Fifty Plus (50+) - Ain't getting many pics from you lot.

Trying to sort some pics from my holiday- as I don't know whats wrong with the rest of you but we Don't seem to have many pics of your riding areas or local scenery being posted at present.

I love France and the French. Fantastic country and fantastic people. But as This is a Bike forum- I ought to talk about the bikes I met. They were either top end or Old. I am only talking about the road bikes here but Plenty of Pinarello's- Looks- Even one Boreas was seen. As to TreK- Speccies- Giants- run of the mill names- very rare. Even the older bikes seemed to be Spanish or Italian so not much change from the UK where the british made bikes are getting rare. One picture of the 4 riders in Malaucen- These were all High priced bikes- Dureace fitments on all of them- not much campy to be seen except on the older bikes. A few pics of me at the start in Malaucen and then the Fog. This was after I had ridden back down to the car and it is funny how the camera can see further than I could- I honestly could not see across the road. Then there is the pic of the bike. We wanted some garlic to bring home so I had to have a pic of one string. Only problem was I bought 5 strings-About 15lbs weight of it and I bought it at Laussan-about 15kms and 1500ft of climbing back to the camp.

I am a keen gardener and we managed to get to The Bambouserrie. It is really called that and is a Bamboo Garden- It is unbelievable and if you are a gardener- then the Magnolia Grandiflora will interest you aswell. It wasn't all just sight seeing but found a sweet shop at Uzes. Definitely took the wallet away from the wife in there but while walking round the town saw an Organ grinder and I could have sat in the bar opposite him for hours. Then the final couple are of Pont du Gard- a roman aqueduct that is still 90% standing after 2,000 years, although the number of tourist's that were at the site on the day were doing their best to wreck it- And No French holiday would be complete without a French breakfast.

Nice pictures....looks like a wonderful holiday!

I hope to remember the camera tomorrow and will take pictures on the birthday ride.

Nice shots, 'fam

As for mois, how many times can I post the same old scenery?
Maybe next time I ride some place new...

Nice pictures. It must have been a great vacation.
The bikes with Campagnolo components were probably always just a bit ahead of you. Just sayin' :)

Looks like you had a great time, and that bread looks delicious, but what did you eat with all that bread. I wouldn't have room for anything else. They say that bread is no good for you, but you have to die from something. Glad you had a good time, I'm ready for a vacation myself.

Photos are well beyond nice, Stepfam, they are great and wonderful I hope everyone takes a closer look at the aqueduct to marvel at what amazing engineers the Romans were. The pics make me want to re-think my next vacation plans.......

By the way, since you are an avid gardener, have you been to visit the Eden Project over in Cornwall? We were there a couple of years ago, and I still often get out the photos I took just to remind myself that it is real. A remarkable and amazing bit of horticulture and engineering in its own right.

They say that bread is no good for you,

Who are these "They's" that say that about bread? Probably say the same thing about sex and pie.... Bread is nothing more than a solid form of beer--or is it the other way around??

Nice pictures, flowers bigger than your hand, now that is a place to vacation!

Looks like you had a great time, and that bread looks delicious, but what did you eat with all that bread. I wouldn't have room for anything else. They say that bread is no good for you, but you have to die from something. Glad you had a good time, I'm ready for a vacation myself.


This was breakfast and a couple of croissants- Bit of bread with Butter and Honey or Rhubarb jam.

Now Lunch may have been more to your taste- The bread again but a selection of Cheeses- French sausage and meats and a crisp salad with Dressing on it. Normally finished off with a Chocolate dessert that makes the richest Dark Chocolate taste tame. Evening Meals though were normally a BBQ with French Fries bought from a local Cafe- Salad again, Tomatoe Vinaigret, The meat was Steak or a French Sausage called Murguez or Chicken or Seafood. If we did not cook then it was out to a restaurant and they were quite cheap. Only point is that if you ask for a rare steak in France- I think they show it the Pan. We were asking for cremated and it was still VERY rare.

And Bread is High in Carbo-hydrates so a loaf a day- keeps the bonking away.

Helmet use seems more casual. That first picture sure looks like my vision of what European riders look like. Cool Pics.

Not up to the standards you have set here but these pics are from a ride on the Cape Cod Canal last fall.
Mrs Maxx's bike is the Jamis Earth Cruiser resting below the Buzzards Bay railroad bridge. The other picture has the Great Pumpkin waiting down the path for the Mrs to quit playing with the camera so we can ride.

This was breakfast and a couple of croissants- Bit of bread with Butter and Honey or Rhubarb jam.

Now Lunch may have been more to your taste- The bread again but a selection of Cheeses- French sausage and meats and a crisp salad with Dressing on it. Normally finished off with a Chocolate dessert that makes the richest Dark Chocolate taste tame. Evening Meals though were normally a BBQ with French Fries bought from a local Cafe- Salad again, Tomatoe Vinaigret, The meat was Steak or a French Sausage called Murguez or Chicken or Seafood. If we did not cook then it was out to a restaurant and they were quite cheap. Only point is that if you ask for a rare steak in France- I think they show it the Pan. We were asking for cremated and it was still VERY rare.

And Bread is High in Carbo-hydrates so a loaf a day- keeps the bonking away.


How much weight do you gain on vacation, stapfam, you sure know how to live.:D

I think they show it the Pan. We were asking for cremated and it was still VERY rare.

And Bread is High in Carbo-hydrates so a loaf a day- keeps the bonking away.
I noticed the long loaf of bread myself. I ate a lot of it when I lived in New Orleans many moons ago. I'm salivating!

A steak... stick a fork in it, walk it around the fire once, and throw it on the plate. If it doesn't flinch or go "mooh" when you stick it again, it's over done.

Those are great pix. Beautiful area! Looks as if you and the Mrs. had a great time.

A steak... stick a fork in it, walk it around the fire once, and throw it on the plate. If it doesn't flinch or go "mooh" when you stick it again, it's over done.

:beer: :beer:

And when I serve it, if you ask me for steak sauce, I'll politely ask you to leave.

Okay. Here's a shot of me on my trip to Santa Cruz, California earlier this month. I bought the bike to ride around downtown Santa Cruz and fit right in. It's the first bike I ever had with an aluminum frame and suspension. This was taken on my last day there. Later in the day, I gave the bike to the local bike coop.

http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/MeOnMagnaSm.jpg
http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/MagnaBike.jpg

Wonderful pictures, Stapfam!

I wish my rides could include fresh bread -- I can almost smell it :rolleyes:

I've added a couple of my rides lately, but I'll make sure to take the camera this weekend . . . I doubt my pics of the hike last weekend count but I managed a handful of "calendar" moments between home and Crested Butte.

:beer: :beer:

And when I serve it, if you ask me for steak sauce, I'll politely ask you to leave.

Amen, brother!

With regard to the weight gain- A big fat "0". I may have eat well but at least there were not the cake shops around to dive into and get a Bun from. There were the Patisseries but I learnt many years ago that the French do not know how to make cakes in any form- Bread- croissants- Pain chocloat but that is about it.

Now on the Helmet use- I sweated on this ride. I also did not go much about 8 mph anywhere so the helmet- the camera- the cycling glasses when they fogged up permanently- Got lost into the car once the wife met me 6K from the top. I also lost around 5lbs on the ride- till I got back down to Malaucen and decided to try the Cafe for beer and chips. Boy were they good.

By the way, since you are an avid gardener, have you been to visit the Eden Project over in Cornwall? We were there a couple of years ago, and I still often get out the photos I took just to remind myself that it is real. A remarkable and amazing bit of horticulture and engineering in its own right.

Eden project is about 300 miles from me and is still too new a garden to have matured enough to catch my interest. If I am garden Looking then we have plenty locally to see- or for an Experience we Have Kew and the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) at Wisley.
England is full of Horticultural gardens and it was a surprise to go to the Bambouserrie In France. Most of their gardens are just a few plants in a border. And Talking about gardens- Can't get out in mine till it dries out a bit. 3" of rain on tuesday and it is a bit Waterlogged.

Thanks for the pics, Stapfam. I can't wait to get to Nice at the end of August, but I won't be riding. We had to curtail our Euro trip this year because I've recently had shoulder surgery and have just started the rehab. Had big plans to bring a tandem to the UK, meet you, and ride to France and generally swan around. Now we'll spend 3 weeks on the Continent eating and drinking and 3 weeks in the UK doing much the same, but not in Brighton. Well, maybe next year.

:beer: :beer:

And when I serve it, if you ask me for steak sauce, I'll politely ask you to leave.

Or worse yet, ketchup!
:cry:

O.K. Here's a couple from a local MUP along the mouth of the
Genesee River in upstate NY

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/Boardwalk.jpg

That's the old Hojack Line Swing Bridge contrructed by King Bridge, the last known
such bridge of theirs in existance.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/Turningbasin.jpg

Bridge in the Turning Basin about 1 mile upstream of Lake Ontario

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/Swans.jpg

Nesting just off to the side of the Turning Basin Bridge

Fourteen in a row. Yah hoooooo!

Stepfam, j'ai envie de contribuer, mais je n'ai pas encore des photos interressantes. J'irai à Vienne en trois mois, et j'y achèterai un vélo à ce temps-là, après qui je ferais la bicyclette partoût, avec pics. :)

Pour un instant, je vous donne ce pic, de tout près de chez moi! Heh. :rolleyes:

Je m'excuse mes fautes grammaires. :o Je ne parles pas le français depuis vingt ans! :eek:

What kind of bike are you going to buy in Vienna, V.V?

Don't know yet, BP. Probably a mid-line roadbike that I'll mostly ride in the countryside. I certainly don't intend to ride it in Vienna, except for getting from my apartment to the countryside and back. I also have friends in France, Belgium, and Germany, and plan to take the bike with me when I visit them. But I don't think I'll be doing a lot of riding in October except in the areas outlying Vienna. Next summer, however.... ;)

"Now we kep seeing pics of the pair of you and you are making the rest of us feel Bad when we realise how fit you are. Haven't seen any pics of the Tandem yet so take a friend with you on the next ride- Providing he is fit or on a motor bike to be able to keep up with you."

I've posted pictures of the bike before but here it is again.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/DSCF0255.jpg

Stapfam, I saw your post about not enough pics so I decided to post a few.

I am just this side of 54 and RR is very close to 53. We thought we would share our rides with the over 50 crowd along with the rest. I just started riding last October and so happy to have something to do with the girl of my dreams. We didn't mean to step on anyone's toes. We enjoy reading about everyones good and bad, fun and adventure, and all the stuff that goes with being in this age group. Everyone here has their own accomplishments and their own ride with no judgements and I thought that was the idea of this forum.

Happy riding everyone.

That's a sweet bike, cgallagh! :beer:

I've always wanted to try a tandem. Looks like great fun! And must be nice to have a partner who never gets dropped and who never drops! :p

"Now we kep seeing pics of the pair of you and you are making the rest of us feel Bad when we realise how fit you are. Haven't seen any pics of the Tandem yet so take a friend with you on the next ride- Providing he is fit or on a motor bike to be able to keep up with you."

I've posted pictures of the bike before but here it is again.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/DSCF0255.jpg

Happy riding everyone.

not putting you down but it is jealousy that you can fit into the medium shorts as you don't have to allow for the overweight bit.

That's a sweet bike, cgallagh! :beer:

I've always wanted to try a tandem. Looks like great fun! And must be nice to have a partner who never gets dropped and who never drops! :p

Don't worry- Tandems are a good idea in principle but do take some getting used to. And it is not just the pedalling either. And as to that getting dropped- It depends on how often you upset the partner on the T. Main worry on these things is when the Stoker overtakes the Pilot. (And it does happen)

OK - - granted they aren't nice vacation shots. These are from the first race of the season right here in Spokane:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Beacon_Blowout_lowrez_Cory.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Beacon_Blowout_Stepup_Martin.jpg

Had a great vacation with the family at Whistler, BC the week before last; my son and I hit all the black- and double-black-diamond runs; but, sorry, no picts - - it was pretty wet, muddy and gnar so we didn't want to risk trashing a camera :o

OK - - granted they aren't nice vacation shots. These are from the first race of the season right here in Spokane:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Beacon_Blowout_Stepup_Martin.jpg

Had a great vacation with the family at Whistler, BC the week before last; my son and I hit all the black- and double-black-diamond runs; but, sorry, no picts - - it was pretty wet, muddy and gnar so we didn't want to risk trashing a camera :o

That second shot of you- Just hope you made the Landing. It does look a bit Dodgy from the camera angle.And as to no pics of the Mud- Great pity but it doesn't help the camera's much- as you say. So how did you do in the race?

That second shot of you- Just hope you made the Landing. It does look a bit Dodgy from the camera angle.And as to no pics of the Mud- Great pity but it doesn't help the camera's much- as you say. So how did you do in the race?Sorry, stapfam, I missed your post until today - - had to resurrect the thread from page 2 :o

I made the landing just fine in every run but my second timed one. Then I tagged the rock with my front wheel and it sent me over the bars. I was so steamed. It's an easy one to hit as, with plenty of speed, the dirt kicker literally throws you up onto the rock. A moment's lost concentration I guess.

Anyway, I wound up with second for Silver in the State Championship.

Sorry, stapfam, I missed your post until today - - had to resurrect the thread from page 2 :o

I made the landing just fine in every run but my second timed one. Then I tagged the rock with my front wheel and it sent me over the bars. I was so steamed. It's an easy one to hit as, with plenty of speed, the dirt kicker literally throws you up onto the rock. A moment's lost concentration I guess.

Anyway, I wound up with second for Silver in the State Championship.


You fell off and got 2nd? At least you know what to do next time.Or rather what not to do.



Never competed in a Downhill race- but Downhills were my thing on the hardtail.(Have to show the youngsters up somewhere) I can understand why you do this form of racing as the thrill is fantastic. Don't have the rocks on our Downhills and drop offs are not that easy on a Tandem- But If we ever meet up- We'll have to find a few hills to go down. (Definitely the FUN part of offroading)

Here's a pic from today's ride. This is along the Mississippi River near St. Louis.

Nice swamp

Nice kickstand

Nice kickstand

Do you know why a bicycle can't stand up by itself?



Because it's two tired.:roflmao:

Croissants et confiture?
Didn't you miss kippers for breakfast?
And what are you doing quaffing beer when wine is so plentiful?

Croissants et confiture?
Didn't you miss kippers for breakfast?
And what are you doing quaffing beer when wine is so plentiful?

Haven't had a Kipper for years- but The ones you can buy are Factory produced with artificial flavouring so are not as good as they used to be.
Mind you- I had a friend that used to get a crate of them delivered each month from a smokery in Grimsby and after staying with him for a week- I got fed up with the taste of them. Rather have a good English breakfast Anyday

Now Beer in France is kept for when you are thirsty. As breakfast is early in the morning- it has to be Coffee to waken you up. Wine is for for savouring so a bottle at Lunch-a bottle in the afternoon and possible a couple in the evening. So beer is only for when you are thirsty

How do I attach thumbnails. Beautiful pics, I love seeing other parts of the world thru regular (though I'd guess 50+ers aren't really regular, more exceptional) peoples eyes.

OK - here are a few - I'm just getting back from a vacation in the north woods of Wisconsin (Vilas County). My brother-in-law pulled out a couple of heavy road bikes that hadn't been used in over 20 years. I spent a day breaking them down & re-greasing, etc. They rode pretty well, though I did miss my regular ride. Got a nice 60 miler in with my wife, the 1st 3 pictures are some shots from that ride.

Highway K between Conover & Boulder Junction:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/bclasen/Bikes/Conover_07_14a.jpg

Highway S between Land O Lakes and Highway K:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/bclasen/Bikes/Conover_07_18a.jpg

Blueberry Lake - post ride dipping hole:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/bclasen/Bikes/Conover_07_01a.jpg

A friend of the family just retired to that area, he's an avid mountain biker. He had a nice spare bike and took me out on some of the local trails. Great ride, around 15 miles:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/bclasen/Bikes/Conover_07_26a.jpg

Thanks for the pics. I love the north. I think I'll have to get up to Duluth before the summers over.

I can understand why you do this form of racing as the thrill is fantastic. Don't have the rocks on our Downhills and drop offs are not that easy on a Tandem- But If we ever meet up- We'll have to find a few hills to go down. (Definitely the FUN part of offroading)It is indeed stapfam!

OK, here's one for you - - gnar course and great scenery too. This was on day one of a two-day downhill racing festival at Silver Mountain in Idaho Saturday and yesterday:

http://outdoorwest.com/SilveroxxJam/pictures/picture-45.jpg
(with thanks to Mike Bullington)

It is indeed stapfam!

OK, here's one for you - - gnar course and great scenery too. This was on day one of a two-day downhill racing festival at Silver Mountain in Idaho Saturday and yesterday:

http://outdoorwest.com/SilveroxxJam/pictures/picture-45.jpg
(with thanks to Mike Bullington)


Just how much is that drop-off beyond the yellow tapes:eek:

Just how much is that drop-off beyond the yellow tapes:eek:Haha . . . fish-eye lens makes it look more intimidating than it really is. It's probably a 100' ravine but most of it is open ski slope.

If you look just over the bottom of my camelbak, you'll see the valley floor a bit over 3000' elevation below. Sunday's Super-D race was a 17-minute run down to there.

Haha . . . fish-eye lens makes it look more intimidating than it really is. It's probably a 100' ravine but most of it is open ski slope.

If you look just over the bottom of my camelbak, you'll see the valley floor a bit over 3000' elevation below. Sunday's Super-D race was a 17-minute run down to there.

For those of you that do not do or understand offroading- it is fantastic. I mainly do crosscountry with a bit of technical Single track somewhere in it. I even attempt our local Downhill training course. But I have never summoned up enough courage to leave my Brain at the top and pick it up 5 minutes later at the bottom of the Run. The fast No-Brain Downhillers do this one in 3 minutes.

We only have short hills- but plenty of them.

Here are some photos from Saturday's 60 mile RBENT ride.

Leaving the Celina, Texas (ride start) town square.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/CelinaRBENT/103_4960-1.jpg

Riding along in horse country.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/CelinaRBENT/103_4984-1.jpg

On the Ray Roberts Lake dam, water rushing out in the background (lake was 9 feet high).
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/CelinaRBENT/103_4972-1.jpg

Yours truly, coasting.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/celina%202007/CIMG13255800x600.jpg

I can't compete with some of the beautiful landmarks posted here, but here is what my rides look like:

http://tinyurl.com/2ec3fc

I'm not in them, of course, because I'm behind the camera!

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=49610&stc=1&d=1184368718

On July 3rd, we had a family bike ride down to the National Mall for the Smithsonian's annual American Folklife Festival. This year, the featured regions were the Mekong River, Northern Ireland, and the COmmonwealth of Virginia. The idea is to showcase the cultures of one or more places where Americans come from, along with one of the states. There are fascinating displays, food, and music. Tough llunchtime decisions -- pho, a plowman's lunch, or barbeque.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=49611&stc=1&d=1184368718

It's a great bike ride, all the more so because any other means of transportation is impractical due to the large crowds and road and traffic congestion. It's particularly inspiring to ride past the ride past the monuments on the ever of Independance Day.

Paul