rdnzl

66 years old and today I picked up the first bike I've ridden in probably 30 years. A nice shape used Giant Sedona. I chose it for the comfortable position it gives me. I am in OK shape, but gone are my days of hunching over on a bike. It rides quite nice, and has a comfortable seat. I like the shift mechanisms. Last time I rode a multi speed bike, it had little levers on the frame.

OldTryGuy

and I hope you ride it until it cries UNCLE!!!!

Random11

I was you three years ago. Bought a bike at age 67 after not having ridden one for 40 years. Like you, I got one with a more upright riding position, which I rode for 20 months. It took me a few months to get used to riding again. But after getting more comfortable riding, and riding almost every day, I decided I wanted drop bars so got a new bike. Your bike should last you forever, if you want it to, but if you're like me, you may want something else in a year or so.

rdnzl

There are some real nice paved trails in my area, that follow a river for about 20 miles. Nice and flat for the most part. That is where I will start out.

howbark

Hi. Similar situation here. 67 yrs old, got my first bike in forever back in early December. Trek Verve 1, an upright "comfort" style bike. I didn't ride much from mid-December until last couple of weeks, too cold and snowy. Anyway we (with my wife) are riding on paths, rails-to-trials etc at various places in our area (southeast PA). I went all out, got a hitch installed on my car, got the platform type bike rack for the hitch. Even reorganized my garage to make room -- bicycles hang on hooks on the wall (my motorcycle takes up a lot of room too).

Now all I gotta do is ride more. Did an 11 mile ride a few days ago (which was a lot for me) and hope to do a lot more, and more often.

Jumpski

Congratulations on the new purchase. Have fun, and be safe.

CaptainFanAus

I'm 40 today so still got a while to quilify for this discussion!

IdahoSpud

My situation is similar to yours, and several of the other posters up-thread. Back on the bike after a couple of decades off of it. I'm still riding the old school stuff though - partly because of it's cheaper, and partly due to emotional attachment to the old bike.

You are not alone by a long shot, it seems. Good luck to all of us!

Iride01 

Good for you. Cycling is a great cardio workout for your heart. Doesn't matter how fast or slow you go, just as long as you get your HR up for 20 or so minutes regularly.

Don't get so dead set already that you can't or won't ride in a different style later. Things will change if you cycle enough to get more fit. So don't limit your future riding by what you can do today because you haven't ridden in 30 years.

rdnzl

I was out for about an hour this morning. It was very peaceful. Birds were singing, and there was nobody else around.

Terex

Congrats! Sounds like a good setup. I started the same way in my 50's, ended riding at a very high level, bought several bikes and then didn't ride much in my 60's. Getting back into it a bit now at almost 70. And I know what you mean about the old down tube shifters - the new ones work sooo much better. Enjoy the ride!

rdnzl

I have a real cushy seat. Nothing like the old ones I remember.

Iride01 

Now you are just trying to start an argument. <grin>

rdnzl

My wife has a Schwinn trike. Its a beast. I don't like riding it. It just feels weird to me.

John E

I can't ride a trike. I tried a friend's pedicab once, and he warned me that folks with a heavily ingrained lean-to-steer habit will have trouble making it turn. Yes, I understand that you "just turn the bars," but I would have had to completely re-learn how to steer.

John E

Welcome to the New Old Guy from and Old Old Guy.

Because of significant physical coordination challenges, I was not able to balance a bicycle until the summer I turned 12, but once I got started, I was definitely hooked for life on the only sport I have ever truly, deeply loved. During COVID I have been putting a lot of miles on my mountain bike, for a combination of exercise, recreation, and transportation. I still enjoy my drop bar road bikes, but I have gravitated toward somewhat wider tires, and I am getting spoiled by the mountain bike's granny chainring, which I use more often than I care to admit. I also find that I really like barcons, so I may be converting from downtube shift levers on a couple of additional bikes.

rdnzl

Very true. That and I kept running a back wheel over things, or dropping it off the pavement when I made a slow sharp turn turn.

Artmo 

Old at 66???

rdnzl

Older than I was last year.

VegasTriker

I'm not at all surprised that you were turned off by your wife's trike. If it is a Schwinn, it is probably a Schwinn Meridian. The first three lines in the specification sheet for the Meridian pretty much tells it all Specifications: Dimensions: 72" x 44" x 30" Weight: 77 lbs. Weight capacity: ca 350 lbs. That's 2.33 times the weight of my current trike, a Catrike 700. That's not just heavy but obese. Don't tell your wife but we call these "granny trikes". The high seating and high center of gravity mean you have to take care when turning or you can get dumped. It's possible to do that on a quality, lightweight, low seating trike as well but I have done it just once in over 40K miles. Mine handles with the same ease as a regular bike.

rdnzl

She knows it's a granny trike. She only rides it on smooth, paved, walking/cycling trails in our area. Our small dog has a basket to ride in. It's a single speed, and doesn't do hills. When we looked for a trike, it was the only one in our price range. Some of them are WAY too expensive.

rdnzl

I wanted to head to the trail today, but every time I get loaded up, it starts raining.

rdnzl

Here it is.

rut3556

>>Old at 66???<<

Old indeed! I can't even remember back that far!

rdnzl

I been on a few short rides. The weather hasn't been very good. This is a FUN bike. Very comfortable, and it feels solid without being heavy. Nice comfortable seat. I may consider upgrading the pedals. When my shoes are wet on the bottom, I could us a bit more grip. Any reccommendations?