We all know that cycling is a ticket to better health, no matter your age. Whether you're a young racer chasing glory or a seasoned rider whose racing days are behind you, the bike is a boon mentally and physically. But for those of us still pushing the limits whether in races or just long rides with our mates - there's no escaping the truth: age eventually catches up with us. What are the changes taking place inside our bodies as the years roll by, and how do they affect our cycling performance? Let's explore what ageing really means for a cyclist and how to keep striving to stay at our best no matter how many candles on the birthday cake.
The phrase 'age is just a number' is bandied around a lot, but as I approach my 40th birthday - a prospect that concerns rather than excites me - I want to understand the physiological effects of ageing. How long can I continue chasing Strava segments, climbing mountain passes, and putting in high-intensity training sessions? When and why does cycling performance begin to deteriorate, and what can be done to slow the inevitable drop-off? My quest to discover the truth calls on the expertise of exercise physiologists and an elite rider still competing in his late-40s.
The max factor
As a barometer of endurance fitness and performance, VO2 max is widely regarded as the gold standard. Defined as the maximum rate of oxygen uptake of the cardiovascular system - the heart and lungs fuelling the muscles-during exercise, VO2 max is somewhat genetically determined, can be improved by 10-20% through training, and declines with age. For well trained cyclists, this decline tends to be slow (and non-linear) - less than 5ml/kg/ min per decade from the age of 30, but from about 35 the decline is inexorable.
Denne historien er fra September 12, 2024-utgaven av Cycling Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra September 12, 2024-utgaven av Cycling Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain
