The Top 5 Fitness Struggles for Motocross Riders Over 35
1. Recovery Takes Forever (And It's Getting Worse)
Remember when you could ride hard on Saturday and feel fine by Monday? Those days are gone. Many racers started Motocross during their 40s & 50s and are doing great Motocross training: 5 things you should be doing [+ workouts] - POWERING OFFROAD, but the biggest shock is how much longer your body needs to bounce back. What used to be overnight soreness now lingers for days, and that Tuesday ride you planned? You're still feeling Sunday's session. Your muscles, joints, and central nervous system need significantly more time to repair and adapt, making it harder to maintain consistent training frequency.
2. Strength and Power Decline While Demands Stay the Same
Motocross is brutally demanding on every muscle group. Every muscle have to be trained and cardio training have to also be nearly at level runners/cyclists Are motocross riders the fittest athletes in the world?. But after 35, you're fighting natural muscle mass loss and declining testosterone levels while still needing to manhandle a 250-pound bike through whoops and around berms. Your grip strength fades faster during motos, your core gives out earlier, and controlling the bike becomes exponentially harder as fatigue sets in.
3. Cardiovascular Fitness Hits a Brick Wall
The cardiovascular demands of motocross are insane - heart rates stay elevated throughout entire 30+ minute motos. But your aging cardiovascular system doesn't adapt as quickly as it used to. Building the specific aerobic capacity needed for sustained high-intensity effort becomes increasingly difficult, and you find yourself gasping for air halfway through practice sessions that you used to handle easily.
4. Injury Risk Skyrockets (And Consequences Are Worse)
Your connective tissues, bones, and joints aren't as resilient as they once were. A small mistake that might have resulted in a bruise at 25 can mean weeks off the bike at 45. Worse yet, you're terrified of getting hurt because you know recovery will take months, not weeks. This fear creates tension that actually increases injury risk, creating a vicious cycle that keeps you from riding with confidence.
5. Time Constraints Kill Consistency
This might be the biggest killer of all. Career demands, family responsibilities, and life obligations mean you can't just hit the gym whenever you feel like it. You need a training program that works around your schedule, not against it. Most generic fitness programs assume you have unlimited time and energy, but you need maximum results from minimal time investment - and most riders don't know how to make that work.
The good news? These challenges aren't insurmountable. With the right approach to training that accounts for your age, recovery needs, and time constraints, you can still ride at a high level and even improve your fitness. The key is working smarter, not just harder, and having a program specifically designed for the unique demands of motocross and the realities of being an older athlete.
Ready to tackle these challenges head-on? Twin Halos' specialized programs are designed specifically for riders who refuse to let age slow them down.
