"Crabbed age and youth
Cannot live together
Youth is full of pleasance,
Age is full of care;
Youth like summer morn,
Age like winter weather;
Youth like summer brave,
Age like winter bare;
Youth is full of sport,
Age's breath is short;
Youth is nimble, age is lame;
Youth is hot and bold,
Age is weak and cold;
Youth is wild, and age is tame...."

I've had the pleasure of meeting many people online before I'd met them in person. And it's nearly always been a pleasure to meet someone with whom I've exchanged electronic correspondence. Certainly so in the case of cyclists.

But I had some concerns this morning as I drove out to Harrisburg to meet "Bautieri", a poster to Bike Forums. One was because this was going to be a ride on Excelsior, my Trek Navigator. Ex and I haven't ridden together in two months. Another worry was that the ride was to be on the Stony Creek Trail, which is considerably rockier than most trails I've traveled.

But my biggest doubt was about Bautieri himself. No, I didn't think him a nutcase, or dangerous in any way. From all I could determine beforehand, he seemed an intelligent, level-headed young man.
And the last two words explain the concern. Bautieri was a young man. Very young. As in 'young enough to be my son' young. See the picture alongside this posting to understand just how young Bautieri is. I'd graduated high school before he was born.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8648/65977764rd0.jpg

"What am I going to say to this guy?" I thought. "What are we going to talk about?" Was I going to bore him? Would I slip into "old man giving advice to young man" mode? Would he turn out to be as empty-headed as I find many young people to be?

As usual, I worry too much. Bautieri and I hit it off. We talked bikes and other topics for 23 miles, the years between us melting away. Yes, he's faster than me and a better cyclist, but I tried my best to keep up while bouncing from rock to rock. "Youth is nimble, age is lame...."

I did catch up with Bautieri at one point, but I wish I hadn't. My companion decided to ride over an enormous pile of stone on the side of the trail while waiting for me. As I passed him I turned my head to ask him to ride over it again, when I heard from behind the stone pile "I've taco'd my wheel." Fifteen minutes of adjustments and banging the rim with a rock put the wheel into ridable shape, but we turned around and went back to the trailhead as a precaution against further problems. Bautieri's bike is headed for the shop, not the trail, and so we headed back to my new friend's home for dinner.

Afterwards, as I drove home, I reflected on the day's ride. I had fun riding my bike, and that made me young at heart, I thought. Being young at heart, I could certainly ride with Bautieri again, and he seemed to want to ride with me in the future. In fact, I could ride with anyone. And nothing is less like crabbed age than that.

Rough trail or even offroad riding is a skill that has to be learned. You have to respect the rocks and trail conditions- as Bautieri found out. As a form of riding though- There is nothing like it. The cardio vascular work out it gives you is far greater than on the road and I always feel there is a sense of achievement in doing 20 miles without cars as opposed to 20 miles on a smooth road. One thing I would always advise though is never do it on your own. As in the case of the taccoed wheel. One on your own it is a long walk back to the car. With two- One can go and get the car and meet somewhere for recovery.

Good to see you out and trying new aspects of riding- But check the bike over after the rough trail for out of true wheels- and get out again in some mud to find out what it is really like

Sounds like you had a good time.

Yes, I too, have found that when there is a common interest, age makes no difference.

I enjoyed your well written post.

My companion decided to ride over an enormous pile of stone on the side of the trail while waiting for me. As I passed him I turned my head to ask him to ride over it again, when I heard from behind the stone pile "I've taco'd my wheel." :eek::eek::eek::eek:


You're a crafty old one too aren't you? Proving again that age and treachery is a dangerous combination indeed.:D

Great post, and it is true, we should not pre judge others.

:eek::eek::eek::eek:


You're a crafty old one too aren't you? Proving again that age and treachery is a dangerous combination indeed.:D

Great post, and it is true, we should not pre judge others.

That said, I admit I do have expectations that young people are going to be shallow whenever I meet one. I've overheard too much chatter from 20-somethings on the subject of Britney Spears and other 'celebrities' to think otherwise. Still, I am pleasantly surprised much of the time.

Good to see you out and trying new aspects of riding- But check the bike over after the rough trail for out of true wheels- and get out again in some mud to find out what it is really like.

Not to quibble with Stapfam, but don't get out in the mud to find out what it is really like, at least not in the States. Riding in mud is lose-lose. You damage the trails and trash your bike. Knobby tires converted into slicks by the mud give you no traction. Rim brakes stop working and even disc brakes don't work that well. Then you get to spend a long time cleaning mud off your bike. It really is not a good idea.

That is all.