How This 85-Year-Old Champion Cyclist Preps for Races
How an overachieving retiree late to the sport preps for the world championships in Austria Leon Malmed, 85, trains near his home in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., for the 2023 World Masters Cycling Championships. By Jen Murphy | Photographs by Ryan Angel Meza for The Wall Street Journal Aug. 12, 2023 6:00 am ET Leon Malmed loves the grind of cycling straight up mountains at age 85. Younger riders might think he’s on an e-bike until they get a closer look at his sleek carbon-fiber ride. “It’s way easier than golfing,” he jokes. Leon Malmed won first place in three events at the cycling National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., in 20
Leon Malmed loves the grind of cycling straight up mountains at age 85. Younger riders might think he’s on an e-bike until they get a closer look at his sleek carbon-fiber ride.
“It’s way easier than golfing,” he jokes.
Leon Malmed won first place in three events at the cycling National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2022.
Photo: Patricia Malmed
Cycling was Malmed’s retirement Plan B. In 2000, he wrapped up his career as a Silicon Valley marketing executive and moved to a golf community, only to discover he was a terrible golfer. After a few years of practice and little improvement, he started searching for a new hobby. A friend convinced Malmed, then 66, to join his cycling club’s casual weekend ride.
His first impressions: “Why are grown men wearing neon spandex?” and “Why would anyone spend $1,500 on a bike?”
The last time Malmed had been in the saddle it was a cruiser bike, and he was 18.
He found a clunky old road bike and struggled to stay with the group. But he liked the camaraderie and kept coming back.
His friend lent him a lighter bike. Despite the frame being three sizes too big, Malmed kept pace and excelled at the climbs. He progressed quickly—within a year he was shelling out a few thousand dollars for a top-of-the-line bike.
“I’d always come home from golf mad,” he says. “Biking makes me happy. It gives me an incredible sense of freedom. When I’m chasing another rider, I tap in to this energy I didn’t even know I still had.”
Malmed’s career left little time for exercise. In his 50s, he started dancing tango and waltz and he occasionally played tennis. He says by training with younger riders and putting in time on the bike, he built up his strength and endurance.
He started competing in races at 78. He’s notched multiple Masters national titles and plans to compete at the 2023 World Masters Cycling Championships Aug. 17-21 in St. Johann, Austria.
Malmed also skis, sails and still hasn’t given up on golf.
Malmed didn’t start cycling until his 60s and began competing at 78.
The Workout
Each morning Malmed does around 35 sit-ups and 35 push-ups. Twice a week he attends mat Pilates with his wife.
“It’s hard enough to keep your back straight as you get older,” he says. “After being hunched over a bike, this really opens you up.”
He trains around his home in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. He rides solo a few days a week but prefers to have someone in front of him to chase. He joins a group ride twice a week. They typically put in anywhere from 20 to 50 miles. He trains at home on his Peloton 30 to 45 minutes two to three times a week.
Malmed and his wife, Patricia Malmed, attend Pilates once a week.
Malmed says Pilates helps undo the hunched posture of sitting on a bike.
From June through October he participates in weekly races hosted by his local cycling club. Distances range from 20 to 30 miles and competitors are as young as teenagers. Malmed is the oldest. But given his exceptional fitness level, he says he holds his own.
Malmed loves taking his bike on vacation. When he visits Maui, he tackles what is one of the longest, steepest paved roads on the planet leading up to Haleakala Crater.
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The ride climbs 10,000-plus feet over 36 miles. (The legendary Mont Ventoux in the French Alps has a 5,300-foot climb of more than 13 miles.) Donnie Arnoult, owner of Maui Cyclery, says Malmed is the oldest client he’s had complete the ride.
Malmed was evacuated from his home for two weeks last year because of wildfires and says he immediately reached out to Arnoult when he heard news of the Maui fires.
Malmed rides with a local cycling group twice a week and excels at climbs.
The Diet
Philosophy: Malmed was a meat and potatoes guy, but after overcoming prostate cancer five years ago, he embraced a pescatarian diet.
Splurge: He allows himself to eat cheese every other week. Maroilles, a stinky French cheese, is his favorite.
Breakfast routine: Low-sugar cereal topped with blueberries, sliced banana and one Brazilian nut.
Lunch: Tuna salad or smoked salmon with tomatoes, lettuce and radishes and a slice of multigrain bread with a piece of fruit.
Home cooking: His wife was born in Colombia and typically makes rice and beans with fish and vegetable soups. Before a race he eats pasta.
Malmed competes in a local race series once a week from June through October.
The Gear and Cost
Road bike: Trek Emonda SLR 9 carbon road bike ($13,000) with Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tires ($100 each)
Mountain bike: Pivot Cycles Trail 429 ($6,000)
Bike shoes: Bontrager XXX ($420)
Helmet: Bontrager Velocis MIPS ($225)
Malmed typically puts in 20 to 50 miles on his group rides.
Write to Jen Murphy at [email protected]
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