Fifty Plus (50+) - It doesn't take much to impress some people

I planned on doing my usual 40 mile ride today, but a slashed tire changed all of that. While sitting by the side of the road getting ready to put all my stuff back into the saddle pack, some ladies walked by and ask "where do you put all that stuff?" Well I pointed to the saddle pack, then they ask if I had already fixed my tire and I told them yes. Boy were they impressed that an old woman could do that all by herself. Then they ask how far I had to ride to get home "only 10 miles" I told them-- now they were REALLY impressed. I told them I had planned on doing 40 miles today, they probably didn't think this old woman could possibly do 40 miles--that's much to far. Now I feel good!

Good on ya, Litespeed. :beer:
Are you going to be able to salvage the tire? "Slashed tire" always makes me nervous and want to get new rubber.

Tire had to go in the trash. Luckily I had a boot with me to make sure I got home ok. I had taken that tire off an old rim so it did have some mileage on it. I don't even like riding on patched tubes if I can help it. I always install a brand new tube and worry about the old one when I get home.

Way to go! I hope to reach that point some day.

People are just astounded when we tell them we rode 20 miles. We mentioned a century to someone who said "That would take you a few DAYS, right?!?" I would have thought the same thing if I hadn't dove head-first into this crazy sport.

I have had people say to me, "I saw you on your bike. You were WAY out of town." I was three miles out.

I've had people in cars ask for directions or ask questions only a local could answer. When my reply is "sorry, I'm not from around here", they look at me as if I just emerged from a UFO.:rolleyes:

I'm starting to hear people say such things about me now, too. They seem stunned by the distances travelled, but I'm far from happy about my capabilities yet. It's a chuckle to hear somebody mention that they saw you "way out in the middle of nowhere" when you know damned well that you were only a few miles out of town because you hadn't had time to go any further :)


As for the notion that distances are "too far" for ladies? There are quite a number of ladies around here, 10 and I suspect even 20 years my senior, who can kick MY arse to hell and gone back on a bike!

But yeah. It does make you feel good when others are impressed by what you do. :)

If you give them your total miles for a year in distances across the country they'll really be impressed.

I cant fault the curious ladies there admiration but the story is another that belongs on [top stories of the month]/Ken

Nice! :)

Some friends went coast to coast years ago, then north to New England for about 3700 miles. They stopped in a gas station in Mass. to ask the safest way to Boston. "Bahston??? That's fahty miles from here!!" said the incredulous attendant.

I ride into the local "city" on weekends for shopping, haircuts, or just to ride. I tell people. "You ride your bike?" they ask, incredulously.

"Yeah, and I ride back too."

It's 11 miles one way and almost flat. I tell them they could do it too and they scoff.

Some friends went coast to coast years ago, then north to New England for about 3700 miles. They stopped in a gas station in Mass. to ask the safest way to Boston. "Bahston??? That's fahty miles from here!!" said the incredulous attendant.

:roflmao::roflmao:

Good story.

I have say, though, that when I'm a "civilian" (that is, in my car) and I pass a bike "way out in the middle of nowhere" I'm always impressed. Even if it's only 10 miles out in the country, or 7 miles to the next town, and theoretically the biker could just be out for a 20-mile loop -- there is something about passing a bicyclist out on a rural road that makes you think, "wow, that person is really out in the middle of nowhere."

My favorite is when talking to people about the Pan Mass Challenge, they say "I don't like to drive my CAR 192 miles." Puts a smile on my face every time.

It's always a good feeling when people say things like that.

Good story.

I have say, though, that when I'm a "civilian" (that is, in my car) and I pass a bike "way out in the middle of nowhere" I'm always impressed. Even if it's only 10 miles out in the country, or 7 miles to the next town, and theoretically the biker could just be out for a 20-mile loop -- there is something about passing a bicyclist out on a rural road that makes you think, "wow, that person is really out in the middle of nowhere."

I was surprised to see a cyclist here and there on the way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon last year. That really felt like out in the middle of nowhere.