A possible explanation for old man power.
I read about the book Outliers: The Story Of Success in GQ earlier this month, and it seems interesting. One of the key points of the book is that, from studying some of the most successful people in the world, it appears 10,000 hours of practice is what is needed for complete mastery of a task.
The students who would end up as the best in their class began to practise more than everyone else: six hours a week by age nine, eight by age 12, 16 a week by age 14, and up and up, until by the age of 20 they were practising well over 30 hours a week. By the age of 20, the elite performers had all totalled 10,000 hours of practice over the course of their lives. The merely good students had totalled, by contrast, 8,000 hours, and the future music teachers just over 4,000 hours.
In the selection on the Guardian site, it mentions that this magic 10,000 hours statistic is seen in hockey players, software tycoons and composers.
So, think about this: Let’s say you train, on average, 15 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. At that rate, it’ll take you almost 13 years to achieve the magic 10,000 hours of bicycle riding. I don’t have USA Cycling stats, but in my peer group, most people started racing (and training to race) around the ages of 16-20. So, that means that they will have reached 10,000 hours of training at between the ages of 29 and 33.
When does “old man power” set in? Early 30’s. And when do cyclists reach their life-long peak? Typically, it is said to be in the mid 30’s.
Just something to think about.
Anyone know when Mark McCormack started racing? Because if he’s not the definition of old man power (no insults meant, Mark, if you happen to be reading this), I don’t know who is.
Mark, Shawn, and Frank all raced BMX when they were in their early teens (13-14), and still do with their families on occasion. Frank and Mark also stayed Cat 3s as long as they could, so on Crit days they could win the jr race, and then podium in both the Cat 3 and usually the pro field.
I should also say that this data has been “known” for some time. If you ask some of the more accomplished Jr. Coaches (Think Dr. Mazur, Pruitt, Eddie B,) they will SWEAR that it takes 9 years to take a jr rider to the pro ranks where they can actually do something. This isn’t quite the 13 years, and of course Mr. Chodroff (healthnet) serves as one of many clear exceptions, but it seems to back this up.
Why do I know this? Cause I have no life, raced for Marka, and spent hours of my life in her van on the way to races coughing cigarette smoke.
that’s a great insight. i wonder if the parallel might be a coincidence, though. violinists and hockey players and whatever are incredibly skilled… but does development of fitness follow the same pattern as skill?
“that’s a great insight. i wonder if the parallel might be a coincidence, though. violinists and hockey players and whatever are incredibly skilled… but does development of fitness follow the same pattern as skill?”
Even the basic act of pedaling a bike is a skill that can be developed. On your next ride do some of those one leg drills that you used to do. Not quite perfect, huh? This simple movement is repeated thousands of times a ride and can be done anywhere from very poorly to near perfectly. OK, now you are rolling forward. How many other skills do you need to be a champion racer?
don is right. there is a big difference between practicing an instrument and training your muscles and mind to endure unbelievable amounts of pain. with training for an endurance sport you have to dodge injury, fatigue and mental burnout more than compared with a skill based sport/activity.
So, according to this theory your mastabatory skills must have peaked twice already by now.
*masterbatory
great g-damn article