When are you too old to ride?
#76
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Keep pedaling over 60
At 64, I recently realized I can't do the things I used to do. Now, I ride shorter distances, ride a little slower, use a lower gear when standing on steep hills. Makes me wonder what the future will be like. Recumbent? E-bike? There will come a day when I'm too old to ride at all. Alternative sports? Shuffleboard? Walking? Blogging?
He was 64 when I met him, today he should be 89, I don't know if he still lives.
Without hurrying he pedaled 100 km daily, maybe he helped himself with some vitamin I don't know.
but I think you should pedal without looking at anyone enjoying every mile.
Stanley made another trip, departing from Patagonia to Alaska with 70 years of age, arriving at his destination (fairbanks) after 16 months.
Then he took his bike and departed from Slovenia to China, he also went around Austalia almost 80 years old.
Stay positive, eat healthy, and savor the adventure.
Regards
Matthias
#77
Junior Member
Riding beats the alternatives
I have slowed down as I have gotten older, especially over 60, but my philosophy is that I'd rather be riding slowly than not riding at all. I recently turned to urban riding on a fixie (single fixed gear, no brakes). Sure keeps me alert. Whatever you ride, wherever you ride, for how long and at what speed is totally immaterial. Who knows what the future holds, so embrace the present. Ride like there is no tomorrow and enjoy it. Good luck.
#78
Junior Member
I'm 74 in a couple months, and bicycles are an integral part of my fitness routine. I wouldn't consider giving them up. As long as I'm not falling off, I will probably continue to ride. I also ride and race motorcycles at the track, and broke my neck in a crash six weeks ago. I'll be back out riding bikes of both kinds, however. I am already back on the bicycle.
#79
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Moreover, don’t compare yourself when you were younger. Just keep getting out there and enjoy yourself
By the way, I’m 70 in about a month, 😎
By the way, I’m 70 in about a month, 😎
#80
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When are you too old to ride?
Turned 75 this year, completed birthday in 5 1/4 hours and expect to end the year with 4000+ miles. Expect to keep riding many more years.
Piece in local newspaper (Pinellas County, Florida) about an 82 year old who just completed his birthday ride, I'm trying to catch him
Piece in local newspaper (Pinellas County, Florida) about an 82 year old who just completed his birthday ride, I'm trying to catch him
#81
Fossil
Disregard that guy in the mirror, what does he know? I turned 76 last May and the hills have been getting steeper for some time. I ride my age in the metric system now and it is still a challenge. There is also a pedal assist e-bike in my garage since March, although I still have some mixed feelings about it. I use it for about half my rides now and it is nice not to need to plan for the least hilly route at times. It also helped me increase my fitness level last spring after some health issues over the winter. It was a less than half price deal from the basement of a fellow who closed his e-bike dealership last year. That made my decision to purchase a lot easier. So keep riding, just adjust accordingly.
#82
Member
I have an EZ-3 Tricycle recumbent with a Bafang motor assist. Not your average adult trike. I ride it in the winter here in Anchorage due to the curative medicine I'm on causing osteoporosis and I don't want to risk a fall but I need to continue to exercise at 68...and it's great fun. I don't transport it though I could.
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I totally agree it’s all about the ride not how fast you’re going
my average speed is 10 miles an hour maybe 13
Contemplating switching out my crankset dropping to 46/30
my average speed is 10 miles an hour maybe 13
Contemplating switching out my crankset dropping to 46/30
#84
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Never too old. At 69 still playing hockey 2-3 times a week and ride 2,000 - 2,500 miles a year. But as you age you have to do more to avoid losing it all. Loss happens slowly. You will have to start regular yoga and exercise classes. The sooner the better.
#85
Full Member
I have slowed down a little bit in the last couple of years due to spinal stenosis. I have had two flare-ups that kept me off the bike for over a week due to not being able to stand up straight. If all goes well and I stay healthy, I will ride over 6,000 miles again this year. I ride every day except when I am ill. I average about 20 miles per day. I got back on a bike in 2013 after decades of not riding at all. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself.
#86
Senior Member
At 73, I don't ride as far as fast or as good looking as I once did, but I still enjoy the heck out of getting out there turning the crank.
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77
At 64, I recently realized I can't do the things I used to do. Now, I ride shorter distances, ride a little slower, use a lower gear when standing on steep hills. Makes me wonder what the future will be like. Recumbent? E-bike? There will come a day when I'm too old to ride at all. Alternative sports? Shuffleboard? Walking? Blogging?
As several have said just keep riding!
Likes For myisland:
#89
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Keep riding
I’m 63, I ride 75 to 100 miles a week and don’t care what other riders are riding, how far they are riding, how long it takes to ride from A to Z or how long they plan to keep riding etc. I also run about 20-30 miles a week most weeks. What counts is you and what you are doing to stay healthy and moving. My motto is GET YOUR ASS UP, GET YOUR ASS OUT and CREATE YOUR BEST LIFE!
#90
Senior Member
I started riding at 58 after decades off and plan to ride for as long as I can. I do a mix of outdoor (2/3) and indoor (1/3 - Zwift mainly) riding adding up to 12,500 km so far this year. I figure I'll be able to ride using a virtual reality headset well into old age at the pace the technology is moving
#91
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I started riding at 58 after decades off and plan to ride for as long as I can. I do a mix of outdoor (2/3) and indoor (1/3 - Zwift mainly) riding adding up to 12,500 km so far this year. I figure I'll be able to ride using a virtual reality headset well into old age at the pace the technology is moving
I am 66 and wish I could keep up with them.
#92
Senior Member
68 is the new 67. True! Anyone who tells you that 60 is the new 50 either hasn't reached 60 or has forgotten what 50 was like!
I'm 76 and just took up riding again after twenty years lay off due to health issues. I found that I couldn't swing my leg over a seat anymore so got the Specialized Roll Elite. It won't keep up with many bikes but so what. I'm on it for fun and exercise.
I'm 76 and just took up riding again after twenty years lay off due to health issues. I found that I couldn't swing my leg over a seat anymore so got the Specialized Roll Elite. It won't keep up with many bikes but so what. I'm on it for fun and exercise.
#93
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I attempted PBP my first time at age 51 and finished just under 1100 km of the 1200+ km before abandoning due to neck issues. That was 8 years ago. Not sure if I will attempt it again, but maybe I have awhile to think about it, if somebody 75 could do it.
#94
Newbie
Never
I’m in a bike club in Florida where at 56 I am one of the young ones. We have strong riders in their 70s and maybe 80s who ride 3-4 days a week. We all plan to ride until we physically can’t. Why stop?
#95
ole skool cyclist
don't think that way
At 64, I recently realized I can't do the things I used to do. Now, I ride shorter distances, ride a little slower, use a lower gear when standing on steep hills. Makes me wonder what the future will be like. Recumbent? E-bike? There will come a day when I'm too old to ride at all. Alternative sports? Shuffleboard? Walking? Blogging?
#96
Member
I just looked up Miss Kittie’s rider profile on USA BMX and it looks like she’s she’s still racking up plenty of trophies in 2019. 71 years young...
https://www.usabmx.com/site/profiles/283/trophies?year=2019&points_class=cruiser&commit=Go
Video piece on her here: https://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/oldest-bmx
https://www.usabmx.com/site/profiles/283/trophies?year=2019&points_class=cruiser&commit=Go
Video piece on her here: https://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/oldest-bmx
#98
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Finishing PBP at 50 was tough but it's a tough ride and I was a newb at the distance. At 54 is was easier, since I knew what I was doing. At 58 it was a bit harder but still easier than the first. I expect at 62 it will largely depend on how seriously I train. 66 is too far in the future, but I have hope. At 72 I know the odds are against me, but again I have hope.
To the OP, too old is either when you can't, or you don't want to. Or, I suppose the other possibility is, they take away your bike. Watching my wife deal with her elderly parents, she definitely has strong opinions about what people in their 90's ought to be doing. I see a battle brewing a few decades down the line.
#99
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Hi eja - ay, I have an '72 Atala... your Bottecchia and mine should get together and reminisce about the old country :-) just kidding.
I first went to the hand specialist two years ago complaining of bilateral wrist pain - she looked at my X-ray and said that I had CMC degeneration and that pain which originated there was becoming "referred pain radiating out on the back of both wrists. I tried the usual generic wrist support and NSAID for a few weeks and the pain vanished. Then it came back six months ago and I haven't shaken it off. But I've also been typing a lot at work. Anyhow, on revisiting the doc she said that 1) lots of other joints in my hand were degenerated and 2) cortisone in my CMC wouldn't do anything to help. I asked for some topical diclofenac to try, since my gut doesn't like systemic NSAIDS any longer. She was skeptical that it would reduce my pain, but gave me a script. It requires one to put a big glob on the area and let it soak in, pretty awkward. I'll go back to have her make other recommendations, and again remind her that riding is my primary exercise. I'm tempted to go ahead and purchase the Push-MetaGrip-Thumb-CMC-Orthosis devices, however expensive. Looks as if they are on sale for a few days.
But Hey - if you pain only shows up after 50 miles, count your blessings!
And good luck!
ps there is a thread on CMC arthritis in this subforum. Annnndd - while it is a bit early, the one hand that I was treating with the gel for a few days seems to be less painful than the one I wasn't treating... so I'll keep it up and try it 2 X day on both wrists for a week. Will report back
I first went to the hand specialist two years ago complaining of bilateral wrist pain - she looked at my X-ray and said that I had CMC degeneration and that pain which originated there was becoming "referred pain radiating out on the back of both wrists. I tried the usual generic wrist support and NSAID for a few weeks and the pain vanished. Then it came back six months ago and I haven't shaken it off. But I've also been typing a lot at work. Anyhow, on revisiting the doc she said that 1) lots of other joints in my hand were degenerated and 2) cortisone in my CMC wouldn't do anything to help. I asked for some topical diclofenac to try, since my gut doesn't like systemic NSAIDS any longer. She was skeptical that it would reduce my pain, but gave me a script. It requires one to put a big glob on the area and let it soak in, pretty awkward. I'll go back to have her make other recommendations, and again remind her that riding is my primary exercise. I'm tempted to go ahead and purchase the Push-MetaGrip-Thumb-CMC-Orthosis devices, however expensive. Looks as if they are on sale for a few days.
But Hey - if you pain only shows up after 50 miles, count your blessings!
And good luck!
ps there is a thread on CMC arthritis in this subforum. Annnndd - while it is a bit early, the one hand that I was treating with the gel for a few days seems to be less painful than the one I wasn't treating... so I'll keep it up and try it 2 X day on both wrists for a week. Will report back
I looked at the CMC device on Amazon and you are right it is pricey.
I notice that the discomfort is spreading to every day activities. It sucks getting older.
Again, thanks for all the good info.
#100
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Have fun like a kid again
I love all the well written and thought out responses. I am 62 and felt my body weaken overnight as s result of a mini stroke. I stopped riding a few years ago, when it hurt to ride my oldskool racing bikes. And turned into a dedicated couch potato.
I have recently bought an upright posture, short reach, compact frame geometry bike to relieve pressure on my hands. Its a single speed 34 x 16 thats easy to spin, yet still climb small hills. The bike feels lively, and while is fully rigid, absorbs a decent amount of shock with easy rolling fat 29er x 50 tires, platform pedals enable me to find a knee freindly position and I strive to maintain a cadence around 80 to build a smooth and efficient pedal spinning style. Now I look forward to riding pain free like a kid again! Been riding it several times a day from 2 to 10 miles each time. Wake up n go for a quick ride, do a local errand under 5 miles..evening ride after dinner...point is that I'm having fun, exploring local areas close by the house, getting off my butt, socializing and feeling good about my efforts to get more fit, stretch, make better food choices.
So, my contribution as a non athletic, somewhat older guy to this thread is to say:
get out and make it easy n fun to re experience the simple joys of riding your bike, and keep the rides short at first, n try to ride in a spirited manner. Buy something new if that sparks your enthusiasm, especially if your current bike doesnt fit or its a rusty outside clunker....OMG, there are so many cool bikes on the market today...new and used. I love the clear head and increasing muscle fitness not to mention a little socializing.
I have recently bought an upright posture, short reach, compact frame geometry bike to relieve pressure on my hands. Its a single speed 34 x 16 thats easy to spin, yet still climb small hills. The bike feels lively, and while is fully rigid, absorbs a decent amount of shock with easy rolling fat 29er x 50 tires, platform pedals enable me to find a knee freindly position and I strive to maintain a cadence around 80 to build a smooth and efficient pedal spinning style. Now I look forward to riding pain free like a kid again! Been riding it several times a day from 2 to 10 miles each time. Wake up n go for a quick ride, do a local errand under 5 miles..evening ride after dinner...point is that I'm having fun, exploring local areas close by the house, getting off my butt, socializing and feeling good about my efforts to get more fit, stretch, make better food choices.
So, my contribution as a non athletic, somewhat older guy to this thread is to say:
get out and make it easy n fun to re experience the simple joys of riding your bike, and keep the rides short at first, n try to ride in a spirited manner. Buy something new if that sparks your enthusiasm, especially if your current bike doesnt fit or its a rusty outside clunker....OMG, there are so many cool bikes on the market today...new and used. I love the clear head and increasing muscle fitness not to mention a little socializing.
Last edited by Wobblewheel; 11-25-19 at 11:04 PM.