MarcusT

The years may not be kind. The group I regularly ride with are starting to show their age.
Not physically, but mentally.
One does not ride anymore because he's worried about his prostate (no conditions), another won't ride if it's too cold, I won't ride when it's too hot. One, who when working would always be with us, now that he's retired, has stopped coming out.
I'm not in shape to go with young riders, so mostly it's been solo riding.
How do you cope?

BTinNYC 

I would be thankful for all the years of cycling together.

nomadmax 

If you're determined to ride in a group; find a cycling club/group in your area that has rides within your abilities. Or, break out that wallet and buy a nice E road bike and go with the youngsters. That's exactly what I'm gonna do when the time comes.

Jughed

This.

My FIL is actually losing his group - they are dying off.

Be happy these people are still with you.

CanNik

I would like to ride in a group but there are none, prostate **********??

Perhaps I am just fit at 66, I did 40 miles last week, instead of taking the car, surely it is better to ride for health than not

Biker395 

That happens with a lot of activities. You’re just rolling along, doing your thing … and seemingly, all of a sudden, you notice:

”Jeez … I’m the oldest MF’er here. What happened to everyone?”

And it’s like you noted. Most of the absentees are not absent because they are physically incapable. It’s because they’ve lost interest.

I’ve noticed it in my profession, surfing, skiing, cycling… all kinds of things.

i think it’s due to a lot of different things. Just about everything I choose to do, it’s because the anticipation of fun or adventure outweighs the hassle factor. And as I get older, the hassle factor grows and the anticipation diminishes. I love to ski, but if I had to hassle the crowds, and clomp around in ski boots the way I used to in my 20s, I wouldn’t be doing it anymore.

i think the solution is seek out new people to ride with in that dwindling pool (probably a good thing anyway), and to seek out new adventures to revive that feeling of anticipation.

Bald Paul

Look for groups that ride at your ability, not your age.
The club I ride with regularly schedules rides I would have loved to participate in when I was much younger. But now, the pace is too fast, and the distances and climbing are too much for this old body to keep up.
Luckily, there are also easier rides in the 13-15 MPH average range, typically under 30 miles long or so. Here in Upstate SC it's difficult to find any route longer than that that doesn't involve some pretty challenging climbs. There is a 'core group' of, uh, "more seasoned" riders that shows up. I think the youngest in that group is 60, and there are several e-bikes mixed in as well. We also get some younger riders new to riding. We'll help them with questions about how to shift and brake, how to ride in a group safely, things like that. Eventually, many of them move up to the faster groups, and that's fine.
Seek out a group like that. If you're a member of a club, try volunteering to plan and lead a ride. I've done several, and one of my rules is that the group will ride at the pace of the slowest rider in the group (provided the minimum average is maintained.) What started out as three or four riders has grown as word got out. It brought back a lot of riders that had stopped because they felt they couldn't keep up.

easyupbug 

My experience as well, I don't try to schedule group rides any more. Other than keeping bikes for our kids and grandkids group rides when they are in town it is solo rides for me and the occasional meeting someone on a ride. Often in the Airpark where we live with miles of wide, smooth, empty roads when I run down a rider or group to talk about the dangers of taxiing aircraft and why we have no bikes signs, I make a new cycling friend but only briefly or at best an occasional friendly wave.

staehpj1

Sometimes the answer is even to do a different activity. I know that I quit riding every day for a about 12 years and took up trail running with my dog. She was always ready to go. I still rode, but not as much. I went on rides and even did long tours, but my daily exercise was trail running. When the first trail dog died I got another. She was the best trail dog I could have asked for. The problem is that the whole losing to age thing happens with dogs too. When she couldn't run anymore I didn't have it in my heart to go without her, and wouldn't replace her while she was still with us. so I went back to the MTB for daily exercise. I ride alone though. The old pooch barely makes it around the block these days and the vet says she has dodged more than a few bullets healthwise. I doubt we have much time left with her, but I'll cherish whatever is left because she was the best running, snowshoeing, xc skiing, hiking buddy anyone could ask for. When she passes I may do some trail running again along with the trail riding.

Trail riding, hiking, snowshoeing, xc skiing, and trail running are great solitary activities IMO. If you can fill in with rides with companions here and there too it helps.

RB1-luvr

Sad to hear your group is disbanding.

I cope by being a solo rider, all my life, except for one or two camping weekends a year with friends who live 1-2 hours away.

Kabuki12

I usually ride alone but occasionally I ride with a couple of others from the neighborhood. Nothing formal , but we ride at a conversational pace and enjoy each others company. I have been off the bike for 10 weeks due to a broken hip and surgery. I am the oldest one of the group and I can’t wait to do a real ride , either alone or with the guys. One of my buddies is going through some sort of shoulder issue and another just had back surgery , both much younger than me. I have hopes that we can , at some point , get back together for a ride. If not , I will get on my bike and ride alone. Life happens and age is inevitable, group riding is usually temporary unless you are in a club , but that ain’t my thing.

rm -rf

I'm 70, and I ride regularly with retired riders, from upper 50s to mid 70s in age. 4000 miles this year for me. We mostly found each other on club rides, riding with other riders of similar speed and distance ranges.
Now there's some ad-hoc email lists for private daytime rides. We'll have anywhere from a few riders to a dozen or so. Groups of 4-6 are the best size. I rarely ride solo, just an occasional hour long local ride.

We have a few much stronger riders, but they are happy to cruise the ride. We have a bunch of scenic, quiet road routes that we like, and mix it up a lot.

With many of the riders on Zwift now, the cold winter rides have fewer riders. I don't ride outside these days unless it's near 50F or higher.

In a few years, the lightweight road e-bikes will get more affordable. These are designed for intermittent assistance, with small 200-250w motors and smaller downtube batteries. Nice for not worrying about keeping up with a group on the bigger hills or strong headwinds.

gobicycling

I have always thoroughly enjoyed solo riding. I also enjoy stopping and talking with people, taking pictures, and finding new routes. I also use the bike for chores and tasks like groceries and mail, etc. That's my solution.

jadmt

I ride mostly solo I am at 7000 miles for the year and the majority of those are solo. I did a few miles with my SIL, maybe 200 miles,did maybe 300 miles with a good friend from out of town including a 111 miler, and maybe 700 miles with my neighbor mostly 50 milers and we try and do a weekly 16 mile power hike together. Really helps having a good neighbor who is like minded. I have been invited to ride with a younger local group but I really don't think I fit in with that group for a variety of reasons.

CanNik

And you seriously have to say "MF’er" in a post

big john

I joined a large-ish road club in 1989. Lots of people have come and gone and I have slowed and lost the ability to chase all day. Recently a group has formed within the ranks who are easier for me to ride with. I have found that women are more empathetic toward other riders and most do not try to drop everyone they can.

Or I can go with my friends, some of whom have switched to e--bikes, and get hammered on for the whole ride.

I also found another club which is very friendly and they work to keep the group together most of the time. Only problem is their Saturday rides are usually too short for my taste.

Biker395 

Dude … next time plan to be up in the Valley, I’m gonna give you a shout out for a ride.

we can stop for a dose of Geritol first. lol

curbtender

We have a coffee group that meets for rides in the 15-30 mile range. There are presently 59 emails attached but the average turn out is about 8 riders. The head of the group is 82 and looking to tap. Not sure it will survive but nobody wants off the list. I'm trying to get a rotating lead to involve more of the riders but most don't want the responsibility. We'll see how that goes.

big john

lol, yeah. I think the last time I rode with you was when we did Yerba Buena and down Latigo. When bf member datlas was here several weeks ago I took him on the same ride. He liked it and didn't seem to mind waiting for me.

I still love the Santa Monicas and even the San Gabriels, too. Been riding with Brian a bit these days. He's been coming to the club rides more often.

MarcusT

I appreciate the input.
The clubs are not my thing. I do not wear matching jerseys with "sponsors". I rarely like to meet new people.
As many of you know, getting older means less tolerance. For example I would not ride with someone who posts: "And you seriously have to say "MF’er" in a post"
The riding is always great and the memories for are there, at least for now. Maybe my friends's offspring would like to ride. And getting older is surely better than the alternative

jadmt

yup that's my problem too. i am too redneck for most groups.

big john

The 2 clubs I ride with are very casual in their approach. Just show up wearing whatever you want. Lead, follow, draft, whatever. As long as you don't endanger others or become a nuisance you are welcome. We've had trikes, recumbents, fixies, and people of all levels on the main club rides. I have made some good friends.

John E

I happily ride solo. Over the decades, this is mostly how I have ridden, anyway. I enjoy doing errands and other transportation cycling, along with a few favorite local fitness climbs. I like getting out early, at first light, to avoid traffic and sun exposure, but that is too early for most clubs and group rides. I also like setting my own pace and selecting my own routes.

John E

That sounds like my sort of club.

John E

I can relate to your post, having grown up in west Los Angeles. The Santa Monica "mountains" are great, anything from Malibu all the way across into downtown Los Angeles / Griffith Park area. I used to enjoy climbing one canyon to Mulholland Drive, then down a different canyon to return home.

I have also had two delightful rides with Bike Forums members when they visited. One borrowed the PKN-10 (now my son's bike) for a week, and the other borrowed the Bianchi for a week. (This is where the whole "N+1" thing we talk about in C&V comes in. )