Hills - Should you back off as you get older ?

[kingrollo]

Im 54 in a couple of weeks - Ive always been a pretty crap cyclist, probably due to my lungs. I do (or did) pride myself on always getting over even the steepest of hills ...like 20% .....Im not fast but I always get there...

Anyway I stumbled on an unknown - but absolute monster of hill - it was a very tight narrow and small lane- I was blowing and groaning like nobodies business - then I spotted someones driveway sadly I bottled it and got off .......part of it was fear of car coming the other way - the road was just to damm narrow - and I didn't fancy ending up on my arse...

My question is at 54 is it dangerous to push yourself when your feel your heart coming out of your jersey ?

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I tend to push myself quite hard, but at times just have a feeling that it's just not right and back off.
I've done a few Holmfirth runs lately and had to bail out of one part of the climb a few times, so my answer is that if it starts to feel wrong, then back off.

For my own safety I'd welcome a medical opinion!

 

[kingrollo]

Had it been a wide open road and I could see the top I reckon I could have made it (easy to say now!!!!) - but it was not knowing how long it went on for ....and I had encounted a few cars on narrow roads earlier in the day......

 

[numbnuts]

Lower your gearing and sit and spin and pace yourself
Fit an electric motor, I did

 

[S-Express]

If you have a heart condition (diagnosed or not) - then it's obviously dangerous. If you don't - it isn't. If you have a healthy heart, then there is no issue in red-lining it at any age and certainly not at 54.

 

[Milkfloat]

I think age is unrelated - it is all fitness. If you cannot get up in one go or without walking then stop. I know plenty of very old riders who destroy me on hills.

 

[byegad]

I was never a good climber, too fat to ever trouble anyone on hills IMHO. At 54 I did give myself enough work to get me hot, sweaty and out of breath at the top of big hills*, now at 66, and getting back into my normal riding after a 10 month layoff due to a really bad chest infection I'm giving myself far less of a workout on any kind of hill even a gentle slope. Hopefully next year I can get back to my previous hill climbing technique of going hard enough to be out of breath on bigger hills.

Around here big is anything of 20% and steeper.

 

[Sharky]

Can't remember 13 years back, but I still push myself as hard as I can. The body's natural defense mechanisms kick in and stop you going to extreme efforts.

Hence you go a bit slower and not as far and might need a lower gear.

 

[Team carbon]

Maybe use a heart monitor and know your limits I tend to have a push anything over 180 bpm especially climbing leath hill it doesn't take to long to drop back down

 

[Ian H]

Ten years older and not dead yet.

 

[kingrollo]

I was in easiest the gear and standing up ! - the cadence was of course very low - but as fast as I could muster - I'm just gutted I got off !

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Maybe use a heart monitor and know your limits I tend to have a push anything over 180 bpm especially climbing leath hill it doesn't take to long to drop back down

No need for gadgets. Your body knows its limits and won't allow you to go beyond.

 

[Rooster1]

I've been doing the same hills for years and my aim (at 48) is to go faster and faster.
I know I can beat my best time of last year because I know I ate too much on holiday and I need to shed a few lbs.

So no, i'm not for backing off just yet anyhow.

 

[ozboz]

I am 64 , hills are only a problem on my road bike , it's 20 speed 11-25 , deffo for a fitter of younger rider , however , not to be be out done , I'm having an 11-34 fitted very shortly , then , bring em on !
( hopefully the Gung Ho will not see me off !!)

 

[gavroche]

There are at least three hills round here that I wouldn't dream of doing because I know I wouldn't be able to. I know my limits and sticks to it. No worth a heart attack.