DougG

A couple weeks ago I did a week-long bike tour in northwest Michigan (Traverse City-Petoskey-Harbor Springs) with Carolina Tailwinds and had a great time with great weather, covering about 240 miles in 6 days. Those roads can be quite hilly and the last time I was on some of them was 10 years ago on the popular Shoreline West tour. This time I had a much more suitable bike -- lighter weight and lower gearing -- and expected to ace some of the hills that I knew we'd encounter. Well, it didn't quite go that way, as I did make it up all of them, but only with some real effort. At first I put some of this down to the fact that I don't have any hills in the area where I normally ride, the worst hills were on the first two days when I was just getting acclimated, and those were also the only really hot days. Plus, most of the miles were in the afternoon when I'm never at my best. But later I realized that I really was 10 years younger back then and, at 72 now, I can't deny the effects of aging that I also see in the way my running performances have steadily declined.

OK then. On the rest of the tour, I opted to skip some sections, i.e. get shuttled, rather than do the max available mileage, and that turned out to be a good decision. After those first days of 45 and 55 tough miles, the next day I skipped a 22-mile segment and turned a 58-mile ride into a pleasant 36 miles and felt fresh and recovered at the end. There were a few others on the tour in my age bracket and we all took some miles off during the week. After all, this was supposed to be fun -- not a challenge, although there were some in the group that were all about maxing out distance and speed. To each their own...

I'd also highly recommend Carolina Tailwinds if you're into high-end catered touring. They are much smaller than the better-known outfits like VBT and Backroads, but offer a comparable service from what I could tell. They also have more of a personal touch since the owners also act as the guides on many of the trips.

Lightning Pilot

"Aging gracefully" = knowing how far you can push your limits without killing yourself. Something occurred years ago, in my late 50s, on a canoe trip in the BWCAW: my older son was healthier and in great physical shape, bigger and stronger than I. Even though he was a long distance runner, worked out constantly, I had more effective endurance than he did. I'd learned to pace myself, he had not, yet. we teased him by calling him "Evenrude"—flat out until he was out of gas. Learning how to use your body's "throttle" intelligently apparently only comes with experience and age.

Wildwood 

'Measured effort' does not require a power meter, heart rate monitor and apps.

Wildwood 

Wasn't sure where to post this comment/observation, but 65+ seemed an good spot.

Probably watched one too many 'Woodstock 50years Later' broadcasts.

Riding a vintage bike yesterday. Feeling good.
6 speed freewheel, no pesky 11/12 tooth cogs.
Ideal conditions - dry + low 60s.
Empty trail with smooth pavement.
A slight tailwind eliminates the breeze around my ears.
Super quiet drivetrain.
Complete silence.

...and the thought that enters my head....
We Must Be In Heaven, man.

or too much WavyGravy?

delbiker1 

Far out Man! Lotta Freaks!

McBTC

Or, an x-ray... thinking for quite a while I had a groin-pull, I was awakened to the fact I had moderate osteo in my left hip. Now, I must pay attention to ride within my new limitations or require more medical intervention than just cutting back and taking Aleve...

The advice is, you still need exercise and depending on your circumstances, it might be possible to kick back a little bit and take some pain reliever and keep riding as opposed to requiring surgery... but, at least for a period of time, it is good to know we picked the right sport - cycling is the best exercise you can do, even if you're starting to get arthritis.

Lightning Pilot

"Starting to get arthritis?" I don't have a skeletal system. I have a mass of more or less articulated arthritis. While I don't disagree with your estimation of cycling, I caution against too much pain reliever. I had what I suspect was the same symptom you describe. Ibuprofin wasn't doing it, so I got a steroid injection in that hip joint. Because of that, I had to wait three months more to get a hip replacement, and lost half a season of riding, or even walking. Since having the hip replaced, it's been full speed ahead. Hip surgery is nothing to put off, and while I agree that surgery is to be generally avoided, I desperately wish I had not tried so hard to avoid it.

Ibuprofin (Aleve, Advil, etc.) is wonderful stuff—but it is hell on your kidneys (any NSAID is). I know this from bitter experience (chronic pain sufferer). If you are taking more than 3-4 a week, you need to find an alternative. Physical therapy can help, may postpone surgery for a long time. But there comes a point when it is time to bite the bullet and see a sawbones. Assuming you are otherwise in good health (bike riding!) hip surgery, properly done, is a life changer.

davethelefty

I volunteer at a joint replacement center at the local hospital. I see people in their upper 80s getting new knees and hips, and it slays me. "Why bother at that age?" I wonder. Well, in talking with these older patients, I see someone not just trying to get away from arthritis pain, but someone trying to get back to normal, or trying to define a new normal. I always ask patients what they can't wait to get back to after rehab is done, and the answers would impress you. One woman was planning to hike the Canadian Rockies. I've had numerous patients say they simply want to get back on their bike. Wise words indeed. Don't make a joint replacement decision lightly, but do pursue it -- talk to that orthopedic surgeon!!

Lightning Pilot

Doesn't surprise me at all. When you get old, a positive attitude is your best weapon.

Talk to several very good orthopedic surgeons, get three opinions, and make sure the surgeon uses the anterior approach. That means faster recovery and getting back on the bike sooner.

McBTC

I guess for most -- even for those having some positive experience with joint-replacement -- is, how long a time is 'long' (e.g., a few years?) if taking some Aleve can help put off surgery while still getting in a good ride. Considerations would be not having to cut back 'too much' and, not having to take 'too much' ibuprofen.

The only thing I'm fairly certain about is that waiting and learning to work with osteo in the hip makes sense whereas, taking Aleve every day just to barely get around would be waiting way too long, especially for a hip which even the surgeons say is way easier nowadays compared to knee replacement.

bargeon

Regarding these OTC pain meds I'll note that the directions on the bottle advise to take them with food. My doc stresses that, especially of taken over time.

philbob57

I put off a shoulder replacement until the pain started impacting my sleep, which placed the surgery in mid-March, which placed my first ride in mid-June. I could have lost less riding time if I had done the surgery the previous Fall. There's a lot to be said fro doing it close to when it's necessary and when it's convenient.

redfishnc

Funny thing I have lost my car but never my bike. I am retired, I can hardly believe it but its great getting up every day and thinking what would be fun to do today? Think I'll go for a bike ride...

smoore

I like that!

I'm 70 and still riding as often as I want...which is two to three times a week. I ride on country roads for the most part but there are still cars and my family is concerned. But my health and balance are good and if I am hit by a car it won't be because "I was too old". More than likely a teen-ager or old person tesxting and driving. Darn seventy years olds!!

redfishnc

You are really old. I'm turning the corner on 69 in two weeks. Another good thing is the ability to pick the times when I ride. Ride long and prosper. What do you ride?

Wildwood 

... and,... which one of these bikes would please me most on today's route?

smoore

Ride a LOOK 585 Carbon which I believe is probably the best (and lightest) bike I've ever been on. It's becoming a bit of a Carbon Cult bike.
Also a Serotta Ti Fierte. I bought both bikes used and while they don't really make me a better rider they do make me smile and appreciate my blessings. And wow, those are some real special bikes you have there. Lots of Italy for sure.

Wildwood 

Re: Carbon frames - during the late 1990s I investigated for over a year, a purchase of a top CF frame&fork - I will voice the opinion that Look made some of the lightest and best CF bikes in the World at the time.

I could never justify the cost of their top models (when riding a nice steel '97 with 9spd triple for mountain roads) , but I rode 2 models at an InterOp for an hour or so each - and was hugely impressed. That escalated and soon became a buying search.

Trek OCLV felt heavy and without road feel. Aegis was not present on the West Coast (to my knowledge), but rode one near Boston for a day and it was like the Trek only heavier. Spesh was still putting carbon tubes in metal lugs, if memory serves. There were magazine articles and some info about very nice stuff from Germany but pricey. Craig Calfee was just a few miles away and won the biz because of customer service beyond great because they made me part of a family. And the product has been excellent.

edit: the currently acquired vintage fleet is Rev#3.
Racy oriented.
Euro-centric.
with a nod to Italian steel, given the racy theme.
Milano, Treviso, Turino, Veneto, a frame named for the Cadore region.
Components: Campi, Modolo, Cinelli, Carnielli, Nisi, others

What's not to love about nice old bikes that work?

redfishnc

And the best part is the freedom to do what we love. Owning a fleet of great bikes. Owning the first bike that I seriously (to me) rode. The reason to keep youngsters out of the +65 is we don'r what them to know what they are missing. The freedom that comes along with age for the very fortunate which I am part of.

marcoguzm

The beta blocker causes slow cardiac rythm.

marcoguzm

That's the culprit.

marcoguzm

Hi, I'm 66 now. I raced MTB in the 90's, and still train, though I don't compete anymore.
Recently, I was in Vancouver, Can. Many bikers use the application Meetup, and make different rides. Most of the cyclists are between 55 and 65, nice people indeed; I rode with them twice, it may be useful for you.

Wildwood 

The morning cup of coffee is just right today. Sometimes the French press exceeds the Keurig.
Or maybe it's just that the day should be great - another day with a bike ride in its' future.

Ride On!

Prowler 

The morning cup of coffee is just right today. Sunday's are a different routine here: wind the grandfather's clock, fill my vitamin cups for the week and brew coffee with our old stove top percolater. That percolater reminds me, each week, of my father (gone under the ground these many years now). We would both get up early and he would brew his Navy coffee on the stove (WWII submariner). I would watch and smell it floating across the kitchen. He was my hero.

I drink the coffee, read BF as I cannot stomach the news anymore, and think about where to take my Trek 850 drop bar conversion today. Or maybe install the newly refurbished wheel set on my outdated Nishiki International, then test ride it for a few hours. Hmmmmmmm.

marcoguzm

Well, it seems I'm not the only one. Coffee seems to bring us to "life" every morning. I use the french press, because of its stronger taste. What year is that Trek 850 you have? I remember that I bought a Trek 930 in November '93, and a month later a Trek 820 for my son, he was 7 years old then. 4 months later, we were both competing in MTB races...tough. We also trained in roads around the city. The Trek 930 had True Temper tubes, very sweet and strong. I lost it, unfortunately...got stolen.