by time. I hate riding with a computer so I do not. I swim laps 2 or 3 times a week. Never better.

 

[DaveW88]

As usual on threads of this type the responses are mostly outliers, and probably don't represent the majority of older riders. Nobody wants to brag about 2000 miles per year at 14mph.

 

[Lije Baley]

As usual on threads of this type the responses are mostly outliers, and probably don't represent the majority of older riders. Nobody wants to brag about 2000 miles per year at 14mph.

Wow. What an unsolicited, and unverified, thread crap.