matute

I had a friend his name was Stanley Brodaric, I met him pedaling along the Carretera Austral in Chile, he was from NY.
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

drPhilGandini

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.

drPhilGandini

Really glad to hear your motorcycle accident in which you broke your neck wasn't fatal. They often are!

Alan J August

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, 😎

Rivahbiker

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

Lurch

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.

farnorth51

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.

Rwmnotroadkill

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

gotrek99

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.

jskash

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.

Leadrunner

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.

mfbroom

I'm 77 and have logged 2100 miles in the past 12 months!

As several have said just keep riding!

myisland

Don't take advice from doctors who don't cycle. Cycling is what keeps many people alive!

jheiser

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!

Steeler_fanatic

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

Rstyle

Two of the best riders in our Cycle Club are 82 years old. One of them will do several 100 mile rides in a year and does some competitive events for "older" people
I am 66 and wish I could keep up with them.

LeftyS7

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.

billwtx22

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.

Tbobx

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?

thepartsguy

I'm just getting back into riding at 64 after a 10 year break to let a knee injury heal. When I was 50 I met a 74 year old rider who was an ultra-marathon cyclist and had logged over 150 century rides by the middle of September that year. I want to get back to doing at least 50 mile rides again. Don't give up yet I'm certainly not. The plan is when I retire in the next 3-4 years I'll start riding some daily in good weather on my mountain bike and occasionally a fast road bike ride on my vintage Gitane Sprint.

buegelfrei

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

Cyclist753

Yes... I think you will just know.

downtube42

50 was the median age at PBP 2011, meaning just as many people under 50 as over 50. IIRC, DNF rates really don't start to plummet until the late 60's.

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.

eja_ bottecchia

Thank you for the info, I appreciate knowing as much as I can before seeing the hand doc.

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.

Wobblewheel

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.