Fifty Plus (50+) - I was wrong!

Whenever this 50+ forum was started I was one of the people who failed to see it's attraction. I was wrong!

This is the forum where guys honestly discuss real world issues and answers loosely related to bicycling along with a little bit of candid self-humor. It's become my favorite.

Glad you have joined us. We appreciate your contributions.

SteveE - are you listening? :D

Retro.....I take it you're steel, lugged, dt, friction, slotted cleat, wool, Benotto, freewheel, non-aero, etc.? Welcome, you have found a home among those who understand you.....and a few who, as yet, may not.

Seriously, glad you're among us. The more points of view here the better.

Retro.....I take it you're steel, lugged, dt, friction, slotted cleat, wool, Benotto, freewheel, non-aero, etc.? Welcome, you have found a home among those who understand you.....and a few who, as yet, may not.

Seriously, glad you're among us. The more points of view here the better.

Yup, slotted cleats were a trip but I never got into wearing itchy wool jerseys.

Actually, today I'm more like semi-retro. The name dates back to my mountain bike days in the early 90's. I used toe clips, no suspension, steel frame of course, and I carried my shoes and helmet and stuff to the trailhead in a cardboard box.

I've still got a lugged steel road bike with friction shifters, but my favorite bike is an Ultegra equipped 9-speed Klein with a compact crank and old-style Ultegra SPD pedals. It's possible to overdo that retro thing ya know.

It's possible to overdo that retro thing ya know.

Ahh, then I shall continue my search for the Last True Cyclist. But not next week-- I'll be installing my new Ergo brifters.

This is the forum where guys honestly discuss real world issues and answers loosely related to bicycling along with a little bit of candid self-humor. It's become my favorite.

+1, but I worry about one thing. Any forum that would tolerate, let alone make feel welcome, the likes of me has me a bit skeptical. :D

DeeGee........you're only barely tolerated. :D

DeeGee........you're only barely tolerated. :D


:beer:

Glad to see you posting here, Retro. And yes, as you have discerned, this forum is a good place. I spend a bit of time over in Road Cycling as well, and there is much to be gained there. Nevertheless, this forum has a comfy feel that isn't replicated elsewhere. Welcome!

I don't know about others, but I find the diversity of those that frequent this forum to be refreshing. It seems to be a place where different opinions and focuses are welcome (okay maybe tolerated) versus being ostracized.

It feels a lot like love, peace and happiness.........oops.....sorry I think I was having flashbacks. (If you weren't around in the 60's & 70's, well you just might not get it!!)

It feels a lot like love, peace and happiness.........oops.....sorry I think I was having flashbacks. (If you weren't around in the 60's & 70's, well you just might not get it!!)


Arlo Guthrie was in Town last night accompanied by local sympthony, didn't go - went for a ride and went longer than expected. Paper said today he admitted he had to relearn Alice's restuarant, and this was the last time he was singing it till the 50th anniversery. He wrote it in 64-65. I've been to several of his concerts, brings back lots of flashbacks (some not so good). Meanwhile - did 27 miles yesterday anyway.

I've still got a lugged steel road bike with friction shifters, but my favorite bike is an Ultegra equipped 9-speed Klein with a compact crank and old-style Ultegra SPD pedals. It's possible to overdo that retro thing ya know.

Is it being retro? Or using stuff that you know will not let you down.

If you read all the magazines- you find a new performance aid that is going to improve your speed, improve your performance, and give you energy. If you have a big enough wallet- you can go out and buy all that new stuff- only to find that it does not live up to the promises.
Then you find out that the old stuff worked well enough but you are stuck with the new because you binned the good old tried bits, and can't refit them.

Yup, slotted cleats were a trip but I never got into wearing itchy wool jerseys.

And you call yourself retro... :)

A guy emailed me this week looking for a pic of a 1983 Viner that I once posted about 3 years ago or so. I dug around and found a few pics and in one of them, I'm wearing my racing team's jersey which was wool at that time. By Spring of 1984, our new team jersies were lycra, but that wool jersey was not itchy and was as soft as a new baby's bottom.

And you call yourself retro... :)

Where in Central Illinois are you located? Your avitar is pretty small on my screen but those look like tandems to me. As soon as my wife gets home we're going out for a short ride with another tandem couple.

Actually, today I'm more like semi-retro. It's possible to overdo that retro thing ya know.

I agree with Retro here, a bike with DT shifters, friction with 6 speed freewheel is better when you've got a carbon framed, 10 speed, 18 lb machine to compare with.


[QUOTE=JPPE] It feels a lot like love, peace and happiness.........oops.....sorry I think I was having flashbacks.

but I remember the saying as "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll".


[QUOTE=Raketmensch] Nevertheless, this forum has a comfy feel that isn't replicated elsewhere.

I second that emotion....

Where in Central Illinois are you located? Your avitar is pretty small on my screen but those look like tandems to me. As soon as my wife gets home we're going out for a short ride with another tandem couple.

I live in Groveland. If you know where Peoria, East Peoria, Morton, Pekin and Tremont are, you know where Groveland is because those towns are all suburbs of Groveland. :D

And, yes, that's a pic of my wife and I in the Miami Valley stage race in 1991 on a 1978 Schwinn Paramount tandem.

Where are you located?

I enjoy the 50+. Sometimes I see comments that have to be from 60+. I went and listened to an REI sponsored talk about a year ago. A long-time commuter, who is now over 70, lost his wife and son in the course of about 6 months. For emotional healing, he rode his bike around the US (3 separate trips). Complete with a slide show, it was very interesting and inspirational.

Where are you located?

St Louis. We went to the Prairie State Tandem Rally in Decatur last year. That's kind'a your neck of the woods.

St Louis. We went to the Prairie State Tandem Rally in Decatur last year. That's kind'a your neck of the woods.

We were there, also, and at Tompson the year before. We aren't going to make this year's rally because of another committment. We're going to the Midwest Tandem Rally at Cedar Rapids, though.

-Dennis

Glad you have joined us. We appreciate your contributions.

SteveE - are you listening? :D

Was he the guy that whined about the whining in her?

Was he the guy that whined about the whining in her?

No, that was someone else.

SteveE occasionally visits the forum, while in other posts stating that he does not frequent the forum, and I always seem to catch him! :D

He has no use for the 50+ forum, and has made that quite clear since the original discussions regarding starting a 50+ forum.

I just have to rib him a bit now and then.

+1, but I worry about one thing. Any forum that would tolerate, let alone make feel welcome, the likes of me has me a bit skeptical. :D

I think Groucho beat you to that line.
http://www.moviecitynews.com/static_images/images/2004/200x200/groucho.jpg
"I would never be a member of any organization that would have Me as a member."

I think we would go a long way in winning new posters if we had a logo that represented our spirit in an accurate fashion...

Seems like this would work too.
http://www.physlink.com/estore/cart/item_images/855_large.jpg

We were there, also, and at Tompson the year before. We aren't going to make this year's rally because of another committment. We're going to the Midwest Tandem Rally at Cedar Rapids, though.

That's on our to do list too but we haven't sent in any money yet. I'll look forward to meeting you there.

:D :D :D Actually, Gary, we've been talking behind your back about starting a "Digital Gee Forum," just to handle your plethora of queries, problems, and diseases! :D :D :D

You know, I know you're teasing (you are teasing, right? lol) but I do sometimes think I post too much, ask too many questions, and all that. So, would someone just PM me when I become unbearable? I never have a clue!

:o

+1, but I worry about one thing. Any forum that would tolerate, let alone make feel welcome, the likes of me has me a bit skeptical. :D

In the immortal words of Groucho "I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me as a member". ;)

But I've also found this section of BF to be both enlightening and entertaining, as I work towards my official status as a 50yo curmudgeon in December. It's a great group here, discussing the things that affect us in staying with riding or (like me) returning from a looooonnng hiatus.

For the earlier poster with the picture of Einstein riding a bike, I remember a quote from him that I used to use as my sig: "Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving."

B'Dog

Hey RetroGrouch -
Are you in the City or closer to me out in the west part of the county?

You know, I know you're teasing (you are teasing, right? lol) but I do sometimes think I post too much, ask too many questions, and all that. So, would someone just PM me when I become unbearable? I never have a clue!

:o

Perhaps bicycling is 50% physical, 90% mental and 110% talking about it? :D

Was he the guy that whined about the whining in her?Nope. That was Geneman or Genesomething. You won't hear much complaining from me; just a few wise-ass comments here and there.

Nope. That was Geneman or Genesomething. You won't hear much complaining from me; just a few wise-ass comments here and there.

Actually it was RonH who started a thread about "Is this the 50+ Forum or the Whiner's Forum" or something very similar.

Actually it was @@@@ who started a thread about "Is this the 50+ Forum or the Whiner's Forum" or something very similar.

Yeah, I remember that guy. He was irritated because we were admitting people who were handicapped, injured, beginners, posting too often [Sorry DG, couldn't resist], going to Cuba, friction shifting, not using toe clips, using toe clips, or even older than GrannyGear.

Didn't he get verbally circle stomped and then sent off to FOO for not being perfect enough to be a member? Where's Dnvr....he's our archivist/historian.

Yeah, I remember that guy. He was irritated because we were admitting people who were handicapped, injured, beginners, posting too often [Sorry DG, couldn't resist], going to Cuba, friction shifting, not using toe clips, using toe clips, or even older than GrannyGear.

Didn't he get verbally circle stomped and then sent off to FOO for not being perfect enough to be a member? Where's Dnvr....he's our archivist/historian.

Well, actually, he got promoted to a moderator.

Just goes to show you!

:beer: LOLOLOLOL. Definitely Post-of-the-Day!!!

Hey RetroGrouch -
Are you in the City or closer to me out in the west part of the county?

Actually St Peters. I live near the St Charles end of the Page extension.

What I like about this forum: Mostly, the maturity level. People are very civil here. Some other forums I've been to are just out of control.

How about them Highcoo's of DG's?

Tyson

RonH still posts here, in fact he just posted in this forum a couple of days ago. And,,, at the risk of being blackballed, I sort of agreed with him. Sorry... I'll go stand in a corner now.

:beer: LOLOLOLOL. Definitely Post-of-the-Day!!!

Bingo


Is this the "one foot in the grave" forum or the whiners forum? (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=82232)

RonH still posts here, in fact he just posted in this forum a couple of days ago. And,,, at the risk of being blackballed, I sort of agreed with him. Sorry... I'll go stand in a corner now.

Isn't it nice that there are 39 other forums where a person might go and find mutual interests with others!

Personally, I like an opportunity to discuss how things that are associated with aging may affect my bicycling, and to learn how others made it through some of the tough times and got back into or continued their bicycling despite the situation.

And my hat is off to those who have not had any aging-related concerns. May they continue that way, but please have tolerance for those of us who have.

How about them Highcoo's of DG's?

Tyson

Seeing my name here
Makes me all mushy inside
I can feel the love.

:rolleyes:

Seeing my name here
Makes me all mushy inside
I can feel the love.

:rolleyes:

[emoticon for polite choking with laughter]. Trouble with digging up old threads is I get all sentimental and wonder what happened to people who seem to have vanished. Will Dehne...are you still out there, still training for your cross region ride? And so on. Remember Digital Gee? He became a highly regarded poet and dumped us for the literary crowd. Heard he then married Jan Ulrich's masseuse and bought a bike shop sells only road bikes and now he rides with patches over both eyes.