Cycling UK Forum

A couple of weeks ago I met a cyclist on one of the canal towpaths. He was in his 70's and wasted no time in telling me that he didn't do roads and he didn't do hills. It was meant to be fun not efin torture! He was perfectly happy doing his 16 mile round trip at a leisurely pace.
Good on him, there's nothing to disagree about.

If you are going to say any fit cyclist can manage 20 miles in an hour; then you must define how that fitness is measured. If the measure of fitness is being able to manage 20 miles in an hour then it becomes rather a circular argument. So by what measure, other than speed, is a cyclist deemed fit? Then we can find cyclists who meet that measure, and find out how many of them can manage 20 miles in an hour, and without drafting a single soul such as in a club run or sportive.

One of the ride leaders in the club I belong to was a lady in her 70s, who I think went over to “solo only” at the time of Covid. She oversaw Cat C rides. Her approach to it all at a fitness level was summed-up in a phrase she used often, “I’m not dead yet”, always said very cheerfully, which I came to understand was a daily thank-you for being alive that started when she lost her younger sister to cancer.

Personally, I think the idea that being fit enough to continue living and enjoying living is a pretty good measure.

Back to the OP.

What does the training you do look like?

"Mostly very depressing - clearly I should accept that I am not a proper cyclist and put all my bikes out for the scrapper."

I weekly scour the bikes for sale forum on this site (coz established posters do not sell stolen bikes on this site).This is for fun. However you see some good bargains and well cared for serviced bikes. They are light and fast and may make a difference. Keep your eyes skinned over the winter months for any bargains.

briansnail wrote: ↑15 Sep 2023, 2:40pm "Mostly very depressing - clearly I should accept that I am not a proper cyclist and put all my bikes out for the scrapper."

Good for you! I have also accepted that I am 'not-a-proper-cyclist' and couldn't care less (I'll also admit that 60% of my bikes are made of the good bits which have come from the scrapper). Couldn't give a damn about what anyone thinks of my Fitness, the speedvat which I cycle nor whichever wreck of a bike I am currently riding

The older I get, the slower I become. I find that the rides enjoy the most are the ones where I’m out with my wife and we average 12-13mph on road bikes, or 9-10 mph on gravel/touring bikes. I can push myself to go faster, and I do one faster ride a week, but I can’t mix it with the fast boys anymore.