Bike racing age?

Question

Im 18 now and have been racing mountain bikes for three years, but I still really suck. I ride about twice a week, but my times never change, and I keep thinking Ill get better with age, but like I said its allready been three years. At what age do you think as far as cycling goes you reach your physical peek and perform your best?

Answer 1

If you want to race you seriously need to ride a LOT more than twice a week. Try every day for one hour minimum, and rides on the weekends of 2 to 5 hours. You'll need to consider interval training
- find a hill that takes you about 5 minutes to climb. ride up it at an 85-90% of your max HR. do it 3 times, allowing your HR to go down to 45-50% between efforts. Do this twice a week.

You'll also need to join a racing club. Find a road racing club in your area and go on their training rides. All successful MTB racers put lots of road miles in, it's the only way to build your endurance with beating your body from off road riding.

18 is not a bad age to start. Professionals reach their peak from 27 to 35 years old.

The big thing is that you have to WANT it. If your heart isn't in it, you will continue to suck.

Answer 2

These guys said it all. You will peak, when your training peaks. You need to plan for and train for your races. Riding twice a week is barely a maintenance schedule for any racer. Hell I know cat 1-2 road racers that race twice a week and then train AM and PM 4 more days a week. You need to slowly build your saddle time to at least 6-10 hrs a week if you want to see any improvement. good luck and be patient. your not even close to peak age. Look at the best racers in your area, I'll bet there between 28-36. Endurance sports are not like other sports. This takes years(seems like some of the best athletes in my area have been at it for about 6-10 yrs) of practice and consistent training to peak, regardless of age when you start

Answer 3

Twice a week isn't going to help much. I just started racing road this year at 22 and have greatly improved in just 3 months. I would suggest finding a club to ride with and get on the road to increase your endurance. Rides no shorter than one hour long. Have one recovery,easy pace, ride on Monday's and a pre-race warm up ride the day before. If it is too cold in the winter go to a gym or get a trainer. I would say that if you are in good physical condition you will have a long time before you loose your peak performance. Just remember, There is no off season. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Hmmm........ You might not like my answer. I been riding bikes all my life. From the time I learn to walk to my present age of 65. In my teens I had a paper route that was 45 miles long that I rode six days a week. As I got older like in my thirties I started to doing long distance cycling. Even then after riding about 60 miles I was worn out. At the age of 60 I started to doing long distance bike tours in many different states. From 60 to 64 years old I average riding 200 miles a week for every week of those four years. Some weeks I did as much as 800 miles. I can say without a doubt I
I hit my prime in the the sixties. But then again that is when I reallly started cycling for real. A server leg injury has side line me for the time being.

Now I know I could have done that when I was younger but riding a bike as much as I needed then was not my interest. Age doesn't have as much to do being a good cyclist nearly as much as practices does. Two times a week is not much cycling.

Endurance riding a bike comes with practice, practice and more practice until you drop and then you practice some more. Your speed will get better as your legs will gets stronger but you need to develop could cycling form. Don't get me wrong too much cycling can be as bad as not enough.

You may need to change your cycling methods. A high cadence of pedaling may very well help you to be faster like Lance Armstrong has. I started to using his methods and it help me a lot to go faster for longer distances.

I have three bikes, One a racing bike, a touring bike and a full suspension mountain bike. I ride them all but not at one time.

I hope this helps. Maybe riding with a bike club will help you develop your cycling skills quicker. As for a out and out bike racing is concern I don't think there is magic age you need to be to be a fast racer. Being only 18 you are in your prime now and you have a long time to go before you are out of your prime. So it just a matter of developing your cycling skills.

Answer 5

Age is not a problem here. Some of the fastest categories on the road are masters categories. If you are are an elite athlete, yes there are peak ages, but few of us fall into that category.

I think the answer for you is simple - more riding. Is it your fitness or skills that are keeping you back. A lot of mountain riders find is difficult to work on fitness offroad. They often take to road riding to work on their cardio vascular ability and general leg strength. If I were you, I might do the same.

Answer 6

try your best now. your gonna get worse when you get older. most pro racers are considered old when they hit 30. i would say the best age is between 20 and 25. that doesnt mean you can slack off now and think you'll get better with age. you need to train more than twice a week. start kicking out 10 miles a day for 5 days a week and start a healthy diet. during races, drink lots of water and gatorade (to prevent cramps). im 17 and race beginner XC, ive only one of the two races this season so far, but i took 1st place that race. dont tell me its luck, ive been training hard for this.
if you wait too long, you wont be able to perform to your potential.

Answer 7

your peaks (read double peak for most) will be in the 24-29.

might want to change your training routine. Get some coaching advice and train correctly. Riding twice a week can be fruitful if it is done correctly.

good luck!

Answer 8

its you not ur age! ride more every day. ride time, not distance. i bmx freestyle and i ride every day. wheni started with my new bike it was heavy. it gets lighter every time i ride. i get faster every time. but u cant ride tell u get tired. u have to ride tell u fall over and cant go no more.

Answer 9

At about 21 man. Dont worry u still got time. You will do better.

Answer 10

it's doesn't really matter what age you should be just try and do your best and everything will turn out fine/perfectly. hope that ihlepd got to go baby love ya i'm out smootches. da diva