wrafl

Please tell us your age.
55 young.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Trek 700 and waiting on Dahon Speed 7 to arrive.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Take prescription medicines and one aspirin a day.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Not sure but I still could go the distance without pushing very hard.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
On and Off since a kid. Seriously biking within the last few years when weather is good.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Pretty much touring with occasional sprints on paved bike trails when no one around and is safe. Most recorded distance I covered is 35 miles according to a GPS trip meter and with fastest speed of 20MPH .

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Usually ride during nice weather in spring, summer and fall. My ride total according to my record for 2006 400 + miles.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
I do walk and average about 5-6 miles a day, but have since been replaced with cycling this past few years. Walking is fairly good for the health but when the distance reach past 9 or 10 miles, I have skin chaffing between legs and develop sores and irritated skin. Walking for conditioning is a great way to get back into cycling.

dennissimpson

So, here is my first contribution.


Some questions:

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Cannondale road bike CAAD 8



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Lot s of calcium--and I eat like a horse while riding



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
None


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
6 years



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Long rides, group rides, lots of climbing




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

about 4 times a week--7,500 miles in 2006--2,000 so far in 2007




Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply?? 57

rama_five

Please tell us your age.

58

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Recumbent - LWB Stratus XP

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Use a juice machine - kale, parsley, carrots, apples, cellary once a day

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I have a tendancy to "nap" now

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

On and off - all my life

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

long rides (30 - 50 miles per day 3 to 5 times per week)


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

3 to 5 times per week in the summer - 2 to 3 times per week in the winter

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Use a Total Gym exerciser

DnvrFox

Welcome!

wrafl
dennissimpson
rama_five
divingbiker
RoMad
outdoornut
rick11

And anyone else I missed.

Thanks for sharing your info!

Wes Johle

I just turned 68.

1. I ride a Look 585 with Dura Ace compnets, a Lemond Tete de Course, and a Lemond Big Sky SL.

2. I take blood pressure medicine (have most of my life), a multi level daily vitaman, and a daily fish Oil capsule.

3. I'm in my third year of riding and still increasing my speed. My best speed is an 18.4 mile average in a 70 mile rally.

4. I rode bikes some while I was a youth and have been riding road bikes for a little over 2 years.

5. I like to do no less than 25 miles at a time. Ususally do 30 to 40 miles rides each session, exceed 50 miles occasionally, and do 60 + miles on sponsored rallys.

6. I ride my bike 4 to 5 days a week. I rode 6,000 miles last year.

7. 95% of my exercise is on a bike, try to do some light weight lifting, push ups, sit ups, and leg lifts when possible.

Red Rider

Thanks for starting this...it's an interesting read.

springerlein

Hi, I am Heidi and live in seattle. I was born on a bike but have not used one for a while. Just bought a K2 bike at REI. Would love to find some people to ride with. I am in good shape and would love to do some day or longer trips.

springerlein

do you live any were near Seattle??? Looking for someone to ride with.....

outdoornut

I'm no where near Seattle, but just wanted to welcome you to the forum and back into biking. There
are a bunch of good people and information on the forum. I'm sure someone from your area will be
glad to show you some of the trails or roads, whichever you are into.

If you into XC riding and ever get out to West Virginia I'd be glad to show you some our awesome trails.
Again, Welcome and have a great time on that new K2.


ODN

donheff

Please tell us your age.

59 in August. Fully retired - volunteer work only.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

My wife and I have Specialized Crossroads hybrids. These are low end bikes but we only got serious (semi-serious?) a couple of months ago.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

A boatload.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I have slowed down on some stuff (e.g. used to play roller hockey) but picked up on others, e.g., cycling, snowboarding.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

I have casually ridden (occasional 5-10 mile rides) all my life. But only recently got interested in pursuing it more seriously.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

15-20 mile bike trail rides - expecting to increase the distance gradually. Recently took a tour in Italy. Looking forward to tours in the US.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

Currently twice a week about 15-20 miles. When the weather cools I hope to increase frequency and duration.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Weights at gym three times a week. Two to three walks weekly -- 2-5 miles. Occasional water skiing, windsurfing, snow skiing, snow boarding, and roller blading. Rare scuba. Once a week walk nine holes golf.

7west

Hi all

Age: 55

Chemicals: multi-v, fish oil, aminos, Co Q-10, glucosamine/chondroitin, for riding and running - Cytomax, Endurox with frozen blueberries, GU, Powerbar

Slower: yep but not as much as the younger guys I see around me

Biking: constantly and a few times a week, mt biking since 70's, racing in the 80's and early 90's

Riding: 1 1/2 - 3 hour rides in the hills, try to ride hard, 700 - 2500 feet gain

Frequency: 1-2 a week, but trying to increase that since working from home

Other: trail running, home gym, biking with the kids, family hikes, skiing

Thanks for asking

Chaco

Age: 59 in July

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Rans Stratus XP (LWB Recumbent)

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Centrum Silver vitamin; whey protein powder for protein shakes after weight training

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I can't run as fast as I could when I was 20. Otherwise, I'm very active.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

I biked every day 15 years ago, 20 miles a day. Then I had a ruptured disc in my neck and couldn't take riding a regular bike. Last week I sold my car and started riding a bike for the first time in 15 years.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

I bike for cardio benefits. Generally, I'll be doing 3 20+ mile rides during the week, plus a 50 to 100 mile ride on the weekend. At least, that's what I'm planning for now.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

4 to 5 days a week. I plan to do around 100 to 150 miles a week.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

I do weight training 3 times a week - 2 sessions for upper body and 1 for lower body, primarily squats and deadlifts.

az_cyclist

Please tell us your age.

I am 54

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

I ride a Trek 1500 most of the time. I also have a Diamondback mtb, but have not ridden it for a while.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

no

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I am faster now than when I was in my 30's and 40's, but I am riding more

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

I started riding regularly in about 1983

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

I do short training rides, 12-15, before work during the week. Longer rides (50+) with a club on the weekends


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?


2-5 days a week, depending on the season. The past few years I have ridden 4000+ per year

kwhman

Here is my info - at least to this point in time:

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Started riding a month ago on an Electra Townie 21 - now riding (just got it) Gary Fisher Montare

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
I'm tryin to get health and eat right but only supplements are One a Day for 50+ and Gluclosemine

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Until about 3 months ago - yes, but I have since lost 76 lbs and am more active than I've been in 10 yrs

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Started back 4 weeks ago - first time since 25 yrs old

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
It hasn't been long but I started barely able to do a mile - up to 5 miles in 30 minutes

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I ride at least 4 days per week - short rides during week and longer on Saturday

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
I do weight training 45 minutes, 3 days per week - arthritis in knees prevents walking, etc

Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??
54 yrs old TODAY

- kwhman

DnvrFox

Welcome

Wes Johlle
Red Rider
springerlein
outdoornut
donheff
7west
Chaco
az_cyclist
kwhman

Enjoy the forum!

Hoz

Here is my info :

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Just bought a used Trek 700 Multitrack. Going to restore my old 1972 Raleigh Grand Prix. I love that bike, but it was stored/abused in the mini barn for over a decade.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
I am a renal transplant patient 8 years post TX. I take handfuls of drugs 2x a day.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
You kiddin? The past few years have been a wasteland of physical activity. I finally decided to get off the couch!

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
New again. Started back 1 week ago - Last time was in the 70's.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Recreational riding, neighborhood, bike trails, flats and rollers, no hills yet.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
6 days a week. Started 5 miles 2x a day, now after a week 10 miles at one sitting. 60 miles a week and trying to build.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Not really, hate exercising but love the outdoors. All things canoeing. I have made several long distance wilderness canoe trips in Canada.

Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??
57.

az_cyclist

Thanks for the welcome, DnvrFox!

bobwag

Please tell us your age. 68

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride? I have had a Giant OCR1 for a year Tried to find a used model, but I am 6'4"/200#, and I found that I was hard to fit. I had a Cannondale hybrid, Adventure 400, as a starter when I retired three years ago. After a little local research, and the fact that I wanted to patronize a local shop, I found the Giant to be a good roadie for the price and my activity level.



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older? Multivitamin, B-6/12, folic acid, baby aspirin, flaxseed oil, CQ10. Started this at a Doc's suggestion after I had a stent inserted in 12/02.



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any? Used to run a little, 3-6 miles, 3-4 times/week. Knee got too stiff. A good friend just had a double knee replacement, and he says "Keep riding that bike!"
I have definitely slowed down- I notice that daily recovery is biggest effect.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life? Like most I biked up until high school. Started again after I retired in '03 in order to get vigorous exercise. Felt that I needed something to address the heart and to control my weight.



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race? Currently riding 15-30 miles, 3-4 times/week. Want to get in the 40-mile range, at a reasonable pace. so I can join a weekend ride. Also trying to get motivated for a MS 150. I do feel that I need to get with a group occasionally in order to stay motivated. I live in St Augustine, Florida, so the hills aren't a problem!




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage? See above.



7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.? Not much; however, I need to do some weights for upper body strength.




Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply?? 69 in December.

Thanks for doing this. Incredible site.

Beverly

Welcome bobwag.

St. Augustine is one of the few areas in Florida that I haven't visited. How is the biking in that area?

bobwag

There is good riding around here, although since my experience is limited to North Florida, I am not a good one to compare this area to another. I have ridden in the Charlottesville, VA area some, and the hills killed me. Jacksonville, about 30 miles north of St Augustine, has an active club. Their site is here: https://www.nfbc.us/ . I use the Coastal Highway (A1A), about 20 miles long between Jacksonville and St Augustine- two-lane with good bike lanes. Rides through the Old City are limited, although I do a nice route that skirts the edge and goes south out to the ocean area. The two group rides here are a little fast for me, but I am prepping for some rides between here and Jax

Ronsonic 

Hey. I'm 51 so just qualify.


1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
This one rides:
Redline Conquest for racing 'Cross and fun off road
GT Backwoods with Girvin fork
Steel frame road bike of unknown origin
1988 Fisher HKEK with fenders a rack and flat pedals.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
I take normal supplements, any "special" ones are secrets since I race and must maintain the code of silence.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I've slowed a lot. Anyone our age who is "in the best shape of his life" I'm a little sorry for. He must have missed out on a lot of health, fun and vigor.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Off and on my whole life. Seriously or competitively for about 4 years and back in the mid 80s I did short course tri's.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

Off road mostly, mountain biking and cyclocross in season.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

I'm out riding a couple times a week in summer. Much more in fall and winter. I'll ride for 1.5 - 3 hours at a time.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Have recently started working out in a gym.

I've been posting in the forums for awhile now, but mostly over in cx.

Ron

Roadiedvm

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Trek 2100 for a couple of years, tried a Specialized Roubaix and didn't like it, am refitting some components on a Bianchi 928 that I hope will be my main bike

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Multi vitamin, omega-3, glucosamine/chondroitin, vit E, ginko

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Certainly some. I probably couldn't run a 6 1/2 minute mile any longer, the last time I ran being 15 years ago. My work has physical demands that seem no more taxing than they did 30 years ago but continuing to be able to meet those demands is one reason I have gotten more heavily into cycling.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Off and on all my life. Regularly for 2 years.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Fairly long training rides, up to 80 miles. Have ridden a few centuries in the past year.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
4-6 days/week. 4500 miles last year.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Weight lifting to maintain upper body strength

Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??: 60. (And I work in Parker and ride CCT and the 470 trail often).

Baftap

I've been reading this forum for about a year now, so I guess its time I introduced myself:

Please tell us your age.
55 -- much younger between the ears, but occaisionally the body tweaks me just a bit to remind me how old I really am.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
My new baby is a Giant TCR-C2 that I'm still dialing in.
I also ride a 15 year old "road biased" Bianchi hybrid and I'm in the process of converting my old Fuji road bike to singlespeed.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Glucosamine/chondroitin is the only OTC supplement I take and it seems to help. I'm also on a prescription med for HBP, but the doc has been reducing the dosage since I've started riding again.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
I can't keep up with the super fit 20- and 30- somethings for very long (but thats ok - I was their age once too).

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Seems like forever. I rode quite a bit until we had kids, but when they got old enough to ride on their own I switched from a road bike to a hybrid that I used to ride with them (and hope fully taught them some good riding habits). With work and all my mileage dropped to negligible levels until last year when I deceided to change my lifestyle and get back into it. I rode a thousand miles last year (and lost 40 lbs in the process) so I rewarded myself with the TCR.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
I ride for fitness, mostly alone. I'm doing at least one long charity ride in a big group this summer. I also harbor a not-so-secret desire to do a tour in Italy (but haven't been able to sell the better half on this - yet). No desire to race.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I try to ride approx 20 miles three or four days a week with one longer ride (40-50 miles) once a week. I'm on track for riding over 2000 miles this year.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Love the water - I sail, kayak a bit, and fish.

Yen

I guess it's about time I did this...

Please tell us your age.
51


1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Currently, 2006 Giant Cypress SX. In my 20s I rode a road bike but I don't remember anything else about it.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Sometimes a multi-vitamin, occasionally calcium/magnesium.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
I have sped up since I lost weight and exercise almost every day. I was sluggish when I was totally sedentary. Otherwise I don't feel I have slowed down at all.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Rode a bit when I was young, occasionally in my 20s, then I finally caught the fever 3 months ago.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Recreational rides so far (the longest being 24 miles), trying to add a little more mileage each time. Our goal is to achieve long rides with ease.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Mostly weekends so far but I'm beginning to fit in evening rides for 30-45 minutes during the week to prepare for longer weekend rides. We haven't been riding long enough to estimate annual mileage, but last month (June) I rode 80+. I hope to beat that by many miles this month!

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Walking, and weight training arms and core muscles. We talk about adding hiking.

hypoden

Hi,
My name is Charlie, I live in Syracuse, New York, have been biking for three years now. I try and get out at least once a week for a 10 - 15 mile ride. Have an old Bianchi bike and an older Cannondale, also have had a couple of Trek bikes. I buy my bikes used on ebay, try them and either keep or resell. I belong to a cycle club, but never seem to find the time to get out with them. Two years ago I went 45 miles on once of their rides. I take a vitamin for aching joints that helps. Recovery time is longer, especially if I haven't ridden in awhile. At least half of the members of the cycle club are 40 or older, with many seniors riding long distances. I love it and think it's a great way to exercise. I used to jog but my knees couldn't take it any more. Love this sight. Happy riding all!