Today is an extraordinary day for me. and it all has to do with cycling. In fact, I honestly rate the achievement I'm about to describe as one of my Top Ten accomplishments in my life. :)
Today I completed my first full calendar year of cycling in perhaps twenty five years, maybe more. And it’s the first year EVER that I rode consistently all year long.
Today’s ride was a simple 10 miler, but with it I surpassed a milestone I would never have thought possible – 2,500 miles. Throughout the year I had several highlights which I couldn’t have imagined: a metric century on my no-frills mountain bike with knobbie tires (and achieved by taking a 6+ mile loop around Coronado ten times); I rode my age at least twice, I bought four more bikes (all used), and sold one.
What made all this possible was a combination of things. First, I discovered that biking is just pure fun. I’d long since forgotten that! Second, I was fortunate to have discovered Bike Forum from the very beginning, and quickly found the Fifty + forum, which became my home base. The people in this forum have made me feel welcome, they have tolerated and answered my newbie questions, they have patted me on the back when I earned it, and encouraged me to stretch my thinking when I needed it.
I have never been a jock. I have never stuck with a fitness program. I participated in three high school sports, but was never any good at any of them. Finally, after over fifty years, I’ve found something physical and athletic to be passionate about. I may never achieve some of the incredible accomplishments of some of the people on this forum, but I’m not competing with them. I am reclaiming my own physicality and having a blast doing it.
I want every person over the age fifty who’s thinking of taking up cycling to just do it. You’ll have a blast, you’ll go places you never would have imagined, you create a sense of pride, and you’ll amaze your friends and family. What other activity can do all that as cheaply as cycling?
Thanks, everyone, for all your support, advice, humor, stories, and so on. I’ll conclude with the same question I think I started with, one year ago, the question that never changes:
What kind of bike should I get? :D
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
Congrats, DeeGee. You're good-natured humor always picks me up! If I were in your shoes I'd opt for a Giant Cypress SX or maybe a Trek 3900 MTB.
HiYoSilver
Congratulations Gary. You've been a voice of fresh air. You're logging more miles than I am, but part of the fun is seeing how different people are doing it.
What bike should you get? forget brand and all that boring stuff, one with a custom paint job. ;)
centexwoody
How very cool, very cool indeed - just think in another coupla decades you can be the fellow that is pointed out to newcomers to your community as "that crazy ol' guy that rides his bike everywhere - but he's cool, man, have you ever talked to him? He knows a LOT about bikes...and has ridden EVERYWHERE you ride a bike!"
I, too, have very much enjoyed discovering this thread out of the millions that exist in the ether. Thank you for your perennial humor and always posing the eternal question...
Makeitso
Since this is your first birthday and you have made it 2500 miles on old bikes, I think you should go and pick out a nice shiny new bike so you can ride with pride for the next year.
Congratulations! I can't wait to see what I've accomplished when my first year comes up.
jppe
Thanks for the post. Your sentiments probably reflect a lot of the folks here.
Answer: Get the bike that you want......it really doesn't matter which one because you'll be changing it out one day anyway........
lhc
Congratulations! I am one of those riders for whom 12 miles at one time is a big deal. You are definitely an inspiration!
stapfam
Thanks for being here Gary. Still not certain about you but You are a stayer. Reason I am not certain is the date- 6 6 6. Are you sucking us in so that you can revert to your natural form this evening.
Well done for finding cycling and for a newbie you are not doing too bad- all you have to do is lose about 20lbs and do a century but that will come. Eventually. Your experience has shown what can be done in a year. Give it another 5 and the 20 will be 40 and you will be following Will on his 6th successful ride across America. Although unless you spend more time on the bike and less on the computer, you might struggle a bit. Now where did I leave the garlic and wodden stake for tonight.
DnvrFox
And I thought you had only been around a decade!
2500 miles and 1,288 posts (3.52 posts per day) 1 post for every 2 miles!
Congratulations. 2,500 miles is indeed somethig with some bragging rights (well, so is 1288 posts!).
About the bike - I hear that WalMart is selling a pretty good 40 pound road bike. (I have seen it sold on EBAy for more than it is sold in WM, so buy one, ride it awhile and make a profit)
cheeseflavor
Congrats on your accomplishment, Gary! It's amazing how the miles just pile up, isn't it??
May you enjoy many tens of thousands of miles more, and take care!
Steve
p8rider
The year went quickly. You and I signed onto BF at about the same time. Like you I find riding to be a wonderful thing to do, (however there were a couple of mornings in Feb at 25F when my feet froze). I don't know that I am up to you in total mileage, but the progression is similar
Began with a 6 mile ride changed to a 10 mile ride in July and changed again this April to a 15 mile ride. Last year I recall the great feeling I had completing the birthday ride and now on any good weekend day I can go out for 40-50 miles without it feeling an exceptional venture.
So the quest for the perfect pie continues!
pastorbobnlnh
Gary! You da man! And just think, you didn't cross the finish line, you just made the first lap of many! Should we start calling you Wheels Diego?
starship
AWSUM!
Thanks for posting and keep posting. I enjoy reading what you have to say.
I'm still doing 12-15 mile rides. Over 400 and hope to make 1000 this year. 2500 seems a long way off.
Keep'em rolling!:)
cruzMOKS
Gary,
Congratulations, You are well on your way to 50,000+. It is always interesting to read what you write.
Answer: Get the bike that you want..............
+1
buelito
congrats Gary--
as to what kind of bike-- you should get a FIXIE!!
train safe-
stercomm
Gary,
Congratulations on your year milestone, a great accomplishment. Nothing better than being in the outdoors, legs spinning out a nice pace, the road rolling under you, the smells of mother earth (both good and bad) and your heart and lungs getting healthier by the beat. Keep at it. With respect to a bike, get one you can afford that fits you well and that you always look at and want to get on it for the next ride. We quickly forget how many folks are out there our age and younger who can't fathom riding 20 miles or more. Keep encouraging them to ride, use your own experience as an example. I read an article today in US Today about the percentage of baby boomers who are considered obese and the health issues they will have in the latter part of their life. Let's get them all to ride, even it it justa round the block.
Power to the "pedaler"
Big Paulie
Thumbs up, Big Guy. You da man!
linux_author
- congrats!
- i'd bet you're going to do much more than 2,500 miles in the next 12 months, eh?
:-)
nmichell
Nice going Gary. I just passed 2500 miles recently as well (1700 on the road bike, 800 on the hybrid) over about 15 months. I can see, though, that I am far behind on Bike Forum posts :)
BTW, I also last did organized sports in high school, including one I was pretty good at. But I haven't seen too many recreational water pool leagues.
As far as the bike goes, how about a nice Reynolds 853 steel frame? Looks nicer than those oversized aluminum frames. I guess carbon fiber would be okay as well.
Nick
Wheels Diego
As far as the bike goes, how about a nice Reynolds 853 steel frame?
+1
KeithA
A changed man, right? Or, at the very least, a changed lifestyle.
Congratulations, Gary, you da man!!!
Baggsy
OK, I have to ask, where'd you get the yellow jersey in your picture there?
NOS88
Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music!
Digital Gee
OK, I have to ask, where'd you get the yellow jersey in your picture there?
On sale, under $20, at Kohl's Department Store. No pockets, though.
SemperFi
Way to go Gary.
I also am a new rider who feels good about the fact that I get out for a 6-8 mile ride each evening. Certainly it's nothing compared to your accomplishment over the past year...but for me, for now, it's progress. Whoever thought that doing something good for yourself could be so enjoyable?
You have every right to be proud of yourself. Now go out and get that new bike that's got your name on it.
Digital Gee
Congratulations! I am one of those riders for whom 12 miles at one time is a big deal. You are definitely an inspiration!
I posted this partly with people like you in mind. When I started out, 5 miles was a killer ride. Soon I could do ten, about the time that Lightspeed was asking the forum, "Is it even worth it to ride if you can only go ten miles?"
Heck yeah, it's worth it! Most of my rides are ten-twenty miles. Every so often I go farther, if time permits, and it has become easier. But never downplay a 12 mile ride. I even log my 1.5 mile rides to the Mexican restaurant -- it all counts, and it's all fun.
Thanks for your post!
pastorbobnlnh
+1
I knew you were out there some place. Was that you who I saw on OLN place a respectable 6th in the Tour de Georgia? Don't forget to post a pic and bio on the Rogues Gallery before you get locked out on June 12.
HopedaleHills
Good Job Man....I'm envious, with New England weather 2500 miles a year is almost impossible. I'm shooting for 1000. Keep on pedaling!
DnvrFox
I have added this to the "Accomplishments Page" of the Rogue's Gallery
TaosWoman
Day 1 of Year 2 or what have you done lately?
Great Job, what's the goal for this year?
Way to go!
pastorbobnlnh
Good Job Man....I'm envious, with New England weather 2500 miles a year is almost impossible. I'm shooting for 1000. Keep on pedaling!
Hopedale,
Last June 1, I decided for health reasons (mental and physical), I needed to increase my mileage and set a goal of 1000 by the end of 2005. I reached 1300. The only way I could accomplish this was to mount the bike on a trainer for our interminably long inclement weather season. June 1, 2005 through May 31, 2006, I managed to click off just shy of 2200 miles (about half were on the trainer). Next winter I hope to have a MTB I acquired in the Church Yard Sale set up with studded tires to ride on snow mobile trails during the mid week. If you set your mind to it, just as Gary did (who, along with the rest of the 50+ posters, provided me with a great deal of inspiration), you can do it! It helped me to work out some goals in paper first.
Do you ever come up to NH? If you do we can go for a ride!
HopedaleHills
PB,
I used to do alot of hiking and camping in the Franconia Notch area when I was younger. I even stood on top of the old man before he fell down (no, I didn't cause it..). Did a weekend in Plymouth last year. Would like to ride up there, certainly great scenery everywhere. I did ride some this winter outdoors, only about 150 miles. My problem is twofold: I don't like being cold and I work 48 miles from home which means I have no daylight hours to ride in the winter, except for weekends.
I'm kinda in a rut right now. Between all the rain we have had and my wife having surgery, I haven't been on my bike in 4 weeks (bummer). This weekend is ton of graduation parties and then Monday I have to go in for a minor procedure which will keep my off the bike another week (real bummer). I can't wait until July, things have got to get better.
God Bless
GrannyGear
Congrats DeeGee..........isn't it gratifying how cycling sends its roots out entwining other parts of your life, your awareness...and your pocketbook. Satisfaction glows in your post. You've earned it!
Let's finally drop the Fred stuff?
Fred Diego
Let's finally drop the Fred stuff?
Nobody drops The Fred...
Raketmensch
Way to go, DeeGee!
Recycle
Congratulations DeeGee!
I want every person over the age fifty who’s thinking of taking up cycling to just do it. You’ll have a blast, you’ll go places you never would have imagined, you create a sense of pride, and you’ll amaze your friends and family. What other activity can do all that as cheaply as cycling?
+1
My wife and I celebrated our First Full Year Back On Bikes on Saturday with a 20 mi ride on a canal tow path.
We've only done a fraction of your 2,500 miles, but have thouroughly enjoyed every minute of our year on wheels.
We started cycling because we wanted an activity which we could enjoy together, was easy on joints, took us outdoors, and could continue into our quickly approaching retirement years. Cycling fit the bill perfectly.
Since we started, we have visited places we never would have visited without the bikes. We have spent days of quality time riding together. And we are in better physical shape than we were when we were in our 40s. I have lost 15lbs, am much stronger, and have a greatly increased range of motion in large joints over what I had before we resumed cycling. Cycling has improved the quality of our life.
But I'm not ready for a new bike yet ... I want to get another 1000 miles behind me to see what kind of riding I really enjoy most.
George
Thanks Gary, you give me something to shoot for. Righe now I'm happy to be riding at almost 66 years young. Good luck and many more, George
dauphin
Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music!Only a 50+er would know a Three Dog Night lyric....:roflmao:
Way to go G-Man!
centexwoody
If I were in your shoes I'd opt for a Giant Cypress SX or maybe a Trek 3900 MTB.
If you had great bikes like Blackberry suggests, you'll hit 3,000 miles next year!
+ 1 :D
Artkansas
Congratulations! If you had just kept going in a straight line you'd be in Durham NC now. Pretty amazing when you think about it.