Cycling Strong After 50: The Things That Changed 

Cycling is a gift! It is a privilege to be able to do it... especially in good health. The journey over the years has been incredible and has left an indelible mark on me.

At 70 and after almost 40 years of riding and racing I've come to realize a couple of things. Every ride is an opportunity to enjoy the day. The best thing about group rides is the coffee and talks after. No matter your age or ranking there is always someone who is faster, enjoy the ride.

Just turned 46 today. My goal pass 50 is to be stronger then I am now with better endurance. I ride with a 73 year old and he can drop me any day of the week. He is my inspiration to keep going.

In truth i really didn't want to go into this age thing just to say i was born in October 1935 i ride every day on the flat for about ten miles only on dry days with my wife i started racing aged 15 years Luis we love all your videos thank you for everyone of them.

I'm 74 years old- started cycling in 1977 after a series of doctors suggested that I probably won't live past 65 due to a health condition (hypertension). I ride a Trek hybrid about 100 miles a week from mid-March until mid-November (3000 miles). I live in upstate New York so weather condtions aren't always perfect. I agree with Luis Scott that cycling is a gift and privilege. One cannot underestimate the positive effect cycyling has on ones mental health

At 55 one of the things I struggle with is recovery. I can no longer do 2 hard rides consecutively without paying the price later in the week with dead legs. I now need to give my body chance to recover properly before going hard again. But with ages also comes wisdom, I can now wheel suck like a professional and know exactly how to conserve as much energy as possible 😉😊👍🏼

“Performance advantage is putting the time on the bike”. More truer words have never been said

Excellent & enjoyable find! I had a cardiac arrest & came back strong from 2021! Nearly 50!!! Cycling literally saved my life!

I’m 46 and I agree my endurance is better now than when I was younger. My friend is 64 and rides 100-200 miles regularly, he’s super fit and has the mentality to keep pushing himself, he’s a machine.

I’m 71 this year and I just bought a Cannondale gravel bike which I think I will find even more fun and versatile than my Giant Tallon although I still love it. I have to say that I haven’t noticed a massive difference in recovery although I only ride for recreation and not competitively. I think it’s mostly in your genes. My father was still cycling a few weeks before he died aged 92. I hope to follow in his footsteps. Great to hear all you guys and your experiences.

Luis, over 50 years old you cannot take a month or two off. It is so much harder to get back to your previous fitness if you walk away from cycling for an extended time. Consist daily work outs, yoga, hiking, gym work all allow you to maintain your strength and skills as you age. Bursts of speed work are essential for keeping that speed up. I am 66 years old a cancer survivor and a 2 times post open heart surgery patient and I survived because of my bike. I live in western Colorado and ride 8000 miles a year. I love your site. Viva Le Velo, Thomas

Luis, I just discovered your series, and have watched four videos while riding my trainer. Needless to say, I have enjoyed them. I am 76, and have been cycling and off since the mid 1980s. Last year I decided to get serious again, as I found a group of cyclistsin my age range. They ride a bit faster than my usual pace, but it caused me to push myself. I was unsure how my body would respond, but it surprised me. Before I rode with this group, I would ride maximum 10-12 miles; but the first time I rode with them, I actually rode 27 miles. I didn't do much the rest of the day, but was thrilled-surprised I could endure the miles. The way I gauge whether or not I am getting stronger, is my trip to my mailbox (walking) - it's downhill to the mailbox, and uphill upon return. I used to get winded on the return trip, but not anymore. I am actually surprised that my physical condition has improved at this age, but obviously the body is capable or more than many of us think or know.

Luis great topic! I am a month short of age 75, I have been riding for over 50 years. Over the years, as I get older, I have had shoulder and knee replacements. My injuries have humbled me to appreciate just the ride and not trying to be the fastest rider. Recovery time has helped me to continue to still ride at a high level. But now my focus is just to enjoy the joy of riding. I have several bikes and the bike that I use for fast group rides is the Pinarello F10. My most enjoyable bike to ride is my vintage Marinoni steel bike.

I Started cycling 2 years ago, I'm now 58 and luv every moment I get to ride. Technology has been a game changer for me; these metrics have helped my fitness get much better. Great job 👍🏿 keep up the good work.

As a young cyclist it’s inspiring to see you both out here still performing and having fun. Cycling is a lifetime sport and has a space for everyone. Great video!

Regular cycling is, I believe, really helpful to longevity. In my own case, I am 66 and have ridden fairly seriously since the late 1990s, including a short (and undistinguished) crack at racing twenty years ago. As a time triallist, I never really had much explosive power to lose but I have noticed that warming up on a ride takes much longer now and recovery after hard sessions is slower. Watching the diet is really important as aging slows the metabolism. Endurance is still very good, however, and I can outlast younger riders (sometimes) when the pace is steady. As to technology, long ago I realized that the only thing that matters is the engine so I don't feel the need to chase expensive tech fashion for minor gains in speed and an increase in inconvenience. Where tech has made a big difference to me is in indoor training as my outdoor season is only April to November at best. I have invested in a smart trainer with a power meter and religiously use Wahoo SYSTM and Rouvy. With all the choices we have, I believe that cycling has never been better. Keep the faith, Luis!

I've been cycling since the mid 80s when I was in high school. Back then I was light and could climb pushing the big gears that were there at the time. I could get out of riding for awhile, come back, and still be strong. As time went on I was still pretty strong and fluid through my 40s but it seems once I hit 50 that my power decreased and it became more work to stay in the bunch. Maybe I wasn't pulling as long anymore and wasn't contesting any sprints but what I noticed was it was just more work to make the same things happen that came more naturally when I was younger. Now at 52 with less strength and time to ride, I find myself struggling a little more. Sure riding more would help me get more fit but with work, family, and an aging body, it's become more difficult for me to get out there and I'm lucky to get my one club ride a week if I'm free. So, being a competitive person and being accustomed to riding at a certain level, it was more difficult for me to accept that I can't ride like I used to, like I wanted to, and that I was just slower. Once I was able to let go of that and just stop trying to hammer and suffer, I was really able to enjoy my rides again. It was almost liberating because I wasn't trying to kill myself anymore to be up front or hold a wheel. I now just go out and ride my pace, enjoy the view, and embrace the fact that I can just ride. I've even gone as far as selling my carbon race bikes and getting a custom steel bike built up as an all-arounder, drop bar 1x with 32c tires. I now recognize my limitations physically because I feel it everyday, but I think the bigger struggle for me was mentally. Once I got out of the competitive mode and just went out to enjoy a nice ride, it reinvigorated my joy of cycling.

I've been cycling only a couple of years, but consistently. I enjoy it better than running. My daily average is 20 to 25 miles with plans to gradual increase over time. My bike is a trek domane which I truly enjoy. At 65 I have no plans to stop cycling. Thank you for tips and perspectives.

I started cycling as a kid on a BMX bike, then delivering news papers by bike as a teenager. I joined the bike team at University then raced amateur for over a decade. I stopped riding for sport in my 30’s when I had a kid, but have found Zwift racing in my late 40’s and even started joining the fastest local weekend ride. How long I last on the fast group ride is my fitness tracker! It’s also the way I meet new people outside of work and catch up with old racing buddies. Cycling is a great shared interest!

The book Fast After 50 by Joe Friel (I’m 60 and competitive in my age group) helped me adopt a measured training routine that’s basically about 3-4 day training blocks then a rest day, usually equivalent to 3 rest days a week. I liked hearing about the Ramadan fast, because of its implication of a strong psychological True North being adhered to with discipline. Thing is, for me, as a former elite amateur athlete, addressing my inevitable demise and gradual decay - even celebrating it - has been a deeply humbling and rewarding journey. Thx for creating a video about age. I’d love to see this conversation continued, as most of the performance cycling content I find is for folks much younger and stronger than myself.

The toughest thing through 40s and into 50s was that work took priority. When I reached mid-50s, that changed and I got back to cycling regularly after a nearly 35-year break LOL. Now, after turning 60 in the past year, I'm loving riding about 150 miles/week. Sure, I'm slower and that's okay. I do it for mental health and to keep an eye on all that goes on in our community. It really keeps me feeling connected. I scour the used bikes on Craigslist and currently ride an Orbea Avant M20 Team-D. When I go off-road, I use my Motobecane Whipshot. I still have my 1982 Trek 759, but these old muscles can't push those big gears over the unforgiving hills like they used to!

We’re so similar Luis - we’re both 57 and we’ve both run the gamut of the different materials and we both realize that it has never been any better than steel. Cheers

As we age as cyclists, being smaller is definitely an advantage. When absolute power decreases, there is a real advantage in not having to lose excessive body weight. Being a "wisp" is awesome when you get over 50 or 60. At 6'1" and 185 lbs, I find climbing harder and harder, and like you my sprint has evaporated. At 63 my goal weight keeps getting lower.

I’m 67 and I feel that I’m just as strong or stronger as I'm riding a lot more. but . I find that recovery takes a lot longer and that it’s a lot easier to gain weight and a lot harder to loose it. My most valuable tool is the power meter as it helps me manage my energy. Once again thanks for your great content and very clear presentation.

I’m 71 and ride minimum 30 miles daily all year round. About 10 years ago I switched from conventional Diamond frame to a recumbent 2 wheel racer then 5 years ago I switched to Catrike recumbent trikes….a 700 racer and a 559 cruiser. As I have aged I find the recumbent position is much more comfortable putting less wear and tear on wrists, neck, back , and crotch. I can ride forever on the recumbents and the high end trikes provide incredible stability and safety and I can maintain a high level of speed without worry about safety issues. They are also,great to climb in because one pushes back against fixed resistance. I ride a century ride once a month . I must admit I don’t mind the occasional rainy day forcing me into recovery mode. Thanks for your videos. The quality of the content is awesome.

Inform, instruct, and Inspire is exactly the content that you present for me. Thank you. I was introduced to the sport about 4 years ago and took to it immiditly. For most of my life I've been fit and into fitness (body building) After turning 50 I started having knee pain which impeded my ability to do cardio effectively. Cycling has filled that void in more ways than one! I love the life style and the community. Lord willing I'll be 61 this year and hopefully purchasing my 2nd bike. Take good care, be safe, God bless.

This is a must for all of us, the grays. I would be interested in hearing from the wives and love ones that are watching us. As for myself with a wife that worries. It’s a constant reminder that I can’t dive into the red zone as much as I would like.

I moved to Boston at the age of 19 for school where I intended t continue my cycling (racing) at school. Sadly, Northeastern didn’t allow a cycling team - said it was too dangerous. Harvard had a cycling team coached by John Allis. John was a 3 time Olympian, former national champion, and the best coach I’ve ever known. He could go out with a hopeless bunch of riders and come back with a smooth rotating paceline. John’s age never seemed to be an issue. On the fast paceline days, John would go back for dropped riders and pace them back in. It always seemed impossible that a guy in his 50’s could close on a paceline of young kids, but every time I rotated off I would look back and he would be closer… When John retired I took over as coach of the cycling team. I asked him how he did that, his answer came in two parts. First there was the training answer - his workouts had reached a higher level. The fast guys stay in the front group and take pulls, they don’t learn how to time trial. The second part was pure John Allis, he said “you have to”. He never saw it as 5 young kids vs. one old man, he just knew that he had to get that rider back in. There is a level of trust that John’s riders had in him that’s hard to explain. Coaching keeps you young for two reasons. Coaching women is about trust, if you have that you can achieve anything. I can have bad days, but I’m not allowed to let my riders down. With guys it’s about respect. There’s always going to be a 15 minute “let’s test the coach” period, and I can’t fail that. Fortunately, I earn this trust or respect early on, before I teach them what I’ve learned over the years. My fitness started going the wrong way back in my 30’s - I know that. It just means I need to do everything better. Each year I focus on a few things which I think I can improve on. I usually come into a new season with some new understanding about some part of the pedal stroke or how my body uses fuel. The problem is that I then have to teach it to my riders, and there goes my advantages…

I’m 68 and still ripping single-track! Better training and diet plus three days of zone 2 training with my wife has actually helped with my mtb rides.

55. I fluffed in. I had prostate cancer and had complications-down to 106lbs. I think the ergonomic seats with cutouts are a real advancement since the days of my 1980's concor racing saddle. I think that will make a real difference for those of use that are beginning to be collagen deprived;) Ironically, after my weight loss, basically everything hurts to sit on -except my cycling seat. As for my arthritis in my back an hips. I went from a carbon cervelo/23mm tires to a steel frame/45mm tires. No pain No more discomfort. All the fun and enjoyment. The biggest possible issue for a roadie might be your regular group ride. Don't stop riding if it is not fun/easy to stay with your group anymore. Find other ways to evolve/grow your cycling life and take it in a new direction/chapter. New challenges, discoveries, and growth.

i'm so glad that i've found cycling in my mid 30s. i hope its something thats going to keep me active and healthy for the rest of my life.

69 and still riding strong , love your video's and the information that you share with others. And I agree cycling is a gift I started in 1994.

Great video, I am 58 and coming back from a 6 year hiatus after lower back surgery. I am 50 lbs overweight and have a very stressful job working 12 hour rotating shifts so it is hard being consistent. The mental game, staying motivated, poor eating and sleep habits, have got to be the worst part of it for me but I am working on it. Your videos are definitely a motivator! Thank you!

Nice video Luis. I road raced in the late 70’s and then started racing again in the late 90’s. I felt very strong on the bike through my 50’s and early 60’s. The surgeries from crashes and an outdoor life have slowed me a lot from 65-71 years old, but I have loved cycling all my life and will continue to do so as long as I am able. Motion is lotion :)

At 50, my biggest fear is a heart attack and falling off my bike. I'm a lot more scared now too. I still break into a cold sweat thinking back to all the crazy ways we rode coming down mountains (with Delta breaks) when I was in my teens and twenties.

I’m 55 this May, I’ve found motivation during the British winter more difficult post 50 and noticing the weight has become more difficult to shift from the mid rim! Still love the sport, I’ve gone back to steel on gravel and road bike and found that using the mountain bike in the winter months not only mixes things up but helps with my fitness. Finally I don’t beat myself up if I don’t fancy a ride I just accept the way I feel on that day. Really enjoy your content Thankyou.

Hey...I'm 71years , still cycling since I started in the 1960s , when Steel was Real.., still maintaining climbing mountains, and riding tempo daily. No joint pains , gift of good nutrition and genetics..superb channel..

Ok, I'm only 52. I think the takeaway is listen to your body. I ride with a younger hammerhead & he doesn't understand that the old diesel has to cool then recover. Also what & how I fuel is being taken more seriously. Cycling does keep the old bones moving & I can still put out decent power. I like riding. I'll go out on the road, gravel, or a coffee ride. Aluminium, steel, titanium, and carbon live in the cave. I favor steel, but they all get love. Cheaper than the v8 ticket magnet I had planned to get for my 50th. No better therapist than then an open road & a bike. Keep it up sir!

I’m 62, still enjoying my rides on road or MTB. Do what you can comfortably,then step up a little push yourself and get in the groove. Cycling is life!

I’m 54 and have returned to steel and old school gearing 23 in the back and 53/39, why? I’ve felt I’ve lost strength with the constant search for lower gears on modern bikes so I think it’s important to try and maintain strength when you’re older and it is working, when you get to the bottom of a climb and you’re already in the lowest available then you don’t have any choice but to pantani it up!!🤣 I’m going to go out like I came in, old school and hard!!!!🤣 your mate hit the nail on the head “time on the bike “ 👌🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Lot of respect to Zaid for sticking with his tried-and-true bike. I have a similar Cannondale that is 13 years old, and I still refer to it as my “new” bike. I started racing in 1982 at the age of 14…still at it all these years later!

Start at cycling when I was 30 I am 74 years Recovery is the hardest thing for me. Great video

63 years old and I stay off the streets as much as I can. I currently ride a city/gravel more than I ride my road bike. I just love the freedom you get when you ride.

Thank you all from north east Texas. I’m a Jones Bike back road riding 63 year old. During the wet below 55 degrees winter months. I utilize my older model CycleOps bike trainer. Cycling is my release.

At 67 I have been riding since the early 1990's. Mostly in theAtlanta, North Georgia mountains with trips to Colorado, Arizona, Spain and Italy. I retired in Central Florida and belong to a great club, Seminole Cyclist.I have three bikes S-Works Venge (all carbon) Litespeed Vortex Titanium and a Electra Steel Beach cruiser. Group rides on weekends and I lead a B group on Wednesdays to help new riders up their game in a group peloton. Solo rides in between.I cut sugar and processed foods out of my diet and eat protein and veggies, fruit.I also make my own energy bars. Never felt stronger and mostly ride with people 20-30 years younger than I. My rides are 60 miles plus. My recovery rides are 25-40 miles "slower pace". Cycling has changed my life and has taken me places of great beauty. Thanks for your great channel.

I'll tell you. I'm closing in on 55 and I've noticed that I'm less competitive when it comes to biking than I was when I was younger. I also live in a much hillier place than I did when I was younger, so I'd rather have control going down hills and I still have stamina going up hills, even though it's not my favorite thing to do when biking. I still love it, after all these years. I do it more now for commuting than anything else, but for me, the biking with a purpose is just as fun as biking for recreation and a work out.

"Performance advantage is putting the time in on the bike" Amen brother. Amen.

Tell Zaid " Que Paso Pana, Saludos de Compton, Cali" saw the Panama flag on his bike. I'm 53 and been riding since the 90's, mostly for fitness and health. Still riding my old aluminum road bike, and still running 10 speed, but I do use a power meter, just to see what kind of watts I can pump out, which is not much but fun to see. I think the bike industry pumps to much the idea of "you need the latest and greatest". Unless you are a pro racer completely unnecessary. Been lucky of not having any major crashes or injuries and the body is still functioning as in my 20's, 30's, 40's. I think consistency is key. I never took time off the bike, like a gap in years that I did not ride. What really helped the most is the advancement of indoor riding technology like Zwift and smart trainers like my Saris H3. This has really helped my level of fitness.

Thank You Bro, Loved the video and you guys look great. Basically I'm a Martial Artist pretending to be a cyclist. I did race in my 30's winning 17 races in Virginia. Have ridden once a week my whole life (don't count snow days). 48 years in Virginia, 23 years in the mountains of Utah and 2 years in the rolling Ozarks of Oklahoma. Mostly on my Mountain Bike on gravel. Last year 2023 I lifted weights one day and rode my bike the other day. But I did train serious on the bike. I decided to do a couple of races last year, I won a MTB Race and the Silver Medal in the Huntsman World Senior Games. I'm 73 years old and still Kicking. I did not see any major changes in my body until I was 56 years old. You can still look good one day... but the next day you do not recover like you did when you were younger. Please Keep Making Videos To Inspire! Blackhawk Walters

I'm 56, and I started out in the late 80's. My first bike was a 7sp 105 equipped Miyata 512. After that, I bought a Colnago SL Super frame, same components, tho. Unfortunately, I got hit head on by a car in 1991, and lost that Colnago. I rode a Specialized Epic for nearly two decades, then got a Scott Addict R1 with SRAM Red in 2009. However, nowadays I ride a Rodeo-Labs Gravel Bike with SRAM Rival AXS. I freaking love the gravel bike, especially the wider tubeless wheels, such a softer ride. Being in Oregon helps, with lots of gravel and unpaved roads. Glad I found a fellow 50+ rider here on RU-vid. Keep up the good work.

I'm 57. I just got into road cycling as a sport about 2 months now. Working on doing 100 miles in 2 months. I'm up to 50 now. I have been paying attention to my body and makes adjustments when needed. Going for a bike fit soon also. I think I got lucky with my bike size. Ultimately I feel good after rides. I'm very conscious of my diet and get massages after rides. This is all new so I'm learning.

I’m 61 been riding for about 30 years, I think indoor training in the off season has been the real game changer. Don’t ride in winter so I rely on my smart trainer to keep a good fitness over the winter months. Also I train 3 to 4 times a week during the riding season. I try and do a lot of elevation in my rides. Hills absolutely make you stronger. I have set personal bests on a lot of strava segments just last year. I am 66 kilos ( 148 lbs) definitely a climbers body. I embrace the tech that we have now with lightweight bikes and wheels. Diet and recovery is also so important in maintaining fitness goals.

Great video. I've been training on and racing bicycles since 1987. I've raced mountain bikes, road bikes, cyclocross bikes, gravel bikes, and time trail bikes. When I retired at 57 I really started riding a lot. I got faster! Up until about 60-61. Then I started to lose top end and sprint speed. I still have pretty good endurance but I don't enjoy long gravel races much anymore. 50 to 80 miles is plenty. Now at 66, almost 67, I'm happy to do what I can, try to hold the beer belly at bay, and enjoy training and riding as much as I ever did. I try to ride every day. I ride what works for me and could care less about the latest and greatest. In fact I revel in riding old, simple bikes. Cycling is a great sport to grow older with but you do have to adjust your expectations. I love your videos and will continue to watch them. Thank you.

Carbón is a stage in the cycling world,……love Derosa , cannondale aluminium and now looking at Reynolds 953 steel bikes…. At 67 still going strong ….healthy as a horse….

At 63 I've slowed a little but still enjoy rides. My goals are skiing, fishing and cycling at 90. It might be the green slopes, fishing from the banks instead of fighting the currents and riding around the park but as long as I'm out there, I'm happy!

You all are a bunch of youngsters! I just hit 60 and have been kickin’ it! I definitely don’t have the optimum body type (5ft 11 inches at 205 lbs) but I’m loving each and every long ride I (still) do. Every ride could be the last so I soak it all up.

Great Video! I am almost 63 and grateful I am still riding and competing at this age. I stick to 5 days of riding a week. 2 hard rides per week separated by 2-3 days of medium to easy riding. Tues are high-intensity days spent racing on Zwift, and Saturday is a 40K TT effort. 2-3 hours is my max endurance ride. I mix in some weight training 2-3 times a week and stretching. The key is doing it every single week!! Old school for an old guy! keep up the great work!

I started cycling in 2010 I’ve had neck surgery, two knee replacement, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and have to go to a chiropractor for my back. I was hard on my body as a kid so now I’m paying for it lol. Cycling has definitely been a life saver for me as I will be 57 on the 15th of February. Thank you for your content it’s inspiring to see my generation refusing to let Father Time keep us down.

I am 73 and find I still ride and restore bikes from 2000 to 2004. The hardest thing is to carve out time for longer rides. Winter is tough here, so I ride indoors 5 months of the year. After all these years, I still love it, especially when I ride the bikes I have built. I do have to focus more on recovery.

Glad to see you young guys and gals still cycling. Back in the old days, that's before aluminum but somewhat after wood, alloyed steel was the material of choice. While the first bike has been gone for over forty years, the second bike was a Reynolds 510 steel frame that I had built forty-five years ago. Stopped riding it when the kids got mountain bikes. Those went from steel to aluminum to carbon. Still have the steel one. Even with a history in steel, at seventy-four, I ordered a carbon Cannondale. With some upgrades, I expect it to last at least ten to fifteen years. Never stop riding. To be continued...

Everyone should have fun and enjoy the time on the ride. Whether riding road or MTB

What a great topic Luis. For me as a 59 year old cyclist, cycling started for me 10 years ago. Last oktober i had my fitness checked, ftp with lactate check etc. That was a real eye opener for me. So the past years i was doing it completely wrong. The sports doc got an intern and they asked me if i want to commit myself in this program for free! So it was obvious for me to say yes. For me it brought back the joy of cycling and getting in to shape. Its inspiring to see people of our age that really enjoy cycling and ofcourse all of the aspects of it. Also is training with a powermeter recommended as i have been told. Indoors i use my Wahoo kickr and i love to train in zwift.

I have been riding road since 1995. Technology has certainly improved, but what I have changed is that I am able to read the group better. I’ll get in front when I am feeling good but hang back if others are in better form. I live my whole week waiting for the weekend to ride. I feel most alive on a bike.

Thanks for the share. I started racing as a teen in Bethesda, MD in '74, left the scene after a few years even though I was winning because the guys in the sport were rich ( I was working while in high school at Georgetown Cycle Sport just to even have a bike- we were poor) elitists and not much fun to be around. Ended up touring all over the country instead. Got back into it in '87 and found a great bunch of guys and gals in the Tucson area to ride with. Ended up as a Cat 2 and winning 3 state championships (not AZ), a stage of the Casper Classic and temporary leader (all categories), road 4 Nationals (best waas 24th) and was invited to ride the Olympic Trials (didn't make the team) with Tomac and the Grewals in my dorm. Also won a lot of mountain bike and cyclocross races- I lived and loved anything cycling, and still do. I was never able to make it on a team as my priorities were raising my kids and being a good dad and husband, and being the best teacher I could be. Now, at 64, I still train like a hammerhead, but I notice it takes me an extra day to recover from intense efforts, and I don't have the snap I used to to bridge up to breakaways. And I'm so okay with that! I'm just grateful to have found a sport that fit my body type (5'9" and 138 pounds at peak race shape) and can still climb away from many young hammerheads on the steeps. Cycling has given me so much joy (and heartache) over the years- it's such a great sport to be in as we age as it's so easy on the body compared to my marathon and Nordic ski training. I ride my 13 year old Felt AR1 and my '89 Klein Criterium. Like your buddy said- it's all about consistency and miles on the bike. Never stop and your body will give back in so many ways. Keep on trucking down there in Florida- maybe see you at Master's Nationals someday!

Luis, not only have you chosen a most appropriate subject, but also one that applies to us Old's-kool cyclists who've chosen to maintain our capabilities throughout the years. Here in New England, we take advantage of the many available rail-trails to provide safer alternatives to on street riding. 2022 was better than most in that our 3 rider pack consisted of 35, 62, and 71 year old riders. From Spring to Autumn, we committed ourselves to doing 'LSD', 2-3 20+ mile rides per week, and pace-lining to be more effective at gaining group strength rather than following the strongest rider. By seasons end, we were 30% stronger and 40% more efficient at our endurance. Many thanks for continuing to fuel that fire 🔥.

I’m 67 and ride a Trex Edmonda ALR in Tucson. I’m out everyday 20 to 40 miles. Feel great and always ride strong!

Damn, that guy is an inspiration! I hope I'm still kicking it at 50+

I’ve noticed I’m mentally strong over 50. Last year I climbed the Galibier and other cols in the French Alps. And I found that my mental perseverance was better as an older rider. Thanks for this video… lots of improvements since the 80s when I started that keep us riding!

As a 26 year old it's incredibly reassuring to see so many cyclists in their 50s 60s 70s

I appreciate your mellow personalities! At 72, I've enjoyed the different kinds of cycling. Commuting, long trips in Europe, fun rides with friends and family, exploring the countryside, riding to see my girlfriend...

At 56, the main difference I’ve noticed is recovery. I’m still explosive, still faster than most - I put that down to regular off the bike strength training but I now favour regular shorter rides - 60/90 mins most days rather than longer rides. This fits better with the rest of my life as I have the energy for work and family and don’t end up flopped on the sofa exhausted for the rest of the day.

Hiya, i got into your channel because of shared nostalgia for celeste bianchis and have been watching ever since but the majority of my athletic pursuits are actually in rockclimbing! With that said, as i get older (35) i absolutely love hearing perspectives on what the future holds for me! Thank you for your video and interview with Zaid!

I got back to riding last Spring after very little saddle time in a decade. I'll be 63 in June. I'm not working at being faster, just being smoother and stronger. Being smoother and stronger has made me faster. I ride primarily a 2000 Allez M4 Pro made of aluminum with 9-speed Ultegra and a 2019 Officina Battaglin San Luca made of steel with 11-speed Campy Potenza. As the 2022 riding season closed out, I bought a 2008 Kestrel Talon SL with 10-speed DuraAce, my first and probably last carbon bike. This coming season, using all three of these, my goal is to be as fast as anyone in my club, and I'll get there. The latest, highest-techiest gear is not the key. Age is not an excuse or a deterrent.

Thank you for the video. I'm 65, 6'1 and 184 pounds. My weight has not moved from 184 for as long as I can remember. It is the preferred weight of my body. I ride either in the mountains of North Carolina or the flats of Florida. I find that the best way to maintain a good performance on the bike is to just ride as much as you can as many days as you can. Stamina and endurance is easy to maintain for me although I don't have the explosiveness I had before. It's like Luis Scott said "Cycling is a gift".

Hallo Luis i really like your channel en uploads. Greetings van dutch cyclist (1974) Starting cycling in covid got rid of my backpain and 10kg weight. Keep going strong

I'm 52 and just returned to cycling after about 9 years away. I'm having a hard time getting into a routine and building to longer rides. I just bought a Wahoo Elemnt computer to watch my rides and to see what areas I'm improving in and what areas need improvement. I don't feel confident enough to do group rides yet. The other thing is I have a 2006 Trek 2200zr that is full Ultegra. I'm just hoping it'll hold up for some years because getting a new bike in this world nowadays is way beyond my means. I'm gonna keep on pushing for now. Hopefully at 52 I can get back some of the glory days I once had.

Over-50, I've found that a 3-day tour is a wonderful thing. Day 1= ride; Day 2= rest day in unfamiliar town ; Day 3= ride back.

Great to watch this video. I started riding road bikes but moved across to MTB back in1993 and have been riding ever since. I did 1.300 kms across the Himalayas (from Lhasa to Kathmandu) when I was 58, Then Annapurna circuit Nepal (world's highest pass 5416m) in 2018 at 67, then tour of Kilimanjaro in 2021 at 70. What I've noticed over the years is that my endurance is still good, the speed is slightly lower, I'm still competitive but on my own terms and don't take the sport too seriously. Basically I'm enjoying it as every ride is different and an adventure: "A bad day on the bike is always better than a good day at the office". 😄

Great, Really great to see videos made by and about older guys and steel bikes! I am 63 still on my steel frame bike and always looking for inspiration. Thank you.

I really enjoy our channel,great info,so glad I found a brother with experience.👏👏

Hey guys thanks all your testimonies about cycling. I’m now 68 yrs old and I started riding since high school and I’m proud to say that I started to a steel 7:43 bike. Now I’m riding a Scott MTB and a carbon road bike and I’m enjoying a lot. I admit that at 68 yrs old my endurance and speed changed but I keep my rolling weather permits. Safe ride always

“The performance advantage is putting the time on the bike.”

Loved the video I'm just getting back into cycling last year and I'm hitting 46. Felt like I lost so many years not cycling living in Vegas. Moving too san antonio has been amazing for cycling beautiful greenways for biking and u don't have to worry about getting hit by a car 😁

Good stuff! Gonna be 55 in a couple of weeks and just getting back to riding more regularly. I've fallen in love again. I still like pushing myself but I do feel slower. But as I age, I care less about speed and more about enjoying the ride. And yes, steel IS real! Great videos!

I'm not even 30 yet and I'm watching this so I can be prepared!

Great topic. At 58 my love for cycling continues to deepen. A bmx racer in my teens, Mountain and road racer in my 20s, and 30s, now gravel, mtn and rando riding in the PacNW. I find it harder to motivate for mid week workouts. And my intensity levels are dropping. So I’m looking for a lower intensity higher frequency workout routine. Outside time on a bike in the winter here is an exception not the rule. So more inside time. Maybe time to get another pair of rollers? Other than that my neck has taken some abuse over the years. I spent almost a decade mtn biking in Vermont on rigid bikes! So I have to do lots of neck stretching during and after rides. I have a light steel road frame that planes (flexes) beautifully under my power. And I have a lightweight carbon gravel bike that’s an efficient thing of beauty. We are blessed to be bike riders during this era of amazing equipment, and ever evolving sport nutrition. My number 1 parable: be grateful for every ride these days!! 👍

Right on Steve, at 75 it’s different ball game, I now ride for the enjoyment.

Just turned 50. Live upstate NY, returned to the US after about 8 years in Taiwan. Agree with losing explosiveness and fluffing out a bit. Also agree on endurance being better. Some call it “old man speed.” Basically, you’re smarter on the bike with nutrition and dosing your efforts, so you end up lasting longer than the younger folks. As far as bikes go, I have all the materials. I love building bikes and I am lucky that I can practice the N+1 mantra. Stealthily planning 2 more builds .. I am planning a personal bike shop. These days, I have a lot of distractions but plan to incorporate trainer rides a lot more along with some cross training. Two other things as one ages: 1. how [more] quickly one loses fitness on the bike. 2. Enjoying every single ride. I call it going to church. You are one with yourself and around me, nature.

64, and still riding, and tweaking the setup on my 92 Colnago Conic SLX. I've only ever ridden steel bikes, and built this bike after purchasing the frame from Colorado Cyclist in '92. While my overall fitness is very good, I am more conscious of cervical issues (read discomfort) nowadays, so getting my reach and setup perfect has become very important to me. I have, over the last couple of months, done a complete tear down and rebuild of all the components (600 tri color Ultegra), just because the bike was in storage for quite some time while I've been overseas as a contract firefighter. I had it set up more like a tri bike, but have, during this rebuilt, gone to a completely different, i.e., more traditional setup. The only thing that isn't AS traditional, is the vintage, 0-60º adjustable stem. Extension is 85mm, which is way shorter than the 145mm extension present on the last tri related setup. Now I just want to get out, and cycle with a setup that I KNOW to be physiologically accurate for my body (6'1/2") on the Colnago frame. I'm strictly going BY THE NUMBERS in regards to seat height, seat position fore and aft, handlebar width, stem height and reach, etc. I no longer use the KOPS for any aspect of setup. My frame size is 58cm, but it works out to be a still nearly perfect match for my inseam, so if it ain't broke, I'm not fixing it. I just love this frame and bike,...grows on you, over the years like a reliable horse, or truck or whatever.

Still turning the pedals at 62. Gravel has given me a renewed interest in the sport. For me, it's the backroads riding and adventure of gravel. Doing my second Unbound 100 this June, and planning on applying to do the 200 in 2024. If there's one thing that will slow me down it's the ability to process terrain changes/bumps/holes at speed. Perhaps that's a vision thing more than my brain keeping up. Keep riding, everyone!!

Great content Louis. I'm 48, started again in the Strava era 4 or 5 years ago.... Love KOM hunting, and thankfully still getting PB's. I generally do around 160k a week and listen to my body.

I have been riding my bike for over 40 years now and turning 60 I am having thoughts of hanging up my bikes. Not that I no longer love the sport,I will always love it, but am starting to think alot about falling,especially on group rides,we old folks don't do well when we fall. Big congrats to you guys.

I like Zade's old school 'tude.....he's had basically the same bike for years, he says. Bravo, bravo,

I'm 62 and still riding an old school Nishiki bicycle. I started cycling way back in 1990 as a messenger. I've been cycling ever since. I've tried thos carbon bikes and didn't feel comfortable enough to keep it. I've had this Nishiki since 2000 and I've rebuilt it. It's riding nicely. On a good day, I have high output and I'm able to ride longer distances at a higher speed. Most days, I'm pacing myself. The only thing I'm missing is the group so I can draft a bit. I love group rides.

I love the term fluffed out. I think that most of us at, or approaching 50 can appreciate the phrase.

I am subscribed!!! I am 55 this year. Started cycling at the age of 53. Enjoying it very much. I'm 1 second behind on a Kom segment behind my house! I'm gonna grab it this year! 👑👑👑😅

I just turned 50, thank you for making this one

Great vid man, I’m 71 and have been riding since I was 10. Love the bike and riding fun, getting outdoors. Just did a 30 miler in the rain and it was an adventure which keeps me going.

Hi Luis - I'll be 86 in September. We couldn't buy bikes during WW 2. So got my first on in 1946. Ive never competed, but my late wife and i rode a Tandem Two's Tuesday for 17 years. We toured - Missouri's Katy, Grand Canyon, Arizona. We saw America up close.😊 I ride Territrike now.

I’m an expat here in N.E. Italy 🇮🇹 and started seriously riding in ‘18. I’m 43 (March 44) and have really learned A TON from these Italians. Efficient pedaling on a well maintained bike is key. I prefer Campangolo (Veloce and Centaur for price v performance and feel). Tubular wheel sets are MUCH smoother than clincher. Fulcrum Racing Zero, Campangolo ‘Cinquanta’ and tri-spoke cf 60mm on ‘VeloFlex’ or ‘Continetals’ 23mm. Clinchers are: Miche 707, Fulcrum Racing 3s, Campangolo Scirocco 23mm. Continental Gatorskins and Schwalbe Durano clinchers. 4 road bikes: 1951 ‘Miano’ (Fausto Coppi designed), 2009 Rebellato (aluminum frame cf rear/fork), 2011 Felt B2, 2013 Kuota K-Factor. 1 mtb Trek 4600 hard tail (shimano 26” tires). Donated a Cannondale Bad boy to my friend to get to work, and Trek 4300 for his son to ride with him~ Love the channel btw!! Great work!!!