Fifty Plus (50+) - My "other" Non-Bicycling 50+ Interests

My "other" Non-Bicycling 50+ Interests

How many of you maintain intense interests in addition to cycling? Please tell us about it.

I have shared this before, but I am so excited about this group I started that I wanted to share it just one more time. My XY Zingers group continues to get asked to sing. This is our most recent performance yesterday (Sunday, October 15th). where we were the entertainment for a ladies luncheon. We will be singing again in church on the 29th and to a local senior center on November 15th. I sang a solo while playing my guitar and did the harmony for a duet with another singer.

Yesterday, someone asked me "Who does your arranging?" I looked at her dumbfounded. Arranging? Were supposed to have arranging? I told her we just figured things out as we went along.

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/xyzingers10152006.jpg

You can hear out group here, (http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/musicdownload.htm) if you haven't already. Allow a couple of minutes for the download.

So, please share your OTHER interests, pictures, etc.

Audio; a hobby that, alas, is rife with charlatanry and silliness. I do some DIY, having built the Linkwitz Orion (http://www.linkwitzlab.com/) speakers and amplifiers to power them. But in line with my skepticism the rest of my system is nothing exotic. (My audio Web pages (http://bruce.coppola.name/audio/index.html).) I don't participate much in audio forums anymore. (I think I spend too much time here!).

I'm into audio because of my love of classical music. Mahler is my man, but I have been in a "French phase" of late, from Berlioz thru Ravel and Debussy. Opera has, for no particular reason, been neglected.

Now and then I think I'd like to join a choral group since I have a decent baritone, but my sight-singing skills are nil. I was a drummer/percussionist once upon a time.

While I'm not a hardcore gearhead I like a fast, nimble car. I drive a Subaru WRX wagon...a real sleeper, especially with the Yakima bike rack on the roof! Tried autocrossing but, frankly, I sucked. In my last event I got confused and headed for some corner workers at high speed!

I flyfish the rivers and streams of northern lower Michigan for trout, and local lakes for...whatever. Bluegills on a light flyrod are fun! Caught some bonefish on the flats in Belize once too in one of my very few saltwater outings.

Hmmm...tasting looking salads

My wife and I raise, show and hunt Jack Russell Terriers. They are great fun and have led us to friends all over the U.S. We've been to England three times now to visit friends there and to fox hunt with terriers. It's a wild experience and completely different than anything that is done here in the U.S. Very very traditional and more than a little awe inspiring.

We're lucky enough to have some decent dogs, you can see them at Huntmoor.com if you're interested. We attend probably ten to twelve Trials each year, and have a good time with the performance events as well as the showing. It's nice to have a common interest that is really a passion for us to share! This is Liberator, she's one of our family, a great performer herself and her first litter of pups produced some good dogs too. Wish her and her offspring good luck next week at the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America's National Trial, held at Steppingstone Museum and Park in Havre De Grace, MD.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/Huntmoor/Libbystanding.jpg

My wife and I raise, show and hunt Jack Russell Terriers...

...which reminds me of this classic thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=226216)! :D

(Very handsome dog, and of course you're nothing like the subject of that tale.)

Here's my old group, Goofer Dust.

Interests other than cycling? I'm confused.

On a serious note, music (mostly jazz), guitars, photography, cooking, and my professional work.

I read a good deal. I do a radio show. And, I spend time with the wife, shopping, movies, driving around, etc. Top of the list though are the Grandbabies.

...which reminds me of this classic thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=226216)! :D

(Very handsome dog, and of course you're nothing like the subject of that tale.)

Thanks for the complement on Libby and in case anyone wonders, we have a large fenced yard for the dogs to enjoy safely away from coyotes, street hockey players and the ever dreaded tire pump wielding cyclist. I wish all my neighbors did the same....

1) hikes and walks with my wife
2) automobile maintenance and light repair with my sons
3) adult education
(I teach at UCSD Extension, and I run a weekly discussion forum group.)
4) classical music, both secular and liturgical
(I do play the piano, but I am much better at listening. :) )
5) home improvement
6) political activism, particularly on local issues

Audio; a hobby that, alas, is rife with charlatanry and silliness. I do some DIY, having built the Linkwitz Orion (http://www.linkwitzlab.com/) speakers and amplifiers to power them. But in line with my skepticism the rest of my system is nothing exotic. (My audio Web pages (http://bruce.coppola.name/audio/index.html).) I don't participate much in audio forums anymore. (I think I spend too much time here!).

I'm into audio because of my love of classical music. Mahler is my man, but I have been in a "French phase" of late, from Berlioz thru Ravel and Debussy. ... You da man!

I am particularly gratified that my elder son's Beethoven-centric musical tastes are about what mine were at his age (22). My other favorites are Rachmaninov piano concerti, Chopin piano works, early Bruckner symphonies, and almost anything by J. S. Bach.

We usually buy season tickets to the San Diego Opera (sdopera.com) and La Jolla Symphony and Chorus (ljsymphony.com), and I am vice-president of the Lake San Marcos Chamber Music Society (http://lsmcms.adnc.com/). I also serve on the Music Comittee at church (sdumc.org).

1. Back yard welding,

2. ANYTHING in redrock country [What else might you expect from coyotes?]

My two current interests which are syphoning dollars out of my paycheck -- in addition to biking -- are remote control airplanes and scuba diving.

My son got me into r/c flying about 5 years ago. I must confess my planes have been hanger queens this year because of weather -- when it was stormy I could not fly and when it was sunny I had to ride. ;-)

Scuba is new to the list. Got open water certified in January and am planning a trip to the Yucatan Penn. this January. It was something I always wanted to do, and finally decided last fall to just do it. And since it is a great excuse for winter trips, it really doesn't conflict with biking.

I'm an avid reader...always have half a dozen books from the local library ready to be consumed. I finish the last page of one and then start on another.

My wife and I also love to cruise and our annual trip is coming up this Friday...nine glorious nights in the warm caribbean. We usually take our trip in the Fall to avoid the school age kids and to celebrate our wedding anniversary on October 22nd. Only four days to go...I can't wait.

I paid the bills in college by designing, building, and selling loudspeakers. I also build golf clubs. I've spent some cycles building PC's but not so much anymore, and used to collect wine but now I just drink it. I enjoy the occasional project around the house. I used to play golf every day as well. No time anymore with 4 kids all going different directions.

Semper Fi there Semper Fi.

Oh, and I can't tolerate life without a little music.

After spending time with my wife and grandkids, I play bass.

Here are samples from one of the groups ... http://www.customized-applications.com/bassline/home_cookin_.htm

Samples from my church and from several other groups I've played with over the last couple years are on that same web site.

After spending time with my wife and grandkids, I play bass.

Here are samples from one of the groups ... http://www.customized-applications.com/bassline/home_cookin_.htm

Samples from my church and from several other groups I've played with over the last couple years are on that same web site.

I love your music - wonderful!

Come play with/for the XY Zingers!

Our current song is an old-time gospel song - "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" and an old-time hymn, "Sweet Hour of Prayer"

Lionel Trains. I started collecting before I met my wife and kept on collecting over the years. I still have about 80% of the trains my folks purchased when I was 7. I plan on finishing my layout over the next two months. Of course I've been saying that for the last two years. Seems like there's always one more addition.

Other interests?
Sailing (Alberg 30)
Backpacking
Reading
Kayaking
Lots of other stuff!

Pete

At least it still has two wheels :D

At least it still has two wheels :D


PASSIONATE about? Motorcycles. Ride very often. 1983 CB-1100-f Honda. Never been without at least one motorcycle for forty years. I triathlon and thus run and swim as well as bike. I work out everyday.

I was an NCAA soccer player and follow the EPL and the American MLS avidly. I am familiar with many players and the coaches of various teams. I go nuts every four years for the WC. I have played or coached or ref'd every year for thirty years. I have probably coached 25 different youth teams. I am currently coaching a bunch of wormy 2nd and 3rd grade boys who I knew only through their parents.

I have taught an adult Sunday School class at a Methodist church for twenty years. I read a fair amount of history and anthropology. I was an anthro major in college.

Finally, I too, am an avid non-fiction reader. Like some posters above, I read continually. Generally I have a couple of books going at once.

I am an assistant district attorney and find it interesting, but I try to limit it to 8-5, if at all possible. After all, there are things to do!

Tyson
Cushing, Oklahoma

My "other" Non-Bicycling 50+ Interests

How many of you maintain intense interests in addition to cycling? Please tell us about it.

I have shared this before, but I am so excited about this group I started that I wanted to share it just one more time. My XY Zingers group continues to get asked to sing. This is our most recent performance yesterday (Sunday, October 15th). where we were the entertainment for a ladies luncheon. We will be singing again in church on the 29th and to a local senior center on November 15th. I sang a solo while playing my guitar and did the harmony for a duet with another singer.

Yesterday, someone asked me "Who does your arranging?" I looked at her dumbfounded. Arranging? Were supposed to have arranging? I told her we just figured things out as we went along.

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/xyzingers10152006.jpg

You can hear out group here, (http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/musicdownload.htm) if you haven't already. Allow a couple of minutes for the download.

So, please share your OTHER interests, pictures, etc.

Well, I have more interests than I have time to persue, but I just joined up with this bunch. http://ca.geocities.com/thequeensmen@rogers.com/
If you look under current members, you'll find me.
Dan Burkhart
www.boomerbicycle.ca

- Avid reader of 1) history and 2)economics history or theory

- Long distance rifle marksmanship (300yrds+)

DnvrFox, I sing 1st tenor in a group similar to yours at our church. Also sing in adult choir.

I was really active in amateur radio for a number of years, but not so much lately. Same story on golf.

Current hobby interest other than cycling is handloading and shooting pistols and revolvers.

Golf????? Nobody mentioned golf???? OK, golf!

My "other" Non-Bicycling 50+ Interests

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/xyzingers10152006.jpg



Do they have their mouths open so that they can eat PIE?????

My big interest is getting my 3D animation career back on track, by making animated shorts. This website will show you some of what I've done in animation and 3D in general. Point Happy Interactive (http://www.pointhappy.com/)

My other interests include helping out the Bicycling Advocacy of Central Arkansas, doing graphics, helping with events.

And of course, having been recently divorced, I'm getting back into the dating realm.

I love your music - wonderful!

Thank you. Your group sounds pretty good, too. :)

I play drums in a rock band. I'm also a railroad enthusiast. (both prototype and HO scale.)

Do they have their mouths open so that they can eat PIE?????

It is to catch the rotten tomatoes!

Opera. I have season tickets to Vancouver and Seattle Opera companies, and being close to Seattle, I can't help but be a Wagnerite. I've seen the Ring five times (3x Seattle, plus Arizona (Glyn Ross's Flagstaff production) in 1998 and San Francisco in 1999. My biggest regret this year is missing Canadian Opera Company's Ring in Toronto last month, but I had just started a new job... I was also going to do a bike trip from Vienna to Budapest, and was planning to see Lohengrin at the Staatsoper and Meistersinger at the Komische Oper, but same thang with the job, oh well... Opera is a great way to meet very classy and beautiful women, too.

I used to play classical guitar, but my MBA and CMA studies got in the way, but I'm easing back in. And one of my life goals is to learn to play the accordion. I'd love to stand in front of a big crowd with an accordion and yell, "Everrrrrybody polka!"

I teach cross country skiing part-time during the winter, and I used to do some racing. This led to doing some biathlon, and the amount of hassle required to get the permits in Canada to acquire a .22 Russian biathlon rifle was so great that once I had the Possession/Acquisition license, I went out and got a few more higher-powered firearms. So I also like to do some target shooting with an AR-15, trap shooting with a 12-gauge shotgun, and practical shooting with a standard 9mm handgun (Czech-made CZ-75B), although I'll probably replace that with something like a Para-Ordnance .40 S&W. Vancouver tends to be a very gun-shy peace loving town just full of freaky tree-huggers, and I just love to see the looks on people's faces when they realize they are face-to-face with a real gun freak, heh, heh...

- L.

I have no interests. Seafoam says I am the world's most boring human.

I have no interests. Seafoam says I am the world's most boring human.

I guess Seafoam doesn't know me.

And you DO have a hobby. You redo avatars.

What a great idea:
I play mandolin in our church band, guitar in a americana band I started, I sing baritone and have conducted our church choir. I write my own music, the latest one for this coming veterans day, patriotic song.
I scuba dive (padi)
Leather work (made spending money while in the navey overseas)
Woodworking full wookshop
I teach as a full time job.
do some gold panning
Who has time for biking? :)
Steven

And no I don't teach english. ;)
Steven

What an amazing bunch. So many varied interests and activities.

My high school recently set up a web page where classmates can share their "profiles" including their interests and activities. So, my graduating class (1957) has a few entries. This is NOT Classmates.com, a web site I have grown to detest, and have never paid my $25 annual fee. Grrr! What a rip-off, IMHO.

I am amazed at how boring some of those 66-67 yo entries are. It is like some of them have already stopped living, and just sit around occupying space and using the earth's resources without being involved in the world any more.

It is "grandchildren," travel or just a blank entry, except for a few "busy" folks. Maybe these are just modest!

I have always been convinced that busy folks (i.e., avid bicyclists) are busy in all parts of their lives.

Once again, I am proud to be a participant in this bicycling group!

Although cycling and mountain biking take most of my time, I enjoy doing many things outdoor especially hiking. I've recently begun taking a scretch pad with me and fnding a beautiful spot up in the hills and drawing away. Hope someday to turn all the scretches into watercolors.

I also like doing alot of indoor girly things - you know - crafty stuff. I make greetings cards, collages etc. And I also like music. Spend way too much downloading to my iPod.

Also love movies but just seems like I never make it to a theater anymore. High prices (even with the senior discount) and rude patrons keep me home. With Net Flix and large home TVs so much easier to enjoy movies at home.

Mmmm after reading this I sound alittle boring... guess this weekend I'll spend some time in the garage trying to come up with a cure for boredom! That usually means breaking down and cleaning bikes.

I am amazed at how boring some of those 66-67 yo entries are. It is like some of them have already stopped living, and just sit around occupying space and using the earth's resources without being involved in the world any more.

It is "grandchildren," travel or just a blank entry, except for a few "busy" folks. Maybe these are just modest!

They may have stopped being part of the world a while ago. Even on the dating sites, the preponderance of people my age seem to have grandchildren, TV and going to Outback as their main activities. There are some women on there, younger than me who look decades older.

I got tired of answering inquiries from these people. My values tend to be skewed from the average American so I rewrote my entry to include enough about me to almost offend some of them. It's worked. The numbers of responses has dropped dramatically, but the quality has gone up immensely. I just want one person.

They may have stopped being part of the world a while ago. Even on the dating sites, the preponderance of people my age seem to have grandchildren, TV and going to Outback as their main activities. There are some women on there, younger than me who look decades older.

I got tired of answering inquiries from these people. My values tend to be skewed from the average American so I rewrote my entry to include enough about me to almost offend some of them. It's worked. The numbers of responses has dropped dramatically, but the quality has gone up immensely. I just want one person.

And are you going to share your "rewrite" with the rest of us? Please!

Wow! All kinds of interests and talents out there! Other that bicyling (3,000 miles this summer) I keep myself busy with building and flying small airplanes, raising and training English Cockers, backyard welding designing and building "stuff," ham radio projects, fly fishing, pheasant hunting, photography, shooting black powder antique firearms, primitive archery and flintknapping, (just getting into that - just what I need, another hobby!) spoiling grandchildren then leaving them to their parents, and scuba diving like ColoPenguin. Lots of reading come winter.....
Penguin - we usually dive Cozumel for a few weeks every winter - whan are you going? May run into you there.
My wife keeps telling me I'll have to get a job so I have time for all my projects! I don't sing, but she does and plays in a concert band as well.

I was, and still am a keen gardener. I used to show Alpine Plants and became quite proficient- but all these hobbies take time that I do not have. You imagine showing Alpines- and I was spending 3 hours a day preparing the plants for next year, let alone for the shows in the next couple of months and weekends were travelling and showing on Saturdays and working in the greenhouse(s) on Sunday. 3 hours a day is not bad but try doing a job and the shows are in the winter months when daylight is a problem.

Then there was computing- But I still spend more than enough time on the damn thing even now.

Then there are the bikes- No need to say any more- except that the New bike shed now has electrics so I can prepare them late into the Nights- and I have decided to really get back into my First main hobby. Went out last weekend and bought a s/h 12 string guitar. Used to play Bass and Double bass in a local group that could boast that it played as warm up to Jimmie Hendrix and The Cream in our- and their - early days. I know a 12 string is not the same as a bass guitar- but It does sound better unacompanied.

Lots of interesting things! Biking is my new passion, I've always loved reading, do lots of it. Volleyball, I coach the 6-8 grade girls, gives me a chance to play with them some, and watching them go from never touching a volleyball to being able to play is the greatest. My husband andI have a ranch, so I do quite abit of horse back riding, this is what seems to get cut to make time for my biking. Work full time and have one child still in high school.

Ranked competitive shooter - Highpower mostly, as well as dabbling in metallic silhouette, NRA 3-position, and IPSC. Love to hunt - mostly birds, but really like getting out after wild hogs. If any of you California rural types have a hog problem you want fixed, just let me know.....

I'm also a NRA certified instructor, and teach/coach the youth at a local range where I instruct and am a Range Officer. My little girl went Distinguished Expert in light rifle (.22) just before she turned 10. Good coach.... :D

I've found that shooting and cycling are good family activities, and promote such qualities as mental discipline, personal responsibility, and setting/achieving long term goals.

Woodworking, or as my wife calls it "wooddorking." My gara.... er, shop is full of my table saw, band saw, jointer, planer, drill press, workbench, router table and wood.

Major League Baseball. Man I hate when the season's over. Of course now I can concentrate on the hot stove league.

I used to be into woodworking, or, as my ex-wife used to call it, collecting woodworking equipment. I actually don't miss that very much. I do read a lot, and I'm an amateur musician (keyboards) but I haven't played much in a couple of years.

My other passion these days is photography, and right now I'm torn between spending some "found" money (an unexpected client project fell into my lap) on a new lens or two, or spending it on a bike. To be honest, I'm leaning toward the lens. I beg your pardon.

Of course, I could always pay down a bill or two. Sigh. How boring.

Golf????? Nobody mentioned golf???? OK, golf!

Well, we DO have our standards, you know.

I've spent the last three years and all of my vacation participating as a soldier in the re-enactment of the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I enjoy history, woodworking and now that the re-enactment has come to an end I hope to get back into fly fishing.

The Lewis and Clark thing was quite an adventure. I belong to the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles Missouri http://www.lewisandclark.net which is the group that traveled the entire route of the original expedition following the journals in period boats, living in tents, wearing period clothes and educating many many school kids who came to our camps about Lewis and Clark.

Tried to upload a picture of our boats but wasn't successful. Guess I need to spend some spare time learning to post properly.