Fifty Plus (50+) - I ain't as good as I once was

After a long absence - my last race was in 1999 - from any serious riding I'm back in the saddle so to speak. It ain't what it used to be now that I've topped 50 years and being 35 pound heavier than my "race weight" don't help much either. I've had to adjust the fit on my road bike a bit too as I've lost some flexibility. A majority of my riding is on my mountain bike though as riding these days with everyone texting and in a rush I don't find riding on the road very appealing.

My butt was a little sore at first but it came around pretty quick. I can chug up a climb in the pixi ring OK but any sprints or hard charges are out of the question. Don't know how much weight I can drop until a famine hits or I get serious about a diet.

Figured I'd drop in and see if I can find any old friends and make some new ones, not to mention the inspiration I draw from reading your posts. Thanks for that! -Mo

So what has happened to your old riding buddies in the last 13 years? Still riding? or have they put on so much weight and lost mobility that they can no longer get a leg over the saddle?

Don't know about "Old Friends" here but we are a friendly lot that put an Older- take that as mature- perspective on our posts to our friends. Welcome back to cycling but think you will find a few changes have occurred. Both in you and in the bikes that are around. Can see an N+1 thread starting soon.

Fairly tame bunch here, however per some of the more senior posters you will be required to get colonoscopy and declare your favorite pie.

Lose weight, go to yoga class, and do intervals.

(he said cheerfully!)

And welcome!

when I saw the titie of the thread I thought...non of us are as good as we used to be. But I digress..when I worked in Venezuela one of the sayings was ' we keep moving forward because behind us is too scary'. Don't know if what is behind you is scary but I comend you on the moving forward part. keep up the good work.

If it's only 13 years since you raced, why don't you make a comeback? Drop in on the 50+ masters racing subforum amd have a chat to rest of us old fools.

Your last post was 12/25/2006 - HEY, don't wait another almost 6 years before posting again, and welcome.

I am not as good as I was once, but I am as good once as I ever was.....:thumb:

I am better than I ever was. Really. Except for the fact that I'm quite slower than ever before....

Welcome back to riding. I'll bet you'll be doing better than you thought you could before you know it.

Hey, I was never as good as I thought I was, and now I'm even worse. 60+, 15mph average on the road, it's all good.

As far as cycling goes, I'm better than I ever was.

I'm better at 72 than I have ever been.


I appreciate the world of nature more as I ride along, I stop and take pictures and look for interesting flora and fauna
I talk more with folks that I see and learn all sorts of interesting things from them
I go more to interesting and unique places; or, I make the old places more interesting by better observation.
I enjoy riding even more with my wife
I have learned to ride in the dark on our local MUPS - it is a whole different experience

Welcome back. I too took a break. Twentythree years. Bought new bike and all the gear - mostly for incentive. Started july 10 with a two mile ride and add miles almost every day. Goal sub five 100 on 75th b'day. Then reality kicked in. Goal dropped to sub six and may even drop again. BUT - it is amazing to me that I can already put in a 40 mi ride. Speed - slow but building. Will I likely ever see a return to the level of riding I enjoyed at 50, probably not. I am begining to think that I will do well on long rides, just slower. Ride - and watch your body respond. Lower BP, pulse, weight and better attitude. It's great to be back.

Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration everyone!

At this point I think DnvrFox summed up my "new" direction pretty well. I'm enjoying riding more for reasons beyond the ride itself. I've always enjoyed the comradarie, the health benefits and often the routes but I'm less inclined to care about distance and pace now. Getting out, taking some pictures and just having fun is good enough these days. It'll be nice when it gets a little easier to go farther but I know now to take that extra water bottle.

Thanks again for the encouragement. Your stories are truly inspiring.

Mo