Power output potential and age

[HBO]

I've once saw a scan  "dwars deursnit" (have no idea what this is in English) of a 75 y.o. thigh that was actively running compared to that of a 25 y.o. runner, compared to that of a non active 75 y.o. person.

 

there was no difference between the thigh of 75 and 25 y.o. runners i.t.o lean muscle, while degeneration of lean mass was clearly visible in the non active 75 y.o.

 

so if you exercise regularly, there is no reason why you should be weaker, cause you're older.

[Blokman]

 

Post removed. Added nothing .

[rouxtjie]

Fine - then answer my question - why are races structured according to age group? After all, as you've just alluded to, our physiological capabilities are all the same, regardless of age....

Uhm don't confuse the age groups with the open category...the age groups are more merit / recognition podiums. The winner is the first guy and woman crossing the line...if you 80 and can still contend in the open cat well then power to you. But remember you won't get any free watts because you are older. But to answer your question.

 

It's an incentive for people to compete, sort of a race within a race and makes things exciting especially for the young laaities...keep em keen you know.

[Speeltyd]

Fine - then answer my question - why are races structured according to age group? After all, as you've just alluded to, our physiological capabilities are all the same, regardless of age....

Your power/weight determines where you finish amongst all the competitive riders. Races are structured according to age group to give us old toppies some recognition amongst our peers (apples with apples if you like). So, you may have finished 3rd in your age group, (nice for the ego), but you still only managed 417th in total. The latter is mostly defined by your w/kg ( however, technique is also a factor)

[BicyclePower]

a few things one needs to keep in mind here, comparing watts is useless unless its bought right down to the most simplistic handicapping system power:weight. you could both be riding 400w the difference is one could be 100kg (i.e. 4w/kg) while the other 75kg (i.e. 5.33w/kg)

so the basic comparison is power:weight ratio @ FTP, here again FTP needs to be tested over the same duration, no point if one doing a 8min FTP test while the other does a 20min FTP test. you both need to be doing the same test.

 

finally any maybe most important it sounds like you have used the bikes for awhile and so know how the adjustments work etc (essentially the feel of the bike), this other bloke was he new to the bikes ?? if so you may find he will improve very very quickly as he starts to understand how the bike responds to efforts. this is partly why the FTP improvements are so big in clients starting to train on power this can be as much as 3 - 5% alone !! 

[BicyclePower]

it can also be a MBT (big match temperament) issue, some people test poorly indoors but can bite the bullet when it comes to race day and really hang in there !!

 

power while a great yard stick is not the absolute reflection on ones racing ability, technical skill will always put more time in that pure power on technical sections and the same goes for testing, many of our PowerTap sponsored athletes can't hit their peak power outputs when they test with us but put them on the road with a power meter their peak powers are reached with ease.

 

power at the moment is still the ultimate training tool and during races can be used to identify weakness and future race strategies. 

[TALUS]

Our physiological capabilities are not the same, regardless of age.

 

The measure of our physiological capabilities remains the same.

 

However, there is significant variance between people. So a 50 year old may well be putting out more Watts or weigh fewer kg than a 30 year old, giving them the same values.

 

But, all other things being equal, the 50 year old would not be as strong as he was at thirty.

 

 

Unless he is Chris Horner who was (relatively) *** through his twenties and thirties but became a Grand Tour winner in his forties....   :ph34r:  

 

 

it can also be a MBT (big match temperament) issue, some people test poorly indoors but can bite the bullet when it comes to race day and really hang in there !!

 

power while a great yard stick is not the absolute reflection on ones racing ability, technical skill will always put more time in that pure power on technical sections and the same goes for testing, many of our PowerTap sponsored athletes can't hit their peak power outputs when they test with us but put them on the road with a power meter their peak powers are reached with ease.

 

power at the moment is still the ultimate training tool and during races can be used to identify weakness and future race strategies. 

This and This.

A good experienced 50y old can (and often does) beat a less experienced young rider. Racing experience counts. BUT that same Ballie would beat himself if he could produce more watts. Also that same Ballie would have produced more watts in his younger days if he put in the same quality of training. Horner ....Hmmmm

['Dale]

Being older means recovery is slower

That's quite key

This variable counts for lots within the context of multi-stage racing

[Veebee]

This and This.

A good experienced 50y old can (and often does) beat a less experienced young rider. Racing experience counts. BUT that same Ballie would beat himself if he could produce more watts. Also that same Ballie would have produced more watts in his younger days if he put in the same quality of training. Horner ....Hmmmm

 

the ballies should just be proud when they are stronger better riders. Experience definitely counts for a lot, I am riding for about 11 months now, I'm 28 and know of many 40+ guys that will smash me properly.

[jcza]

Just have a look at results from Ashburton Marathon at Rooiberg this past weekend. Winner is a Vet and 2nd place Master. Youngsters came 3 & 4. 

[NotSoBigBen]

I always say 'they won't beat me JUST because they are younger', they will have to put in some effort 

[SwissVan]

Being older means recovery is slower

That's quite key

This variable counts for lots within the context of multi-stage racing

 

This getting old thing is wonderful, I rest 2 or 3 days per week (to allow for proper recovery) and still maintain the same level, while the laatjies are out there killing themselves training every day.

[SwissVan]

a few things one needs to keep in mind here, comparing watts is useless unless its bought right down to the most simplistic handicapping system power:weight. you could both be riding 400w the difference is one could be 100kg (i.e. 4w/kg) while the other 75kg (i.e. 5.33w/kg)

so the basic comparison is power:weight ratio @ FTP, here again FTP needs to be tested over the same duration, no point if one doing a 8min FTP test while the other does a 20min FTP test. you both need to be doing the same test.

 

finally any maybe most important it sounds like you have used the bikes for awhile and so know how the adjustments work etc (essentially the feel of the bike), this other bloke was he new to the bikes ?? if so you may find he will improve very very quickly as he starts to understand how the bike responds to efforts. this is partly why the FTP improvements are so big in clients starting to train on power this can be as much as 3 - 5% alone !! 

 

You probably have access to a large amount of power data from a wide range of cyclists, as a matter of interest what kind of power : weight ratios do u see for "part time" cyclists i.e. not elite full time cyclists  but those with day jobs who compete at a serious level (Cat A, league or licensed...) whatever its called now days in SA?

[Pure Savage]

it can also be a MBT (big match temperament) issue, some people test poorly indoors but can bite the bullet when it comes to race day and really hang in there !!

 

 

 

I think this is the biggest part of road cycling, I know someone that is a fair bit stronger than me in power vs weight. Also in absolute power figures we are  almost the same, but 9/10 races they don't make the breaks, stick with the bunch over the climbs and fight back on when the hammer gets dropped.

 

[BicyclePower]

You probably have access to a large amount of power data from a wide range of cyclists, as a matter of interest what kind of power : weight ratios do u see for "part time" cyclists i.e. not elite full time cyclists  but those with day jobs who compete at a serious level (Cat A, league or licensed...) whatever its called now days in SA?

2.5 - 3.5 seems to be a common P:W ratio for cyclist interested in Power training and we see a lot of 2.9w/kg clients. 

[Today's Plan]

Hay Chaps,

 

thought you would be keen to check out this new feature we added to Today's Plan analytic's to show peak watts/kg overlays. Masters riders with power meters can now compare their watts/kg metrics against the various Masters categories.

 

 

www.todaysplan.co.za