I joined a cycling club 2 months ago and have been riding for 5 months in total. I've kept in pretty good shape my adult life from running and am only 28 years old. The group I joined is the B- group or 15-16mph average pace. I picked this group in the beginning to work on my skill rather than speed and get use to riding with others. Recently, I've noticed that I'm starting to become faster than most of the others in the group. I tend to have to use the brakes even when going uphill if behind someone and try not to stay in front as the group leader directs everyone. I'll probably join the faster group soon, that is when I can keep up to one of the older group leaders.
Since I joined the group, he had decent speed, but it wasn't difficult to keep up with him. He told me he use to be the club president and one of its fastest riders, but he's in his 50-60's now and 250 pounds. The last 2 weeks, he's been riding much faster and when I took notice, he laughed and told me he's been taking it easy. He pulled ahead of the group yesterday and I thought I'd catch up to him, I though wrong..I rode 3-4 miles trying to catch him and every time i'd get near,he'd speed up. He could easily see me with his sunglass mirror. This was toward the middle of a 33 mile course and I burnt out my already sore legs(ran 5 miles the day before). He kind of took it easy for the rest of the day, but a different 60 something guy from a higher group was with us that day. He pulled ahead at the end and I tried to catch him....Same thing, burnt out my legs and couldn't catch him. It was actually a lot of fun chasing, but i'm unbelievably sore today.
I'd have to say that I'm really impressed with older people who can not only keep up, but beat young guys at cycling. I'm 6'4" and 165 pounds and in good shape, but got destroyed by 2 grandpa's. Have you had the experience of being outdone by people significantly older than you or are you the older person outdoing young people?
Since I joined the group, he had decent speed, but it wasn't difficult to keep up with him. He told me he use to be the club president and one of its fastest riders, but he's in his 50-60's now and 250 pounds. The last 2 weeks, he's been riding much faster and when I took notice, he laughed and told me he's been taking it easy. He pulled ahead of the group yesterday and I thought I'd catch up to him, I though wrong..I rode 3-4 miles trying to catch him and every time i'd get near,he'd speed up. He could easily see me with his sunglass mirror. This was toward the middle of a 33 mile course and I burnt out my already sore legs(ran 5 miles the day before). He kind of took it easy for the rest of the day, but a different 60 something guy from a higher group was with us that day. He pulled ahead at the end and I tried to catch him....Same thing, burnt out my legs and couldn't catch him. It was actually a lot of fun chasing, but i'm unbelievably sore today.
I'd have to say that I'm really impressed with older people who can not only keep up, but beat young guys at cycling. I'm 6'4" and 165 pounds and in good shape, but got destroyed by 2 grandpa's. Have you had the experience of being outdone by people significantly older than you or are you the older person outdoing young people?