General Cycling Discussion - What's up with getting old?

Went to the doc yesterday, a follow up on my high blood pressure. I mentioned that I had some serious pain in my hip, started a couple days ago. I get x-rayed, he comes in with this story about how my hips are showing signs of arthritis. He gives me a script for anti-inflamation, tells me to keep riding, unless I feel it is hurting me, and get in a pool. I'm going for the lake by work. It put a scare in me, that one day I might not be able to ride. I can't not ride. Need some encouragement, some hope, something!

nah, Pain is good. lets you know you are still alive.
Keep those joints moving, best thing you can do.

I'm 59 and ride all the time. My doctor (a casual/recreational cyclist) tells me to keep riding. Riding is what keeps my cholesterol low, my weight dropping, and my BP ok. :)

Did you see the article in the July issue of Bicycling about the 90 year old cyclist in St. Petersburg Florida?

Don't worry. Just keep riding till you die. :beer:

I did a century on Saturday, the first one in 14 years. On the ride, I met a guy who was a paraplegic and pedaling with his arms on a specially made bike. I spoke at-length with him and what I learned was this:

We all age and go through the process of our bodies becoming not what they once were - that we cannot control no matter what shape we are in. But our head need not follow the same path. As long as we can get on and spin to any degree, our minds have the capacity to create the enjoyment.

55/Rad

Did you see the article in the July issue of Bicycling about the 90 year old cyclist in St. Petersburg Florida?

That 90 year old cyclist also grew his own food and ate healthy.

Getting old is a waste of time! I'm going to live forever, and so far I'm doing good.

Growing old may suck but it's miles better than the only alternative! :)

I know a guy who's around 55 or so and limps with arthritis. He claims that eating a large amount of glucose amine has helped him. He used to run and play tennis. Now he commutes to work every day on his bike. Unfortunately the disease runs in my family and I can feel it in my wrists and sometimes hip even in my twenties. I just keep pedaling. I think if you let go and give up it will only get worse. I notice sometimes it will be completely gone for months and then it comes back. I find Ibuprofen to work well and Naproxen works great. I only use that when it gets really aggravating and I have a race or long ride to do. There's nothing you can do about the march of time so you may as well smile :)

That 90 year old cyclist also grew his own food and ate healthy.

But, he chose the right parents--isn't his sister 80?

I think it's all about improving your quality of life, rather than length. If the quality goes up and you live, that's great; if the quality goes up and you die, well, you enjoyed getting there, no?

TAKE GLUCOSAMINE CHONDROITON AND MSM!!! you'll be happier in a few months.

But, he chose the right parents--isn't his sister 80?

I think it's all about improving your quality of life, rather than length. If the quality goes up and you live, that's great; if the quality goes up and you die, well, you enjoyed getting there, no?

Well genetics plays a good role but I don't recall his family being unusually old.
All in all, quality means adding life to your years, not years to your life.

That 90 year old cyclist also grew his own food and ate healthy.

starting at what age?

Osteoarthritis actually starts in most people in their 20's. Most folks just don't notice it until it has progressed a bit. Most x-rays will show it in a 20+ year old, although it will likely be minor.

Glucosamine and chondroitin have been shown by research (particularly glucosamine) to actually rebuild the damaged tissue in the joint.

I take both as a preventive, even though, at 64, I show no outward signs of osteoarthritis. However, my wife, at 66, does have noticeable signs. It is related to your genetics, and is essentially an autoimmune disease.

There are other kinds of arthritis - i.e., rheumatoid, which is a different animal.

One of the best ways to "cope" with osteo is to remain active. Biking, swimming and other low impact activities!

Well genetics plays a good role but I don't recall his family being unusually old.
All in all, quality means adding life to your years, not years to your life.

I agree--but having good genes doesn't hurt your chances!

:beer: Hi naisme ,just keep riding that bike brother, I broke my L/hip in a crash 4 months ago & I still walk with a limp + a fair amount of discomfort especialy toward the end of my shift(back at work now for 2 weeks) but I ride the bike to& from work & im just starting to add on extra Ks. on a scale of 1-10 of how my cycling was im about at a 7 now & improving, so im cycling a lot better than I can walk !(about a 3) :o . I suffer with artritis too, unfortunatly in my left knee. Pre- crash the discomfort was nearly nil, due to the cycling but when they operated on my hip they must have altered the angle of my knee joint ? & the pain was quite bad, since Iv'e been able to ride again the knee pain is deminishing . Im sure cycling keeps you younger , body & mind :p
I hope all these reassurances from all us old farts has given you some encouragement :D
cheers greywolf :beer:

We all age and go through the process of our bodies becoming not what they once were - that we cannot control no matter what shape we are in. But our head need not follow the same path. As long as we can get on and spin to any degree, our minds have the capacity to create the enjoyment.

55/Rad

Nice summary. What is wierd about cycling (and ---) is that we do them for how they affect the mind, and not necessarily the body. Another idea: cycling is too important to be taken seriously.

[QUOTE=foehn]But, he chose the right parents--isn't his sister 80?

What's she look Like? :D

That 90 year old cyclist also grew his own food and ate healthy.
That's in the wrong tense he still grows his own food and eats healthy in addition to his regular rides.

That's in the wrong tense he still grows his own food and eats healthy in addition to his regular rides.

Right on! :D

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for joint rebuilding. EPA/DHA from fish oil for joint lubrication. Nettle leaf extract and nexrutine for inflammation control. I recommend The Life Extension Foundation for objective, scientific information about dietary and supplemental interventions for pain control. Try www.lef.org, click on Disease prevention and Control protocols.

starting at what age?

You should pick up a copy and read about the guy he's pretty impressive. Was a racer back in the 30's and held the 1 hour speed record until a few years ago leads weekly rides now and does at least 150 miles a week. He is now on the top of my would like to have dinner with list

But, he chose the right parents--isn't his sister 80?

I think it's both sisters are in their 80's

Glucosamine!
I am 51 and do not have arthritis (yet), but my 7 year old dog does.. I give her Glucosamine and in 4 weeks she is 100% fine. People may have a "placebo effect" and think the stuff works, but not dogs :). This stuff works..

Getting old is a waste of time! I'm going to live forever, and so far I'm doing good.

There was a Greek story about a couple who were granted a wish and they wanted to live forever. It was granted. But they did not ask for immortality and eternal youth and that was a BIG MISTAKE. They ended up getting older and older and more and more decrepit until they were nothing more then whispering voices.

Osteoarthritis actually starts in most people in their 20's. Most folks just don't notice it until it has progressed a bit. Most x-rays will show it in a 20+ year old, although it will likely be minor.

Glucosamine and chondroitin have been shown by research (particularly glucosamine) to actually rebuild the damaged tissue in the joint.

I take both as a preventive, even though, at 64, I show no outward signs of osteoarthritis. However, my wife, at 66, does have noticeable signs. It is related to your genetics, and is essentially an autoimmune disease.

There are other kinds of arthritis - i.e., rheumatoid, which is a different animal.

One of the best ways to "cope" with osteo is to remain active. Biking, swimming and other low impact activities!

I am 21 and started taking Glucosamine. I will give Denver a little bit of credit for it. I have always had knees that have ache a bit. Nothing too bad, but when I walk a decent amount or run they start hurting alot. When I was 14 I was hit by a van that ran a red light while I was crossing the street, that messed up my right knee a bit as well. I started taking Glucosamine about 3 months ago in low dosages and since I have not had any knee aches or anything.

Big Ups and a hearty thanks...
My mind ain't right. It's just one of life's little scares, and something to be watching and being attentive. I suppose I thought it would be something like I'd be crippled up in a week, but that hasn't happened. Funny thing, riding there's no pain, climbing stairs and walking around work, a little pain.

Don't worry, I've had my fiar share of bodily abuse and I'm still going..despite having slipped discs in my back , and an ankle that was practically destroyed when I was 13 in a running accident. For what it's worth I'm only 24 right now. I used to run cross-country...well to make it short I slipped on a walnut husk (those things are incredibly slippery, and hard to see)...well I was a stubbron SOB and ran another 1 1/2 miles on it...well if you can call streaming tears and cursing running...I jsut refused to drop out of the race...so what was a dislocation and a stretched ligament was now a series of compound fractures..a torn ligament, and cartilage damage.

When I was 18 i had to have surgery on it again...I have a scar that looks like a very scaley bruis on my ankle from all teh work taht's been done on it. Actually I had it slip on me again last week, which made me fall down and curse and scream...having an ankle slide outward is a rather unpleasant...considering a nice nerve is there and all.

But, I found that bicycling has reduced the frequency of my slips...my theory is possibly due to strengthening the muscles around that area...but well..I havent had a slip in months..for what used to be about twice a month.

As far as my back...well, it will always bug me, and on the bike hurts as much as off the bike, so no biggie.

Only real harm i can see from riding a bike is losing that sexy beer belly :p