General Cycling Discussion - Two very interesting cyclists I met today.....

You would not believe this. I met two cyclist today, on seperate occasions. I talked to one old guy, about 60, for about 45 minutes while I was letting my son ride and play in the 800 foot long tunnel that goes under Brushy Mt. at the bike trail. He was biking about 10 miles a day, he said. I finally asked his age, if he didn't mind telling. He was 74. He had a nice Schwinn, and he was quite sharp minded and knowledgeable about his bike, and the trail. He looked to be in pretty good shape as well.

I met another old farmer, in overalls, he was the type to just come up and start a conversation. I am very patient and attentive with these type of people. He talked about his bike, also a Schwinn, it was a newer model. He talked about the High Sheriff, we both know, the sheriff's father and he graduated from school in, get this, 1940. He rides every day. I asked how old he was, he was EIGHTY YEARS OLD, and he rides EVERY day. In overalls. I am very impressed with people like this. I hope that if I have to live in this world for 80 years, I will still be biking down the road, and will have actually lived to draw my pension for more years than I spent working for it! Best - Ted

Let's hope we're all still posting to each other about our cycling adventures when we're 90.:D

Originally posted by The Terminator
I hope that if I have to live in this world for 80 years, I will still be biking down the road, and will have actually lived to draw my pension for more years than I spent working for it! Best - Ted

Yep... that's another beauty of cycling. If you think about it, it's a sport/hobby/form of transportation that one can enjoy over the broadest spectrum of age. You can start riding a bike or tricycle at the earliest of years and continue pedalling well past your 90s. What's more, because of the health benefits, it will help you extend your lifespan so that you can actually continue to enjoy cycling. I remember Bicycling doing a story about cycling through the ages (periods of a person's lifespan that is). I have that issue saved somewhere because everytime someone tells me that bicycles are just for kids, I hand them that issue and have them read it.

I love bike riding!!!!!!

In southwestern Oklahoma there is a group of farmers that ride.

Age from 35 to about 75.

You go to a group or day ride in the area and see a dozen or so farm pickup trucks pull up.....

.... and these farmers crawl out of their trucks, throw their CO-OP ball caps in the cab, pull off the overalls from over the $300 skinsuits, pull the tarp off a DEAN, or SEVEN, or old MASI, or DEROSA....

....with nothing less than Dura-ace or 10speed Campy....spit the last of the tabacco juice out of their mouths....gather up into a paceline....

.... and DISAPPEAR.

It's a spooky thing to see.

Especially when you can't keep up with them.

Be very scared.

Recommended reading: Kelly Ferrin, "What's Age Got to Do With It?" Jack LaLanne is approaching 90 years young, having practiced what he preached for 70 of those years. I am always saddened to hear guys my age (52) say they're too old for cycling, jogging, etc.

I keep forgetting to take the digital with me, cause these "older" folk are wonderful people and I just think it would be fun to start a gallery of them on their rides with those wide smiles, and twinkling eyes. They too know, what we, and Lance and everyone else rides. "As long as I rode today it was a good day."

there was a metric centure RACE that i competed in a couple of months ago, and at prizegiving they gave a prize away to the oldest rider. 78! they also gave one away to someone who did the 100km in a wheelchair! now THAT is impressive......

Originally posted by John E
I am always saddened to hear guys my age (52) say they're too old for cycling, jogging, etc.

My dad started being 'too old' to have fun at about 30. He keeps telling me stuff like, "What do you mean, going backpacking? You're not going backpacking, you're __ years old!" I feel bad for him. But a lot of men in this area seem to have that attitude, that after 30, all you're allowed to do is work, fish, hunt, drink beer and watch the tube.

one old guy, about 60

Gee, thanks a lot.

Really made my day opening this thread and finding that you think I (at age 63, getting close to 64) am one old guy, about 60.

I don't FEEL like an "old guy".

I FEEL pretty young.

Oh well, guess I will have to learn to accept the perceptions of other, no matter how much I hate to. NO, I am not. I am going to keep fighting the perception that 60's is OLD!

There's an editorial at the back page of a recent Velonews about how cycling makes you younger and younger. It's pretty funny- you know, showing up with all kinds of injuries and saying to your workmates, "I fell off my bike." Or having to explain your stupid tan, etc. Last year, when I had an accident and was in the emergency room, the doctor noticed a scar on my arm. "What's that from?" she asked. "I got scratched by a branch when I crashed into a tree." "HOw'd that happen?" "I was on my mountain bike." SHe sort of raised her eyes to heaven.

NO, I am not. I am going to keep fighting the perception that 60's is OLD! [/B]


Calm down before you have a....you know, a heart attack or something. :) - Ted

Originally posted by The Terminator
Calm down before you have a....you know, a heart attack or something. :) - Ted

WOW, thanks for the advice. We old folks have a lot to learn from young twirps who aren't even 40. Your little smiley face makes everything OK!!

Okay, just now getting over that heart attack - oops, I think I am slipping into dementia. Darn.

Have to get over to that assisted living place and ride that stationary bike. That will be a charge.

I just turned 40 in March and made the comment to my wife about getting old. Her reply "You'r never going to get old"!

Little does she or my children know, THAT'S THE PLAN!;)

I'm planning to live forever. So far, so good! (I'll start collecting social security in 5 months!)

Originally posted by John E
Jack LaLanne is approaching 90 years young...I am always saddened to hear guys my age (52) say they're too old for cycling, jogging, etc.
Claire Duckham of Dayton, Ohio is almost 100. He can still ride a mile for every year he has lived (that's a century.)

Most 20 year-olds can't touch that.

:thumbup:

http://www.bikeleague.org/mediacenter/medprs31.htm

Originally posted by Inkwolf
...a lot of men in this area seem to have that attitude, that after 30, all you're allowed to do is work, fish, hunt, drink beer and watch the tube.
As long as you ride!

:D

It's true, a lot of people think that once you get to 30 your life is over and you have to act old, and give up 'those silly things.' When I see women ten years younger than me pushing strollers, a lot of them seem to have that attitude, like they've given up everything and just want to turn into THEIR moms. I think, I'd rather have my wheels than those wheels, thanks very much.

I think that old is relative. To a twenty year old, I am old. I have had young people "help" me at work because I was older than them. I really didn't know how to take it the first time. I do enjoy sending the young bucks after things that I need. I like using the younger legs. Everybody gets old if they live long enough. I just notice that there are not near as many old people as were around when I was a kid. I distinctly remember working with a 35 year old when I was 17, and he was old to me. I remember working with a guy who was 42 when I was 25, and he was an old man to me. Sorry, but anyone who is old enough to be someones father is usually considered old. Not me, just social dynamics. (no smiley face either) If it is a touchy subject, just let it drop, I was just trying to make a point that it is good to see 74 and 80 year old guys rididng a bike on a daily basis. - Ted

Do you remember being so young that it was an INSULT to be called "young'. Later it became a COMPLIMENT to be called 'young'. Now it's a JOKE!

At 53, I know I'm not 'young', but since I've been riding, I'm not old anymore.

Originally posted by MikeR
Do you remember being so young that it was an INSULT to be called "young'. Later it became a COMPLIMENT to be called 'young'. Now it's a JOKE!

At 53, I know I'm not 'young', but since I've been riding, I'm not old anymore.
I've been called, "young man" be people that I would swear to be my age or younger.

:D

[i] I was just trying to make a point that it is good to see 74 and 80 year old guys rididng a bike on a daily basis. - Ted

Which is quite different than:


one old guy, about 60.

In referring to age, why can't we just leave out the adjectives and refer to the approximate age?

I.e., not "elderly" but a person in their 80's. Not "one old guy, about 60" but just "a guy about 60."

All the modifiers are what are of concern to me.

"I went riding with a gentleman about 75" is great. "I went riding with an old geezer" is not.

Just a matter of accuracy, as I see it.

No one knows what "geezer," "eldelry,", "old guy," really mean. Everyone knows what "someone in their 60's," means. But, "one old guy, about 60" adds a value judgment.

Just leave the adjectives and modifiers off and state the approximate age, if you feel compelled to discuss someone's age.

Much clearer and to the point.

DNVRFOX

I posted Webster's definition of the mystery words that you claimed to be unknown by others. Gee, I must have made a lucky guess, because each word defines exactly as I intended it to. One or two of the words, I didn't even use. I enjoy talking about the bikes and the people riding them. I don't enjoy being told how and what to post, and in what format and by whom to do it. Arguing endlessly and flame wars are not my thing, and I don't plan to participate in them with someone who is appearing to be more than a little sensitive on the subject. If you feel the need to correct my descriptions, then don't read them. I am not a sixth grader, and this is not a school here. We can get over this and move on, or we can just hit the ignore buttons, which I think would be a waste, since I value your opinions on other subjects. So.....why don't you have your last say, and we move on. I have no more posts to make on the subject. - Ted


geezer - Main Entry: gee·zer
Pronunciation: 'gE-z&r
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration of Scots guiser (one in disguise)
Date: 1885
: a queer, odd, or eccentric person -- used especially of elderly men

old - Main Entry: 1old javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?old00001.wav=old')javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?old00001.wav=old')
Pronunciation: 'Old; for sense 9 usually 'Ol
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English eald; akin to Old High German alt old, Latin alere to nourish, alescere to grow, altus high, deep
Date: before 12th century
1 a : dating from the remote past : ANCIENT <old traditions> b : persisting from an earlier time <an old ailment> <they brought up the same old argument> c : of long standing <an old friend>
2 a : distinguished from an object of the same kind by being of an earlier date <many still used the old name> b capitalized : belonging to an early period in the development of a language or literature <Old Persian>
3 : having existed for a specified period of time <a girl three years old>
4 : of, relating to, or originating in a past era <old chronicles record the event>
5 a : advanced in years or age <an old man> b : showing the characteristics of age <looked old at 20>
6 : EXPERIENCED <an old trooper speaking of the last war>
7 : FORMER <his old students>
8 a : showing the effects of time or use : WORN, AGED <old shoes> b : well advanced toward reduction by running water to the lowest level possible -- used of topographic features c : no longer in use : DISCARDED <old rags> d : of a grayish or dusty color <old mauve> e : TIRESOME <gets old fast>
9 a : long familiar <same old story> <good old Joe> b -- used as an intensive <a high old time> c -- used to express an attitude of affection or amusement <a big old dog> <flex the old biceps> <any old time>
synonyms OLD, ANCIENT, VENERABLE, ANTIQUE, ANTIQUATED, ARCHAIC, OBSOLETE mean having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past. OLD may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence <old houses> <an old sweater of mine>. ANCIENT applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past <ancient accounts of dragons>. VENERABLE stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age <the family's venerable patriarch>. ANTIQUE applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time <collected antique Chippendale furniture>. ANTIQUATED implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time <antiquated teaching methods>. ARCHAIC implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time <the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period>. OBSOLETE may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence <a computer that makes earlier models obsolete>.


elderly - Main Entry: 1el·der·ly
Pronunciation: 'el-d&r-lE
Function: adjective
Date: 1611
1 a : rather old; especially : being past middle age b : OLD-FASHIONED
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of later life or elderly persons
- el·der·li·ness noun


guy - Main Entry: 3guy
Function: noun
Etymology: Guy Fawkes
Date: 1806
1 often capitalized : a grotesque effigy of Guy Fawkes traditionally displayed and burned in England on Guy Fawkes Day
2 chiefly British : a person of grotesque appearance
3 a : MAN, FELLOW b : PERSON -- used in plural to refer to the members of a group regardless of sex <saw her and the rest of the guys>

I agree with the Fox and thank the Terminator for his wisdom for ending the subject....Maybe he is older than he appears!