3 lessons I learned cycling again in my 50’s.
It is hard to get back into cycling after taking time off, especially if you’re over 50
I was an avid cyclist in my 20s and 30s, coaching my kids’ cycling race team and even racing myself a bit. But once my kids moved out, I lost interest and took a 15+ year hiatus. Recently, I caught the cycling bug again and got a gravel bike so that I could enjoy road riding again and begin exploring off-road as well.
After 4–6 weeks of training on the road, I decided it was finally time to get out of my comfort zone and explore the off-road. The people at my local bike shop recommended the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, a mostly flat ride along the shoreline of a gator-filled lake with no civilization for miles around. What could go wrong, right?
The ride started off well, a gravel downhill gravel path with multiple switchbacks until it reached the bottom of a tree-lined rocky service road. At one point I found a 6 to 8-foot gator sunbathing on the side of the road with only 4–5 feet of space to get around him. This is exactly why I wanted a gravel bike.
The fresh air and wildlife were great but I made a few important discoveries, I overestimated my fitness level for gravel riding and had forgotten how bad it feels when your body runs out of energy. Here are 3 things I learned after getting back on the bike.
1. Gravel is a lot harder than road riding!
Don’t underestimate the impact gravel riding has on your upper body. I planned for a solo 20-mile ride that was longer than my recent training rides but nothing I haven’t done when I was younger.
Everything during the ride was doing well until I reached 8 miles to go, I was literally in the middle of nowhere with no signs of civilization, and my arms, shoulders, and neck muscles were exhausted. The rough bumpy road pounded my upper body so bad that I couldn’t tolerate any position on the bike for more than 15–30 seconds before having to sit up to rest.
I eventually found a place to get off the bike and rested for 20–30 minutes and while I was still tired I decided to ride on. It was just going to be a suffer-fest for the rest of the ride and that was the price I’d have to pay for my over-exuberance.
2. Your body isn’t the same after 50!
I remember when I was younger I could easily do a 4-hour ride with only a single rest stop, usually to replenish my water and eat a little. I was in much better shape back then but this ride was different, I was riding a casual solo ride averaging 10–15 mph, unlike the 20–24 mph group rides I did 15 years earlier.
I brought granola bars to eat during the ride but my digestive system wasn’t impressed. Since my muscles were consuming so much oxygen during the ride my body slowed the flow of blood to my digestive system and when I ate the granola bars they just sat there. After a long rest, my digestive system started up again but it was unable to break down the granola which resulted in stomach cramps. Not good in the middle of nowhere but I just had to suck it up and ride on.
Your body changes with age, I used to be able to eat anything during a ride, except racing, and I was fine. Next time I’ll be bringing digestible energy gels.
3. Exhaustion tricks the mind — don’t let it stop you from continuing on your ride!
With 3 miles left to go, I reached a fork in the road with a sign that said 3 miles to the trailhead I started from or .1 miles to an alternate trailhead. It was at this point that I began questioning myself, I was physically exhausted, still feeling vertigo, muscles screaming in pain, and had stomach cramps. I had a choice, ride to the closer trailhead and call someone to rescue me, or push ahead 3 more miles back to my car.
It was at this point that I began thinking my health was at risk, what if I passed out, what if I had a heart attack, how long would it be before someone finds me? It seemed like an obvious choice, ride to the closest trailhead and call for a rescue, right?
But no, that would be admitting defeat. I knew I’d feel terrible later on for taking the easy way out. So I decided to ride 3 more miles, I had to stop multiple times in those last 3 miles but I made it and felt a sense of accomplishment.
Conclusion
Looking back on this ride I’m proud of myself. I ended up riding 25 miles, 5 miles longer than planned, and I didn’t panic when my body and mind were suffering telling me to quit. I learned some valuable lessons about returning to cycling in my 50s.
- Don’t underestimate the impact gravel riding has on your upper body.
- Bonking occurs quickly when you’re older and out of shape.
- Your mind can work against you when you’re suffering, don’t get caught in the self-doubt trap, and being over 50 just gives you more doubts.
