Age limit for cycling?

Written by Administrator.

A couple of times recently on the hills near us I've passed a 'couple' out cycling and chatting. Not unusual, except one of the couple is a very small child, perhaps three or four years old and accompanied by dad. Both times I've seen them they've been near the top of a long hill, maybe 2-3km long at 3-4%.

OK so it's not the Alps but it's long enough and steep enough that I know plenty of people who would be puffing and panting, or cycling at less than walking speed! The little girl, on the other hand, looks completely happy, legs spinning around, and no sign of being hassled by the whole thing. Amazing to see!

So after passing them during my ride this morning I was wondering at what age a child could reasonably start 'proper' cycling (and why my own children don't show such enthusiasm...)

By sheer coincidence while I was out somone had posted a comment on this site , talking about their training to enter the Lake Taupo Cycling Challenge, 160 km and apparently very hilly. They are entering, they said, 'so that I will get fit again', after a while spent off the bike due to health problems.

All perfectly normal of course - except the writer is 81 years old! You can see his blog at My Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. (I would guess there aren't so many 81 year old bloggers either...). Very best of luck!

But this also got me wondering - is there an age at which we should expect to hang up our bikes and stick to watching television and doing crosswords, or can we expect to just keep going and going? Does anyone know any enthusiastic cyclists less than three years old or more than 81 years old?

And if the little girl I pass keeps cycling until she is 81, what kind of bike might she be riding in the year 2088? Would we even recognise it as a bike?

Comments  

 
0 #1 Win Needham 2010-07-18 23:40
I know the mentioned bloke of 81 who is training for his 2nd Taupo challenge - he is an incredible blogger, jogger, cyclist, builder, farmer, nursery man - you name it. Check out his web link, it's worth a read! Win
8-)
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0 #2 Pierre de France 2012-02-19 09:54
No age to cycling.....come over here to france and see some of the amateur competitions....ther e are cyclists in their 80's and this is not uncommon. And these old guys are still competitive and will put many a young man or woman to shame!! There is one old man in my town he is 82, and still cycles, still rides a Peugeot PX10 that he bought new in 1975...and rides hard and will embarras many on the hill climbs here...still.
Cycling is good for you, good for your heart and with a good meal and some red wine after a good ride you will live forever!! (This is French secret to long life ;-)
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0 #3 Provene 2012-03-25 19:36
My LBS says that their favourite customer is a gentleman of 90 years who cycles an electric bicycle (to help him cope with our hills I suspect) and regularly cycles over 10 miles (each way) to see them. Age is no barrier! One of the things I like about cycling is that anyone can do it at any level, you don't have to be Chris Hoy or Victoria Pendleton to enjoy cycling. Also scientists have been doing research which is giving evidence that exercising considerably reduces the risk of age related illnesses including dementia, no surprise your 81 year old likes to blog!
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