DnvrFox

How many of us 65+'rs engage in physical activities beyond bicycling?

Weights of some sort?
Swimming?
Running?
Walking/Hiking?
Stretching?
Canoeing/kayaking?
Other?

I am curious because it is pretty uncommon among the general population.

I am into swimming, weight lifting, walking/hiking and stretching.

What about you?

Burr

Lift three days, Yoga the same three days and cycle three days as I have/take time.

I also do flowers and all my repair work,

Plus, Plus my wife's in Menopause

ModeratedUser150120149

Weight lifting (often with Army guys and gals who "encourage" me)
Scuba diving
Spin Biking
Occasional swiming
Wood spliting

Burr

Wood spliting is fun but it's work

ModeratedUser150120149

Work that warms when the tree is harvested, when the wood is split and again when it is burned. Such a deal, eh?

iowaguy

I alternate days walking and riding, low milage. I lift every other day plus yard and house work( cooking cleaning etc). better than setting !!!

mexipat

Just wanted to let you know I will qualify for this thread in 23 days. Whopee.

DnvrFox

Good!!

We will be looking forward to your participation in this busy thread!!!!

Anyone for a 70+ thread?

Personally, like it or not, I am feeling more and more of a disjoint from the 50 yo's (and sometimes 47 yo's) who post here. But, I really doubt that is shared with anyone else. My emphasis on bicycling, etc., is changing significantly the past couple of years.

Ian Baillie

Hi, All,
Yes, I do a bit of walking and Small weight exercises to strengthen the core.
I think you have to combine a variation of exercises so that your muscles don't get too weak and you lose coordination.
I find my energy levels have dropped seriously over the past two or three years, but I suppose thats just a 'fact of life '.
Do you guys have the same concerns ?

Keep pedalling.....
Cheers Ian

DnvrFox

Great and welcome.

Everything I read says that you have to do heavy weights to failure to really get the best benefit.

stonooka

How about 80 plus? I started road biking at 75 plus coming from wilderness hiking since I retired at 65.

Too old to qualify for this thread?

stonooka

Burr

Smart Donkey, just wait I'll be there!!!

DnvrFox

Yes.

We need an 80+ thread where you can talk to yourself!!

WELCOME.

Burr

It stopped raining for two days!!

Old man had a nice 20-mile ride!

Got to the cemetery about 6:30am in the pickup, not in a hearse with both bikes. Had to air up all the tires get my wife going then got all my crap on and away I went.
My wife’s nick name is “shade tree”, she goes from shade tree to shade tree and today she did good and made a few blocks between texting and or talking on the phone but she's out there with me and trying.

I did 10 miles around the loop then stopped for Gatorade and a rest then did the other 10 miles. Keep my heart between 120-138 most of the time and was back to 70 in 10 minutes after reloading the bikes. I averaged 13 mph and ran a nice 66-rpm’s.
I feel great and I hope it is not raining Thursday so we can ride again. If not I’ll use the trainer in the carport.

Life’s great, glad I got up today and look forward to tomorrow.

ModeratedUser150120149

Do I have the same concerns? Nope. For many years I have used some dsily living techiques to keep my balance in tune and to keep up energy levels. A very simple one is to get dressed standing up, including socks and shoes. At first I used a nearby chair or wall for support. But as I got used to it I now don't need support, most of the time.

Energy levels are directly linked to overall activity and, not surprisingly, alcoholic beverage consumption. The old liver doesn't matabolize as it once did and I get dehydrated much easier. So, I need to restructure the drinks to emphasize water more. I add lemon juice to the water to both make it more palatable and to aid in kidney stone prevention.

I can recommend the Gold's Gym Weight Lifting books. You don't need to have a desire to look like a freak to get benefits from their regimens. Basically, proper weight choice, number of repetitions and specific exercise is important to get the results you want. Basically: light weights and lots of reps brings strength and heavy weight and low reps brings volume. But, you would be surprised and the definitions of "light" and "heavy". Both are much, muich heavier than the lay person would imagine.

I started free weights when I was in my early 60's. Now as I'm in the first third of my eighth decade the work is paying off. I recently returned from a week with some people who were the age of my children. I had no trouble keeping up and in most cases being ahead of them.

One caution: There is lots of Snake Oil in this business so do your own reading and experimenting. Expect to be sore. Soreness is normal. Extreme pain is not.

Welcome to the athletic life.

layedback1

Just because we are 65+ doesnt mean we dwadle. Im 71, and am comming up on 1600 miles after one more ride. While I normally ride about 14-15 mph, I am not above giving a roadie a little tussle now and then. I especially like to toy with the racer wanna-bes. You know the ones with the hugely expensive skinney tired racing bikes. They are outfitted in the full race kit---spandex and $80 jerseys. Here in town there is a subtle trail going up hill. Nothing dramatic yet long and up hill. Since is heads South there is usually a good south wind too. When I see one of the racer wanna bes comming in the rear view mirror, I click it up a gear or two and lean on the pedals a fair amout harder. They might finally pass, but they look a little strained, and give me a funny look. They remind this old farm boy of chickens. You know butt in the air and their heads down, rarely smiling. On the other hand, since I have been on my recumbents, I might now get a wave out of them.

PatrickJIV

Just wanted to pass along a "Thank You" for the Happy Birthday greeting on the 7th of this month. Turned a spry 72, still trying to ride everyday AND don't miss working one minute!

layedback1

Weaklink

Your summary really hits the nail on the head!! It indicates common sense and good genes if your lucky enough to have them as I do.

ModeratedUser150120149

After a record breaking dry summer that included numerous wildfires it started raining, raining, raining. As of a couple days ago we had burned around Three Million acres (3,000,000) and had air quality in the unhealthy to "put your breathing apparatus on" for most of the summer. When I was out in Nome my wife emailed to let me know the neighbor's chickens had gone to roost in the middle of the day.

Now the Fall Rains have come pretty much as normal. Fires are dampened and rivers are starting to rise. That is good news and bad news. Good that we can get around better and bad because that is the precursor to our first freeze in a couple weeks.

Best of all I can bike again! Have had one shortish 20 miler and am headed out in a bit for one through the hills that will be in the 20-30 mile range, depending on how I feel and how long the rain holds off (riding in the rain at our 50F temps isn't fun).

Guess we are all Keeping On Keeping On, eh?

DnvrFox

Did you guys and gals 70+ do anything special on your 70th?

What? (Besides a 70 mile ride) -

zonatandem

70 was just another birthday . . . they seem to go by pretty fast lately!
Just got back from a 3 month stay in northern Utah and managed to sneak in about 1400 miles on our tandem.
Can hardly wait til we get older!!!

ModeratedUser150120149

Slew a dragon yesterday. Not far from my house is a road that has HILLS on it. For those of you familiar with the Denver area they are steeper and longer than those around Chatfield Resevoir. Well, with the smoke and my travel impairing my riding I was nervous about them. But, they have been a boogyman out there and were doing a real job on my mind. I was almost certain I was neither mentally or physically up to these monsters.

So, yesterday, solo so I wouldn't be under pressure, I set out to see If I could ride them. The round trip was 28 miles and my computer said it took me 2 hours. Dragon Slain!

I plan on being in Denver for my birthday. Maybe I can ride my age then? ******* are welcome.

ftsoft

I'm 67. Still ride with the younger group once or twice a week. Unfortunately, I can't really keep up on the hills anymore. Actually, I DO keep up on the hills, it's trying to catch my breath after the top that I get dropped. I'm taking more rest days since 60 and am only riding ~6000/year now.

Ian Baillie

Hi, All,

You all seem to be having an outstanding life ... Keep it up.

Check out my website if you get tired.......

https://www.shelliwheelchairs.com.au


You might know of someone with a need .

Cheers Ian

Bobsk8

Just turned 69 a couple of weeks ago. Ride a recumbent ( Rans Tailwind) about 100 miles per week, ride my Trikke ( https://www.trikke.com/tvstr/TV-Showroom) a couple of hours a week and use my Total Trainer ( like the Total Gym only better) 3-4 times per week.