Fifty Plus (50+) - New to forum...turned 50 last fall

Sheesh. This is all so new and strange. The mailings from AARP...eligibility to take continuing education courses for "seniors"...that feeling that if I haven't grown up by now, I might as well give it up as a bad job. Not to mention that little 50th birthday present on its way from a local health professional.

I'm a lapsed cyclist now planning on getting back on the road. I have mental images of myself flying up hills on a fixed gear the way I used to do when I was in my twenties. I suppose the reality will be quite different, but it makes a pretty daydream. I even found a cheap fixed gear for sale locally on craigslist.

I'm hoping this forum will be a source of information and encouragement as I work my way through the trauma of realizing that I'm not 23 anymore.

-Birdo

Wait till you see the advantages of the senior discount at the Sunday morning all you can eat buffet.


About being 50.............your going to need some gears.........your knees are 50 too.......;)

Welcome! A number of us have found it's even more refreshing to just be back at on the road and some of the folks here are doing some pretty incredible things while they are out there. Best wishes as you rekindle the spark for riding again. And best of luck keeping the fleet to just one bike.

You've come to the right place, Birdo. We are the people your mother warned you about.

Welcome to the madhouse.:D

Oh, and check out this recent thread about being perceived as "old": http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=392636

Welcome! A number of us have found it's even more refreshing to just be back at on the road and some of the folks here are doing some pretty incredible things while they are out there. Best wishes as you rekindle the spark for riding again. And best of luck keeping the fleet to just one bike.

Thanks, everybody. I am getting a bit excited as spring (er, mud season) draws closer in Maine.

As for the "one bike" part - it's already too late for that. :o

We seem to have a serious issue in this household with doing "just one" of any form of transport.

-Birdo

Welcome!

AARP put Paul McCartney on the cover last year.... anyone around the same age as the Beatles is still very young.

The reality will shock you a little bit, but I bet you'll settle in and find that 50 is youth all over again.... especially on a bike!

I'm hoping this forum will be a source of information and encouragement as I work my way through the trauma of realizing that I'm not 23 anymore.

Welcome to the crowd, Birdo.

It'll be really hard to pry an opinion out of anyone in this group.... yeah right :rolleyes:!

Actually you'll find a world of good information and lots of encouragement, and we're not quite as high strung as the denizens of neighboring forums.

Welcocome Birdo. I'm a n00b here as well and so far the inmates have been gentle with me. Hmmm, I wonder what that means:eek:

Welcome, Birdo. When those 50+ blues hit, just keep in mind that, once you're over the hill, it doesn't make any difference how far.

Welcome to the nut house Birdo.

Welcome, "Birdo":
I wanna call you a young whipper-snapper, but-
gee, you know what?
I don't know if you own a whip or even know someone
you can borrow a whip from!

You turned 50 last fall and you're just now swinging by? What took you so long?
Welcome back to the wonderful world of 2 wheels... you're gonna like it :D

You may not be able to ride quite like you could in your 20's, but getting back on the bike will do more to make you feel like you're in your 20's again than pretty much anything else you could do. Well, that's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it--YMMV.

Welcome to the group. There's a pretty good chance you won't be sorry. Remember: There is no such thing as a dumb question . . . just one that has been asked before.

50? You young pup you... :D

It's not how old you are but how old you act.... so I guess I'm around 15 or so... :D

Got my motorcycle road racing license at 48 and while I don't race anymore I'm still doing track days at 54 and commute by bicycle most days of the week. Just a year and a half ago I took up playing paintball fairly seriously as well. I'm surprised they aren't all calling me "Gramps" at the fields.

Things do take a little more energy as the years pile on and there's more groans for sure. And I know I've had a good day when I get out of the truck at the end of the day to open the gate to park and my legs almost refuse to hold me up. Yeah it hurts, but it's a GOOD hurt...

Birdo: Welcome! I too am 50 and I took up fixed gear riding at age 49.
My knees have never felt better.

I now have 2 FG bike and get most of my road miles with them.

Good luck and have fun.
Gerry:)

You gotta hang out here more. All these old folks make me seem really young....

Welcome aboard and enjoy the riding.

You gotta hang out here more. All these old folks make me seem really young....

My mother lives in one of those "senior living" apartment complexes (my husband and I call it the Henhouse, because the residents are almost all women). Every once in a while she updates me on the health woes of some fellow resident, followed by the remark "But she's really old." Mom is 87 now, bless her heart.

So I guess you could say that the idea of "old" works on a sliding scale. :D

Thanks again for all the warm welcomes - this is definitely the friendliest forum.

We'll never be younger than we are tonight. Let's go celebrate by doing some leg lifts on the MUP. Or some keg lifts at the bar.

To quote that great philosopher Groucho Marx "You're only as old as the women you feel."

Happy 50 Ol,Phart,
The standard rite of passage is the old camera hose up the kazoo.Enjoy.

To quote that great philosopher Groucho Marx "You're only as old as the women you feel."

incorrect
"I go out with 25 year old women because I like to feel younger"