Fifty Plus (50+) - I really didn't expect to make it this far

Well, despite doing everything I could in my misspent youth and young adulthood to avoid it, I turned 50 on Tuesday. Now don't get me wrong, I "experienced life" quite a bit and enjoyed every minute of it and I'd probably do it all over again given the chance, but some of the things I did weren't exactly safe or sane choices. I did rock climbing, skydiving, motorcycle riding, and white water rafting. I ate too much, drank too much, smoked, and enjoyed some "alternative" intoxicants. Despite all that, here I am.

These days I'm pretty placid, relatively speaking. I enjoy woodworking and reading, as well as riding. I'm pretty much exclusively a transportation rider, commuting 18 miles each way, with 1500 feet of climbing on the way in and 1100 on the way home. The route takes me over downtown city streets, riding trails, and through suburbs. I ride a Bacchetta Giro 20 recumbent that's been outfitted as a daily commuter. Sometimes, in the summer, I'll do a century or so, but I don't usually plan them more than a couple of days in advance. I'm not fast and I don't wear fancy kit, but I get the job done eventually.

I didn't ride on my birthday because we had a snowstorm on Monday and there was still plenty of ice on the street on Tuesday. I did ride today, however. I hope the rules for the 50 don't require you ride it all at once. I did the first 18 on my way in and the other 32 on an extended ride home. If it makes any difference, the ride in was done in 25 degree temperatures.

Anyway, I've been mostly lurking here for a while and y'all seem like a pretty good group. Maybe we'll pass on the trails, eh?

Welcome to the asylum. If it was me I'd work up some sort of formula. For starters try distance divided by temperature. This should provide a multiplier to determine total distance for bragging points (now known as BPD or Bragging Points Distance). Obviously, some here require other formula's to determine BPD but for that commute, it seems fair.

Look at it this way... you are just a baby in here.

Wasn't it Eubie Blake who said:

"If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

Welcome, possible son!

Welcome aboard. Your courtesy gift pack of Geritol, super-absorbent Depends and senior citizen discount ID will be arriving in the mail shortly. :D

Welcome to 50+, Unixpro.

The Northwest Chapter of 50+ continues to grow. Unixpro is a helpful member of the Pacific Northwest forum as well, often helping newbs with commuting, weather and routing tips.

I didn't expect to make it this far either, but I'm glad I did. It's been fun so far, even though I'm not old enough for the senior citizen discount yet . . . guess that starts at 60?

Rick / OCRR

Welcome aboard. Your courtesy gift pack of Geritol, super-absorbent Depends and senior citizen discount ID will be arriving in the mail shortly. :D


Hey!! I didn't...

:p

I remember the day I joined 50+......................................that's not true...............what was the question?

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z284/JanMM/grayvitamins.jpg

...I'm not old enough for the senior citizen discount yet . . . guess that starts at 60?
Rick / OCRR

dependz

Considering that when humankind started the lifespan was 32 years, you and I are on borrowed time anyway, or so I have read.

Welcome, possible son!

Sow some wild oats out Washington way?
:)

These days I'm pretty placid, relatively speaking. I enjoy woodworking and reading, as well as riding. I'm pretty much exclusively a transportation rider, commuting 18 miles each way, with 1500 feet of climbing on the way in and 1100 on the way home. The route takes me over downtown city streets, riding trails, and through suburbs. I ride a Bacchetta Giro 20 recumbent that's been outfitted as a daily commuter. Sometimes, in the summer, I'll do a century or so, but I don't usually plan them more than a couple of days in advance. I'm not fast and I don't wear fancy kit, but I get the job done eventually.

Sounds like you get great enjoyment from riding. That's a lot of climbing for a medium distance commuter route. Able to maintain a reasonable speed on your bent? I know a lot of people like that particular recumbent.

I'm there too. Turned 50 and actually riding more and buying more bikes than I ever had. I am so into cycling that I can't wait for Saturdays for my 30 miler and day light savings to ride after work.
I have 9 of them and need more.

- Basso Lotto: SLX steel frame, full campy record w/ delta brakes, immaculate condition.
- IBEX Aprisa Team: 6061 Al. full Ultegra, Aksium wheels.
- Tomasso Aggraziato: Full mono carbon fiber, Dura-Ace/Ultegra mix, neuvation wheels, Token parts. Awesome fast light bike.
- Specialized Langster London Single speed.
- Trek 1988 660s.
- SWOBO Otis SRAM 3 speed, w/ avid bb5 frnt dsk.
- Schwinn KOM S9: full Shimano XT, girven flex stem
- Trek WS 7200
- 2007 Jamis Dakar Xam 2.0: XTR/XT grp. MTB

Sow some wild oats out Washington way?
:)


I'll never tell. Traveled a lot in those days!

Welcome to today. I am almost 61 and have been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 45 years. I am still going strong without major issues involving my heart, kidneys and lungs, BUT have noticed the demise of more and more "healthier" friends in the last few years :-(

I am quite surprised that I have lived as long as I have - and so have a LOT of physicians who look at longevity statistics for diabetics. So far, so good.

Enjoy every minute and don't put things off: if you can do them, then ... DO THEM - and that includes your "next" bicycle "adventure". There is no guarantee that we will last another 5 minutes ;-)

I didn't expect to make it this far either, but I'm glad I did. It's been fun so far, even though I'm not old enough for the senior citizen discount yet . . . guess that starts at 60?

Rick / OCRR

Rick... you get a reduced rate at Regal theaters at 55 and Denny's and other restaurants give you discounts at 55. Trust me I take all the disconts I can. There has to be something good from being this old!


Oh welcome unixpro!

Rick... you get a reduced rate at Regal theaters at 55 and Denny's and other restaurants give you discounts at 55. Trust me I take all the disconts I can. There has to be something good from being this old!


Oh welcome unixpro!


Wendy's and Burger King 10%

Wendy's and Burger King 10%

They're evidently trying to ensure you don't make it to 60.

They're evidently trying to ensure you don't make it to 60.

Why always a negative comment?

Wendy's - great salads, grilled chicken wraps, baked potato, chili

Burger King - well, they do have some salads!

Why always a negative comment?

Wendy's - great salads, grilled chicken wraps, baked potato, chili

Burger King - well, they do have some salads!

Don't know Wendy's but for a die hard that does not eat or like any fast food- Even I can take a Burger King.

At least it's not McD's

Welcome aboard. Your courtesy gift pack of Geritol, super-absorbent Depends and senior citizen discount ID will be arriving in the mail shortly. :D

Suzie, wasn't there a pattern for sewing our Depends into our cycling shorts, too?

Road Fan

Wendy's and Burger King 10%

Really I didn't know... actually I seldom eat at either (my fast food choice is Chick-Fil-A or Del Taco). I get embarassed about asking for discounts but I guess I shouldn't.

Welcome to the club and a belated Happy Birthday. :50: Many of us wonder how we ever survived as long as we have. I still haven't decided if we're "The Lucky Ones" or if those who didn't are. For now I'll assume that we are.

It's nice to have yet another 'bent rider among us, and one without all the fancy duds even.

I'll be looking foreward to more posts.

Suzie, wasn't there a pattern for sewing our Depends into our cycling shorts, too?

Road Fan

Speaking of Depends, this is an absolutely true story. I had dinner last night with a manager who works for United Space Alliance on the Space Station project. The shuttle scrubbed Wednesday evening because of a hydrogen leak at the joint between the external tank vent and the vent tube, which relieves the pressure in the tank when the liquid hydrogen boils off before launch. He told me that one way they fix leaks on the hydrogen fueling system (not in the shuttle itself, but on the ground equipment) is to take a Depends, or a baby disposal diaper, or a sanitary napkin (depending on the size of the leak), dunk it in water, and slap it on the leak, The diaper freezes on contact, and seals the leak. After liftoff, they fix it. Rocket science ain't always rocket science.

P.S. - The shuttle is going up Sunday evening in what will be a beautiful dusk launch. As a result, my usual Saturday ride to the beach is off, because the road is closed for the launch. Watch the launch if you can. Thee are only nine left after this one.

HAha ha sounds the perfect life to me!/check out the 80y.o.guy he rode bulls for a living:crash::cry:/KENNETH

Greetings Kerlenbach// Linda/[wife]GOT TO SEE this shuttle go this time while visiting [her first time she loved it/I encourage anyone to see a launch if possible [I watched one go in my little kayak while on my sisters boat at Titusville /Kenneth

Welcome to the ever-growing horde of 50+ folks in the Pacific Northwest! Most of my riding is transportational also , the bulk of it being my bike & bus commute between the Sammamish Plateau and UW. I like to mountain bike in the summer, though.

Only my third trip to Florida ever this week, and I missed the shuttle launch. Bah! Would have seen it had it not been delayed- but the friend I was visiting in Melbourne Beach says it's often so.


take a Depends, or a baby disposal diaper, or a sanitary napkin (depending on the size of the leak), dunk it in water, and slap it on the leak,

Hey, a pair of padded cycling shorts should work for this!

Welcome aboard. Your courtesy gift pack of Geritol, super-absorbent Depends and senior citizen discount ID will be arriving in the mail shortly. :D

Eh, how long does it take to receive these? If you haven't shipped 'em yet, keep the Depends and Geritol but I'll take the Discount ID as I am a Senior/SENIOR (71½). :D BTW Suzie, really laughed out loud when viewing your avatar. Love it! :)