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How To Celebrate Turning 60

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How To Celebrate Turning 60

Old 07-21-21, 12:26 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by Mayonnaise
Greetings everyone,

Been a long time since I've been here.

I come looking for ideas.

I've been a life-long cyclist and am turning 60 this Summer.

I'm looking for ideas to commemorate this birthday on the bicycle.

Looking for something challenging, Probably multi day. Some travel but not a whole lot.

Anyone here have a big birthday and did something creative on the bike to celebrate it?

Thank you
I was all set to buy a new bike for my 60th (~18 months from now) - had my eye on a Colnago Master, but a wise(r) friend made the point that new experiences are better than more stuff, and I have a great road bike now anyway. I'm considering some bike-orientated tourism - either out west of maybe in Italy or Mallorca
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Old 07-21-21, 03:09 PM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by Biker395
Yea, I was wondering that myself. Everesting is not on my radar ... I think I could do all the climbing, but the mental aspect of repeating the same climb again and again ... oy!

I've never done the Everest Challenge. I always intended to but something got in the way every year. Just another reminder ... do things while you can because nothing lasts forever!

Maybe we should plan a trip and self-support it sometime. I'll bet we would talk at least a few fools into it.

BTW ... this is the Everest Challenge:

https://www.tourofcalifornia.org/200...challenge.html
I remember when the event was running, I never considered it, at least not the full route. I've done some of those climbs but not in the same day. Our club used to go up in summer and stay in Lone Pine or Bishop and climb and eat and sleep for 2 or 3 days. Those trips were a lot of fun and maybe we can do one again. Funny, I bumped into an old friend today and was telling him about the climb to Whitney Portal.
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Old 07-21-21, 05:09 PM
  #53  
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I ride more than my birthday miles every year, just not on the day. I'm not a big celebrator, though we did ride my wife's age on her 70th. One thing is wanted to do and didn't get to do, is to ride a chunk of the Sierra Cascade bike route. Now that would be an adventure. Our best adventure was to ride our tandem for 2 weeks in the Czech Republic, by ourselves, on a route of our design. That was incredible fun. Numbered bike trails, no main roads, beer, warm people . . .

Adventures are things you come back from.

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Old 07-21-21, 05:24 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by big john
I remember when the event was running, I never considered it, at least not the full route. I've done some of those climbs but not in the same day. Our club used to go up in summer and stay in Lone Pine or Bishop and climb and eat and sleep for 2 or 3 days. Those trips were a lot of fun and maybe we can do one again. Funny, I bumped into an old friend today and was telling him about the climb to Whitney Portal.
You would think that I would have done most of those claims, but I haven't!

I've done Horseshoe, Sabrina, and White Mountain, and that little spur off to Death Valley, but have not done Whitney Portal, Onion Valley or Big Pine (Glacier Lodge). I heard Whitney Portal and Onion Valley are tough. I think Whitney Portal was just recently resurfaced too.
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Old 07-21-21, 05:41 PM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by Biker395
You would think that I would have done most of those claims, but I haven't!

I've done Horseshoe, Sabrina, and White Mountain, and that little spur off to Death Valley, but have not done Whitney Portal, Onion Valley or Big Pine (Glacier Lodge). I heard Whitney Portal and Onion Valley are tough. I think Whitney Portal was just recently resurfaced too.
One day we went to Sabrina and South Lake and stopped at North Lake on the way back down. It was an epic day. It was a dry year and all the stores and cafes were happy to see us.
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Old 10-14-23, 01:21 AM
  #56  
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Is this the Mayonnaise of old?! Dude, I used to read your writings back when you worked as a courier and that was some of the funniest and most authentic and original things I've read... I got your zine/booklet somewhere too... turning 60, we'll this post is a bit outdated, so you hopefully managed that well but I don't come on here too often (think it was like 5 years back) but still, I'm soon turning 50 and decided that I will be taking a more serious look into bikepacking and all it offers. I've done a ton of riding and touring, but bikepacking (basically offroad touring) seems to be something I have not done so much of if any. Well that's on the horizon for me. Others have chimed in already on new custom builds, and I've done that skit already when I turned 40, 45, etc., and it's great and there is always room for more but after awhile one turns into a "collector" with a bunch of expensive rides, and that's not anything that appeals too much to me. At any rate, keep rollin, doing you, and maybe just one day I'll be fortunate enough to cross paths with you IRL.
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Old 10-15-23, 01:14 PM
  #57  
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Sign up and train for a Gran Fondo in 2024.

Maybe travel with SWMBO to someplace different.
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Old 10-15-23, 02:12 PM
  #58  
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When I turned 60, I took a COVID test (first infection after dodging it for 3 years) and found out I had a Paxlovid rebound. Fortunately, it didn't last very long. I never got around to "celebrating" it.
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Old 10-15-23, 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by BTinNYC
Sign up and train for a Gran Fondo in 2024.

Maybe travel with SWMBO to someplace different.
I just noticed this is another necropost. The guy is 63 now.
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Old 10-16-23, 06:04 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
I just noticed this is another necropost. The guy is 63 now.
Oh fudge.
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Old 12-11-23, 03:45 PM
  #61  
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I hit 59 last month, hoping to train to the point I can do 100 miles by my 60th.
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Old 12-12-23, 08:21 AM
  #62  
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Turn 60 in February and I scaled back to a more reasonable ride for me.
I have not been up to Mount Baldy Village and beyond in a few years so an out-and-back would be about 60+ miles and 6K+ feet of climb.
That is enough for me to handle. This is all weather permitting of course but it would be fantastic to take some snow pics.
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Old 12-12-23, 12:07 PM
  #63  
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Originally Posted by CAT7RDR
I have not been up to Mount Baldy Village and beyond in a few years so an out-and-back would be about 60+ miles and 6K+ feet of climb.
Be cautious, and use lights front and back. That tunnel scares me, in both directions. Those SoCal drivers drive quite fast.
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Old 12-12-23, 12:36 PM
  #64  
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
Be cautious, and use lights front and back. That tunnel scares me, in both directions. Those SoCal drivers drive quite fast.
I think with 60+ miles of distance, that would be taking GMR/GRR to Baldy Village and back, so the traffic shouldn't be too bad, and no tunnels.

I was in the same boat recently, but had a few miles more to go my age.

If you want to make about that distance without making that climb to the ski lifts, try starting at Encanto, take 39 the junction, then Camp Williams to the East Fork climb, to GRR and to the Village. Like so:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45150860
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Old 12-13-23, 09:56 AM
  #65  
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
Be cautious, and use lights front and back. That tunnel scares me, in both directions. Those SoCal drivers drive quite fast.
The tunnel is on Mt Baldy road which sucks going up or down. Taking GMR/GRR avoids the tunnel and is a much quieter route.
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Old 12-13-23, 10:00 AM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by Biker395
I think with 60+ miles of distance, that would be taking GMR/GRR to Baldy Village and back, so the traffic shouldn't be too bad, and no tunnels.

I was in the same boat recently, but had a few miles more to go my age.

If you want to make about that distance without making that climb to the ski lifts, try starting at Encanto, take 39 the junction, then Camp Williams to the East Fork climb, to GRR and to the Village. Like so:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45150860
It's what we did in post #12 of this thread for my 60th. In a few months that will have been 10 years!
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Old 12-13-23, 10:42 AM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by big john
The tunnel is on Mt Baldy road which sucks going up or down. Taking GMR/GRR avoids the tunnel and is a much quieter route.
Thanks. I'm partial to the harder Mt. Baldy Road for the challenge (and the shorter distance makes hill repeats more practical), but the comments on pjammcycling say the road is in poor shape.
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Old 12-13-23, 11:01 AM
  #68  
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
Thanks. I'm partial to the harder Mt. Baldy Road for the challenge (and the shorter distance makes hill repeats more practical), but the comments on pjammcycling say the road is in poor shape.
Check out hwy 39 some time.

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Old 12-13-23, 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by big john
Check out hwy 39 some time.

Ooh, tempting!
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Old 12-13-23, 11:22 AM
  #70  
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After riding down Mt Baldy Rd a few times, I would never attempt to ride up and much prefer the descent on GMR-GRR.
If I get lucky, GMR-GRR will be closed to vehicles but it is a slow descent in winter with rocks and ice along the way.
I had to turnaround once on GRR due to ice even though I was on my 29er. Had second and third thoughts that this would be a self-rescue if I went down hard and injured myself. Hypothermia would be a real concern.
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Old 12-13-23, 08:09 PM
  #71  
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Originally Posted by CAT7RDR
Turn 60 in February and I scaled back to a more reasonable ride for me.
I have not been up to Mount Baldy Village and beyond in a few years so an out-and-back would be about 60+ miles and 6K+ feet of climb.
That is enough for me to handle. This is all weather permitting of course but it would be fantastic to take some snow pics.
Originally Posted by terrymorse
Be cautious, and use lights front and back. That tunnel scares me, in both directions. Those SoCal drivers drive quite fast.
Originally Posted by Biker395
I think with 60+ miles of distance, that would be taking GMR/GRR to Baldy Village and back, so the traffic shouldn't be too bad, and no tunnels.

I was in the same boat recently, but had a few miles more to go my age.

If you want to make about that distance without making that climb to the ski lifts, try starting at Encanto, take 39 the junction, then Camp Williams to the East Fork climb, to GRR and to the Village. Like so:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45150860
Originally Posted by big john
The tunnel is on Mt Baldy road which sucks going up or down. Taking GMR/GRR avoids the tunnel and is a much quieter route.
Originally Posted by terrymorse
Thanks. I'm partial to the harder Mt. Baldy Road for the challenge (and the shorter distance makes hill repeats more practical), but the comments on pjammcycling say the road is in poor shape.
Why not Go EAST young man and enjoy wonderful weather, NO tunnels, great rest stops, SAG support riding Six Gap or Three Gap ---
p.s. - rode this 3 years straight with 1st time 8 years ago at 65yo and living in Flat Land SW FL where 100 miles has 80' elevation change.

https://6gap.com/the-rides/six-gap-century/
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Old 12-13-23, 09:01 PM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by OldTryGuy
Why not Go EAST young man and enjoy wonderful weather, NO tunnels, great rest stops, SAG support riding Six Gap or Three Gap ---
p.s. - rode this 3 years straight with 1st time 8 years ago at 65yo and living in Flat Land SW FL where 100 miles has 80' elevation change.

https://6gap.com/the-rides/six-gap-century/
Well, I can be at the bottom of the Mount Baldy climb in about 30 minutes driving time. It's free and the weather here is usually pretty good.

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