Fifty Plus (50+) - Upper limit?

Next month I turn 60 :twitchy: not sure how that happened because I really don't feel that old. One of the big items on my bucket list is a cross country tour and I am wondering what the upper limit for age might be for a trip like this. Providing health, time and money are not limiting factors how old is too old to realize this dream. Oh yeah I retired 1/1/12 but my wife has a couple more years to go.

Lots of older guys seem to be doing it into their 70's. I began my interest in biking recently by reading the tour journals at crazyguyonabike.com.....I very much enjoy that kind of thing and if nothing else it makes for an enjoyable read. You can read all the older gents stories there. Best, Chas

Health, time and money might be limiting factors but age is just a number. If your health and conditioning are adequate, how else could age be a factor?

Really, the questions are how much time and money do you have? If you have lots of both, I think any highly motivated person our age can do it as long as there are no serious health issues.

Whether or not you'd have to whip yourself in shape is something there is insufficient data to determine at this point.

I did it at 67 and my friend Roy was 73.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/577805-The-42-Ride-Ends-in-LA

He rode 750 miles for his 75th Birthday.

http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Roys%20750%20Mile%20Tour/?albumview=slideshow

Most touring cyclist do about 60 miles a day, or about 5 hours on the bike. I would try several 12 day tours and test yourself.

I met a gentleman a couple of weeks ago who had done a San Francisco to Portsmouth NH ride when he was 70. He told me that he intends to repeat the trip when he is 80. He is 78 now. So I would say the upper limit depends on the person, his fitness, activity level etc. but it certainly looks like you are nowhere near it.

I am wondering what the upper limit for age might be for a trip like this. Providing health, time and money are not limiting factors how old is too old to realize this dream.The only upper age limit I know of is dead. So if you are healthy and not dead, go for it.

Ken did CA to FL when he was 82 y/o.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=4767&v=FI

Here he is after 74 miles in the wind with 80 lbs of gear.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/TMT%20BB%20Ride/74miles.jpg

This is a great thread!

'''Age" is just a number, but, you didn't get there without a dose of common sense, moderation and conditioning are paramount.

If its you and your wife, then there might be an issue of blending the two directions. Just remember what's really important.

One of the high-mileage guys on bikejournal.com is 80 or 81. He gets in a good many more miles than I do, basically, just goes rides 100k every day.

Thanks for all the encouraging replies I really appreciate them I guess I am getting too caught up in a number (60). Up to now no birthday ever bothered me but for some reason this one seems different and it really shouldn't. I started riding in 1972 when I got drafted an haven't quit yet so I am pretty sure I have the fitness and experience. I just need to quit thinking about numbers and start planning my trip.

I think there was a 70+ team in RAAM this year.

I turned 60 in May. The only reason that affected my riding was that, for various reasons, I didn't ride very much for a year. Now I'm working on getting my conditioning back, with an eye toward making longer trips. So long as one has balance and muscle and wind, there's no reason to let numbers rule. :)

I think there was a 70+ team in RAAM this year.

There were three guys between 60-69yrs old who raced RAAM solo and two finished. There was one 70+ four man team and one 75+four man team and they both finished. I believe that one of the guys on the 75+ team was 82years old.

Age is not a barrier but fitness would be. Someone has mentioned 60 miles a day and I think that would be about right. Your preparation is one thing but the the bike has to be suitable for that distance aswell. So if you don't have a bike that will do it- start the search for N+1.

Age is not a barrier but fitness would be. Someone has mentioned 60 miles a day and I think that would be about right. Your preparation is one thing but the the bike has to be suitable for that distance aswell. So if you don't have a bike that will do it- start the search for N+1.
Averaging 60 miles a day is no problem I can do that now and I have a Long Haul Trucker completely set up for such an adventure as well as all the necessary gear. The only thing that was getting in my way was me but that changed yesterday. After starting this thread and getting all the great words of encouragement I started making plans last night. I am going to get in a few weekend trips starting in October followed by progressively longer trips to workout any equipment issues then hit the road on the Northern Tier sometime in late May or early June 2013. :)

Health, time and money might be limiting factors but age is just a number. If your health and conditioning are adequate, how else could age be a factor?

What he said.

Will you be camping or staying in motels? Will you be riding alone?
When I did it we had a group of 4 for most of it and we stayed in motels so didn't have to carry camping gear. We did up to 100 miles per day so it was important to stay at our own pace and not try to keep up with each other.
We also went into the south where people threw stuff at us every day.

Will you be camping or staying in motels? Will you be riding alone?
When I did it we had a group of 4 for most of it and we stayed in motels so didn't have to carry camping gear. We did up to 100 miles per day so it was important to stay at our own pace and not try to keep up with each other.
We also went into the south where people threw stuff at us every day.

As it stands right now I am planning to ride alone and mix camping and motels but mostly camping. I wouldn't mind hooking up with a couple of like minded folks to join me but don't have anyone lined up at the moment.

Buying the maps from Adventure Cycling? I think they're worth it, they show things from a cyclist's perspective.

Buying the maps from Adventure Cycling? I think they're worth it, they show things from a cyclist's perspective.

Definatley buying the maps I would like to get them now but am going to check with them on any planned updates before I place the order.

The only upper age limit I know of is dead. So if you are healthy and not dead, go for it.

An absolute +1 on that!

It's been said that as long as you have the time, everywhere is biking distance :) Go for it! Did the Northern Tier in my 20s and last year my husband and I rode the first half of the TransAm (Oregon coast to Pueblo, CO). Sept 1st we leave from Pueblo for the second half to Hilton Head, SC. Ours is a wimp's ride - all motels and averaging 43 miles a day so far. Plenty of rest days on top of that. If any fellow slow poke wants to cross this off their bucket list but doesn't want to go alone, you're welcome to meet us in Pueblo. You can definitely keep up with us :lol:

http://bicyclelife.topicwise.com/doc/yumadons1

He who hesitates looses . . do it NOW!

An 80 year old guy just rode Cycle Montana with me and he did just fine.... there really is no limit but obviously it's going to easier to do these things while you're still young. FYI Adventure Cycling is now going to start offering multi-stage options on their cross country tours, I believe.

http://bicycling.com/blogs/thehub/2012/02/17/100-year-old-sets-cycling-record/

The only upper age limit I know of is dead. So if you are healthy and not dead, go for it.

+2!!!

My wife and I have done over 10,000 miles of self contained touring in the last five years, including a cross country ride (averaged 50 miles a day for 74 consecutive days), the Pacific Coast Route, and 3 months in Europe (last summer). I was 64 when we rode from Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts five years ago. We also did a heck of a lot of riding when we were in our 40's, and 50's. We have toured for 4 weeks already this summer, and plan on doing another 6 weeks starting in September. We have been blessed with good health , work hard to stay fit, and are planning several more long rides, including a ride across Canada. I am especially blessed, because my wife is a "hard core" bike adventurer, and sharing the ventures is one of the most important aspects of bike touring for me.

Go for it, and good luck.

Last week, riding with our daughters (their first tour) on the Trail of The Coeur d'Alene in Idaho.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Trail%20of%20the%20Coeur%20d%20Alene%202012/IMG_8441-1.jpg

Like everything else, it depends. It depends on your physical conditioning, how dedicted (translated insane) you are, and how many miles you will be doing per day and whether you are self contained, credit card camping or in an organized group. I had a friend who did one of these as a 34 year old and it darn near killed him. Of course, it averaged something like 150 miles per day which was a bit much. If you ride within yourself, you should be OK especially if you have the freedom to just stop for a day or two and rest up and get your laundry done.

12bar, go for it!

Is there anybody here who thinks they can't get better than they are today? I'm 62, going on 63, and have recently hit a little valley in my riding. For me, averaging 16+ on a solo ride or 20 on a group ride is really, really good. I can hang with the 20-21 mph group for 15 to 20 miles, maybe more, but I can't do that by myself. So my goal is to improve my solo speed.

Why, sane people might ask, would a 62 year old man worry about riding a bicycle a little faster than 16 mph? They ask, what is the point? The point is that we like to challenge ourselves. We don't believe our age sentences us to a sedentary life. We don't quit.

I know a bunch of guys older than me that ride stronger and faster than me. I aspire to get better. And no, I don't feel 62 or whatever. I just want to improve a little bit!

Go ride across the country and have a ball.

I Cycled the Erie Canal a couple weeks ago, along with 500 some other riders, all organized by PTNY. 400 miles in 8 days, mostly on gravel tow paths. Average rider age: 51. Oldest rider: 88. I passed that 88 yr old a few times but not with much speed differential!