Recent research suggests that the answer could be “Yes”. At worst, maaaaay-be.
So, let’s see what we have here.
Well, for starters, the pessimistic stuff: All kinds of scientific studies have long established that for endurance sports, of which cycling is one, once middle age is reached, the Great Decline begins.
Need proof? Here you go.
A shiny new University of Texas study (2007) concluded that “Peak endurance performance is maintained until approximately 35 years of age, followed by modest decreases until 50 to 60 years of age, with progressively steeper declines thereafter.” Back-up factoid: No one——not Eddy, not Lance, not The Badger or Big Mig, no one——over the age of 35 has won the Tour de France.
Oh sure, there are exceptions such as Lance lieutenant Viatcheslav Ekimov who punched it at the head of the Postal/Discovery paceline at 40 (both years of age and mph), and CSC’s Jens Voight at 37 still able to kick ass on the young ‘uns. But these are exceptions. Genetic freaks.
How come? Well, mainly declines in VO2 Max and increases in body fat. Kinda makes all you mid-30s Velo-ites want to permanently unskewer your carbon aero wheels, doesn’t it?
BUT WAIT!!!!
We got us some new research here that challenges the veracity of the oft-cited “Apres 35, les deluge” maxim. New research that, dare we say, even offers hope for the aging cyclist? Well, yes, if we define “aging” as, say, 45.
An new Italian study concluded that what really caused on-the-bike performance declines up to age 45 were NOT the long-stressed physiological deterioration, but rather because the older athletes TRAINED LESS THAN YOUNGER ONES. So, not lung leakage, but laziness is the cause of 4th decade performance fall-off. Maintain your training levels, maintain your fitness well past where conventional wisdom says you can.
Fine, you say, but I’m in my 50s now (there ARE a few of you out there on Saturdays, right? I mean, besides me?). What about me? you bleat. Am I destined for the cycling slag heap?
Maybe not.
A recently-published study out of Wisconsin found that a test group of 10 athletes with an average starting age of 52 were able to maintain their VO2 max just fine, thank you, with steady, regular bits of high-intensity training, head-butting the accepted belief that all should have lost 10% . . . or more.
Now.
This does NOT mean that, to stay young in the saddle, you go out and hammer every ride, knuckleheads. It DOES mean that using high-intensity training JUDICIOUSLY, as in a few chunks of rides a couple of times a week, will keep the pistons pumping like in the old days.
So, ride hard, yes. Just not all the time. Or even close to it. Pick your moments. When you’re feeling strong, when IT’S THERE, run it up to the red line and hold it a while. But not so long that you blow an O-ring. But never, ever, NEVER, EVER do this on tired legs. Never. Ever.
Ride hard, even really hard, now and then and carry superior fitness levels well into middle age, and beyond.
Or ride hard all the time and turn yourself into a bowler.