[Closed] Just had a thought.. I'm 43 now I may have only 10 years left on the mtb

Schweiz,

When I did Trans Provence 2010 one of the guys (who was 30 odd) said he was going to come back and do it again with his Dad. I did feel if I do go back to it 2012 I would be taking some youngsters more rightful spot but having read this thread I now feel fully entitled to consider applying again 2012. Out last night on Shipley Glen, out again on Friday over Haworth/Oxenhope hope the sun still shines.

I'm only 33, but two of my regular cycling group are over 50, and one guy we sometimes meet up with who can kick all our asses in terms of fitness, is 62! He regularly does 12 and 24 hour events so you've got plenty of years left yet!

OP - face facts - you're dead, might as well bury yourself now and be done with it

Or [url= http://www.vtta.org.uk/newsite/php/vtta_records_all.php?pageNum_rs_records=1&totalRows_rs_records=122&type=men&mach=bike&solo=solo&road=road ]take a look at this[/url]

And look at GRF - he's 75 - he will only stop riding when he shrinks so much he can no longer get a bike small enough

[i] Just had a thought.. I'm 43 now I may have only 10 years left on the mtb[/i]

are you expecting your legs to fall off ? 😉

Kev

This thread makes me feel better cos I've not been enjoying being 35!!! Never mind 43

Schweiz,

When I did Trans Provence 2010 one of the guys (who was 30 odd) said he was going to come back and do it again with his Dad

That would be me!

craig1975 - Member
a good friend of mine is 53 and he's still battering down the trails as fast as any of us.....

U spend all your 40,s worrying about it and all your 50.s getting on with it.The big down side of entering your 50.s how much faster your age group races are compared to the youthfull youngsters.

Hi Schweiz I did wonder if it was you on that post cos I remember talking to you in the lounge tent and you mentioned you wanted to persuade your Dad to do TP - that is brilliant Good luck to both of you.

This has really cheered me up! I was having occasional thoughts like the OP as things seem to break down more as my body is literally coming to bits (I'm off the bike for a while after this weekend as it's ankle operation time) and I was absolutely dreading having to face winding down; also a lot of people on here recently seem (to me) to be about 10! As someone said above, I hadn't realised there were so many of us "veterans" - thnaks for the encouragement, I can keep going for a few years yet then!

The main reason everyone stops doing sports etc is because they get more sedentary socially it's acceptable to become lazy because you're old. There's just no need, sure you heal a bit slower and might not have the same fitness level when 60 (though there are plenty of people to disprove that) but it doesn't mean you have to stop, that's a daft defeatist attitude.

Coffeeking - you are absolutely right, I think my point was that 1) when your body is really letting you down when it never has before and 2) when many of your peers are - as you say - sedentary and telling you that you should stop (not all admittedly), eventually it's possible to start thinking that way. A dangerous slippery slope I was falling in to.

As I said, this thread is the perfect tonic! I feel under 75 again!

I lined up for a race alongside Ron Hill recently. He's about 105 now and hasn't taken a day off in 46 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Hill#Streak

I reached 40 last year and I can remember someone on here saying "Happy birthday! May your wheels keep spinning for another 40 years!" and I reckon that is a good mantra to keep me going 🙂

55yo ride 3 x week keep up with most bar super fit fast whippets! Cotic 9 speed winter, Tricked up Orange 5 for rest of entertainment.
Followed a DHer into some biggish jumps last week, with his speed into the jumps made it so easy, prob not done it by myself!
Going to Rivierabikes in Italy in May, prob feel even older after that!!

I do feel a little older today. Last nights 30 miles and 3 crashes have taken their toll. Bruised and battered

I,ve got one eye,(boyhood accident),permanently bent elbows,(climbing accident)dodgy medial knee cartilage(fell running)and the only endurance sport left is cycling,both on and off road.It keeps me young in body and spirit and feeds the soul so if you feel the same.......Suffice to say I,ll turn the pedals until my mind says enough,which is the exact time you will grow old.My age is immaterial.

Wunundred! 😀

Isn't SimonFBarnes off here like eight hundred and forty three or sumfink?

Still looking at ladies' bottoms. An inspiration to us all. 😀

I'm 58 and took up mountainbiking when I quit BMX when I was 36. I'm not the fastest or most skillful, but I have an absolute blast everytime I go out. My only worry is not my body packing up but my mind, my dear old mum had Altzeimers and I'm worried I might not remember my favourite trails!

no, I'm not quite that old, but WAY past 43 and still wracked with passion like a teenager...

boll00cks, im 39 and fitter than ever......ride till u die!

Ononeorange - dont make the mistake of thinking the mental age of posters on 'extreme sport's Interwebs is any way an indicator of their real age

Doing MTB or anything like it in middle- age is a way of staying in touch with your inner child - so totally healthy and brilliant - but it also means that inner child will surface in the free environment online OMG Whatevs etc

If I couldn't imagine riding my bike at 53, or being proper physically active at least at that age I'd get pretty depressed pretty quickly I think. I'm 38. What a shit future to imagine. What's the point of thinking like that when you don't have to? and I'm not even a positive type person. Love some of the responses on this thread 🙂

riding is about that inner child, i ride and i can hear him giggling

GRF - do you practise to be such a knob or does it come naturally?

really - we have some tossers on here and some really get my wick but no one has arrived on here and been so objectionable in so few posts.

g.r.f. is just bored and lonely.

GRF - well away and shite then. don't want to play nicely then **** off

You are an objectionable bigoted lout

whereas I am merely an argumentative numpty

whereas I am merely an argumentative numpty

with a tendency to jump to illfounded conclusions :o)

You lot should stand back now and again and read the drivel you collectively post, this thread aside.

Would you like me to go get a few samples?

Yeah, go on! 😀

(Don't worry lads; he'll be bloody ages, as there's mountains of shite on here. I should know, I've helped create some of 'em!)

Oh dear GRF. I have rodgered your sort stupid on many occasions. I guess someone already rodgered you stupid tho - or do you have another excuse for being quite so hard of thinking?

Now TJ indulges himself in bitchslappin ?? Whatever next ?

crikey, TJ, relax yerself. Trainspotting is on Franco...

Looks like TJ has bitch-slapped GRF there. I'd say it's a pwning, even. 😐

All that sport, and GRF still has anger issues. Maybe he should take up something a bit calmer, like knitting or baking.

Or try some stronger medication.

Nurse! Yes, I'm afraid he's done it again. I'll get the porters to bring up some rubber sheets this time...

Elfinsafety - Member
Nurse! Yes, I'm afraid he's done it again.

You called? Is it the old trouble?

Fraid so. Quite a messy one this time, too. I think we're going to need some more Dettol...

Good job I have a strong stomach

I think we're going to have to declare a Biohazard in Ward 9. There's things crawling in it. 🙁

[Post edited. Mod]
Speshly not when they do it to themselves as well as you have... 😆

I mean do you even go riding, like ever?

Do what? And lose out on valuable forum posting time? Are you completely mad?? 😯

Nurse!

NURSE!

did you say a bad word Elfin ?

My old man is 67 and is doing the Brechfa trails regularly and also Doethie valley. John Lloyd must be pushing 70 if not more and whoops the young whipper snappers on the race course. I don't think age has an affect until it no longer becomes enjoyable.

respect to your old man taff. that's the way it's gonna be!

Elfinsafety - Member
Or try some stronger medication.

I can't be bothered reading this thread, but the original premise is a bunch of arse.

If you're that soft headed why not give up mountain biking at 25 and take up golf.

I have contributed.

Had a guest last year who was an excellent rider, in the "fast" group all week. He got hurt doing a drop which is gnarly enough to be on my don't-be-daft-you've-got-to-stay-fit-all-summer list.

Filled out my accident report form and went to check his details on his booking form. Age 62!

He was supposed to be coming back for more this year, but got hurt again recently doing a learn-to-drop course (ironically while heading back to his car having nailed the drops!).

Well impressed, get well soon Tim!

Well amazing and i never thought I would see the day - but I have to congratulate 'TandemJeremy' on being an even bigger online bell end than 'GRF' - respect Sir

G.R.F. is someone's pet troll. Is there a clue in the initials?

Haven't had time to read this whole thread, but I will be 69 in November and I have no plans to quit riding as long as I can stay upright. As someone noted early in the thread, I'm nnot worried about being the fastes, a bit more careful, stop and rest more---but I sure don't plan to quit anytime soon.
I've never subscribed to the notion that there is some arbitrary age limit on anything.

I went to watch the Three Peaks CX this last year - at the bottom of Pen Y Ghent I helped a bloke to singlespeedhis bike after ripping the mech off. 'Thanks' he said 'you've just helped the second oldest bloke in the race- 73!'

Live to ride - ride to live - ride 'til you die

[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/100-year-old-sets-cycling-hour-record-mark-33217 ]100 year-old sets cycling hour record [/url]

For the last five years I have decided not to go for rides of more than 100km. There is no point going overboard. I want to keep cycling for some time yet."

CHAPEAU sir, CHAPEAU

Wahoo!, got another 49 years at least then, hopefully 😀

I aim to beat that.

I have a big headstart in you though al 😉

[url= http://road.cc/content/news/52765-french-cyclist-breaks-age-group-record-hour-three-months-after-his-100th-birthday ]Now this is an old cyclist!![/url]

Edit: Beaten to it above doh

I'm 44 this year, ride the Dark peak every week and taking my 6" AM Rig to Les Arcs this summer to have fun, age is just a number as long as you don't read MBUK you will be fine, what a disturbing publication!

Bol****s I'm 63 did a two hour plus night ride on Thursday off road.

Cheer up keep riding till you drop.

not sure whats been said in the rest of the thread but just so as you know my most regular non crying off hardcore reliable riding mate is 54 and in the last ten years he has shown no signs of slowing down. best of luck with it.

He claimed his 'secret' was none other than looking after himself. "I’ve never abused anything. I don’t smoke, I never drank much.

That's me ****ed then,never been a smoker but I does like a drink or two.....

What a load of bollocks! I'm 65 next month and am planning on a mountain bike holiday in Spain and one in France this year.This is apart from the weekends away riding all the trails I've 'missed out on'. AND I'm not retiring from my job. AND I've had two heart attacks. AND I've recently bought a Canyon full suss. Dont be a wuss and stop this rubbish talk about stopping riding, stop when you have to not when you think you should.

**** me backwards.

I'm just 52.
Have a full road race season planned.
Racing the FNSS, trying to get a top five in the Grand Vets.
Racing a full season of cross in the Central League.
Going to Flanders for the 259km event
London-Paris-London four day.
And a shit load of stuff in between. Might even do a 24 solo.
Current racing plans take me past 65.

66. Been doing stuff like the StrathPuffer 24 hour solo. This year was my PB - on a bike that weighs 42lbs.

So I think it's safe to say I don't subscribe to the getting too old thing. It simply gets a bit harder, thus you get an odd bargain with life - challenges crop up more often. 😆

When I start using gears and suspension, you'll know I'm getting old and frail. 🙂

51 here did the Marmotte last year and will be doing it again this year. Other plans are The Ridgeway in a day and the Torq Rough Ride

Use it and you won't lose it

[img] [/img]

I know someone who is north of 70 and still rides regular. If I get that far I will be happy. At least I know that it can be done :-).

43 last year and probably fitter than I've ever been. Definitely still improving as a rider too. Plus, I'm earning more and get more time off than I did 10 years ago, so get to ride more and in more interesting places too.

And, just think of all that accumulated knowledge of fettling techniques and UK trails that you have that will only increase.

Plus, I'm too old to be interested in tyre choice or some of the archaic niceties of our rights of way legislation, I'm getting too old to be told off....

In his september09 newsletter, Michael Colgan gives protocols for neurogenesis, i.e. regrowing brain cells. Here's an extract showing what's involved:

First, it has to be voluntary exercise. In rodents, forced exercise yields little neurogenesis, and impedes new memory formation.
Second,the exercise has to be demanding, requiring focused attention.
Third, the exercise has to provoke high adrenalin output.
Fourth, it has to have immediate signaling of success and failure.
Fifth it has to provide immediate reward for success and immediate punishment for failure.3,6
Sixth, the exercise has to incorporate steady progression of difficulty kept marginally beyond capacity, with a reward to failure ratio of about 8:1.

Doesn't that sound like mountain biking ?

Keep at it, we're gonna live forever !

When I did the 'cross national champs this year there were several over 70s racing. I'm 52, what have I got to be concerned about?!

It's all probably as simple as not smoking.

Windsurfed and surfed for years, along with hillwalking and occasional mtb. Taught myself to snowboard at 40. Smashed up knee and ankle windsurfing in late 30s.( Plaster and mucho physio.) Decided 15 months back to ride more and get out for between 30 and 50 miles a week offroad. Did MM last year. Now almost 52. The crowd I ride with regularly are all younger. The closest to me is 43 and the rest are in their 20s or early 30s. I ain't ready for my rockin' chair yet .