Is it just me?...

[Mick Mudd]

Or do the cyclists of yesteryear (below) look older and tougher than today's batch of riders?..-

 

[Mick Mudd]

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Yes


No


Maybe


I don’t know


Can you repeat the question?






That should cover it, thread can now be closed. Some nice photos by the way.

 

[Slick]

The young team might be a bit more refined and self aware, but I reckon they are a pretty tough bunch in their own right.

Always nice to see the old pictures though.

 

[C R]

They do look older, because they were older. Tougher, I can't see a difference.

 

[Alex321]

Younger, yes. At least the ones at the very top.

Tougher, no, not particularly. You can see photos of today's top riders equally covered in dirt towards the end of some of the Spring classics, if that is what you feel makes them look tough.

It used to be the case that most of the winners of the major races were in their late 20s or early 30s, while now they may well be 5+ years younger than that. But you also have to factor in much better sunscreen and medical care of the riders, meaning that in the old days, ridres would often look quite a bit older than their real age, while that doesn't happen as much now.

 

[Beebo]

It’s a well know fact that has been explained by scientists. Almost everyone from the past look older not just cyclists for 2 reasons.

People appear to look a lot older because our perspective on what youth is has been tainted by time.
But it isn't all just a perspective as people did age faster back in the day due to differences in nutrition, lifestyle and medicine.

 

[tyred]

All the performance-enhancing Capstan Full Strength made them look older.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

 

[Cycleops]

All the performance-enhancing Capstan Full Strength made them look older.

For our younger members Capstan was a cigarette brand not an energy drink.

 

[Cycleops]

It’s a well know fact that has been explained by scientists. Almost everyone from the past look older not just cyclists for 2 reasons.

People appear to look a lot older because our perspective on what youth is has been tainted by time.
But it isn't all just a perspective as people did age faster back in the day due to differences in nutrition, lifestyle and medicine.

Plus they actually did have a tough paper round.

 

[Beebo]

Not just cyclists. Many sports stars look older. Give them a modern haircut, and contemporary kit and they would look normal.
Bill Beaumont aged 23

Bobby Charlton aged 28

 

[Drago]

People did look older then, at least facially. They ate less processed food so they actually had to chew, and as a consequence their facial muscles were better developed.

As for tougher...that's all in the mind, and you either have it or you don't.

 

[scragend]

Not just cyclists. Many sports stars look older. Give them a modern haircut, and contemporary kit and they would look normal.

Other than shave it all off, I'm not sure what other haircut they could have given to Bobby Charlton!

Here's another - Brian Close in 1976. He was 45.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I think nutrition is a big thing

top rides that we see nowadays have perfectly designed diets set out by experts who have studied the subject for years

In the old days you ate what you mother gave you - which was what she could afford
and probably worked in the factory full time as well

and probably lived in a cardboard box in the middle of the Motorway
If they were lucky!