When are you too old to bike - ?

[ClichéGuevara]

After the beer I poured into my daft head yesterday, the answer at the moment is 'today'.

 

[ColinJ]

After the beer I poured into my daft head yesterday, the answer at the moment is 'today'.

When I was still a drinker, I used to find cycling a very good hangover cure!

 

[Accy cyclist]

There's an elderly bloke(80) near where i live who doesn't ride a bike now. He used to ride many miles each week, having competed in races in his younger days. He has 5 bikes just sitting there collecting dust. I went round to see him the other year to ask if he wanted to sell me one of his bikes, telling him i'd put it to good use I also went with the intention of inviting him out for a ride thinking he'd feel safer with someone along side him. No i'm not selling any bikes and you must be mental if you think i'm riding on the effing roads was the gist of his reply. Ah well, some you can help some you can't.

 

[Bobin]

Hi
Just joined the forum and new to cycling , a van driver by profession . The other day I passed a gentleman at Stansted airport who I would take my hat off to , he was possibly a senior citizen but remarkably he had lost his right leg above the knee and had a rod device strapped to the thigh , with a knee joint and fixed at the foot to the pedal , he and his riding buddy were doing fine , just goes to show nothing is impossible .

Bob

 

[Saluki]

Sometimes, while riding up a hill, I think 'I'm too old for this' and then I think 'oh shut up legs', change gear and get on with it. However, while going downhill and having that 'Wheeeeeeeeeeeee' moment, I feel about 12. I must average out at about age 25 so that's OK with me. I'm 51 btw.

My boss (age 26) asked was I not too old to be bike riding? I suggested to him that, as he doesn't think that there is any age barrier to learning any musical instrument, riding a bike would be the same thing. Keeping fit keeps my mind sharper, I think. I regularly get scalped, going up hill, by a quite elderly chap on a touring style bike. Always cheerful, always says "grab a wheel, c'mon" as he passes me. I generally try to grab that wheel and get a mental tow up the hill. Chap must be 80 or so.

 

[roadrash]

This has to be the most inspirational thread for a long time,

 

[Ganymede]

My boss (age 26) asked was I not too old to be bike riding?

These youngsters know NOTHING!! *

Also I so agree with you about feeling 12 years old and going Wheeee. I also feel like this when I stand up on the pedals on my upwrong. I chuck my bike from side to side a bit and imagine I am chewing "Bubbleyum".

*mind you I had a similar moment to ColinJ not long ago when someone thought I was in my 30s. She was pretty young too so I took it with a pinch of salt, but I think it's because my "energy" has stayed youthful from being outdoors a lot and learning new thing all my life. And riding my bike, obvs!

EDIT ok yeah and dyeing my hair

 

[Saluki]

These youngsters know NOTHING!! *

So true, but he's quite nice to look at.
I offered to take him out bike riding but he doesn't think that he can remember how. I told him it was easy, like riding a bike, but he was not amused
Give it 10-15 years and he'll start getting paunchy, like his Dad and older brothers and he'll be all "can we go for that bike ride now"

 

[MontyVeda]

I am 74 and ride between 75 and 150 miles a week.OK I can only average 15 mph sometimes less
When I am unable to get my leg over the saddle I will know it is time to pack it in.
I wonder if Stanah will develop a lift for geriatric cyclists.

Or maybe it's time to buy a step-through frame

 

[Ganymede]

So true, but he's quite nice to look at.
I offered to take him out bike riding but he doesn't think that he can remember how. I told him it was easy, like riding a bike, but he was not amused
Give it 10-15 years and he'll start getting paunchy, like his Dad and older brothers and he'll be all "can we go for that bike ride now"

 

[puffinbilly]

[QUOTE 3890781, member: 9609"]my mother is late 70s or 80s or something - its becoming hellish slow on the big hills. and i'm not sure what the high viz and helmet is all about, but she's still knocking out 2000+ miles a year

and when there is not a hold up on a hill there is the bird watching problem

[/QUOTE]

Good on her - @User9609 - loving the photo - loving your mum ignoring the nutter (presumably you) in the background.

Some encouraging tales - I regularly talk to a guy who must be in his eighties on a loop that I do and he can hold my pace and is much better at pacing hills than me.

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

The oldest unambiguous person person was a French lady who reached the grand old age of 122 years and 164 days. If I manage to beat that I hope I'm fit enough to cycle to the pub for a celebratory pint.

 

[GilesM]

If you look at people playing golf and think, that looks like fun, I like the clothes they are wearing, then you're probably too old to ride a bike.

 

[Gravity Aided]

The oldest unambiguous person person was a French lady who reached the grand old age of 122 years and 164 days. If I manage to beat that I hope I'm fit enough to cycle to the pub for a celebratory pint.

Was she not the one who worked in her family's store as a child, and sold art supplies to Van Gogh?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Have asked him if you could have the Chas Roberts if he's not using it any more?