60 is the new 40! Healthy eating and taking up cycling changed my life when I started all that 7 years ago, at 59. Now I'm fitter, happier and healthier than I've ever been in my life.
Thanks for your inspiring example, Kevin. I turn 59 next month, and ran fairly regularly from my early 20's until I retired 4 years ago. Been busy with aging and dying relatives or minding our grandson since then, but stay moderately fit walking an Aussie Shepherd/Border Collie around 90 minutes a day. I want to up the intensity of my exercise without the stress on the knees running would bring, so cycling it will be. Plenty of great places to ride north-west of Toronto, too. Got to get moving to stay moving. Thanks again!
As a 77 year old man I have to laugh when Leonard mentions the disadvantage of being over 50. When my wife was 24 she was "set up" on a cycling trip with men in their 70's. She was about to complain having to cycle with these "old men" when they took off and left her far behind. After about ten minutes they were out of sight. To this day she still can't believe it. We still laugh about it. When in my 20's and cycling I would never have been able to keep up to me now at 77! My doctor friend celebrated his 71st, birthday, last month, by doing 107 miles that day. In the same week he completed 617 miles! The only reason I wasn't cycling with him is because I'm just too lazy. Age had nothing to do with it. If I had one tenth of his ambition I would be in the Tour de France. Maybe not. When he comes to ride with me we do more than 1500 miles in 27 days. We could not have cycled that distance in our 20's. Never use age as an excuse for failure! If you want to accomplish anything badly enough you probably will! Good riding. (Mike Scott, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Mike, I'm 75. Have I sometimes seen you on the Watts Creek and Ottawa River Pathways? It's beginning to look like we're gonna have an early Spring, so I'm hoping to be riding outdoors soon, well, in a month or so. I'm going to wait this year until the ice and winter-kill has been removed from the pathway. I went over the handlebars last year when a branch bounced up between the spokes of the front wheel and jammed against the forks. I suggested to the NCC that they plow it after the last major snowstorm of the winter. (Regarding your wife, that sounded kinda mean of the guys to drop her like that.)
@@richardharris8538 When I ride with my wife I brake going down hill and "gear up" when climbing. My wife isn't even aware of this and it gives me a better workout! My wife is not a very serious rider but enjoys cycling with me. She will wait for me at the bottom of steep hills because she would have to walk the bike. This allows me to practice climbing without leaving her for more than a few minutes at a time. (Mike Scott)
Great advice Leonard -When I ride I only take water and a banana. I mix cycling with weight training, swimming and do regular climbs on the bike. I’m 56 and 100k is no big thing. I did a 213k race last year and kept pace with riders 20 years younger than me. Mindset is so important, coupled with a good balanced diet and plenty of sleep.
I couldn't put that any better Sir👍🏻 At 61 I don't push as hard on the road like I did in my 20s - 40s but still achieve good goals and in between the road training Im on my track bike fixed to my rollers where I finish off with weights for upper and lower strength. Even treated myself this year to a 2023 Bianchi Oltre Comp with electronic shift and disc brakes, just so that I can say I've actually ridden the latest machinery. So I ain't giving up on life just yet!
Thank you so much for your videos. I am 63 and was given a hybrid bike by my daughter and son-in-law two weeks ago, and I fell in love with riding. Your videos inspired me and gave me hope. I live in Southern California and can ride year round. My goal is to do a bike tour in some European country in two years.
Now this video hit my "sweet spot". I run (2+miles) 1-2 days a week, do HIIT training from RU-vid videos (30-45mins) 2-3 times a week and ride 3 days a week, with one ride at least 40 or more miles. I have been doing this for about a year now and my riding is much more fun. Because of my fitness level, I can plan long rides without much cycle training. At 60, I'm really having a great time. Ride on and enjoy!
Put the age-thing out of your head. Ride on feel and knowledge. Don´t be a numbers-slave, embrace the joy of riding. It gets you further and faster. You can do much more.
Another excellent video Leonard! At 63, I am returning to cycling. Your channel has had a positive impact on this decision. A severe leg injury in 1973 has made walking very difficult over the last twelve years. A return to riding is the best way for me to exercise and have fun while doing it. Thank you.
63 and I like to ride mountain pass roads. I don't see much slow down because I always used a convenient speed and never tried to chase for the fastest time. My convenient speed in the mountains was 600m of altitude per hour 35 years ago. Today, I have a better bike but it's a little bit less (about 550m/h) and I need a few smaller climbs more until I can go for the big ones like Stelvio or Galibier. I don't know how long I can continue with this but I try to find out. One thing, I learned during all the years is, that it is so much easier to improve how long I can climb with my speed compared to climb with just a little bit more speed. So instead of trying to get from below 50% to above 50% of the speed the racers are riding, I get much more joy by being able to climb 2000m of altitude instead of the 300-500, I can do when I'm not fit. This best thing is, it takes just a week to 10 days of daily rides with increasing length to get there.
My aim is to get faster, fitter and stronger. Cycling has even put me back into returning to my long distance running roots. I'm now training for my first marathon. There's plenty of time to slow down when I'm dead. Onward and upward!
Love your posts - I am 61 in a couple of weeks, live in Dubai and got into cycling just a couple of years ago - I keep on pushing - went a bit over enthusiastic this morning (my weekend is Friday and Saturday) and ended up doing a 84km ride - feeling achy but satisfied - keep on keeping on!
Briefly thought you might be an Irish footballing legend, then realised than 1. Couple of year older & 2. Your legs are likely in better shape. Keep on keeping on.
glad i found your channel. im 53 and only 10 years in the saddle. an avid cyclist and plan to ride as long as my body will allow me. i ride 20-24miles (~34km) daily and avg 19-21mph pace (~32km/h). two weeks ago i hit my personal best speed at 41mph - (flat ride no wind-assist) for a brief few seconds. I cant hang with the pros but im pleased with accomplishments and progress. only wish i were in a more bike friendly place. here in my part of the US its not too bike friendly..... but im not giving up riding. Great content in this video and enjoy all your posts!
Leonard, I'm 68 and just getting back into cycling (and any exercise at all to be honest) after a layoff of several years. I love your videos and am working my way through all of them. Fantastic stuff. Thanks so much, and keep up the great videos!
Wow, as an elderly rider I really love the content as it seems your speaking just to me. Now 58, I too remember the 80’s well, but want to may the 20’s the decade for cycling. I commute by bike and am planning some bike touring this summer.
Another great video Leonard (you should have a spot on GCN)! For the reasonably experienced older cyclist, the research seems to be pointing towards less volume but increased intensity in order to slow down the inevitable aging process. Keep pedaling dear chap!
This was one of your best. Loved it. Many good ideas. Im 75 and look fwd to getting 6k miles this year at least. Thanks for the tips. Im doing several of those ideas snd youve given me a few more.
My observation is retirement = more time to cycle = better fitness than many of us who are still chained to our laptops for a certain number of hours each week. I've been left in the dust by people in their 70s and 80s. My goal at the moment is to stay fit enough to be able to ride as often as I want when I finally do retire!
Brilliant vid! Recently turned 60 and I don't do road cycling - just like to do long(er) rides on my hybrid bike. My rides combined with guidance / workouts from a personal trainer have helped to put me in the best...and healthiest shape of my entire life. Terrific advice & wonderful jazz soundtrack. Thanks for making this one.
If it has not already been mentioned , I think an appointment with a qualified bike fitter to re-visit bike setup is also something to contemplate - as always great vids
Just a thought with regards to strength training for your legs, as an older rider (fast approaching 60) I use a single speed road bike during the winter months to provide more leg excercise during those shorter winter rides
Thanks for this video! I'm just getting back into riding at 50. While I do have health issues that i have to accept and take into consideration, this was a great reminder on recovery & time.
Great vid, thank you Leonard ! I have a mental graph in my mind of age vs longest ride you can do in that year. At some point in your life you know it will intersect, but every year I try and make sure it's not this year. I'm 55 next week and so far, so good. Massively inspired by cyclists in their 70s and 80s still doing it ! Off for a very hilly 65k in the Chilterns tomorrow before a gig in the evening. Stay young folks !
Great video on older cyclist nutrition. Leaned a lot. Thanks for sharing your past for a bit of entertainment value. 😊 Now I know why your videos are high quality, you are a pro! Thanks again.
Hi Leonard, I'm writing from Longueuil (near Montreal) Canada. I just watched your over 50 video. Been watching your channel for a couple of months and subscribed two weeks back. I love your subtle sense of humour! Been cycling for 56 of my almost 63 years; mostly touring since I was 16. Thank you for your advice and videos. Your early years pictures made me smile. As my long time friend Gaston who's 64 and I tour the countryside here in Quebec, we don't see many people over 50, either on a road bike or on a touring bike. It's great to feel we're not the only old guys pedaling along; Thanks! Cheers! Alain
I'm 58 (soon to be 59) and have returned to cycling after 40 years. My main concerns are with how to build up some muscle mass in my thighs as that is where I'm struggling most. I have arthritic knees and an arthritic hip so my exercise choices are limited. My only other problem is getting a comfortable saddle as I'm not packing much bulk in the buttocks. I did manage a 5.5km ride yesterday (despite the hail) and wasn't too physically tired afterwards. My only concern is to get some strength into my thigh muscles. I can manage about 10 squats if I am careful and I have increased my protein intake whilst trying hard to cut down on the carbs. I'm riding purely for pleasure (touring maybe) and not interested in racing or endurance type cycling. My bike isn't suited to a trainer (20" wheels) so I have been considering a folding exercise machine as an alternative.
I'm 63 and regularly ride 30 to 40 mile rides. (48 to 64km) one water bottle with water, one with NUUN tablets "it gets hot in Texas " and a banana work very well 👍
great video, I am 53 and have been a roadie since I was 16.. I'm mostly doing Zwift right now and I find it difficult to keep up with everyone. I see folks averaging 180 watts and I am happy to average 120. Thankfully in the virtual world there is not the social pressure to hang onto a group or chase anyone down. I have also found that pre ride food is critical, if I do not have good protein and hydrate I can not perform nd my post workout is harder than normal. When I was young I could just hop on my bike and ride.. Thanks for the video!
Hi I am 52 and cycle with my son who is 29. This keeps my distances up and speed. Did 11 miles this morning commuting then finished early and have just done 24 miles with my boy. Sounds good. Only problem is he just came in and filled his water bottle and is away to do another 20 miles. Leaving me eating a Mars bar and a coffee in the big chair.
I had my 17 th birthday this year and it took me 68 years to get there, with a bit of luck I will become an adult in 4 years :-) ... back in 1968 I was in a racing team (none pro), in them days there was no such thing as Powermeters and so on, you just rode as fast as you could ... at around middle age (45 - 60) I always had fun chasing motorscooters and sitting in there slipstream ... over the last couple of years I've noticed that chasing the scooters is getting harder except for those that max out at 25 Kmh (here in Germany you have different levels, 25 kmh, 49 kmh and open, for different age groups)
I am 52 and have been cycling regularly since April 1985 and I also go on walks and do Kayaking. I now receive unwanted junk mail every two weeks from a well known Life Assurance company flogging a funeral plan because of my age. I expect a U.K. television advert aimed at people in their fifties will be made insisting they buy a Stair Lift !
I appreciate you and your Videos Leonard, I have been cycling since I was kid and I am now currently older than dirt and I have definitely slowed down but I still get in about over 120km a week commuting. I never knew about fast and slow release carbs. That will certainly be of assistance when I ride. Thank You!
I love these videos! I've been cycling for 20+ years and I have never been the fastest at any of it but I love it and Leonard's videos emphasize the joy of cycling. Just have fun out there on the bike! Fresh air, beautiful scenery - just enjoy it! Thank you Leonard!
Riding 3-4 times a week and intermittent fasting keep my fit and strong. I haven't been sick in 20 years. No diet changes, just eat a donut, not 6, etc...
After changing my diet right before turning 50, I've even more energy than I had in my earlier years. Diet matters so very much to our vitality, and in fact, I became a cyclist because of all the energy it gave me. The whole food plant diet is so excellent because it oxygenates the blood!
Love your vids and info. I am over 60 and race gravel endurance and you have helped me with some basic questions I have on nutrition. Thanks and keep the old ass rider vids coming!
Im well past my three score and ten and my biggest problem is that my mindset is still in my twenties and thirties. If i have time off the bike(resting) which seems to be recommended i hve to catch up again, because i seem to lose condition quickly. My solution which seems to work for me is to do hard(stedy) days then followed by easy days. As for nutrition, plenty of fruit and vegies and some lean red meat i also find coffee is a good recovery drink, which might be pschosomatic, even so it seems to work.
Mr. Leonard - I love your video, I learn a lot from it even despite that I am not probably your target audience yet. It is amazing how flat your roads are. Nowhere I cycle has so flat roads in Colombia.
Good topic! I found it very interesting, thanks for posting. Post ride I normally have a strongish coffee and a slice of toast with crunchy peanut butter but I will have to research availability of this Elivar product here in Oz that you mention. BTW, being a 72yo bike riding old fart I enjoyed your choice of background music. Also, with your working background I shouldn’t be surprised at the professionalism of your RU-vids too. Many thanks.
OR ,wait for it ,,,,, buy an e bike . 😱 i stopped riding at seventy because of back , neck and shoulder injuries , arthritis , long inactive winter season etc. then i took my first ride on an e bike about three hundred meters 😂 and i was hooked . ok i'm not going to get very fit but i am moving my body now as opposed to being a slug n the couch . i'm 76 now and ride a e MTB trail bike with handlebar risers to relive the pressure on my neck and shoulders . it's fantastic . i think i can ride like this for many more years .
Great advice for most cyclists. Have adopted a plant based whole food diet since hitting 40s and it's certainly made a huge change. Although nothing I do will bring back my long hair from the nineties!
I've just gone from easy road biking to very fast road biking to easy mountain biking. I'm expecting to get to 'shredding' my first trails as soon as I perfect my mtb skills. I'm 73. At the rate I'm going I'll be entering the Red Bull Rampage when I'm 80..... (or maybe not)
As usual, a great video. I am working on building up my stamina on the bike, and even though I want to ride every day, I will take a rest day when I feel I need it. I just try and ride when I know I will enjoy it, and not when my body says, "what the heck are you trying to do to me?!' :D
I am 57 and ride my bike farther than when I was 13. The only difference I notice from 13 and 57, besides being much heavier, is that my body does not recover as fast. As a kid, I could bike every day and have no soreness. But now if I bike more than 25 kilometers I have to take a rest day or ease down to around seven kilometers. At around nine kilometers I can ride every day.
Being 57 I find 2 cups of tea pre ride and a post meal of Oatmeal, almonds, Blueberries , and honey (Just a little) and of course another cup of tea, is my "Potion No. 9" lol
@@jollygoodvelo Hi Leonardo.That is correct.The only thing we can do go jogging with in the Town limit away from other people. I saw a video su RU-vid of an English couple that was on the Cruise Ship of Japan Him and his wife talk about there experience while sitting in bed in a Hospital in Japan. Early Symptoms of Coronavirus & Dealing with the Disease Very interesting to watch. Ciao from Italy
@@jollygoodvelo Hi Leonardo.We just received some new data in regards Covid19.From what the Doctors are able to tell.About 80% of the population has very few symptoms.They call them healthy carrier of the Virus.These are the people that are passing the virus to the old people.The people that are passing away are over 80 with diabetes,High blood pressure,Heart problems,obese,etc Try to stay away from people at least 8 feet away.When you need to go in a crowd put on a surgical mask.Ciao from Italy
Great video and really informative, there's much out there for us older riders and I appreciate the advice. Looking forward to some more information about those nutrition products.
Thank you for video, it sort of re-aligned all the 'info' you have to wade through which I suppose isn't aimed at the more mature person. I have been trying to find a medium ( or any to be honest ) turbo section. I simply can't click on a site and see a selection of scheduled workouts without wading through huge amounts of gumf which is of no help, I simply do not have the patients these days. Thank you again.
You are making better video than you are watching, for sure, and good choice of music. Agree with you recommendations on carbs, as older riders don't need the whipsaw that concentrated simple carbs produce. "I'm built for comfort not for speed." Pacing and sustainability rank highly. Did I miss the follow up on the hub? It prompted a study of hub construction and the compromises that get made on features in wheel building that was worth the while.
Good video Leonard. I'm seriously considering adding a Creatine supplement to my daily diet as the benefits for older people are quite well established...see the link. I am going to take up cycling as I have this compelling urge to be fitter than I already am. I recently turned 58, but even more recently I turned 60 (and that was a bastard). For my age, I am quite slim and have a fitness level I am okay with, but it could be better. At one time I weighed just short of 17 stone, but I now weigh 13.5, and feel much better for it. It's the top-end of my ideal weight. What I want to do, is firm up, and add a little muscle mass (hence the creatine supplement), extend my stamina and improve both my cardiovascular system and oxygenation of my blood. I will start off gently and do indoor cycling so I can get used to using it, changing gears, etc. When I know I can do 33 kilometers without any adverse affects, I will then start cycling to work, and start doing weekend rides and evening rides, weather permitting. Hopefully, it will open up a socializing avenue for me (viruses nothwithstanding), and give me, in my 3rd phase of existence, a more enjoyable experience of life? I am not going gently into that good night, mate...I'm going to ride. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21394604
caffeine may be okay for a boost, but avoid carbs when you ride. Most of us have plenty of fat stores to power us on even long rides. Just keep hydrated and watch the weight melt off. Go into ketosis and burn fat stores. I dropped 20 lbs by cutting out carbs and the keto diet is the way to go. Burning fat is magical and natural.
How can you not love this guy... his way of laying things out with his accent and gives us old fat fuckers some hope... li was as like why is he showing this kid. Then I figured it out.
I’m not using the Elivar post recovery protein shakes so can’t comment but I am using their Endure product, used during ride in your drink. Personally, I can’t stomach the gels and I was always eating on the long rides too late leading to peaks and troughs. About the only thing I got right was hydration so effectively getting hydration and food/supplement in the constant small sips as I go is both a system and strategy working great for me right now. No tummy ache, no flat spots (other than motivation) and I’m not eating myself out of house and home post ride. That all said, I wouldn’t bother with any fuel on rides less than two hours. Just water works best for me on shorter pumps.
I will be hitting 70 in June I do regular 35 k loops with a day or two off between rides. Did 88k last year on gravels day that took 5 hours. Hoping to do a full century by my birthday
I’ve been exercising since I was a teenager. Serious cycling for the last 15 years, but never had the time to do a century… each time I was close, something happened either in life or health (I’ve had a birth defect since I was born). But I’m set for one with a friend now in 3 weeks time. I eat bananas and apples on the bike. And a jelly baby every 20 mins seems to top it up. Protein, not sure I agree with slow absorption. You can absorb up to 25g a meal, and ideally I think it’s 1g per pound body weight for a body builder; so I aim for over 100g a day (I’m 168lb). Because of my heart, a recent change is I can’t drink the amount of caffeine I used to. That’s a bit annoying. And you’re right, 50 year old bodies do take longer to repair. I’ve had my last season body building style stuff after 40 years of it. I’ve got too many injuries now that get irritated fast so I spend more time recovering than doing, no matter what option I take. Which is a shame, but have now added yoga for both strength (power athlete yoga stuff) and flexibility. Best thing is I’m 52, but most people think I’m still in my early 40s. In fact it’s mildly embarrassing when people say I’m only young, so what would I know….. lol.
At age 59,, l have just set myself new distance targets for June, with a minimum of 40k per ride, this is a bit of a jump for me as my average is around 20-25k, as we are only 2 days into June l completed my second ride of the month so that makes 80ks in two days. I do not feel a bit old and had to remind myself to keep my HR at a sensible level, not always easy to do. I plan to do an additional 40ks tomorrow then have a break on the weekend, but my point is you are only as old as you feel…..yes l know it’s a very old saying but it’s true. I am stuffed after each ride but it feels good and as such l will keep on going. As they say age is only a number. So get on your bike, be it 1k or 100k but keep on moving .😉😉
The hair! Man, I miss my hair. Great video. I find Vega products help my recovery and, yes, it does take longer to recover now than it did a few years ago.
