When are you too old to bike - ?

[jefmcg]

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.

She was a slacker. She did live that long, but she packed in cycling at only 100. I read somewhere that should wouldn't have her cataracts operated on, because she thought it was "natural" to be blind at 120.

A very famous Australian cyclist, Oppy cycled on the roads until he was 90, and made do on an exercise bike for the last two years of his life; while living in a retirement home with a "no cycling" sign: gotta love Australia!

You're never too old if you have the right machine. And I mean never.

I was reading about Amsterdam (I think it was) where they were using adapted cycles to give outings to elder people who were bed bound.

 

[Jayaly]

I was reading about Amsterdam (I think it was) where they were using adapted cycles to give outings to elder people who were bed bound.

What a truly fabulous idea. I would have loved to take my dad pootling around on a bed bike in his later years.

 

[Profpointy]

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

if it's the same lady, she sold her house for a pension and tennancy for life aged 70 or 80. The 50 year old who bought as investment was long gone by the time house became vacant

(apparently not an unusual pension arrangement in France)

 

[Tin Pot]

if it's the same lady, she sold her house for a pension and tennancy for life aged 70 or 80. The 50 year old who bought as investment was long gone by the time house became vacant

(apparently not an unusual pension arrangement in France)

Yeah, interesting investment opportunities. The earlier they die, the better it is for you...hmm.

 

[Herbie]

Someone who I've known at work for about twenty years was a keen cyclist and a few years ago he invested in a Chas. Roberts tourer. His work commute was about the same as mine, but recently I noticed he hadn't been cycling to work. When I enquired as to why, he said 'Because I'm too old.' Now I still do the commute 90% of the time by bike and I'm 62; he is FORTY NINE - ! You wot - ??? But at least he paid me a compliment by saying 'Ah, but you don't behave old.'

That's too young to retire ......I'm 52. and hope I've got a good lotta years ahead to enjoy cycling...maybe he stopped enjoying it? Maybe it was a chore to him ?

 

[Profpointy]

Yeah, interesting investment opportunities. The earlier they die, the better it is for you...hmm.

cue Lord Peter Whimsey case

 

[jefmcg]

if it's the same lady, she sold her house for a pension and tennancy for life aged 70 or 80. The 50 year old who bought as investment was long gone by the time house became vacant

It's her. If you read the link I posted above, http://anson.ucdavis.edu/~wang/calment.html it was only a year after he died that she died, but he (and then his heirs) ended up paying 3x what the house was worth.

 

[jefmcg]

Here's something else when the question is "how old is too old"

Cliffy Young. Totally forgotten about him, but for five days he held Australia's attention (then on and off for many years). He was a 61 year old sheep farmer, who decided to late in life to take up running and within a couple of years entered the first Sydney to Melbourne ultra marathon (875km, >500miles). He was slow, but the other runners slept, and he kept going. And going. Finished it in 5 and a half days. Only two runners ever did it faster than him.

Watch the video. You would never think you are watching one of the world's greatest athletes, in his prime.

Yup, it's all in your mind.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OD96zocXRU

(edit: removed USA megachurch video)

(edit 2: good sort ~= fit bird )

 

[Gravity Aided]

Here's something else when the question is "how old is too old"

Cliffy Young. Totally forgotten about him, but for five days he held Australia's attention (then on and off for many years). He was a 61 year old sheep farmer, who decided to late in life to take up running and within a couple of years entered the first Sydney to Melbourne ultra marathon (875km, >500miles). He was slow, but the other runners slept, and he kept going. And going. Finished it in 5 and a half days. Only two runners ever did it faster than him.

Watch the video. You would never think you are watching one of the world's greatest athletes, in his prime.

Yup, it's all in your mind.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OD96zocXRU

(edit: removed USA megachurch video)

(edit 2: good sort ~= fit bird )

Thank you for removing megachurch video.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I plan to never stop cycling. My coffin will be a modified trike.

 

[classic33]

I plan to never stop cycling. My coffin will be a modified trike.

Something along these lines?

 

[classic33]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/l...-fall-off-your-bike-at-102.33621/#post-641000
&
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/robert-marchand-tries-for-new-world-record.148446/#post-2905143

 

[Sara_H]

My mum in her district nursing days had a patient in his 80s who could no longer get off his bike. Apparently he used to just tip over on it and wait for someone to help him up. I'd say that might be time to pack it in.

That made me giggle, it's the kind of thing I'd do! But yes, trike time!

 

[Blue Hills]

I am 74 and ride between 75 and 150 miles a week.OK I can only average 15 mph sometimes less
s.

15mph is a high average.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I get the question at times as well, and point those who ask me toward the group that rides most days when possible around here, most of them in their 70's and 80's, and a few still working as well. All impressive riders.