schundog

I turned 50 on December 30, so I guess I'm in the club! Looking for encouragement going forward.

The good news is, I am very motivated to ride. My 15 year old daughter and I have really upped our game in the last year or so, doing 30, 40, 50 mile charity rides on Hybrid bikes! We both got road bikes this year, with her getting a Specialized Dolce and me getting a Masi CXR Cyclocross and a Trek Crossrip 3, so we are hoping to do even longer rides, maybe a metric century. She is a great kid, motivating me to ride every weekend for at least 20 miles/day, and she is even trying to organize a biking club at her High School.

I am in sales, and travel around quite a bit in our state. I have been hauling around my old Specialized Mountain Bike for end-of-the-day single track rides, wherever I am. I had expressed intrigue over Fat Bikes recently, and the kid took notice. She, her Mom, and her big Sis surprised me with a entry level Fat Bike for Christmas/Birthday. Nice surprise, but it's so cheap, I will have to do some upgrades on the sly to make it dependable. For now, I have enjoyed riding it around the subdivision and through the park in our neighborhood with our recent snow. I definitely feel like a little kid again, and wish I had this thing when I was a paperboy 40 or so years ago!

bogydave

Welcome
Sounds like you’ll be well motivated !

5 bikes , a great start.

Wildwood 

Riding with family brings out the best in being together.


Welcome to BF, welcome to 50+.
Stay active with us thru 65+ Sticky thread.

OldTryGuy

A belated

Here's hoping you can continue enjoying the benefits of bicycling with the company of your family as Father Time advances forward.

BTW, don't forget about the Birthday Ride that equates to your birthday age.

qcpmsame 

Don't forget to memorize the pledge, and learn the secret handshake. I would tell you the pledge and describe the handshake, but they are a secret you know.

Welcome to the 50+ Asylum, good to have you aboard here. At least we don't have to yell at another kid to "Get Off Of Our Grass!!!"

Bill

BobbyG

...and the initiation...a baseline colonoscopy! (which is, BTW, a literal "Rite of Passage")

Welcome!

berner

A bike club at school is a great idea. I would suggest your daughter browse this web site for ideas on safe riding. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart Furthermore, there is likely a bike club in the area that may already have rides for newbies and some of the members may be willing to act as mentors to a high school cyclists. Whatever the case, there is much information on the web where students may draw on the experience of long time cyclists for a better and safer cycling experience. Experience may be the best teacher but it does not have to be your own experience.

schundog

Ah, well, ahem.... I have to admit, when I get into a hobby, I'm kind of, well, CRAZY?! haha. I had a couple bikes before I REALLY got into it, but somehow, it has turned into:

1985 Trek 400 Road Bike
80s Specialized mountain bike (two of 'em)
2017 Specialized Sirrus hybrid
2017 Cannondale Quick 5 hybrid
2013 Masi CXR Cyclocross/Road bike (35 mm tires, caliper brakes; I'm not crazy enough for cyclocross!)
2017 Trek Crossrip 3
2017 Mongoose Dolemite Fat Bike

Honest, it's not my fault, totally.... Some of these were simply too good of a deal to pass up, and I fully intend to get rid of a couple... maybe... if I don't take too much of a hit.

schundog

Well, that was the plan, but since it was around 2 degrees with a -15 windchill, or something like that, I decided to take a raincheck! I DID ride the fatbike around the neighborhood, and got lots of odd stares from neighbors shoveling their driveways....

schundog

Thaks for that. I couldn't be more proud of her. She's having some challenges with the faculty sponsor not getting back with her on decisions in a timely fashion, and is getting frustrated. She has the full support of 2 of the larger LBS in town, and both local bike advocacy groups are eager to help, as well. I hope it works out for her.

schundog

I'll work on that, Bill, haha. And thanks for your service. I was Army National Guard from 1985-2001. Signal Corps.

berner

Whoops, I forgot to post the link.https://www.bikeleague.org/

astrodust

Kudos to you and your daughter for your enthusiasm for cycling. Most teenagers ( and especially girls) quit riding at that age and never start again. My daughter ( who is 19 now) used to ride with me but quit around middle school when it was no longer "cool" to be seen on a bike.

Maelochs

hate to break it to you ... but at that age it is the parent the child doesn't want to be seen with. The bike was no problem.

J/K of course ...........

Dan Burkhart 

Especially if that parent is all dolled up in spandex.No kid wants to admit they are related to you.

schundog

Yeah, I really try to limit my lycra wear; as the kid told me one time when I was wearing cycling shorts "umm, Dad, I can't "unsee" that...."

Jon T

Another Dec 30th baby here but I've got you by 13 years. We're in good company tho. Some celebs who share our bday:
Jack Lord
Tiger Woods
Bo Diddley
Sandy Kofax
Just to name a few.
Jon

rumrunn6

welcome, old man ;-)

schundog

HEY!! Err, I mean, umm, Thanks. Sorry, I'm still a little Salty about the whole "50" thing, not to mention the recent badgering from AARP....:

OldsCOOL

Glad you made it. Now get out there and ride.

Cyclist0084

I guess I'm lucky. I hit the "Big 5-0" 3 1/2 years ago and I haven't gotten any (junk) mail from AARP. I guess they didn't get the memo.

work4bike

I got in about three years ago.

Advice to OP: Do not spend too much time in here, you'll start to feel old -- too many threads about serious age-related illnesses and challenges. Stay young in body and mind

rumrunn6

oh sorry. I forgot what a dark day that was for me. don't worry you're not alone & it's not so bad well, except for the mail

Maelochs

What bother me isn't the guys droning on and on about their decaying bodies ... it is the handful of 75- and 85-year-olds that can ride better at that age than i could at 35, and make me by comparison look like one of those broken-down couch potatoes we are all trying so hard not to be.