[Anna Marie Hughes]

Did you discover, or rediscover, cycling in your 40s or later?

If this is you, we’d like to hear what you wish you’d known when you started out…

Please share your advice in the comments below

Topic

[brooksby]

What I wish I’d known when I

What I wish I’d known when I started?  That cycling on the road is really not that scary!

 

 

When I finally decided to try cycle commuting, after years of driving and/or bus-riding, I borrowed an old MTB off my boss and just did the journey a couple of times.  Bear in mind I hadn’t ridden a bike since my late teens.

Then one evening I walked into the LBS that I walked past every evening on my way to the bus station, walked up to the counter and said, “I’d like to buy a bike, please!”.

That was the summer of 2011, and I was 40.  The bike, a Mongoose hybrid, was the first bike I’d owned since I was about ten years old; it is still going (OK, it has got a bit of the Ship of Theseus going on…) and is my ‘daily rider’ (you know, the bike that you know so well how it will behave that you don’t have to even think about it).

Never looked back 😉

(oh, and: still don’t own a road bike…).

[Anonymous]

I started when I was around

I started when I was around 38 by randomly buying a Boardman CX (not sure why – thought it was a “hybrid” bike at the time!) and am now in my 40s on a proper road bike, which I actually bought for a 40th birthday present to myself.

I think starting on a basic bike with rubbishy components isn’t a bad idea, because it gives you a decent understanding of your position, if your bike is the right size for you, and something cheap to practice your home mechanic skills on so you can upgrade without feeling guilty about having dropped loads of cash.

I’d say the most important thing I’ve learned is taking proper nutrition on a ride (don’t just take water!) and be patient in terms of trying to get faster – don’t overdo it or you’ll likely get injured and make sure you do stretches. Just have some fun and try out loads of different routes. Don’t be scared to wear anything that makes you feel comfortable… I tend to sweat a lot on my rides from my head mostly, so I wear a headband that makes me look like a 70s tennis player!

I thought a cycling computer was a waste of time but now I have a cheapish Garmin 130 and it’s actually pretty good (although I do tend to obsess about multiples of 3 minutes per mile).

Oh and also as you lose weight you gradually get colder on your rides! 

[hawkinspeter]

I’d been riding my MTB for

I’d been riding my MTB for ages, but it wasn’t until my mid 40s that I got myself a nice road bike (Cannondale Synapse) and started to get into road cycling and going for longer rides rather than just getting around town. 

I wish I’d discovered bib shorts/tights earlier as they’re so much more comfortable than non bib ones and you don’t get a cold gap if your top rides up a bit.

[Sam3]

Wish I had known earlier

Wish I had known earlier about value of investing in good quality equipment. Makes the hobby more fun, less hassle, and eases your path to getting fitter.

But that requires investing time to get educated on the equipment and what’s worth it vs what’s overkill or a ripoff.

Also getting proper training in bike maintenance and adjustment is of huge value. Wish I knew that earlier. 

[Author]

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