Birthday rides
07-21-19, 04:19 AM
#26
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Yesterday, a few days after my 60th birthday, I celebrated by riding 169 miles from the Illinois border to the Ohio border on RAIN (Ride Across INdiana). It's official, I'm getting old 
The best part is that I got the chance to do it with a couple of friends from right here on Bike Forums. The camaraderie and off bike parts were every bit as good, if not better.
The best part is that I got the chance to do it with a couple of friends from right here on Bike Forums. The camaraderie and off bike parts were every bit as good, if not better.
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07-21-19, 08:10 AM
#27
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I turned 70 in last May, and there was rain off and on, so I didn't plan any long rides. Coming home from a 30 something mile ride there is a longish fairly steep down hill. I was approaching 40 mph. I stayed off the brakes, got as small as a 200 lb guy can get and got to 45 mph. I figured a top speed of 70 kph is close enough to my age. Maybe next year I'll try and do the miles, but the 70 kph, was fun.
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07-21-19, 11:49 AM
#28
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I have, on or near my b-day, for a number of years. This year, life and weather got in the way, but there's always next year.
07-21-19, 01:47 PM
#29
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After coming back to biking in mid-2013, age+1 in KM was a goal of mine in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. I made it in 2015 and 2017, but I did it with jumps from 52 KM to 72 and 74, and that jump really knocked me out.
I had to redo my goals last year because I was on vacation for 16 days around my b'day, so I lost conditioning and never did get to a level of base mileage I felt comfortable stretching to 75 KM. This year the weather sucks, so I've redefined my goal as 76 KM by August 22, a month after my b'day ... or maybe 50 miles in September. I expect to make one of those. My big goal for 2019 is 1,200 miles. In any case, I'm at 50 KM now and will get to 65 in a couple of weeks. Then the jump from 65 to 76 should be eminently doable without killing the rest of my day with my wife.
I'm not sure how to say this: I'm riding for fun, fitness, and 1,200 miles this year. At my age, working toward a riding goal may or may not be important. Actually making the goal, not. After all, just riding around the block is better for me than sitting at home....
I had to redo my goals last year because I was on vacation for 16 days around my b'day, so I lost conditioning and never did get to a level of base mileage I felt comfortable stretching to 75 KM. This year the weather sucks, so I've redefined my goal as 76 KM by August 22, a month after my b'day ... or maybe 50 miles in September. I expect to make one of those. My big goal for 2019 is 1,200 miles. In any case, I'm at 50 KM now and will get to 65 in a couple of weeks. Then the jump from 65 to 76 should be eminently doable without killing the rest of my day with my wife.
I'm not sure how to say this: I'm riding for fun, fitness, and 1,200 miles this year. At my age, working toward a riding goal may or may not be important. Actually making the goal, not. After all, just riding around the block is better for me than sitting at home....
Last edited by philbob57; 07-21-19 at 01:53 PM.
07-19-20, 10:22 AM
#30
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46 miles today.. 76 degree F at 5:30 AM..
Amazing stuff they used to make in local town:
Local foundry that's been long abandoned:
Amazing stuff they used to make in local town:
Local foundry that's been long abandoned:
07-21-20, 08:50 AM
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I just heard about this recently, and did it for the first time this year, my 52nd.
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07-21-20, 09:52 AM
#33
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I have never done this; actually up until joining this forum I didn't know of such a tradition. It might be a bit problematic, since my birthday is in October when the days are getting short, so if the date is on a weekday I most probably won't have enough daylight time after work and little desire to ride for hours in the dark, especially if it rains which happens often in around that time of the year. On the other hand, if the date is on a weekend, I'll probably be busy getting ready for the party, celebrating or hung over.
07-21-20, 09:54 AM
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I have never done this; actually up until joining this forum I didn't know of such a tradition. It might be a bit problematic, since my birthday is in October when the days are getting short, so if the date is on a weekday I most probably won't have enough daylight time after work and little desire to ride for hours in the dark, especially if it rains which happens often in around that time of the year. On the other hand, if the date is on a weekend, I'll probably be busy getting ready for the party, celebrating or hung over.
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07-23-20, 06:55 AM
#35
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For the last few years I have ridden either metric, Imperial or double the equivalent of my birthday.
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07-23-20, 07:23 AM
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I have never done this; actually up until joining this forum I didn't know of such a tradition. It might be a bit problematic, since my birthday is in October when the days are getting short, so if the date is on a weekday I most probably won't have enough daylight time after work and little desire to ride for hours in the dark, especially if it rains which happens often in around that time of the year. On the other hand, if the date is on a weekend, I'll probably be busy getting ready for the party, celebrating or hung over.
Been a nice excuse for an extra vacation day most years since then.
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07-23-20, 08:29 AM
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, I haven't even looked to see when it was this year.I used to ride at least my age on my birthday (or as close to the 6th it as I could) but that stopped after I turned 50 and the cardiologist wanted me to start limiting saddle time. I'm no longer in shape to ride those longer rides. It's all psychological, I just can't sit in the saddle that long now without me thinking I should be doing something else.
07-23-20, 10:15 AM
#38
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A Birthday challenge
I am 70 and try to ride my age each year on or near my birthday. Having lived predominantly in northern states and having a birthday in February this always proves a challenge. Easiest out is to take a vacation to Florida or Arizona. I always check long range forecast to see which date nearest my birthday. When weather on cold side I break ride up into 4 to 6 individual rides in one day often with different bikes for each segment. I think I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to do it as much as riding.
07-23-20, 11:24 AM
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I ride more than my birthday just about every Sunday so don't worry about doing anything special on that day. I like knowing that at 64 that I can ride my age and hope to be able to continue to do it for the foreseeable future.
07-23-20, 01:02 PM
#40
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Personally, the birthday ride is not just another ride, another day off from work.
While on the ride in my solitude, I reflect the year gone by, try to remember the important moments in the year, folks I've lost, things I've accomplished, etc..
I take plenty of breaks for drinks & food along the ride to really think about the year gone by.
As the ride wore me, I look forward to the time that I will spend with my loved ones, especially my wife.
How luck I am to have her, tolerate my need to be alone on my birthday each year for these few hours on my bicycle.. for me to spend time with myself.
While on the ride in my solitude, I reflect the year gone by, try to remember the important moments in the year, folks I've lost, things I've accomplished, etc..
I take plenty of breaks for drinks & food along the ride to really think about the year gone by.
As the ride wore me, I look forward to the time that I will spend with my loved ones, especially my wife.
How luck I am to have her, tolerate my need to be alone on my birthday each year for these few hours on my bicycle.. for me to spend time with myself.
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07-23-20, 02:14 PM
#41
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Personally, the birthday ride is not just another ride, another day off from work.
While on the ride in my solitude, I reflect the year gone by, try to remember the important moments in the year, folks I've lost, things I've accomplished, etc..
I take plenty of breaks for drinks & food along the ride to really think about the year gone by.
As the ride wore me, I look forward to the time that I will spend with my loved ones, especially my wife.
How luck I am to have her, tolerate my need to be alone on my birthday each year for these few hours on my bicycle.. for me to spend time with myself.
While on the ride in my solitude, I reflect the year gone by, try to remember the important moments in the year, folks I've lost, things I've accomplished, etc..
I take plenty of breaks for drinks & food along the ride to really think about the year gone by.
As the ride wore me, I look forward to the time that I will spend with my loved ones, especially my wife.
How luck I am to have her, tolerate my need to be alone on my birthday each year for these few hours on my bicycle.. for me to spend time with myself.
The Birthday Ride need not be on the actual Birthday. It is simply a ride to celebrate being alive. If one reflects on the past and envisions the future, so be it. RIDE and ENJOY.
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07-23-20, 08:12 PM
#42
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Well, since my birthday week often coincides with the original TOSRV on Mother's Day weekend, I've ridden many times my age in miles on my b-day. 210 miles in two days, plus riding from the OSU campus to/from the ride start (in my day it was the Ohio Statehouse) so 225 miles. Then for many years seeing that I'm married and have to spend Mother's Day at home, I try to make a 'ride my age' in miles sometime during the month. AND now that I'm a Senior Citizen, that means a Metric Century.... Close enough in my book anyway.
07-23-20, 10:03 PM
#43
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How do you like BMX handlebars? I've been thinking about switching.
07-24-20, 07:23 AM
#44
Ride more, eat less
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The BMX handlebar on the Bontrager MTB is actually narrow bars used on courier bikes.
That bike is mainly used within NYC metro, where I constantly ride between car mirrors in traffic.
Keeping the bike as narrow as I can and still have some comfort with the upright position.
Those handlebars are great for my purpose, Bontrager frames from that early 90's era are very aggressive cross country geometry,
Low head tube, steep head angle.. having those handlebars change the ride to more relaxed riding position.
I should really check on those elastomers in those forks.
That bike is mainly used within NYC metro, where I constantly ride between car mirrors in traffic.
Keeping the bike as narrow as I can and still have some comfort with the upright position.
Those handlebars are great for my purpose, Bontrager frames from that early 90's era are very aggressive cross country geometry,
Low head tube, steep head angle.. having those handlebars change the ride to more relaxed riding position.
I should really check on those elastomers in those forks.
07-24-20, 07:59 AM
#45
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Well, since my birthday week often coincides with the original TOSRV on Mother's Day weekend, I've ridden many times my age in miles on my b-day. 210 miles in two days, plus riding from the OSU campus to/from the ride start (in my day it was the Ohio Statehouse) so 225 miles. Then for many years seeing that I'm married and have to spend Mother's Day at home, I try to make a 'ride my age' in miles sometime during the month. AND now that I'm a Senior Citizen, that means a Metric Century.... Close enough in my book anyway..
BTW, being a SENIOR does not in AND of itself give one a FREE PASS to use the METRIC SYSTEM if residing in the USA.
Unless of course one is 100 years old. 
I hit 70 two weeks ago today so it was 141 miles for this year's birthday. Been riding double age miles for years and hoping not to live to be 100.
07-24-20, 10:07 AM
#46
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There's always recumbents.. I can easily double my mileage on my recumbent..
07-24-20, 10:24 AM
#47
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Birthday Rides sound like a great idea! Please just don't do it in your Birthday suit........
07-24-20, 05:24 PM
#49
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BTW, being a SENIOR does not in AND of itself give one a FREE PASS to use the METRIC SYSTEM if residing in the USA.
Unless of course one is 100 years old. I hit 70 two weeks ago today so it was 141 miles for this year's birthday. Been riding double age miles for years and hoping not to live to be 100.
<-- NOT amused! Then we had such a wet spring that most of the farmers in the area couldn't even plow their fields or plant the crops until after memorial Day. and those that did planted quick crops like Timothy (hay) or Soy Beans. No local-grown sweet corn to be found around here this year!So, with that said, since I'm officially a Senior now, I'm going a bit easier on myself - my birthday ride from here on out will be a Metric Century. Besides, my wife isn't keen on me taking off all day to ride my age in miles -- Especially as I get older and slower-- so I want to keep it under four hours.
07-24-20, 06:12 PM
#50
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My birthday falls near Mother's Day weekend, so not much time to get in riding shape after the winter... Heck, this year in Cleveland we had measurable SNOW on both the Friday and Monday bracketing Mother's Day weekend. My bikes don't go out in the rain on purpose, much less on salty snowy roads! Yes, they put that brine crap on the roads! IN MAY!!! <-- NOT amused! Then we had such a wet spring that most of the farmers in the area couldn't even plow their fields or plant the crops until after memorial Day. and those that did planted quick crops like Timothy (hay) or Soy Beans. No local-grown sweet corn to be found around here this year!
So, with that said, since I'm officially a Senior now, I'm going a bit easier on myself - my birthday ride from here on out will be a Metric Century. Besides, my wife isn't keen on me taking off all day to ride my age in miles -- Especially as I get older and slower-- so I want to keep it under four hours.
<-- NOT amused! Then we had such a wet spring that most of the farmers in the area couldn't even plow their fields or plant the crops until after memorial Day. and those that did planted quick crops like Timothy (hay) or Soy Beans. No local-grown sweet corn to be found around here this year!So, with that said, since I'm officially a Senior now, I'm going a bit easier on myself - my birthday ride from here on out will be a Metric Century. Besides, my wife isn't keen on me taking off all day to ride my age in miles -- Especially as I get older and slower-- so I want to keep it under four hours.
Sunday will be a 100 mile Memorial Ride for a biking buddy killed 8 years ago. Start time is 12:01AM/12:30AM probably in low 80'sF to upper 70'sF..