Fastest, oldest cyclists?

[screenman]

I can swim further and faster than I could 2 years ago and I am 60 minus 53 days.

 

[pubrunner]

For racers without the speed there is nothing. Once the speed is gone, you don't continue driving an f1 car, just 'to be out there', it's the same cycling.

And it's the same with running and in a sense, I'm not surprised. A good mate of mine was a sub 29 minute 10K runner back in the early 90s and at that time, he faced very strong competition at domestic level. He's now over 50, but still running - even now, he sometimes comes very close to winning some races, but I'm sure that he must think that with the speed he had previously, he'd easily win some races. So far as road running is concerned, races are being won in significantly slower times than 20+ years ago. At the age of 52, he did 31:33 for 10K and wasn't far off the front - I'd imagine it must be very frustrating, knowing that if you had the youth and ability of 20/30 years ago, you could win modern-day races fairly comfortably.

I remember in the early 90s, I did a 5 mile race in Altrincham in 29:29 - which was a good time for me . . . . . . . but such was the quality of the entrants, I only just finished within the first 100 runners. I just can't see that happening nowadays, in an ordinary club race.

Having said all this, I have met some very good cyclists whilst doing some local (very low-key) events. Five or six years ago, I was out on an organised ride with Mick the Quick and we fell into the company of another rider called 'John' - some mate of Mick's. He showed little evidence of any inherent ability . . . . . . . until within about two miles of the finish, at which time they both decided to 'go for it'. With no drama, no getting out of the saddle, they simply vanished out of sight - pretty rapidly too ! Frankly I was shocked by the ability that they had, to accelerate so quickly . . . . . . . and so effortlessly. In their prime, both of them must have been awesome riders. 'John' turned out to be John Atkins - I think that he was a former Cyclo-Cross Champion or something like that; whatever he'd done previously, he still liked to get out on a group ride, stop at a cafe and have a bit of banter. As with Mick, he was very good company and I was very appreciative, of being able to spend some time with such a experienced high-level cyclist.

Perhaps former racers would feel more inclined to do more events, if they were aware of how much lesser mortals such as myself appreciated their company.

 

[Mugshot]

I can swim further and faster than I could 2 years ago and I am 60 minus 53 days.

Ahhh, just wait until you're 60!!

 

[boydj]

And it's the same with running and in a sense, I'm not surprised. A good mate of mine was a sub 29 minute 10K runner back in the early 90s and at that time, he faced very strong competition at domestic level. He's now over 50, but still running - even now, he sometimes comes very close to winning some races, but I'm sure that he must think that with the speed he had previously, he'd easily win some races. So far as road running is concerned, races are being won in significantly slower times than 20+ years ago. At the age of 52, he did 31:33 for 10K and wasn't far off the front - I'd imagine it must be very frustrating, knowing that if you had the youth and ability of 20/30 years ago, you could win modern-day races fairly comfortably.
.............

Some of the guys I ran with in the 80's are still running - more slowly, but well up in their age group. Times I ran then would have been finishing close to the prizes today. 'Use it or lose it' - is what I was told and it is very true. Performance will fall off as you age, but slowly if you can keep your training at an appropriate level. The biggest problem is recovery from injury. A ruptured hamstring put an end to my running a few years ago and after a few weeks off cycling after a bug, followed by holidays and bad weather my average power (according to Strava) is down 20% and it's going to take a determined effort to get at least some of that 20% back.

 

[totallyfixed]

Thread of the year [so far], absolutely hilarious, please don't stop.

 

[400bhp]

I your only experience of 'racing' is sprinting to the finish line of a sportive and beating a management consultant out for a nice ride on his Cervelo, who wasn't even aware that you were racing him anyway.
.

Legendary quote

 

[400bhp]

I have loads of KOM's on Strava and I am not quick. I know I am not quick by TT'ing, hill climbing and racing against others with a number on my back, not pinned to my handlebars for the photo.

You did pretty damn good in those taster races at Oulton.

 

[Dave Davenport]

You don't need to be a member of a club to ride time trials.
The season starts soon, please do enter some, I'm sure many on here would be interested to see how you get on as it sounds like a sub hour 25, first time out is well on the cards.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

You don't need to be a member of a club to ride time trials.
The season starts soon, please do enter some, I'm sure many on here would be interested to see how you get on as it sounds like a sub hour 25, first time out is well on the cards.

Only sub hour ? Blimey, with the kit these days, the benchmark of a decent ride must be several minutes faster than that ?

 

[blazed]

You don't need to be a member of a club to ride time trials.
The season starts soon, please do enter some, I'm sure many on here would be interested to see how you get on as it sounds like a sub hour 25, first time out is well on the cards.

I thought you did. Cyclingtimetrials is the main website right? I'll be entering as many as possible that are near to North London. I plan to use the travel to the start line as a warm up. Mainly focusing on 10 milers, I've been doing a lot of wattbike 10 mile efforts and the results are more than encouraging.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I thought you did. Cyclingtimetrials is the main website right? I'll be entering as many as possible that are near to North London. I plan to use the travel to the start line as a warm up. Mainly focusing on 10 milers, I've been doing a lot of wattbike 10 mile efforts and the results are more than encouraging.

We seem to have gone seriously off topic but I look forward to hearing about your sub 22 debut.

 

[matiz]

And it's the same with running and in a sense, I'm not surprised. A good mate of mine was a sub 29 minute 10K runner back in the early 90s and at that time, he faced very strong competition at domestic level. He's now over 50, but still running - even now, he sometimes comes very close to winning some races, but I'm sure that he must think that with the speed he had previously, he'd easily win some races. So far as road running is concerned, races are being won in significantly slower times than 20+ years ago. At the age of 52, he did 31:33 for 10K and wasn't far off the front - I'd imagine it must be very frustrating, knowing that if you had the youth and ability of 20/30 years ago, you could win modern-day races fairly comfortably.

I remember in the early 90s, I did a 5 mile race in Altrincham in 29:29 - which was a good time for me . . . . . . . but such was the quality of the entrants, I only just finished within the first 100 runners. I just can't see that happening nowadays, in an ordinary club race?


Having said all this, I have met some very good cyclists whilst doing some local (very low-key) events. Five or six years ago, I was out on an organised ride with Mick the Quick and we fell into the company of another rider called 'John' - some mate of Mick's. He showed little evidence of any inherent ability . . . . . . . until within about two miles of the finish, at which time they both decided to 'go for it'. With no drama, no getting out of the saddle, they simply vanished out of sight - pretty rapidly too ! Frankly I was shocked by the ability that they had, to accelerate so quickly . . . . . . . and so effortlessly. In their prime, both of them must have been awesome riders. 'John' turned out to be John Atkins - I think that he was a former Cyclo-Cross Champion or something like that; whatever he'd done previously, he still liked to get out on a group ride, stop at a cafe and have a bit of banter. As with Mick, he was very good company and I was very appreciative, of being able to spend some time with such a experienced high-level cyclist.

Perhaps former racers would feel more inclined to do more events, if they were aware of how much lesser mortals such as myself appreciated their company.

I remember riding a cyclocross against John Atkins I was only 15 he was 3 times national champion he was screaming at me to move out of his way so he could pass on a narrow towpath im pretty sure he lapped me as well I'm not surprised he's still got the legs its only 47yrs ago

 

[Vapin' Joe]

compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective.

Now we have established the meaning of racing we can conclude that a sportive can be a race. Not to all entrants, but to a large percentage. Why are there timing chips? Organisers claim them not to be races to avoid the paperwork and planning involved in official races.

Anyone who imagines that a sportive is anything like a race has never raced nor do they have the slightest inkling what racing is like.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Only sub hour ? Blimey, with the kit these days, the benchmark of a decent ride must be several minutes faster than that ?

First time out on a standard road bike and all that.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I remember riding a cyclocross against John Atkins I was only 15 he was 3 times national champion he was screaming at me to move out of his way so he could pass on a narrow towpath im pretty sure he lapped me as well I'm not surprised he's still got the legs its only 47yrs ago

I bought a cross frame off him, mid 80's, he had a shop in Coventry.