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Over 50 with modern road bikes?

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Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Over 50 with modern road bikes?

Old 08-24-20, 01:50 PM
  #176  
UnderDawgAl
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Age 49 here. Can I play?

2012 Cannondale Synapse 4 Rival, which is a carbon fiber frame bike.
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Old 08-26-20, 10:28 AM
  #177  
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Old 08-26-20, 11:37 AM
  #178  
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This was a graduation present. My son completed his Masters in 18 months and was already living with his GF and had a job. So since my daughter was already off the family payroll I decided to upgrade my 2011 Madone 4.6 to a 2015 Project One Emonda SLR with Red eTap and Zipp 303 wheels. I was driving a 2001 Civic with 260,000 miles but knew if I replaced the car i'd never get a new bike. I ride the cap out of it and have over 26,000 with 3000 already this year. BTW, the year after the head gasket went for the 2nd time in the Civic so I bought a new Subaru.

All I can say, if you can afford it.. .do it. a nice bike makes you a better rider since you want to ride it more.

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Old 08-27-20, 02:00 PM
  #179  
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Modern steel: Wraith Hustle
Modern carbon: Cipollini Logos
Neither has a long history of bike manufacture.
Pics of the Colnago when it's done.



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Old 08-27-20, 04:56 PM
  #180  
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I have yet to replace a road bike with a new model so I miss out on that feeling of amazement. Still on the Nashbar build from 2012, though upgraded of course.
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Old 08-27-20, 10:32 PM
  #181  
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For my 52nd birthday this month I bought this Ritchey Logic road bike. It is a very sweet ride. Is it modern? Well, sort of. Steel tubes, rim brakes, cables and not eTap. I am not anti-tech, but this bike just seemed like a good fit for me. It is about 10 pounds lighter than my Canondale touring bike so I am having a lot of fun zipping around these days.
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Old 08-27-20, 10:56 PM
  #182  
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Age 59 - this is the Canyon

- I've been hankering after a new bike for a while. Not that I truly needed one. My Felt is an unbelievable road machine - I love it to bits. But the Felt is 9 years old, things are wearing out, and though the ride got even better when I added (LightBicycle) carbon wheels for it last year, the carbon rims made the rim brakes feel pretty dicy. So I began dreaming of this Canyon (Utimate 9 SLX). Disk brakes and Dura Ace DI2 to boot, This winter, I was aware that it was possible that I would be selected for a very high career-capping honor in the spring, and so I told myself that if that happened, I could buy myself the dream bike. In February, I said to myself, "oh hell, that isn't going to happen. And besides, the stock market is high -and I should get that bike anyway.." So I did. Later, the honor happened too.....



Photo isn't perfect and also for this ride I just have crappy 105 SPD-SL pedals. Normal pedals are the Favero-Assiomas.

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Old 08-29-20, 04:32 PM
  #183  
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This bike represents a significant upgrade for me since I parted ways with my Trek 1500. For now, I've been splitting time in the saddle between a Scott Metrix hybrid and my trusty lugged Trek 970 which also fills a duel role during the winter months here. I will continue to receive enjoyment in owing and riding those bikes irrespective of this latest acquisition. I should mention that I got the Creo SL as an early 60th B-day gift for myself. To enhance the versatility of this bike, I'll likely complement it with a gravel wheelset. With that said, it's always nice to have one eye on the past and one eye on the future.

FWIW, I'm recently retired and looking forward to many more hours in the saddle.

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Old 08-31-20, 07:31 PM
  #184  
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2008 928 c2c great bike all 105.

craigslist find..$200 3 weeks ago love it

this is my very rare bianch Ti mega tube with cantilever brakes.. craigslist find......fast fun. turn 55 in October.
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Old 08-31-20, 08:44 PM
  #185  
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Originally Posted by Wileyone
I love Classic Steel but my most "modern" bike is a Dekerf Prodigy made in 1998 in Richmond B.C. out of Reynolds 853.
Is that a custom job with brake cables hidden under the wrapping? Can't imagine how that would be done, not that I ever looked inside these brakes to see if the cable could be re-routed directly back towards the handlebar.

Nice to see I am not the only one using DT friction shifters. My bike dates back to ~1975 but only things on it that date that far back are the frame and brakes, everything else had been replaced with 1990s Suntour and other parts, like the shifters and FD are Campagnolo, saddle something Italian... Only now @63 I bought secondhand CF Trek 2007 model (Equinox TTX 9.5 in red color) but didn't get to ride it properly yet, maybe I will find it is beyond my comfort zone but if I didn't try, I would never know, right?

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Old 09-01-20, 02:46 PM
  #186  
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Will be 58 at the end of this year; my Focus Izalco was feeling too stiff and my riding position was low for my lower back. Found a leftover 2019 Roubaix Expert Di2 and loving it so far-- so comfortable.

BTW I sold my Focus in 4 hours and a Santa Cruz MTB the same day on CL.. yay Pandemic Bike Boom!
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Old 09-06-20, 04:33 PM
  #187  
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I think I will chime in; I am 64 years old and am a relatively large guy that has dropped close to 200 lbs. With that said, my workhorse bicycles that I ride within my community are my Townie Electras (I've got two of them and they have been great bikes) but as I've gained confidence I do hit the open road more these days so I have upgraded to a Domane. Wow, what a difference in weight, speed, and just feel of the bicycle.

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Old 09-06-20, 07:26 PM
  #188  
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I ride an equal number of days on both vintage steel and modern carbon (more miles on the modern bikes).
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Old 11-24-20, 12:03 AM
  #189  
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Originally Posted by ButchA
Here's a question that might have been asked before, or maybe not...

Since we are all over 50 in this forum, do any of you have a current, high tech, carbon frame, road bike? Or are some of you like me, and keep things simple, C&V, and a little "old school" style?

I'm not acting all funny towards the latest, greatest, Cannondale/Specialized/Cervelo/Trek/whatever flavor/etc... I mean, I have ridden a few in a LBS, and to be honest and with sort of a confession: They scared the $*#& out of me! Way too quick, too snappy and twitchy, and most importantly - I felt like I was going to topple over the handlebars!

Can an older guy actually comfortably ride a race style bike like that? I just know that at 55, 6'0" and 212 lbs, I would be a nervous wreck riding a $5000 CF road bike with all the bells and whistles. It might break in two under my weight! Maybe that was an idiotic statement, maybe not...

I see the "younger crowd" with the high tech road bikes, all decked out in a full kit, and they're out there hauling butt. That's cool... Have a great time, dude... I'll catch up to you eventually...

My main question: Is there anything wrong with keeping things "old school"? I don't see myself parting ways with my C&V '85 Fuji road bike. Granted, yes, it's 31 years old, quad butted steel tubing, downtube shifters, etc... but it is built solid and will just keep on keepin' on.
57 years young, First post here. I’m still riding a 1993 Trek 730 hybrid but looking at upgrading soon to a lighter road bike. The trek has served me well as a weekend exercise rider and across two continents, but I’ve felt for several years that I deserve a better bike as the newer tech is much better. And even easier to justify now as I have been riding more thanks to the idiotic closure of my local gym.

I would gladly ride a $5000 bike - it doesn’t scare me any more than driving an $80k BMW or Benz instead of a cheapo Honda or Toyota. But that said there is no way I would spend even half that much - I don’t see how I could justify it but maybe I need to spend some time here lol.
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Old 11-24-20, 08:00 AM
  #190  
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I’m 67 and just bought a higher end road bike with Di2 and upgraded the rims. I thought about whether I should spend this much on a race oriented bike. Frankly, it came down to the fact I like riding (relatively) fast with other riders and I can afford it. I also wondered if I should get an endurance road bike, with more relaxed ergonomics. Nah. An incentive to be fit and flexible!

I’ve ridden it twice (Saturday and Monday) for 30 and 38 miles respectively. Wednesday’s ride is 50 miles. I’m happy with my decision. Now it’s all down to the engine.

On the other hand, I have an early Gary Fisher full suspension 29er mountain bike. I ride this on local trails with my son, once a week. Would I benefit from something more up to date? Probably. But I don’t do jumps (intentionally) or double black diamonds. And it’s a conversation piece with some of the other riders we meet on the trail, who say they had a Gary Fisher, back in the day....



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Old 11-24-20, 10:22 AM
  #191  
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75 and still riding the '99 carbon Trek 5200 I bought new. This is the frame, though not the same size or components, that Lance won his first Tour on. What I really like about this particular race bike is that it's so easy to ride. It goes where it's pointed, never has a wobble, corners and accelerates beautifully. I wonder if the current crop is still like this, really easy to ride? The aggressive geometry is fine. The bike hasn't changed in 20 years and neither have I, except power isn't what it was, nor probably is endurance, but the bike doesn't care.
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Old 12-08-20, 06:49 AM
  #192  
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Most of my miles this year have been on a Chesini Innovation from the early ‘90s (Columbus EL-OS steel) fitted with R7000 105 groupset and H+Son Archetype wheelset. The combination of a modern group and wheels with a steel frame is hard to beat imho.
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Old 12-08-20, 03:15 PM
  #193  
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Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
75 and still riding the '99 carbon Trek 5200 I bought new. This is the frame, though not the same size or components, that Lance won his first Tour on. What I really like about this particular race bike is that it's so easy to ride. It goes where it's pointed, never has a wobble, corners and accelerates beautifully. I wonder if the current crop is still like this, really easy to ride? The aggressive geometry is fine. The bike hasn't changed in 20 years and neither have I, except power isn't what it was, nor probably is endurance, but the bike doesn't care.
My first "real" bike was a '00 5200. I got to Cat 3 on that bike (still am, but that has nothing to do with the bike).
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Old 12-08-20, 05:24 PM
  #194  
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Originally Posted by UnderDawgAl
Age 49 here. Can I play?

2012 Cannondale Synapse 4 Rival, which is a carbon fiber frame bike.
We could probably sneak you in by conception date. Besides, isn’t that our true age? After that we just get older.
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Old 12-11-20, 04:58 PM
  #195  
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I'm 62, long time cyclist. Raced in my teens in the 1970's and still enjoy bikes of that era. Quite happy with my Mercier.

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Old 12-11-20, 05:21 PM
  #196  
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^ posted to wrong topic? Definitely not modern.
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Old 12-11-20, 08:42 PM
  #197  
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Originally Posted by GeneO
^ posted to wrong topic? Definitely not modern.
Thread is asking a question. So my answer is "no".
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Old 12-12-20, 03:47 PM
  #198  
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Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
75 and still riding the '99 carbon Trek 5200 I bought new. This is the frame, though not the same size or components, that Lance won his first Tour on. What I really like about this particular race bike is that it's so easy to ride. It goes where it's pointed, never has a wobble, corners and accelerates beautifully. I wonder if the current crop is still like this, really easy to ride? The aggressive geometry is fine. The bike hasn't changed in 20 years and neither have I, except power isn't what it was, nor probably is endurance, but the bike doesn't care.
I too had a 5200 and you perfectly captured the description of how it rides. I loved how that bike felt on the road, especially on rougher pavement. I’d probably still be riding it if the hanger bracket hadn’t bent to a point that was beyond repair. A broken spoke on the rear Bontrager wheel dropped down into the rear derailleur. Ugh.

I’ve had several carbon bikes since that one and I think they all ride very similarly to the 5200. They are a little lighter which is due to the carbon frame, components and wheels being a little lighter. The newer ones seem stiffer, too but in a good way. I’ve had bikes that vibrate you uncomfortably but the bumps in my newer ones seemed to be absorbed by the wheels and frame more. They also feel like they accelerate a little quicker which helps me stay on wheels and close gaps. Are they faster? Not after they are up to speed. I still smile a big grin when I think about riding my 5200. Mine was black. What color is yours?
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Old 12-12-20, 03:51 PM
  #199  
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Originally Posted by GeneO
^ posted to wrong topic? Definitely not modern.
Might be more modern than what they rode before!
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Old 12-12-20, 08:36 PM
  #200  
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Originally Posted by jppe
I too had a 5200 and you perfectly captured the description of how it rides. I loved how that bike felt on the road, especially on rougher pavement. I’d probably still be riding it if the hanger bracket hadn’t bent to a point that was beyond repair. A broken spoke on the rear Bontrager wheel dropped down into the rear derailleur. Ugh.

I’ve had several carbon bikes since that one and I think they all ride very similarly to the 5200. They are a little lighter which is due to the carbon frame, components and wheels being a little lighter. The newer ones seem stiffer, too but in a good way. I’ve had bikes that vibrate you uncomfortably but the bumps in my newer ones seemed to be absorbed by the wheels and frame more. They also feel like they accelerate a little quicker which helps me stay on wheels and close gaps. Are they faster? Not after they are up to speed. I still smile a big grin when I think about riding my 5200. Mine was black. What color is yours?
Mine was blue. The paint started failing pretty early. I had it repainted on warranty, but they must not have stripped it down, because that paint job peeled, too. A few years ago, I finally sanded all the paint off the frame and left it naked. I spray it with 3M protectant to keep the UV off. The fork is still blue. That paint must not have been done in the same batch because it's still fine. I really like the naked look. The workmanship on the frame is just beautiful. I've had people who didn't know much about Calfees ask me if mine was one.

I wore out the brake tracks on the original Rolf wheels in the first couple seasons, riding it year 'round here. I found a couple of NOS Rolfs and rode them for a while. I finally built a rain bike, put Open Pro Ceramic wheels on it. Those tracks are still fine. The Trek now has some deep and wide alu wheels with CX-Ray spokes. It's spending the winter on my rollers.
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