I find that it's less about some arbitrary age, and more about just taking care of your body and keeping at it. Rhino is a great example, though most people like to devalue him as any kind of example of anything every chance they get "because he's obviously on steroids". Jamie Lewis is another example of someone who's getting up there in years (he's kicking 40's door down) and he just recently took the raw total world record in the 181 class at 1705.

If you want to look at the extreme end of it, look up videos of powerlifters that are 80+ years old. Granted, they aren't deadlifting/squatting 800+ on each lift anymore, but I have seen more than a handful who break 400 (which is more than most people in their 20s do in the average gym).

At what age do you think you have to (or should) stop lifting heavy? I guess what I'm trying to ask is at what age do you take your max and say that's just as high as it's going to get. I'm 25 and I plan on lifting heavy until I can't anymore. So I'm curious to know how many years I have left until I "peak".

A lot of powerlifters peak in their mid to late 30's I believe.

But you also have guys like Louie Simmons who can outlift guys half his age.

It depends on how well you take care of yourself.

I'd hope people aren't giving Rhino **** for using steroids. 99% of your world record holders are using, it's a part of them game.

I wasn't referring to people within the 'circle' of powerlifting. I am talking about the average, run of the mill person who wouldn't know an anabolic-androgenic steroid from fenugreek. Ya' know, the people who swear that any teenager with a total over 1200 must be on gear.

There would probably be a time in my life when I don't have the desire to compete anymore, or when I will stop pushing myself to the extreme.

After that, I will probably continue to lift "heavy" at least to maintain as much of my strength as I can.

I don't wish to put a number on it because while we all get old, there are people in their 80's still lifting. Just like their are people who have to cut down at a younger age. I will continue to do what I enjoy, to the best of my abilities, throughout my life. I will also listen to my body and what it can cope with, but I can't imagine stopping altogether. Not the way I feel about it now anyway.

ETA: Until you peak. I think for men, testosterone is at it's highest in late 20's. Yet, the world's strongest men are usually in mid-late 30's, I'd assume because of the years of experience they have built up. It is rare to see a guy in his 20's become one of the strongest, even though hormonally they should be at their best.