Moe Zhoost

This is an "ageist" generalization for which you probably don't have supporting data. Most older people that I know (i.e. Boomers) ride non-assisted bikes. The 2 e-bike owners who I know personally are 20-25 years younger than me. That doesn't mean that a generalization based on my own frame of reference would be valid. Be careful when you make generalizations, mate.

Phil_gretz

The two eBike owners that I know are each female and in their early 40s, not boomers. My sample size is small, admittedly.

hsuBM

Most boomers who are still alive were living unhealthy as possible for the previous forty years.

They are the obese that’ve been spotlit as stereotypical Americans on news broadcasts around the world.

They have been keeping Phillip Morris & InBev rolling in fat profits.

They live “healthy” for three or four months every seven years.

Many die/have died before retirement due to awful diet and no exercise.

The ones that live past 70 are outliers. They are the exceptional ones who could’ve been Olympians had they applied themselves.

Moe Zhoost

Seriously? It must be much different where you live. Around here most of the boomers that I've known are vibrantly active. It's the 30-40 year crowd that seems a bit sluggish.

Reaching 70 is exceptional? Wow! Good thing that you're not an actuary.

rossiny

What I heard from the local bike shop, is that the older guys are buying the new bikes after being out of cycling for a while. His worry is that the younger generation is so into their video games that the demand will go down in the future for bikes, basically no new demand . Of course that's like looking into a crystal ball to predict the future

surveyor6

"People try to put us down-
just because we get around" - Pete Townshend - My Generation

peashooter

Well, I'm 70, and all my friends that are around my age are generally in pretty good shape. We all try to stay in decent shape by riding, walking, etc. I worry more about the young people who do nothing but sit around on the computer, phone or video game set.

surveyor6

You make it sound like we are a bunch of Rat Pack wannabees-
Your right!

shrtdstncrdr

Uh, no. This isn't even a very good troll post.

Trakhak

Thanks for that. I've been resisting the editor in my head, who keeps blue-penciling the thread title to read, more accurately, "Is it to be expected that baby boomers will live longer than expected?"

OldTryGuy

Will not advances in Medicine allow for longer life even without diet and exercise improvement?

Happy Feet

Boomers and life span: How long is too long?

Phil_gretz

Would the longer lives be then expected or unexpected?

Flip Flop Rider

living into the 80's doesn't look that great to me

Gresp15C

I think you've got it backwards. Many of the articles I've read about the obesity crisis report the rise of obesity and diabetes in children. People look at pictures of crowds from 40 years ago, and comment on how skinny the people were back then, and we weren't even all that skinny. Also, health is closely tied to affluence, and affluence has been in decline except for a few.

The people I know with e-bikes are mostly in their 30s and 40s. The oldest two people I know who have e-bikes are both in excellent health. But once again, a factor is the relationship between age and affluence. People buy e-bikes because they can afford them.

Phil_gretz

This is an interesting point, and maybe the most salient, although you may not realize why. America suffers from abundance, which when combined with ignorance, leads to poor decision making. Across the spectrum, though, a corrupted food supply has greater negative impact on the poorer and poorly-informed consumers. Healthy diet and preventative health care escape these people, because their focus is on the more immediate need or immediate gratification. That's how it is.

The affluent and educated (generally) make better-informed food and lifestyle decisions. Stage of life can factor into this, too.

Again, there are entire industries devoted to analyzing, modeling and verifying this kind of research into populations and cultures. It's not my field at all, but I find it interesting. Oh, and I'm a boomer, too.

Troul 

I know what it takes to eat "good" for a better health. I also know how much easier & cheaper it is to eat junk.

Seems every busy intersection has a fast food source or party store filled with sugary substances. The only way I see that changing is if the community puts a stop to it.

Education & money are two things that will help someone potentially eat better, but as long as the junk food is easier to get, the poor choices will likely remain.

Phil_gretz

It's deeper than this. Do you know how your male blood panel and other bloodwork stacks up to generations past? Have you factored in genetic history into your choices? Do you study the "fine print" of the things that you eat? The prophylactic actions that you've taken? How's your vitamin D? Are you a superior advocate for your own health when being treated? Do you have doctors who are lined up "on your side" when the decisions of life arrive unannounced: prostate cancer, high blood pressure, skin disorders, heart questions, and the like?

Did you follow your own COVID treatment and protection plan, or did you wait for the TV to tell you what to do?

These are the questions that are casually answered by those who get ahead of things...

Troul 

That is a water channel of another subject.

As I am aware of what you are saying, my explanation is putting the eyes on the everyday joe that has a standard 9-5 job making wages that enables a retirement vs those that work where they can & get what they can as it comes.

indyfabz

Pretty good job by the OP.

Doge

That is why we have forums.

jay4usc

out here in Southern Cali I see a ton of riders under 30. It’s a good mix of all ages.

ridelikeaturtle

(I didn't read 3+ pages. Sorry.)

No. (Boomers will not "live longer".)

They'll all (mostly) die between the ages of 70-80, in the main. There will be outliers.

The descent from 80-90 will be the steepest.

jay4usc

it feels like the COVID-19 was aimed at baby boomers

Obeast

How do you explain an old lady with flowers and dogs zipping by me up a hill? bruh, it´s battery powered simple as that. Seeing is believing, not a generalization at all. I am glad older folks are out enjoying the ride.