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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.

65-85+ Thread

Old 09-22-08, 01:33 PM
  #101  
solveg
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Originally Posted by DnvrFox
Ahem!! Err . . .

Sorry DnvrFox, you're just too much fun not to tweak every once in a while. I'll let the door hit me on the way out.
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Old 09-22-08, 01:47 PM
  #102  
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Just had a birthday

My wife is half my age. My son is now fifteen. My mom-in-law is three years older than I. I got a "Happy Birthday", from the forum. That made me feel great. 67 is the new number. My wife says I am closer to 30 now. Thats in health, Hint, hint. Anyhow, thanks for the birthday greeting.
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Old 09-22-08, 01:53 PM
  #103  
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Boomers Plus Means Seniors

DnvrFox, the answer is yes.... The PLUS part of my blog title refers to those older than Boomers. The truth is, we seniors don't much like being called seniors. It's OK to be a senior in high school or a senior vice president of a company. In life, in the age-obsessed U.S., it is not OK to be a "senior" in terms of age. I originally called my blog "Cycling for Oldsters." My age cohort hated it. I took a poll and discovered the largest group of voters preferred to be included in "Boomers Plus." You can see all this in the archilves on the blog.

That said, I find many similarities in complaints, fitness, aches & pains and touring choices between "boomers" and "seniors." Also, many of us who are technically seniors relate more to boomers in choices of music (Beatles, not show tunes) and exercise (biking, not shuffleboard.)

best, Amazingrace
Cycling for Boomers...Plus
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Old 09-22-08, 01:57 PM
  #104  
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I was thinking a bit about the differences between the 65+ generation and the Boomers!

I think the Vietnam War, and all associated with that era affected us quite differently, and did make some differences in how we see or how we are or SOMETHING!!

I was in the Air Force at the very beginning of our sending "advisors" to Vietnam. I got out in August of 1965, and some of the troops in our squadron had or were being sent to Vietnam.

But, in our eyes, at that time, the government was pretty much always right (except for the cockroaches in the dining hall).

Many of us thought that pot was a black thing on a cook stove.

We had survived the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bay of Pigs and all that, and we still carried a desk around to duck under in case of nuclear attack, but, I posit, that we 65+'rs grew up in a quite different time.

Okay, now that I have opened that can of worms - any reactions?
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Old 09-22-08, 03:47 PM
  #105  
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Originally Posted by Amazingrace
I am especially interested in any trips you have done that you would recommend for others, and also in fitness routines that you have to keep yourselves in shape for biking at this "advanced" age.

best regards,
Grace
I'm 66 and semi-retired. My wife is 64 and still working. We both enjoy bicycle touring, but don't have the time for weeks away from home, nor the desire to push ourselves 100 miles/day. We also prefer a jacuzzi and good restaurants to camping.

So we take self supported credit card tours. It lets us get away for two to five days, riding at a pace and covering distances comfortable for us, on routes of our choice. We can stop to take pictures any time we feel like it, and, if we find something really interesting, we can stop short of our intended destination.

A typical 3 day trip would look like: On Day 1: Leave from our driveway, head out 50 or 60 miles, take in some sights, eat at a good restaurant, and overnight in a motel. Day 2: Ride around the area a little to take in more sights, visit interesting places, or just hang out on the beach. Day 3: Return the 50 or 60 miles home.

One variation is to haul the bikes by car to an area or trail head of interest. Park the car in a safe lot and bike out on the tour.

Another variation is to take the train. In Illinois, a bike can be rolled onto many Amtrack or Metra trains without having to box it and check it as baggage. So we can ride the bike to a train station, take the train to a place of interest, then bike back home. That is not possible on all Amtrack routes.

Last edited by Recycle; 09-22-08 at 05:11 PM.
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Old 09-22-08, 07:56 PM
  #106  
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born 12 /42, retired since 01. ride 90+ mi a week. don't care if they call me senior , or old fa-rt or what ever.remember VE day and VJ day..tried to enlist in the 60's since I got a draft notice, Failed the physical.1Y. took my first bike apart in 1950. (my best friend's dad owned a bike/locksmith/lawnmower/saw sharpening shop,and we spent a lot of time fooling around there) We bolted a schwin and an English bike together and made a tandem, Got stopped by the cop for speeding on main street.Don't quite understand the"boomers" Oh well... BP is down after getting back on the bike.Have Ham radio, and Furniture building, and 3cushion billiards, (only old far-ts even know what that is)All is well....Bud

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Old 09-23-08, 12:01 AM
  #107  
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67 in 3 months but I don't think of that as particularly defining. I finished grad school when I was 57 and was hang gliding on my 60th birthday (hang crashing, actually.) Seems like I started most of the good stuff later than most. Most of my recumbents are home-builts, and for long periods of time hanging out in my shop cutting, filing and welding...and dreaming of long tours have been my fuel. We bought my mom her very first bicycle for her 89th birthday, an EZ-3 recumbent trike. Now at 93 she still rides 5+ miles most days. What's funny is that she considers derailleurs as an unnecessary complication, and even though the trike has 27 speeds, she has NEVER shifted the bike even once.
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Old 09-23-08, 06:03 PM
  #108  
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[QUOTE=Recycle;7521182]I'm 66 and semi-retired. My wife is 64 and still working. We both enjoy bicycle touring, but don't have the time for weeks away from home, nor the desire to push ourselves 100 miles/day. We also prefer a jacuzzi and good restaurants to camping.

Recycle,
I love the way you take your time and enjoy.
I enjoy getting there as much as being there.
The Jacuzzi, Good Restaurant and Motel are the way to end a nice day in the saddle.

Enjoy Life, I do.
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Old 09-23-08, 06:06 PM
  #109  
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Originally Posted by krispysteve
67 in 3 months but I don't think of that as particularly defining. I finished grad school when I was 57 and was hang gliding on my 60th birthday (hang crashing, actually.) Seems like I started most of the good stuff later than most. Most of my recumbents are home-builts, and for long periods of time hanging out in my shop cutting, filing and welding...and dreaming of long tours have been my fuel. We bought my mom her very first bicycle for her 89th birthday, an EZ-3 recumbent trike. Now at 93 she still rides 5+ miles most days. What's funny is that she considers derailleurs as an unnecessary complication, and even though the trike has 27 speeds, she has NEVER shifted the bike even once.
Sounds great,
Great life for you and Mom.
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Old 09-24-08, 11:30 AM
  #110  
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Originally Posted by Burr
Sounds great,
Great life for you and Mom.

Thanks. I doubt I'm the only late starter here.
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Old 09-26-08, 07:46 PM
  #111  
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Originally Posted by kriskros
hello all... im a newbie ..beeb cycling only 3 yrs [never wanted a bike when i was a kid] ride a giant cypress sx.. only ride 7to 10 miles a day... started at less than 1 mile... hills puff me out[limited lung capacity]... hoping to get to 15to 20 good fun feel much better.... iam 82
You started biking at age 79?? Way to go!
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Old 09-26-08, 08:12 PM
  #112  
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Originally Posted by kriskros
hello all... im a newbie ..beeb cycling only 3 yrs [never wanted a bike when i was a kid] ride a giant cypress sx.. only ride 7to 10 miles a day... started at less than 1 mile... hills puff me out[limited lung capacity]... hoping to get to 15to 20 good fun feel much better.... iam 82
You are doing good "Old Man". Just try to do over 21 minutes none stop a day and build from there.

You're great. I'm still a kid, 66.
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Old 09-29-08, 06:38 AM
  #113  
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Check this out, it is written by a physician for cyclists.

https://www.cptips.com/toc.htm#table


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Old 09-29-08, 06:45 AM
  #114  
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That's nice BillyBob, thanks.
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Old 09-29-08, 07:18 AM
  #115  
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Originally Posted by krispysteve
67 in 3 months but I don't think of that as particularly defining. I finished grad school when I was 57 and was hang gliding on my 60th birthday (hang crashing, actually.) Seems like I started most of the good stuff later than most. Most of my recumbents are home-builts, and for long periods of time hanging out in my shop cutting, filing and welding...and dreaming of long tours have been my fuel. We bought my mom her very first bicycle for her 89th birthday, an EZ-3 recumbent trike. Now at 93 she still rides 5+ miles most days. What's funny is that she considers derailleurs as an unnecessary complication, and even though the trike has 27 speeds, she has NEVER shifted the bike even once.
You should post a pic of your Mom on the Trike.
Thanks
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Old 10-06-08, 07:25 AM
  #116  
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At age 66, anytime I don't feel like riding I think of all my pals who either due to obesity or some disease, can't ride or in some cases even walk by themselves, and that gives me the incentive to get off my lazy, slightly saggy butt, and get out and peddle. last week I was on a trail in SE MN and met some folks who are older than I am and who were putting on 60 mile days. We are all built differently because my idea of a big day is 25 miles and here these folks in their 70's were, happily cranking along at over 2 times that. One of them was just breaking in a new, "Go faster" $3,000.00 bike (he's a geezer so he bought it on sale for much less than that of course ) but he was going to put on 60 plus miles that day and was having the time of his life. He's done a double century ride in the last 2 years!!! Me, my longest ever was 65 miles and I'm proud of that and hope to this year get in an 80 miler before the snow flies. I figure riding puts money into my "Health Bank" and so far that has proven to be true because except for being slightly overweight, my health is great and I can pretty much do what I want and I attribute that to my remaining active like I am with biking. So far this year I have managed to put on 1200 miles and ride a pretty clunky, Hi-bred type Raleigh Passage 4.0 because due to back problems I cannot ride hunched over forward. I don't think it matters what you ride as long as you ride and I've found that once you get over 50 it doesn't matter what you look like either because I've learned you cannot judge what kind of a bike rider someone is by their body build. The double century guy I mentioned earlier had little skinny chicken looking legs, hardly any butt and a barrel belly and on the trail he passed me easily and I was cruising along at 14 MPH at the time and that's cranking along pretty good on the flats. In closing, biking's fun, biking's good for you, and when in doubt about going out think about how you'd feel if you couldn't go. If that doesn't get you off the couch, then nothing will.

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Old 10-11-08, 11:00 AM
  #117  
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Originally Posted by DnvrFox
I was thinking a bit about the differences between the 65+ generation and the Boomers!

I think the Vietnam War, and all associated with that era affected us quite differently, and did make some differences in how we see or how we are or SOMETHING!!

I was in the Air Force at the very beginning of our sending "advisors" to Vietnam. I got out in August of 1965, and some of the troops in our squadron had or were being sent to Vietnam.

But, in our eyes, at that time, the government was pretty much always right (except for the cockroaches in the dining hall).


Okay, now that I have opened that can of worms - any reactions?

When Vietnam started up- I was in the Royal Marines. They were stationed in Aden and Malaya + all the other small outposts that it was felt that a British presence was required. Felt lucky in that I was in a protected occupation (Boxing Team) but still got sent to Malaya in 65. We kept wondering when the "New" posting was coming up as it was felt that more Marines than required were in Malaya- but it would be good acclimatisation for that "New" posting. Luckily it never came up for us.
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Old 10-11-08, 04:58 PM
  #118  
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I was a civilian in Nam after doing my time in the AF.
I was in Phu Bai, Hue and Quan Tri.
It could have been a lot worst, I didn't get hurt.
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Old 11-03-08, 07:18 AM
  #119  
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Excellent idea! After all its the over 65's who actually run countries and corporations, and as I'm British, living in Mexico and 70 years young I qualify three ways...
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Old 11-06-08, 05:49 PM
  #120  
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I haven't checked this forum for 4 years, been on BikeJournal, I am now 80, and wonder how many 80 year old guys are still riding. BTW I have riden 11,300 miles so far this year. and Just gotta keep peddlin.
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Old 11-06-08, 06:31 PM
  #121  
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Originally Posted by Melo
I haven't checked this forum for 4 years, been on BikeJournal, I am now 80, and wonder how many 80 year old guys are still riding. BTW I have riden 11,300 miles so far this year. and Just gotta keep peddlin.
You got me beat - I will only be 69 tomorrow.

WOW!
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Old 11-06-08, 06:51 PM
  #122  
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Yeah DnvrFox. I have not checked in here for a long time, and the format has changed alot, I am trying to find my way around this site again. Been on BikeJournal, and it is down for a few day,( I think it got "hacked" not sure how to post an Avatar picture.
I did see a post from a guy that is 82. and a guy whose mom is 93 and still riding. Grrreat.
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Old 11-06-08, 08:12 PM
  #123  
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"I will only be 69 tomorrow."

Happy Birthday Old-man!

The Kid
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Old 11-06-08, 10:02 PM
  #124  
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Originally Posted by Burr
"I will only be 69 tomorrow."

Happy Birthday Old-man!

The Kid
Burr: Date of Birth
December 24th, 1941 (66)

I think this "kid" is "kid"ding himself.

In two years and a month or so, he will have caught up with me!
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Old 11-07-08, 03:02 AM
  #125  
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" In two years and a month or so, he will have caught up with me!"

You'll be on a walker by then.

I'm the kid, thank you very much.

No as long as we are healthy we got a lot to be thankful fore and to look forward too.

Last edited by Burr; 11-07-08 at 03:12 AM.
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