Fog_Man

Check out Bike Florida for organized bike rides in your and my areas. I am in Gainesville. Friend Ron Cunningham is the Executive Director (title ?) of
https://www.facebook.com/BikeFL/?ref=br_rs&pnref=lhc

Ron is retired as editorial page editor of the Gainesville Sun. Ron would be age qualified to be on this thread.

JohnTechwriter

It's immensely gratifying to read posts from guys 70 and over who are still going strong on their bikes. At 66, I am confident I've got plenty of good years ahead of me.

I see a lot of guys my age riding solo in the Berkeley and Oakland hills where I live. Like me, they probably feel "aged out" of younger groups, where many of the riders are angling to get the fastest Strava segment or otherwise outpace the rest of the group.

I like riding with guys my age, where we can talk as we spin along at a good clip.

So a few days ago I started a Meetup (Meetup.com) called "Sport Cyclists Over 60". Every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. we'll gather at a Berkeley cafe, then do a 17-mile route that takes us all the way up Grizzly Peak on one side of Berkeley, along the top, then all the way back down. This will be a ride for serious cyclists; recreational riders will not be able to do it. But it will be a no-drop ride with regroups. The veterans among us will not be left behind.

My Meetup went online just a couple of days ago and is already a big hit -- I've already got 27 riders signed up. As is typical with Meetup, probably far fewer will show up at the weekly ride. But even if I have to ride alone some weeks, I'll be at the start point every Tuesday like clockwork. While it will provide all participants with a good workout, this will also be a social ride. Swapping stories and making friends my age who are still avid riders are essential to my game plan. If you're in the Bay Area, check out the details on my Meetup page and come along!

RonH

No riding yesterday because I had an AM appointment with the uro surgeon for my 7 month follow-up. My PSA is still 0 so no cancer.
Went out today to do my usual ride. Luckily I got out before the rain got here.
LIFE IS GOOD.

gringomojado

Am 67,did 3 blocks today,average speed was 3mph

RonH

That's a great start. Next time try for a mile. What bike do you ride?

Miami Biker

Sorry for those with medical ailments, you are truly troopers.

Since moving to South Florida started riding (8 years ago). Now ride with group whose average age is low 50s, Saturday ride 50-60 miles and average moving over 19 MPH, with stretches of 23-25. On Tuesdays and Thursday's early morning ride of about 30 miles averaging 19.5 to over 20; average age low 40s.

Four of us keep up, the strongest is 68.5, then two of us 71 and one 72. Yes we pull too. Two weeks ago did Frank Stsrk ride from Boca to West Palm Beach, metric century and averaged over 19.5 with long stretches of 20-22.

Not bragging in any way, just to let those interested in knowing some old timers are working hard and consider every day a blessing.

gringomojado

Madona by Truck!

RonH

A Trek Madone? That bike is for long fast rides. Get out there and ride.

tsurr

Great news, happy for you

3bluebikes

June 29, 2016. We parked our Grand Caravan at Elroy Wisconsin and rode our tandem (700 x 37 tires) to Sparta on the Elroy Sparta Trail to celebrate our 53rd wedding anniversary. We stayed at the Best Western and rode back next day. (We had phoned to make sure we could have the bike in our room overnight.) Trail has been kept in great shape. Only the first few miles from the Elroy end were not shaded. One surprise, we met a small cow on the trail as we exited one of the tunnels on the return leg. We talked to her quietly as we walked the bike slowly toward her and she climbed back up the embankment to the opening in the fence where another young cow was waiting. Most enjoyable little get away.

tsurr

hard for us old East Tenn, guy to see speed like that, most of our ride are hills and valleys

rawly old

Careful Gringo, you don't want to over do it.

digibud

A week or so after my 65th I got a great ride in Denali National Park. 36miles, 3000+ feet of climbing with some 14% grades (short sections), average speed 8.3mph, avg cadence 70.

Wildwood 

Hey Miami, how bout a photo of that 65+ group. Love your routine.

Wildwood 

Been trying to get lots of summer miles before Fall and wetter weather set in.

Miami Biker

Thanks. One is recovering from a fall....

mellowyellow

Humans can be such bad influences on each other....if you feel like overland to Siberia ...go for it. Millions will stop you if they can. But I confess..Ive got an e-bike, now. And not enough plugholes.... Fallen off a couple of times ...nothing broke.

jimgude

As a 65 year old, I barely qualify for this thread. Of course, my triple bypass has slowed me a bit as well; does that count? By the way, have the rest of you noticed how hills are much steeper now than when you climbed them 40 years ago? Funny, scientists say geology changes slowly; so how do they account for the hills growing steeper in only 40 years? Life is full of mysteries.

All the Best
Jim

digibud

The hills in this area are less steep every year and that's by a pretty big margin in spite of having had the fun of two heart attacks. The fun cardio time was more than balanced by dropping around 80lb, which I initiated before my heart said oops. OK....maybe they're steeper than 40 years ago but I don't remember that far back.

JanMM

Hills that I could get up with a 39/28 gear in my 20's now require a 30/32 - that usually but not always works.

jimgude

Same here, I have become a bg fan of triple cranksets.

Cheers
Jim

tsurr

yes, they get steeper at age 72, especially if I haven't ridden then in several years, I still like to ride on gravel roads in Cherokee National Forest, but there are lots of hills, still enjoyable

philbob57

My area is pretty flat. Even so, I switched from 49/46 in front to 45/42 last winter, and it was much easier to get into half way decent shape this year. In fact, I could reinstall the 49/46, but it's too much work....

What's really bothering me are things like:

1) I don't really like riding on cloudy days; clouds never bothered me before.
2) I don't like riding on windy days; well, I guess i never did.
3) If it's under 70 F degrees, I feel cold ... I've ridden when it was a dry 35. (I bought some arm and leg warmers.)

OTOH, age has made me so much wiser now.... :-)

RonH

I saw the doc today and got some excellent news. I can start driving as of today and I can start riding again in 3 weeks (Oct 3) . The way he talked with me after the surgery and the way I was sliced open I thought I'd be off the bike until Halloween or possibly Thanksgiving. So I'm counting down the days.

Wildwood 

Congrats.
Good news relates strongly to a faster recovery.