Perks for the 55 and older rider?
04-02-19, 10:35 PM
#1
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Perks for the 55 and older rider?
I hit the threshold at IHOP for the “old folks” menu, though I still order regular items. So I wonder if there are any known bicycle perks or discounts for those past the golden anniversary of living? I’m learning to ask for the senior discount every time I get sticker shock. As I always looked for discounts (kid prices) when my girls were young, I might as well take advantage of being old.w
04-02-19, 11:17 PM
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You don't have to go to work anymore because you're retired. It's easy to find ride days when there isn't a 40 hour work week in the way.
04-03-19, 04:43 AM
#5
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Seems like around here senior discounts start at 62. I just hit that mark this year and the only cycling related discount I can think of is I can now get the US National Parks lifetime pass for $90. In 2017 my wife and I went to Yellowstone and Glacier and did hiking and biking - the pass was actually cheaper then but we didn't qualify. Occasional bike around here (DC area) on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, about the only place to use it locally biking!
04-03-19, 06:35 AM
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I'm not aware of any bicycle related discounts for seniors but I do always try to remember to ask at almost any other place I go. Like you said, when I get a little "sticker shock" it usually reminds me to ask. Right now there are only a couple that I probably use on a regular basis, like a couple of local restaurants and the movies. It pays to ask. The minimum age is different at many places. If I'm not mistaken I think I've seen as low as 55.
04-03-19, 06:39 AM
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55 is the frequent demarcation for "seniors" in a lot of places around here. I'm well past that, but I still have trouble asking for the discount. If they ask 'do you have any discounts?', I'll grudgingly admit to qualifying as a 'senior' but I have difficulty declaring it unprompted. It's a peter pan thing.
Last edited by jon c.; 04-03-19 at 06:49 AM.
04-03-19, 06:41 AM
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I’ve got plans...BIG plans...and they all involve cycling, cycling, cycling. OK, there is also beekeeping, gardening and playing with the dogs.
04-03-19, 07:11 AM
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Terrible things the neighbors are doing, real or imagined health issues, noise, finances, relatives, pets, politics, family issues, inactivity, idleness, isolation, relationships with other people, whatever. You will find plenty of things to worry, obsess, and stress-out about. Doing nothing can become every bit as draining as going to work every day. And an idle life without a "purpose" (i.e., going to some stupid job every day) is fertile ground for depression, so it often takes a toll on your mental health too.
So I think "doing nothing" is highly overrated. Don't believe me? Don't get out of bed for a week, and see what happens.
04-03-19, 09:18 AM
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MacDonald's coffee, $0.55. Although since it takes 90 minutes to cool down to drinkable, that's hardly a cycling perk.
04-03-19, 09:27 AM
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Major discount for retired cyclists = you have time to learn how to wrench your bicycle, or time to wrench more/better. Save on all your repairs, upgrades and frameset builds.
You also have time to watch CL, flee-bay, FB, etc for used bikes in good shape so to build up a selection for your increased cycling time.
You also have time to watch CL, flee-bay, FB, etc for used bikes in good shape so to build up a selection for your increased cycling time.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
04-03-19, 09:28 AM
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Disagree strongly. Doing "nothing" every day soon becomes a routine, just like going to work every day was, and you can (very easily) adjust to the new work-free schedule in a few weeks. You adjust your expectations, and have about the same number of "good days" and "bad days" relatively speaking. Boredom becomes an issue and your mind starts inventing problems out of things that didn't used to bother you.
Terrible things the neighbors are doing, real or imagined health issues, noise, finances, relatives, pets, politics, family issues, inactivity, idleness, isolation, relationships with other people, whatever. You will find plenty of things to worry, obsess, and stress-out about. Doing nothing can become every bit as draining as going to work every day. And an idle life without a "purpose" (i.e., going to some stupid job every day) is fertile ground for depression, so it often takes a toll on your mental health too.
So I think "doing nothing" is highly overrated. Don't believe me? Don't get out of bed for a week, and see what happens.
Terrible things the neighbors are doing, real or imagined health issues, noise, finances, relatives, pets, politics, family issues, inactivity, idleness, isolation, relationships with other people, whatever. You will find plenty of things to worry, obsess, and stress-out about. Doing nothing can become every bit as draining as going to work every day. And an idle life without a "purpose" (i.e., going to some stupid job every day) is fertile ground for depression, so it often takes a toll on your mental health too.
So I think "doing nothing" is highly overrated. Don't believe me? Don't get out of bed for a week, and see what happens.
If there's one thing metastatic cancer taught me; it's ALL little stuff
04-03-19, 10:02 AM
#13
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I started looking into the "senior" discounts when I turned 50 (a long time ago at this point). I noticed that most of them weren't really a discount at all. Consider the senior menu at Denny's. It's actually less expensive, more selection, and just as much food to order a regular breakfast and share it with your spouse or riding partner.
I think they figure we're all older and we're easier to fool.
I think they figure we're all older and we're easier to fool.
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04-03-19, 10:37 AM
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I am only 54, but I still got an offer from Nigeria to accept funds for a percentage. Just sent them the $10,000 transaction fee I had to front. Waiting for the funds to be wired to me. Going to use them to get a custom ti bike with eTap. and carbon wheels. Jealous?
04-03-19, 10:44 AM
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04-03-19, 10:54 AM
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My very first senior discount was on a riverboat tour in Sacramento - I thought it was a low bar at 55, but I gladly took it.
Bought some beer on the way home at a convenience store and got carded.
Senior discount and carded for alcohol on the same day!
Bought some beer on the way home at a convenience store and got carded.
Senior discount and carded for alcohol on the same day!
04-03-19, 11:20 AM
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There is an old Italian saying ... "Dolce far Niente", which means "the sweetness of doing nothing."
Strangely enough, doing nothing and doing it with elan is something I have to work on ... it's an art.
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04-03-19, 12:39 PM
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dam, I remember 10 yrs ago when I joined this 50+ club ... guess it's a good thing I didn't eat all the cheese cake! perks of being older? 
old guys know stuff. how's that?
old guys know stuff. how's that?
04-03-19, 03:09 PM
#20
Senior Member
The only reason I say
”I did nothing today”
is
i forgot what I did
But i’m tired & sleep well every night:
somebody is
:cutting the firewood, mowing grass, riding
cleaning,servicing my bike,
planting -weeding garden
loosing my golf balls
filling the freezer with fish, garden veggies etc..etc..etc.........
Retirement is all it’s cracked up to be,
just
hard to remember the multitude of stuff you get to do each day
”I did nothing today”
is
i forgot what I did
But i’m tired & sleep well every night:
somebody is
:cutting the firewood, mowing grass, riding
cleaning,servicing my bike,
planting -weeding garden
loosing my golf balls
filling the freezer with fish, garden veggies etc..etc..etc.........
Retirement is all it’s cracked up to be,
just
hard to remember
the multitude of stuff you get to do each day
04-03-19, 03:35 PM
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A few years ago, when I was still in my 40s, my wife and I went to a movie and I was surprised how reasonable the tickets were. It was early evening and I thought that maybe we just got in the matinee window. Then I looked at my ticket and realized the kid at the box office had given us the senior discount. I assume it was the hair which was already mostly gray.
As for cycling, at 55 I can take retirement and finally have time to ride as much as I want. And I can start racing M55+. But that's not much comfort because all the fast guys who've been killing me since before will also be getting older too.
As for cycling, at 55 I can take retirement and finally have time to ride as much as I want. And I can start racing M55+. But that's not much comfort because all the fast guys who've been killing me since before will also be getting older too.
04-03-19, 04:24 PM
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Disagree strongly. Doing "nothing" every day soon becomes a routine, just like going to work every day was, and you can (very easily) adjust to the new work-free schedule in a few weeks. You adjust your expectations, and have about the same number of "good days" and "bad days" relatively speaking. Boredom becomes an issue and your mind starts inventing problems out of things that didn't used to bother you.
Terrible things the neighbors are doing, real or imagined health issues, noise, finances, relatives, pets, politics, family issues, inactivity, idleness, isolation, relationships with other people, whatever. You will find plenty of things to worry, obsess, and stress-out about. Doing nothing can become every bit as draining as going to work every day. And an idle life without a "purpose" (i.e., going to some stupid job every day) is fertile ground for depression, so it often takes a toll on your mental health too.
So I think "doing nothing" is highly overrated. Don't believe me? Don't get out of bed for a week, and see what happens.
Terrible things the neighbors are doing, real or imagined health issues, noise, finances, relatives, pets, politics, family issues, inactivity, idleness, isolation, relationships with other people, whatever. You will find plenty of things to worry, obsess, and stress-out about. Doing nothing can become every bit as draining as going to work every day. And an idle life without a "purpose" (i.e., going to some stupid job every day) is fertile ground for depression, so it often takes a toll on your mental health too.
So I think "doing nothing" is highly overrated. Don't believe me? Don't get out of bed for a week, and see what happens.
04-04-19, 08:54 AM
#23
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Disagree strongly. Doing "nothing" every day soon becomes a routine, just like going to work every day was, and you can (very easily) adjust to the new work-free schedule in a few weeks. You adjust your expectations, and have about the same number of "good days" and "bad days" relatively speaking. Boredom becomes an issue and your mind starts inventing problems out of things that didn't used to bother you.
Terrible things the neighbors are doing, real or imagined health issues, noise, finances, relatives, pets, politics, family issues, inactivity, idleness, isolation, relationships with other people, whatever. You will find plenty of things to worry, obsess, and stress-out about. Doing nothing can become every bit as draining as going to work every day. And an idle life without a "purpose" (i.e., going to some stupid job every day) is fertile ground for depression, so it often takes a toll on your mental health too.
So I think "doing nothing" is highly overrated. Don't believe me? Don't get out of bed for a week, and see what happens.
Terrible things the neighbors are doing, real or imagined health issues, noise, finances, relatives, pets, politics, family issues, inactivity, idleness, isolation, relationships with other people, whatever. You will find plenty of things to worry, obsess, and stress-out about. Doing nothing can become every bit as draining as going to work every day. And an idle life without a "purpose" (i.e., going to some stupid job every day) is fertile ground for depression, so it often takes a toll on your mental health too.
So I think "doing nothing" is highly overrated. Don't believe me? Don't get out of bed for a week, and see what happens.
I've enjoyed doing "nothing" for the past 6 years since retiring.
