beginning racing at 43

equivariant

I started racing this year aged 43. Never raced before but I am really enjoying it, even though I have been dropped in all 3 races so far - at least I hang on long enough to experience some of the intensity of racing. Interestingly, I find that I get dropped quite suddenly - I am feeling OK and then within a minute I go from reasonably comfortable to out the back. Before I started racing I imagined that I would have 5 or 10 minutes of desperate struggle before being slowly dropped but that doesn't seem to be the case - I guess the surges are what get me.

Just wondering if there are others who have started at a similarly late age, and if so any advice on getting competitive at club/a4 level? I am particularly interested in late starters, as I guess that very often we have particular constraints that often don't apply to other types of new racers (I know I am generalising here) e.g. limited time compared to younger beginners and less experience/racecraft compared to those that are returning to racing in their 40s

For example, is there any particular traning technique that I can use to adapt to race pace, given that I generally have 45 minute sessions to train in on my commute - and maybe a 2-3 hour spin once every fortnight?

Derrydingle

I'm in the same boat started cycling this year age 48 done two races I do ok at the pace but find the kick off at corners from the others riders finds me out and do have to work hard to get back to them and then after a few laps get dropped because of it

equivariant

Derrydingle wrote: »

I'm in the same boat started cycling this year age 48 done two races I do ok at the pace but find the kick off at corners from the others riders finds me out and do have to work hard to get back to them and then after a few laps get dropped because of it

Yes. I guess these are things that are second nature to the more experienced racers. I was totally unprepared for that in my first race. Also I think that I waste too much energy on braking rather than being able to move naturally around the group without having to brake and accelerate constantly.

Beasty

Started racing at 49. First few club races was dropped unceremoniously. Did a few TTs and also some track which was more to my liking as the track stuff was either timed/solo or in small groups.

First year was all about getting used to it, and it was only in the second year I started to feel a bit more confident. Starting so late probably makes us a bit more cautious. Some of the kids I now see on the track are very confident and will try things I would never dare risk

I've also done a few open races but now avoid them as I think a lot of A4 racing is a bit too dicey for my liking. The IVCA racing though is very carefully monitored and I feel confident enough in those races (even after a serious crash in a Masters race last year). I would say though that TTs (not that I have done one since my accident) and track remain the disciplines I am both confident and indeed reasonably capable (given my age!) in

Getting droped is something most racers experience particularly early in their "careers". I tend to hang towards the back where I feel the racing can often feel a bit safer, but it means you put a lot more effort in to get back on after corners, which leaves you susceptible to being dropped as others in front of you often end up leaving gaps compounding the issue for anyone caught at the back

It can take a very big effort to get back on and then some time to recover if you do manage it. Hence an effort shortly thereafter can quickly see you dropped again. That's part of the reason a lot of racers like to be nearer the front (although that tends to cause a lot of crowding towards the front of races)

km991148

Just curious op... what level of fitness were you/ what type of cycling were you doing before? I am not quite the same age, but not exactly young and always fancied trying to race. Sorry I can't comment on your actual question and taking this slightly off topic..

Beasty

Only took up cycling at anything approaching a "serious" level when I came to Ireland a couple of years earlier and started a 45km round trip commute to lose some weight. Did around 10,000 km the year before including a couple of sportives. I actually fell on ice breaking my wrist 2 months before I started racing and never had any ambitions to start but I joined the club and IVCA and was persuaded to give it a go. Fitness wise I was OK and after a couple of months could hold my own in my handicap group but I was much fitter a couple of years down the line.

daragh_

OP

I'm 45 and started racing at 43. I do the occasional A4 race plus the Inter-Club League. I've not a single point to my name in A4 and have had almost zero success in the League. But I can hold my own, put in the occasional attack and help out my younger, fitter club mates.

The first year or so I got dropped on a regular basis. It's character forming. I still get shelled but it takes a lot more to get rid of me :-)

If I never win a race I'll be disappointed but I'll never have any regrets - racing is such good craic.

Inquitus

I have seen the evergreen Sean Lally at the age of 72, at least, in the A3 bunch on a few occasions this year and each time he comfortably finished in the bunch ahead of many men half his age or less. Success at 43 in A4 is something you are certainly well capable of if you train hard and keep working at it.

omri

Just out of interest guys what speeds are you doing during the races and what's the distance ?

Inquitus

omri wrote: »

Just out of interest guys what speeds are you doing during the races and what's the distance ?

A4 is usually 50-80km, averaging 36-40kph depending on the course, A3 is usually 2-3kph faster give or take. Riding in a bunch of 50-120 riders makes a massive difference versus club spin, club league or solo.

If you can average 30kph for an hour or two on your own you are in the ballpark for hanging on in A4 on the flat, if you are a decent climber then you'd likely be fine on the hillier circuits too.

omri

Inquitus wrote: »

A4 is usually 50-80km, averaging 36-40kph depending on the course, A3 is usually 2-3kph faster give or take. Riding in a bunch of 50-120 riders makes a massive difference versus club spin, club league or solo.

If you can average 30kph for an hour or two on your own you are in the ballpark for hanging on in A4 on the flat, if you are a decent climber then you'd likely be fine on the hillier circuits too.

Is there an age group for A4 ?

killalanerr

daragh_ wrote: »

OP

I'm 45 and started racing at 43. I do the occasional A4 race plus the Inter-Club League. I've not a single point to my name in A4 and have had almost zero success in the League. But I can hold my own, put in the occasional attack and help out my younger, fitter club mates.

The first year or so I got dropped on a regular basis. It's character forming. I still get shelled but it takes a lot more to get rid of me :-)

If I never win a race I'll be disappointed but I'll never have any regrets - racing is such good craic.

^^^^^^
What he said
op when i came back I got dropped a lot , It depends on what level your at but don't worry at your age your age plenty of time to improve,do a bit of googleing on improving your recovery some short sharp intervals will help,stay out of the wind and remember it never gets easier you just go faster
When I started back around the same as Beasty we struggled in the limit group of our league last week I started with the scratch group and I am a fair bit older that you
So it depends on how far you want to take it , but with the right balance of training diet and rest you can see huge improvements , But remember stay out of the wind !!

Inquitus

omri wrote: »

Is there an age group for A4 ?

No A4 is for any age, there is a Vets league run by the IVCA for racers over 40 that has various classes based on ability and some sort of age handicapping too, but I am not that familiar with it. CI does have National champs and Vets Champs once a year again with a cutoff of 40.

killalanerr

Inquitus wrote: »

CI does have National champs and Vets Champs once a year again with a cutoff of 40.

fyi for the first time this year they had separate races for 40 ,50 and 60 year olds at the all ireland champs but out side that (cycling Ireland) CI are ability based with newbes starting at A4 regardless of age

equivariant

km991148 wrote: »

Just curious op... what level of fitness were you/ what type of cycling were you doing before? I am not quite the same age, but not exactly young and always fancied trying to race. Sorry I can't comment on your actual question and taking this slightly off topic..

Hard to give a precise answer as I don't have power data, etc. However when I started I was doing my 15km flat commute in about 30-32 minutes including some traffic lights at the end. I had also done some club spins and got dropped in the last 20km when the 'racing' starts. I felt pretty comfortable doing 30kph in the group spin but I realise now that they only way to get fit for racing is to experience that pace. There is no amount of Sunday spins that would have made me comfortable with race pace (even a4 pace).

equivariant

Beasty wrote: »

Started racing at 49. First few club races was dropped unceremoniously. Did a few TTs and also some track which was more to my liking as the track stuff was either timed/solo or in small groups.

TTs scare me a bit as it seems like pure suffering!

First year was all about getting used to it, and it was only in the second year I started to feel a bit more confident. Starting so late probably makes us a bit more cautious. Some of the kids I now see on the track are very confident and will try things I would never dare risk

Definitely agree with this. I know from doing other sports that I am a lot more risk averse than I was 10 years ago. The last race I entered took place during a torrential downpour which I found quite scary. Doing 40 kph with 12in between my front wheel and the guy in front and with essentially no brakes was a new experience.

equivariant

daragh_ wrote: »

OP

I'm 45 and started racing at 43. I do the occasional A4 race plus the Inter-Club League. I've not a single point to my name in A4 and have had almost zero success in the League. But I can hold my own, put in the occasional attack and help out my younger, fitter club mates.

The first year or so I got dropped on a regular basis. It's character forming. I still get shelled but it takes a lot more to get rid of me :-)

If I never win a race I'll be disappointed but I'll never have any regrets - racing is such good craic.

You're my new hero:)

Tbh I don't mind getting dropped as long as I can work out why. It's all about learning for me right now.

in my very limited experience the club league is much tougher than the single A4 only race I tried. Our league has no handicap for A4 so I am desperately trying to cling on to a bunch of A2/3 riders.

Wishbone Ash

Inquitus wrote: »

I have seen the evergreen Sean Lally at the age of 72, at least, in the A3 bunch on a few occasions this year....

I went out with his training group in January. (No one else turned up for the club touring group due to the weather so he invited me to join them). He is impressive as are others in his group. I had my legs ripped off! Non-stop hammer action with roll overs every 20 seconds and then reverse roll overs - which was new to me. I was terrified I'd mess up and bring the group down.

dermabrasion

I'm Daragh_'s club mate, and he is far too modest. His 'augmented interrogation techniques' are well known, even among the A2/A3 riders in our club.
I started racing in my early 40's. I nearly got into points this year in Dundalk but cramped up 1k out in a breakaway group of 6. That is as close as I'm going to get. I don't have a sprint, and I go backwards on a climb, so that means no chance in open races. But going off the front, or setting a really hard pace for part of the race and then finishing strong is what brings me back the next week. A good race is when I absolutely give it all over 2hrs and be part of the action, contributing to how the race went down. Racing is exhilarating, just stay safe.

outfox

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

reverse roll overs

What are these? Rider on front pulling out right and sliding down the outside?

Wishbone Ash

outfox wrote: »

What are these? Rider on front pulling out right and sliding down the outside?

Yup. Feels odd when you're not familiar with it.

oflahero

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yup. Feels odd when you're not familiar with it.

Seems to be the modus operandi for all the breakaway groups in the Tour this year.

Beasty

oflahero wrote: »

Seems to be the modus operandi for all the breakaway groups in the Tour this year.

Depends on wind direction. Over time it should even out - you would expect them to generally do half one way and half the other

omri

So A4s are 80km and last around 2hrs ? Phew...that will take me a while to get to that level, I'm half way there at the moment...

Charlie19

omri wrote: »

So A4s are 80km and last around 2hrs ? Phew...that will take me a while to get to that level, I'm half way there at the moment...

I seem to be at the same level as yourself. My longest cycle was 80km and it took me nearly four hours. The route I tend to do fairly regular, Is a 20km and I average it in 55 minutes. I blame the wind and the equipment;)

omri

Charlie19 wrote: »

I seem to be at the same level as yourself. My longest cycle was 80km and it took me nearly four hours. The route I tend to do fairly regular, Is a 20km and I average it in 55 minutes. I blame the wind and the equipment;)

I do 43km spin in 1h40m depending on the traffic situation but I'm pacing myself depending on the wind.

killalanerr

omri wrote: »

I do 43km spin in 1h40m depending on the traffic situation but I'm pacing myself depending on the wind.

Lads don't be getting hung up on your times on solo rides,racing is a completely different fish,working on recovery after short efforts and getting use to riding in a group out of the wind is where I would be thinking .

daragh_

omri wrote: »

So A4s are 80km and last around 2hrs ? Phew...that will take me a while to get to that level, I'm half way there at the moment...

That depends on the race. If it's hilly/lumpy it wouldn't be 40kph average. If it is flat it would be faster.

In my experience a lot of A4 races tend to stick together like glue until the final sprint so it's perfectly possible to sit in for the whole race and not do any effort out the front for the whole race. Not much fun though.

@dermabrasion - cheque is in the post :rolleyes:

harringtonp

killalanerr wrote: »

fyi for the first time this year they had separate races for 40 ,50 and 60 year olds at the all ireland champs but out side that (cycling Ireland) CI are ability based with newbes starting at A4 regardless of age

Don't forget the Stage race in Broadford earlier in the year for M40 who were A4 or A3 license holders. Whether this was once off or will become a fixture remains to be seen of course

brasshead

Started racing at 42, and with encouragement from guys I trained/raced with in the club league I stuck with it. This is now my 3rd season and despite the up-and-downs I love it.

Agree with Killaneer, averages don't matter at all. It's all about short sharp efforts and how quickly you can recover. It can be difficult to replicate this yourself in training, which is why getting out and racing brings you on so much.

Best of luck with it!

Bahra12

The OP's experience when starting racing is a mirror image of mine. Getting dropped happened very quickly and was almost a surprise when it happened. Its my 3rd season racing and I don't get dropped any more. I can promise you age is not an issue. I see older lads in my club and at the races who are in there 50's, came to the sport late and they are very strong. The only limiter is your desire to improve

In order to get over the getting dropped issue maybe look at the following (this is what helped me anyway)
- Can you lose a few pounds. Try to achieve a healthy weight but don't go nuts. (i lost 40 pounds between now and when I started, obviously this helped me a lot)
- Can you train a bit more specifically. If getting dropped try to improve your sprint. 20 sec. all out efforts in a big gear on the drops.
- Race as much as you can. Things become second nature to you when you race lots i.e. not letting gaps form, staying away from riders who are likely to block you (sometimes its other riders dropping a wheel or slowing down that causes you to get dropped)
- Can you improve your bike handling - cornering, descending, group riding up an over. This should give you confidence to get up the front were you can have an impact on the race.

If you stick with it you will finish races and finish them well

mathie

Similar poistion to the OP.
Started racing at 39 after starting cycling 9 months earlier.
As others have said, go for it.

Some drills I've found handy as a non-cyclist to help strengthen the legs and get the legs used to spinning ....

Do an uphill stretch for roughly 5 minutes in the big ring (seated). Cadence around 50.
Do a flat section for roughly 5 minutes and spin (seated) around 110 cadence.

equivariant

Bahra12 wrote: »

The OP's experience when starting racing is a mirror image of mine. Getting dropped happened very quickly and was almost a surprise when it happened. Its my 3rd season racing and I don't get dropped any more. I can promise you age is not an issue. I see older lads in my club and at the races who are in there 50's, came to the sport late and they are very strong. The only limiter is your desire to improve

In order to get over the getting dropped issue maybe look at the following (this is what helped me anyway)
- Can you lose a few pounds. Try to achieve a healthy weight but don't go nuts. (i lost 40 pounds between now and when I started, obviously this helped me a lot)
- Can you train a bit more specifically. If getting dropped try to improve your sprint. 20 sec. all out efforts in a big gear on the drops.
- Race as much as you can. Things become second nature to you when you race lots i.e. not letting gaps form, staying away from riders who are likely to block you (sometimes its other riders dropping a wheel or slowing down that causes you to get dropped)
- Can you improve your bike handling - cornering, descending, group riding up an over. This should give you confidence to get up the front were you can have an impact on the race.

If you stick with it you will finish races and finish them well

Thanks for this - practical advice is exactly what I am looking for. I could definitely lose a few pounds - I'm 6'1" and 90kg. My goal is to drop 6 or 7kg by the end of the year while maintaining/improving my power. I seem to have reasonable power on flat rides, but power to weight kills me on hills (at least in the context of a fast group). As regards bike handling I think that cornering is a weakness - I probably scrub too much speed going into corners. In my last race, I got dropped just after a corner followed by a short hill. I had to sprint hard to close the gap and I just ran out of gas a few seconds after that.

Lusk_Doyle

equivariant wrote: »

You're my new hero:)

Tbh I don't mind getting dropped as long as I can work out why. It's all about learning for me right now.

in my very limited experience the club league is much tougher than the single A4 only race I tried. Our league has no handicap for A4 so I am desperately trying to cling on to a bunch of A2/3 riders.

They send all riders off together in your club league? Where is that?

Bahra12

As regards bike handling I think that cornering is a weakness - I probably scrub too much speed going into corners. In my last race, I got dropped just after a corner followed by a short hill. I had to sprint hard to close the gap and I just ran out of gas a few seconds after that.[/quote]


I hear you on this one as well. This can also be improved. I was also sh1te at cornering. Still requires a bit of work.

Ask yourself this - are you tense going into the corner? Do you move your body back without even realising? It's the tensing up that screws up your technique. The more relaxed you are the better you can apply the technique. Again, practice, practice, practice.

This is what helped me:
Find a long decent with chicanes and practice descending and pushing the bike through the bends. The better you get at it the less brake you will apply. Get you road position right before the bend. This will get you used to changing direction at speed. Take your time - don't push beyond what you are comfortable with. It's all about confidence.

Consider trying 25cc tyres. I find them good. There is a bit more grip. I notice it big time in a criterium like mondello.

When you feel all this is coming together and your relaxed and taking bends, corners reasonably well, give Mondello a go if your in Dublin. This will fine tune it. You will probably get dropped but even hanging in there for a few laps will help improve your technique.

I never leaned the bike over more than in mondello. It's an eye opener. You will find as well that following people's lines through the turns is much easier.

equivariant

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

They send all riders off together in your club league? Where is that?

Galway Bay CC

Lusk_Doyle

equivariant wrote: »

Galway Bay CC

Tough place to cycle so! Baptism of fire.

morana

If I can remember back to when I started at 23 it was a case of just getting used to it. Also meeting fellas who knew how to train and when to train helped greatly. A lot of new guys will be very strong but no so good at pedalling. even tho you know the gears I bet you overgear undergear quite a bit I know I did and was still doing it 20years later!!!

Handling as mentioned here need to be sharpened up, again you can try drills but its really gained by experience and you tend to develop a sense for whats going to happen.

The best thing to do is just enjoy it!

foxer3640

I started racing in 2013 at the age of 41. I had bought the bike to get fit and lose weight the previous may and tackled a couple of local league races at the end of the season where I had my ass kicked. This gave me a taste for racing so trained with a bunch of strong lads that winter and managed to get the upgrade to a3 by the end of my first season so you shouldn't be afraid to star racing at 43. Staying out of the wind, staying near the front and keeping your efforts to a minimum during the race will all have a big impact when you get it right. Also you'll have to be prepared to suffer a bit during training then it wont come as big a shock to you on race day. Don't worry about getting dropped it happens to everyone once in a while. Give it a go its brilliant craic.

Esroh

Op.
As said by others .Enjoy this season and learn from it. Because the winter will mean the Legendary Galway bay cc tootles round the Corrib of a Sunday morning. At 44 you will be grand ;-)

harringtonp

Did my first race in 2010 in Whitechurch,Cork at the age of 43 and got dropped at the end of 3 of 5 laps. Having done a few years of Triathlon before, was expecting the race to be continually hard and wasn't expecting the race to feel so easy in parts. During one of these "soft pedalling" periods went to the front for a bit, burnt matches and then soon after on a slight drag into a corner got dropped. Never did that again and have only been dropped in one flat race since.

When people look at average speeds racing in Strava they find it hard to imagine that large parts of a race can be so easy. But when required you obviously need to have it, otherwise its out the back.

Older cyclists naturally gravitate towards distance and more miles and thus work on what they are already usually best at where as races at A3/A4 are usually short (timewise) and its the high end stuff that older guys in particular need to focus on.

The OP's 45 min commute is probably ideal for interval work, particularly if there are some lights etc. After a quick warmup (I can do one in as little as 12 mins) why not do 6x2min intervals with 2min in rest or 10 minutes alternating 30 seconds really hard with 30 seconds easy or a set 10 short full on sprints with 2 minute rest in between.

equivariant

harringtonp wrote: »

The OP's 45 min commute is probably ideal for interval work, particularly if there are some lights etc. After a quick warmup (I can do one in as little as 12 mins) why not do 6x2min intervals with 2min in rest or 10 minutes alternating 30 seconds really hard with 30 seconds easy or a set 10 short full on sprints with 2 minute rest in between.

I have been putting some interval work into my commute. However I have mostly been using 1 min hard followed by 30s recovery. I might try some longer ones.

Warm ups are something I am struggling with a bit. I am beginning to realise that I need a really good warmup before a race or hard session. At least 30 minutes I think. Possibly because I am big, I need longer than a naturally smaller person to get really warmed up?

What do others do for a pre race warmup?

uphillonly

equivariant wrote: »

I have been putting some interval work into my commute. However I have mostly been using 1 min hard followed by 30s recovery. I might try some longer ones.

Warm ups are something I am struggling with a bit. I am beginning to realise that I need a really good warmup before a race or hard session. At least 30 minutes I think. Possibly because I am big, I need longer than a naturally smaller person to get really warmed up?

What do others do for a pre race warmup?

Ride out to the race with some short hard efforts on the ride to get the HR up (30s all out). If I drive out I try to get at least 20 mins riding in with similar hard efforts. Our races are relatively short 1-1 1/2 hrs so need to start ready to go hard.

Day before - Do some short hard efforts to wake up your system if you haven't done anything for a few days.

Make sure you do have a steady warm-up before hard efforts. Have to be more careful in your 40s & make sure your heart is ready for the efforts.

I'm similar to many here. 42 yrs old, started Club league properly this year after years of sportifs, occasional TTs & hill climbs. I haven't had much success, have no sprint but not been dropped & a little more competitive on the hilly stuff.

I love the intensity of it, teamwork trying to keep group away, post-race endorphins, improves your bike handling, more appreciation of pro racing & the skills of sprinters.

Just wish I started it years ago.