Can you Ride Your Age (miles)

[Webbo2]

First 70 miler of the year yesterday and I’ve got 2 months till I need to be doing 71 miles.

 

[a.twiddler]

After reading this thread, and being awed by the sort of numbers that some contributors are chucking about, I see how others are struggling to do much shorter distances and I feel so fortunate to have the health to do what I do. I can't help wondering if the reason that I can keep cycling is because I have been cycling, even to a much lesser degree, for years. I'm the sort of person that keeps records and would have loved the concept of Eddington days if I'd discovered it decades ago.

The thing about Eddington numbers is that everyone's got one, no matter how modest your aspirations and if you've had health issues or are recovering from some significant injury it can be a motivator. Like riding your age in miles, the higher the number, the harder it gets.

There is a thread called Tiny Rides (of 2023) whose title could do with uppdating but I've contributed to that from time to time because I believe that a bicycle is a great liberator. You don't have to do gargantuan mileages to benefit from the joys of cycling. Maybe you used to at one time, but for various reasons can't at present. A bicycle as a mobility aid, be it seven league boots for prospective mile munchers, or something that makes it possible to get out and about and get to the shops, is a marvellous thing. Even a short ride has merit. In the echo chamber of a cycling forum, we might be focused on performance, but even the the mileages of the most modest contributor on here are likely to make the head of a non cyclist member of the public explode with amazement. You rode how far? If they have to ask why, it's probable that they will never understand.

At the moment I can ride my age in miles, but like everyone else, I wonder how long I will be able to keep it up.

 

[bluenotebob]

At the moment I can ride my age in miles, but like everyone else, I wonder how long I will be able to keep it up.

Yes … and it becomes ever more daunting – but it is only one ride a year.

As opposed to chasing Lifetime Eddingtons when the pressure is relentless – there are always more (and longer) rides to do – this year, next year, the year after that etc.

I understand @ianrauk ‘s comment upthread about retiring. I thought that I’d do the same when I reach my 75th birthday (towards the end of next year) but I’m now coming round to thinking that chasing Eddingtons (and abandoning pretty much everything else target-wise) may be a reasonable project in the years to come.

It’ll mean much more recovery-time between rides – but that’s probably a good thing.

Sooner or later, it’ll become impossible, of course – but I keep in mind @Sea of vapours 's comment (somewhere – perhaps also upthread) about 80-year old’s doing 80-mile rides … it’s a plan anyway.

 

[Dogtrousers]

By my calculation it increases by about 4.41 metres, (14' 5.5") per day.
Or just over 3mm (just under 1/8") per minute

tick ... tick ... tick 💀

I now have a spreadsheet that tells me exactly how long my long rides need to be.

 

[SuperGalactian]

I suppose another way of looking at it would be to suggest that your effective age is 100 minus the maximum distance you can cycle in a day

 

[ianrauk]

make the head of a non cyclist member of the public explode with amazement. You rode how far?

In spades.
And I would say anything over 10 miles and non cycling civs will say wow. I actually do feel embarrassed at times when a non cyclist asks me how many miles I can do on a days bike ride. My new neighbours as an example. I have to explain to them that in the scheme of things, what I do is peanuts compared to others.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Years ago I used to spend hours in the saddle and would regularly do 100+ kilometers (I've never had a single computer set to miles!) As the years advanced I no longer had the inclination, or time, to spend hours in the saddle any longer.

Set your computer to furlongs. Then ride 100+ furlongs.

 

[ColinJ]

In spades.
And I would say anything over 10 miles and non cycling civs will say wow. I actually do feel embarrassed at times when a non cyclist asks me how many miles I can do on a days bike ride. My new neighbours as an example. I have to explain to them that in the scheme of things, what I do is peanuts compared to others.

I had a doctor refer to me as "an elite athlete" at appointments a year apart. The first time that he said it, I took it as a joke. The second time made me worry about his medical competence!

When non-cyclists hear about my rides and say that I must be super-fit, I say that am super-fit compared to a couch-potato, and super-unfit compared to an athlete.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Footage of @ColinJ on his bike

 

[ianrauk]

I had a doctor refer to me as "an elite athlete" at appointments a year apart. The first time that he said it, I took it as a joke. The second time made me worry about his medical competence!

When non-cyclists hear about my rides and say that I must be super-fit, I say that am super-fit compared to a couch-potato, and super-unfit compared to an athlete.

For any doctors, nurse and specialists appointments I have to have. I do say that I am an athlete as I usually get puzzled looks when they check my Blood Pressure, HR or VO2 against my age.

 

[esoxlucius]

For any doctors, nurse and specialists appointments I have to have. I do say that I am an athlete as I usually get puzzled looks when they check my Blood Pressure, HR or VO2 against my age.

Ditto. A nurse once looked at me in a rather puzzled way when she took my pulse. "Are you particularly active?" she asked. When I told her I was a keen cyclist she smiled and said, "that explains it then". Apparently us guys have hugely reduced resting heart rates compared to average Joe's.

I started measuring mine first thing in a morning whilst laying in bed and my numbers are always around 45-50 BPM mark. My missus had me check hers and she was in the 80's. It scared her to death until I informed her that a low resting heart rate is part of the territory for us world class prime physical specimens of human beings!! Lol.

 

[esoxlucius]

Set your computer to furlongs. Then ride 100+ furlongs.

When I'm riding my horse I set the computer to furlongs!!

 

[ColinJ]

For any doctors, nurse and specialists appointments I have to have. I do say that I am an athlete as I usually get puzzled looks when they check my Blood Pressure, HR or VO2 against my age.

20 years ago my resting heart rate was in the mid-30s and that tended to alarm doctors and nurses until I explained why it was that low.

These days, when I am reasonably fit it is normally mid-40s but I got pretty ill and unfit over the winter so it is currently more like low-60s

I find RHR is a good indication of state of fitness, health, stress, sleep quality, and degree of recovery from exercise.

 

[esoxlucius]

20 years ago my resting heart rate was in the mid-30s and that tended to alarm doctors and nurses until I explained why it was that low.

These days, when I am reasonably fit it is normally mid-40s but I got pretty ill and unfit over the winter so it is currently more like low-60s

I find RHR is a good indication of state of fitness, health, stress, sleep quality, and degree of recovery from exercise.

One thing that concerns me over very low resting heart rates is that putting it down to being super fit could be a bit misleading if you factor in the condition that is Bradycardia.

 

[ColinJ]

One thing that concerns me over very low resting heart rates is that putting it down to being super fit could be a bit misleading if you factor in the condition that is Bradycardia.

Yes, that is why medical professionals worry when they see it! They are much more chilled once they know about the exercise regime.

British Heart Foundation advice on the subject HERE.