Sometimes (mostly) I think I will be a n00b forever....

[steve50]

I concur with all the above, age is nothing but a number. when i got back into cycling i could barely manage the hill up to my house, two years on it is no longer an issue and i am travelling further afield at MY speed. enjoy your bike, forget about speed.

 

[pawl]

Don't get me wrong....I have been a cycling enthusiast all my life (off and on),
When I was a child, my only and best relief from a dysfunctional and abusive family was to jump on my single speed adolescent sized Elswick Hopper and ride.ride and ride. Great happiness. At the age of 12 I would ride main roads from Gosport to Chichester and back without my parents knowing (or caring) where I'd been all day. I would spend the day exploring cutsie villages, roman ruins and sweetshops without a care in the world.

In my early 20's I moved and started work in Devon. Holy cr@p... a single speed bike ain't never going to cut it here! I live on the edge of Dartmoor and everywhere is SERIOUSLY 'UP'. So eventually I invested in a new-fangled dual sus MTB. Everywhere was still seriously up - but twiddleable. In the last couple of years I have taken to my first 'pukka' road bike.....but with a triple crankset and 11-30 cassette and now; pushing 60 years old,,,I am finally reliving my childhood freedom.
But.....I am so SLOW!! The mahoosive hills didn't dissappear the moment I got 24 gears and a carbon fork.

But I just LOVE to cycle. Pub-to-pub keeps me sane and happy. I have all the gear.....but my average speed is still only about 9-10 mph over a 30 mile jaunt? (Eeerm.... most of this seems to be seriously 'up-hill' though)

I feel very happy everytime I ride...but am clearly useless. Do you think I should just call it a day and go back to watching day-time TV? I'm asking this question seriously though - because I am pushing 60 yrs old and don't seem to be able to do any of the mileages or average speeds that everyone else here does? Is there a time when you you just have to accept that you are old and knackered-or are there strategies/philosophy/wisdom that can help us overcome our perceived weakness?

Please advise?

Best

widge

I am 75.Dependent on the terrain I average between 15 and13 mph Yes in my younger days I timed trialed at 25 mph

I've had my fun and like you enjoy being out on my bike speed and distance for me is not an issue.

What is this life if full care we have no time to stand and stare
Just enjoy

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

I'm younger than you and I don't do half the mileage/speed that most on here do, either....

Also, there's nothing on TV in the evening to watch never mind the daytime.

You would surely go insane. Keep riding, definitely! or indefinitely...

 

[jonny jeez]

Don't get me wrong....I have been a cycling enthusiast all my life (off and on),
When I was a child, my only and best relief from a dysfunctional and abusive family was to jump on my single speed adolescent sized Elswick Hopper and ride.ride and ride. Great happiness. At the age of 12 I would ride main roads from Gosport to Chichester and back without my parents knowing (or caring) where I'd been all day. I would spend the day exploring cutsie villages, roman ruins and sweetshops without a care in the world.

In my early 20's I moved and started work in Devon. Holy cr@p... a single speed bike ain't never going to cut it here! I live on the edge of Dartmoor and everywhere is SERIOUSLY 'UP'. So eventually I invested in a new-fangled dual sus MTB. Everywhere was still seriously up - but twiddleable. In the last couple of years I have taken to my first 'pukka' road bike.....but with a triple crankset and 11-30 cassette and now; pushing 60 years old,,,I am finally reliving my childhood freedom.
But.....I am so SLOW!! The mahoosive hills didn't dissappear the moment I got 24 gears and a carbon fork.

But I just LOVE to cycle. Pub-to-pub keeps me sane and happy. I have all the gear.....but my average speed is still only about 9-10 mph over a 30 mile jaunt? (Eeerm.... most of this seems to be seriously 'up-hill' though)

I feel very happy everytime I ride...but am clearly useless. Do you think I should just call it a day and go back to watching day-time TV? I'm asking this question seriously though - because I am pushing 60 yrs old and don't seem to be able to do any of the mileages or average speeds that everyone else here does? Is there a time when you you just have to accept that you are old and knackered-or are there strategies/philosophy/wisdom that can help us overcome our perceived weakness?

Please advise?

Best

widge

I'm sorry but I don't really understand this post...it looks like you are asking the rest of us for some advice or for an answer of some sort, when in reality you are the one who we should be asking for advice from.

Because you already have the answer to the only really important question....do I enjoy cycling?

Speed, age,,gradient, time .....they are all just numbers and are totally.....like totally ....irrelevant .

I'm well envious of you.

 

[Dogtrousers]

As @ianrauk is fond of saying "there's always someone faster".

Next time some young whippersnapper passes you on a hill remember that he in turn is slower than a half decent club rider, who in turn ...
You, in turn are faster than many, and as fast as you need to be to enjoy it.

I'm a few years younger than you but I often average 10mph over hilly terrain. Do I consider myself "old and knackered"? well, yes actually. But I try not to let it bother me.

 

[MikeB18]

I'm 22 and I'm sure you will out ride me any day of the week, get out there and enjoy yourself! Seriously don't worry about speed or distance if you are having fun, if you do want to ride further then you can, if you have to stop and rest 10 million times then so be it, you will there even if it's a meter at a time.

 

[HelsBells Cambs]

It's all been said! Give up? Heck no. Why give up what you love? And who cares about speed really unless you're planning on taking on Wiggo?
Yes I like to challenge myself, but I'm never going to be Chris Froome (wrong gender for a start...!) and at least all of us on here are doing something rather than sitting on our arses. Am I allowed to say arse on here...?

 

[bozmandb9]

Don't get me wrong....I have been a cycling enthusiast all my life (off and on),
When I was a child, my only and best relief from a dysfunctional and abusive family was to jump on my single speed adolescent sized Elswick Hopper and ride.ride and ride. Great happiness. At the age of 12 I would ride main roads from Gosport to Chichester and back without my parents knowing (or caring) where I'd been all day. I would spend the day exploring cutsie villages, roman ruins and sweetshops without a care in the world.

In my early 20's I moved and started work in Devon. Holy cr@p... a single speed bike ain't never going to cut it here! I live on the edge of Dartmoor and everywhere is SERIOUSLY 'UP'. So eventually I invested in a new-fangled dual sus MTB. Everywhere was still seriously up - but twiddleable. In the last couple of years I have taken to my first 'pukka' road bike.....but with a triple crankset and 11-30 cassette and now; pushing 60 years old,,,I am finally reliving my childhood freedom.
But.....I am so SLOW!! The mahoosive hills didn't dissappear the moment I got 24 gears and a carbon fork.

But I just LOVE to cycle. Pub-to-pub keeps me sane and happy. I have all the gear.....but my average speed is still only about 9-10 mph over a 30 mile jaunt? (Eeerm.... most of this seems to be seriously 'up-hill' though)

I feel very happy everytime I ride...but am clearly useless. Do you think I should just call it a day and go back to watching day-time TV? I'm asking this question seriously though - because I am pushing 60 yrs old and don't seem to be able to do any of the mileages or average speeds that everyone else here does? Is there a time when you you just have to accept that you are old and knackered-or are there strategies/philosophy/wisdom that can help us overcome our perceived weakness?

Please advise?

Best

widge

Who cares about average speed? Most 60 year olds couldn't get anywhere near doing a 30 mile 'jaunt'. So long as you enjoy cycling, carry on. If you do what you threaten and give up cycling, that's when you'll really get old and knackered!

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^^+1

 

[Mrs M]

You love cycling and it makes you feel happy
Never mind the speed, just enjoy it

 

[Dave 123]

Not at all @Widge!

When I visit the in laws who live in Wembury I ride between there, Princetown, Buckfastleigh and once into South Cornwall and it damn near kills me! Riding round there I take my hat off to you 100%. There is some great riding around quiet, hilly lanes, primroses, buzzards, sea views, moorland views, and at a slower speed you get to see it for longer.

Only a nobber would trade that for Jeremy Kyle!

Keep up the good work.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm asking this question seriously though - because I am pushing 60 yrs old and don't seem to be able to do any of the mileages or average speeds that everyone else here does?

Who is "everyone"? Not me for sure
I think you're doing great, if you enjoy your rides why give them up?
One can cycle just for going places, doesn't need to be a "sport" where you have to beat personal bests.

 

[Fubar]

But I just LOVE to cycle. Pub-to-pub keeps me sane and happy.

I feel very happy everytime I ride...

^^^THIS^^^ is all that matters.

 

[ColinJ]

Keep it up Widge!

'Pushing 60' isn't inherently a problem, though obviously at 60 you are not going to have the same potential for fitness as you did when you were 20!

I will be 60 in January but I don't let it bother me. I wasn't particularly fit when I was young so I am actually fitter now than I was at most times in my life.

It is very hilly here too. The biggest improvement to my cycling was getting down to a reasonable weight. I was nearly 17 stone 3 years ago and every hill was a major challenge. I am over 4 stone lighter now and it makes a huge difference on the hills. Are you overweight? If so, then the answer to the struggle with the hills is clear ...

Anyway, the main thing is to keep riding and enjoying it!

 

[puffinbilly]

But I just LOVE to cycle

And there my friend is your answer. If you find enjoyment in life that's all that matters.