Introductions - new older person

Hi anyone who might be listening. I have recently returned to riding my bicycle after maybe a 20 year absence. Perhaps not a complete absence but I have started riding a lot more recently. When I was 18 through upper 20s I used to ride many miles per week. There were times when I would go 30 to 40 miles per evening every evening, not thinking much of it. Now going 15 miles takes a lot of time and makes my muscles sore. I am in my low mid fifties (kind of vague there) and mostly ride on a bicycle path. There is a path that goes by my town which is almost 60 miles long running along old railroad tracks with no cars on it.. I do have some questions if anyone can answer them. I still ride my old Windsor Pro, purchased in the 70s, with newer tubulars and rims and brake pads but mostly the original Nuevo record stuff on it. Still working well, it is a 23 pound bicycle with a 25 inch (63 cm) frame. I like it a lot. I use ancient Sidi cycling shoes. They have the plastic cleats attached to their leather the bottoms. I have been trying to ride at least 10 miles per day on work days and 15 or more miles per day on the weekends. Working with 3 children and a wife and an ex-wife, I don't have much time. Unfortunately I decided to start back up later in the summer so the season is short. I used to have a set of rollers but threw the out one year many years ago. I am considering getting one of the those gadgets that lift up your rear wheel and put it on a roller. If anyone would recommend a decent one that would be nice. I have a treadmill but sometimes the carpet you walk on slips and the motor stops.. I'd consider getting an ellipitical instead if that would be better. I have no idea.

I am not much for riding in groups because no one ever wants to go the pace I want to go. That might be slow or it might be fast. I try to ride at least 1/2 of my ride so that I am breathing fairly heavily. So it would be difficult to talk if I tried. Maybe 17 to 19 mph. A couple of weekends ago I did a 35 mile ride and I was worn out the last 10 miles or so. I think I am doing better now but the evenings are getting darker earlier. I sometimes go out on the bike path in the dark with a headlight clipped on to the handle bars but I feel I cannot go very fast for fear of running into something or other. I have a mail-order fixie bike I ride occasionally around town. it has clinchers on it and some campy brakes I ordered off of ebay. The toe clips on it are too short-even after adjusting them so my size 12 feet do not fit properly over the axle of the pedal. I have been trying to find some used super record road pedals for the Windor so I can take its pedals off and put them on the fixie bike but everyone over bids me and the price of $100 for some 70s or 80s pedals seems kind of high. I cannot afford to re-pedal my bicycles plus get new shoes as well. Boss, May I have a raise so I can upgrade my bicycles?

Well thanks for listening.

If anyone has any answers, I would say thanks:

1. Which is better for bicycle related training an Elliptical or Treadmill?
2. What is a good decent priced gadget that lifts the real wheel of the bike allowing you to pedal
3, Is the below any good:
http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10052_10551_1081178_-1_400037_400006_400133

4. Do you burp a lot when riding harder? Is that air that bypasses your lungs and gets into your stomach?
5. Why don't I like jogging or running? is Jogging or running a good bicycle replacement in the winter?

Thomas

Welcome to Bike Forums! I'll try to help with some of your questions.

As far as training, an elliptical machine might be a little easier on your joints because there will be less pounding. The pounding on your joints might also be why you don't care for running or jogging. If you're looking for a weight-bearing exercise, have you tried walking fast? You're still on your feet, but there is less stress on your body. If you are looking for an indoor winter exercise, have you considered taking a spinning class at a gym?

For your questions about indoor trainers, you might try posting in the Road Cycling forum. They can give you information on resistance vs roller types.

You might also want to check out the Fifty Plus forum. They might be able to give you some advice about the air getting in your stomach.

Welcome to BikeForums young man. I'm 64 (almost 65) and still a kid when on my bikes.

The Kinetic fluid trainer you're asking about is an awesome trainer. One of the best in my opinion.

Stop by the 50+ forum and introduce yourself to the "old farts".

Why quit riding the bike in the winter? Just adjust you clothing to suit. If they put lots of salt on the roads, get a beater off Craigslist.