@ajf - true but then cycling wasn't my main sport until I was over 50. I did cycle mainly commuting and occasional weekend rides but mostly I was out climbing.
For the majority of riders I think age is less important and fitness is simply a result of time/effort put in.
This.
Beware the guys who took early(ish) retirment and train full time(ish). They're gettign faster and doing some crazy long/ fast rides into their late 50s/ 60s.
When I started at 26 I was pretty fit but lacked skill and experience. I'm now 43 and lack that level of fitness, but I'm substantially more experienced and skillful, even compared to 4 years ago.
My 26 year old self is only likely to out pace me on non technical climbs.
It's moot really, I ride for shits and giggles rather than competition.
My times have remained pretty much the same over the years, I may have been a bit quicker five or so years ago when I was running and taking PT sessions two or three times a week. These days I do yoga alongside mountain biking which I don't believe trains the body for speed particularly well. Anyway, I just took a look at my lap time for the Cafall trail at Cwmcarn and I'm in the top 10% of all riders, so not doing too bad still at 48yrs old this year.
My Current Place
523 / 5968
My Best Time
1:15:28
just seen that time was two yrs ago so would have been 46 then.
Some interesting responses here!
For the avoidance of doubt - speed is not the only thing that is important, but with the ease of measuring rides / segments etc this is as much about expectation setting as a thirst for knowledge
Seems my speediest days may be yet to come! (With a little reading and application)
I think as an adult amateur cyclist with a typical life, you get 2 opportunities to be fast: before kids and after they've passed 15 or so, i.e. when you have the time to do more. Course, if you've no kids, or a very understanding spouse, ...
I pissed away my "before kids" opportunity but at 52 I'm doing more riding now than ever and I've also lost weight due to being put on the diabetic naughty-step (no more pudding for me 🙁 )
Reckon I could kick my younger self's arse pretty much anywhere except maybe in a very short sprint
