Can you Ride Your Age (miles)

[Ian H]

Last year was the first time for thirty years that I didn't ride a 600km event (372 miles), I stuck at 400 (250 miles). Long-distance cycling being what I mostly do. I expect the distances will decline over the next years.

I did ride a 70 miler for my 70th a couple of years ago, with friends and clubmates. Didn't bother last year. I suppose the next significant one will be 80.

It's as much luck as anything.

 

[All uphill]

Like @bluenotebob you have given me a new target.

I'm 70 and haven't cycled more than 60 miles in a day since 2022, when I comfortably cycled 76 miles.

Hmmm. Time to make a plan.

 

[ColinJ]

I intend to do an age-in-miles ride soon. I did the metric version (69 km) last month after my 69th birthday but am keeping the 69 miler another week or two for longer daylight hours and better weather.

I hope that I can manage a minimum of one age-in-miles ride a year up until at least 80 years of age and then perhaps consider settling for somewhere between age-in-km and age-in-miles?

My father could barely even walk by the age of 60 let alone ride a bike, so I am already doing much better than him. OTOH, I came very close to dying aged 56 and spent 8 months unable to ride at all. As @Ian H posted above - being lucky with one's health has a lot to do with it.

 

[Marchrider]

I hope I take after my mother, shes 88 and still does over 1500 a year (although it is mostlt 4 x 1 mile journeys a day to watch birds, and I never realised people could ride so slowly without falling off).
Distance is a strange one for me, entirely comfortable at 40 mile, ride 40 mile then go down to the workshop for the rest of the day - ride 60+ miles, and I am utterly worn out, just shattered today after 68 mile yesterday'
I wonder if I pumped up my typical ride to 50 if I would get used to that - is it a bit like footballers, they train for 90 minutes, are fit for 90 min, then start breaking down if extra time is played?

 

[G-Zero]

I’m 62 for another month or so and I’ve just this very weekend completed a Strava Gran Fondo a month for a whole year. That’s a minimum of 100km or 62.1 miles, but a few ended up between 77 - 80 miles. I need to keep that going as I’m signed up for an 85 mile Etape in May.

Having had two lots of surgery on one of my knees, I’m struggling to keep it pain free over the colder months, so I might not be able to continue similar miles during future winter months.

 

[BoldonLad]

I'm 70. March 4th 2024 I rode 77 miles. On June 24th 2024 I was hit by a tractor driver. I won't bore you with the details but it was a big one.

February 1st this year I was back up to 66 miles. I'd expect to pass 70 in the next few weeks. Just need the weather to improve a bit. At some point in the summer we will probably ride to Silverdale which is 100+.

With luck I'll still be on 80 miles aged 80. I see no reason not to.........age is but a number!

you have the same birthday as one of my grandsons 🙂 He was 15 on the day you were 70 🙂

 

[Vantage]

Only 48 but I'm very doubtful.

 

[ColinJ]

Distance is a strange one for me, entirely comfortable at 40 mile, ride 40 mile then go down to the workshop for the rest of the day - ride 60+ miles, and I am utterly worn out, just shattered today after 68 mile yesterday'
I wonder if I pumped up my typical ride to 50 if I would get used to that - is it a bit like footballers, they train for 90 minutes, are fit for 90 min, then start breaking down if extra time is played?

How quickly do you ride, and how hilly are those 40 and 68 mile rides?

Are you eating and drinking enough? I could ride 40 slow, flattish miles on one bottle of water and feel fine. If I tried to do 68 lumpy miles at a brisk pace on one bottle of water I would struggle to get to the end of the ride!

 

[Ajax Bay]

or was it a collision with the tractor, ?
I had one yesterday on a narrow road coming in the opposite direction, he moved towards me as we passed forcing me into the side - . . .

Any sensible rider on a narrow road with a tractor coming towards them has three options, #3 turns into #2 mostly
1) Get completely off the road and stop
2) Turn around and find somewhere to do #1
3) Stop in the middle of the road (and hope they do too) and then do #1 or #2
I guess you're the courageous sort who knows their rights.
If you are shagged after 68 miles, I recommend a cafe stop with substantial nutrition at the 2/3rds point. And (not or) arrange to meet and ride the last 2 hours with a friend.
As for your thread title, I expect to be able to till I cannot safely ride a bike.

 

[ColinJ]

As for your thread title, I expect to be able to till I cannot safely ride a bike.

That reminds me...

I've got a photograph of a favourite Scottish great-uncle opposite me on top of my TV. He is pictured standing alongside his old 3-speed sit-up-and-beg bicycle. I reckon that he must have been at least 80 when the photograph was taken.

I remember that he was still riding until his mid-80s when he fell off into a ditch for the 3rd or 4th time. His sense of balance was letting him down. His GP patched him up for the last time and said "Och, I think it's time to hang up your wheels!"

I think the advice should have been "Och, it's time to swap the bicycle for a tricycle!"

(He lived until his mid-90s.)

 

[Two-Wheels]

Yeah pretty easy as I'm only 41. Did a number of 40-60 mile rides last year. My max is 72. I've done only 3x 60+ in my life, one of which was the 72. 40-50 is relatively easy for me, depending on route, 50+ I start struggling.

I'm hoping that'll change with a road bike with drop bars rather than a hybrid with flats. There's a reason to that but then we're drifting off topic.

 

[figbat]

I’m 53. I have, in previous years, ridden at or over my age at the time. I haven’t ridden 53+ since reaching 53 but this is due to change in May during a 4-day MTB ride around the Cotswolds (possibly before, during ‘training’).

 

[Alex321]

I hope to do so at some point this summer.

I am 66, and have only once done a metric century - when I did 68 miles, in summer '23, but I expect to have a bit more time for longer rides this year.

 

[PeteXXX]

I could until a couple of years ago.
I'm 72⅓ but knee problems preclude long distances now.

 

[Marchrider]

I could until a couple of years ago.
I'm 72⅓ but knee problems preclude long distances now.

you don't have to do that third at the end, just the first bit !