Fifty Plus (50+) - Daggone It

I had been happily cycling for 25 years, and then I found Bike Forums. Now I'm a total mess. After clicking around the various threads, I've learned that I have the wrong bike frame. I have the wrong tires, which are inflated to the wrong pressure. I'm set up with the wrong components, and I'm wearing the wrong clothing. I go at the wrong speed, because I have the wrong technique. Of course my training method is all wrong, largely because I have no training technique. I just have fun. Perhaps it goes without saying that my chain lube is utterly, utterly wrong.

I can tell ya one thing. I'm not going over to the Dr. Phil message board. I'll find out that I'm married to the wrong wife, have the wrong kids, the wrong career and the wrong cat.

If you live for another 25 years, you can laugh at all of todays young bikers because as technology improves, they will find out that they are doing everything wrong today.

We are in the same wrong boat Blackberry. I come to this forum section because the people that post here aren't pricks towards each other!

............and Charlottesville definitely is the wrong place to live :cry:

My discoveries came from the bike fitter and the chiropractor. But first it was the injury that prompted me to get help from the chiropractor and the bike fitter. I eventually discovered that my flat feet play a part in the inefficient use of the quad muscles. Also the crank arm was not optimal for my size and my road frame is on the large size but still usable provided I change the stem. I changed the drop bars so that my small hands can comfortably reach the levers.

I tried to purchase new Ultegra crank arms but Performance said it would cost efficient to just buy the complete crank. That's when I discovered the bike's original crank was a 53 / 42 instead of a 53 / 39. So now its the 39 and its a big difference. I also bought new shoes, SIDI Genius 5. The old shoes were the two velcro straps and my feet didn't have the support it should. Now I wear the shoes with the hard plastic orthotics under the insoles. I bought new cleats for the Speedplays and it was adjusted correctly (finally) and now I can pedal off the saddle with ease.

I had to change the way I rode. I had knee drift in that I tended to move the knee outward especially when I got tired. My shoulders and middle back were tight because I rode "hunchbacked". Now the torso position begins at the pelvis by curling the opposite way with the chest out and chin up. This relaxes my back and shoulders and opens the diaphram so that its easier to breathe.

Cycling is an individual kind of thing. i do it for me. I don't really care what others think so I am in it just to have fun. Remember this forum is only digital bits flying around and really doesn't make much difference in the long run. A good magnet and all this is faint history at best. I look at it this way. I have a lot of experience cycling (having fun) and it appears you do too. So these young whipper snappers try to influence us. I don't think so. cycling succes is measured at the end of the days ride not by the equipment, style or cloths you wear. He He :)

Back to reality.

Anytime we compare ourselves with others, we tend to find something "wrong". At my age I have learned to be content where I am. (Heck being able to wake up and get out of bed is a blessing to be enjoyed). Granted, there are a few exotic toys I want for my bike (Carbon cranks, fancy tires, etc), but generally I am content with what and how I ride. All is right with the world. Let's not get the cart before the horse here :)

[QOUTE] Granted, there are a few exotic toys I want....[/QUOTE]

Me too, but my wife isn't interested. Oh well.

I come to this forum section because the people that post here aren't pricks towards each other!

I can change that.

Just give me six months (5.75 actually).



JOKE!!!

I had been happily cycling for 25 years, and then I found Bike Forums. Now I'm a total mess. After clicking around the various threads, I've learned that I have the wrong bike frame. I have the wrong tires, which are inflated to the wrong pressure. I'm set up with the wrong components, and I'm wearing the wrong clothing. I go at the wrong speed, because I have the wrong technique. Of course my training method is all wrong, largely because I have no training technique. I just have fun. Perhaps it goes without saying that my chain lube is utterly, utterly wrong.



Who Has been telling you all this twaddle? Wouldn't mind betting that it is a spotty 16 year old that has rich dad to pay for everything.
I get laughed at on my rides by some of the "In" people. There they are in the car park just unloading their bikes. (Incidentally this car park is 12 miles into our ride but it has a fantastic cafe on it) My frame is too heavy, it is not set up properly, the tyres won't work and I'll never get on unless I have full suspension. I have invited them to show me how good their bikes work in comparison to mine on a particularly nasty climb followed by a tricky descent, but most of them seem to be waiting for their mates to turn up.

I don't mind this as My bike works for me. It may be a bit scratched and tattered, The set up may be wrong but every rider is different and I like mine as sit up and beg. I don't care if it takes a long time to get up hills, but I get up them, and I will still be getting up the 5th hill of the morning.

Providing your bike works, carry on riding, and listen to the youngsters if they make sense. Some of them do know what they are talking about, but take note of the bits of what they say only if it suits you.

Edited bit added as a P.S.

We occasionally come across a group of around 20 riders that come to our hills from around 50 miles away. All of them have the latest gear and the latest set of legs that youngsters can get. We always say hello when we meet, but a few months ago one of them stopped to ask advice from this oldie riding. He was on the same big ride that I did last year and he asked me how I got on and what Time I did it in. He had 3 mates with him on the ride, and only two of them finished, and 45 minutes after us.
We are now telling them that for this ride, their bikes are set up wrong, they do the wrong training and they definitely have the wrong tyres.
Yep. As they will find out if they take our advice, What we are telling them will not help their riding whatsoever, as most of it is a load of Bu**s^"t and will not apply to their riding or their age group.

Paranoia Will Destroy Ya.

I kind of felt that way at the beginning too. I was doing everything wrong or I knew too little. Gradually though, that has changed somewhat. I am happy and grateful for bikeforums.net.

Well, hell. I did go over to the Dr. Phil message board. Never shoulda done that either. Turns out that in addition to having the wrong bike, sure enough, I do have the wrong wife, the wrong job and the wrong cat.

To paraphrase an earlier topic - Is this the Fifty Plus Forum or the Walter Brennen Forum?

The Real McCoy

"Is this the Fifty Plus Forum or the Walter Brennen Forum?"



Hey now, don't be dissen Walter Brennen. :D

Even Little Luke is probably a grandpa hisself by now. So don't be wanderin' off into them BMX threads. You'll only get hurt. ;)

You should be a TV psychiatrist married to Dr Phil's wife and have his pets????? :eek:

You should be a TV psychiatrist married to Dr Phil's wife and have his pets????? :eek:

My wife was ok with your suggetion but the pet psychic said no. :eek:

We are in the same wrong boat Blackberry. I come to this forum section because the people that post here aren't pricks towards each other!

- - As the sage said:
When a man is 20, he worries about what other people are thinking about him.
When a man is 40, he no longer cares what other people are thinking about him.
When a man is 60, he finally realizes that no one has ever been thinking about him.

When a man is 60, he finally realizes that no one has ever been thinking about him.

When a man is 80, he is lucky if he can think about others!

If you live for another 25 years, you can laugh at all of todays young bikers because as technology improves, they will find out that they are doing everything wrong today.

Some things new may be retro, 'cept now it's 'botique' chromoly mtb hardtails frames are...well, hot damn pricey...I've heard mention of a new bb that has a replaceable bearing set..OMG! WHAT AN IDEA!!!!

I ride a 15 year old mtb.. (by choice..kinda) Most componets are under 2 yrs old >Some original parts are left = good stuff, no need to update.
The mtb forum has always been pretty nice, and they probably don't know 'what' or who a Ritchey is.

I've got a lot of info from 'cyclists' about gravy, scooby. the goods on what do do to get performance from myself and the ride.

I'm lucky that i ride offroad and it's a very 'techniqed' style of riding and its competitiom is based on performance not snap 'gear' judgements.

Don't compare or ballance what you do\ enjoy against other riders. Cycling @! least for me is very personal.
My bike is also specifically modded to my body ergonomics and riding style and enviroment.

I going nowhere w\ this....If I need new platforms, I might check the bmx forums, not for the witty banter...they mash pedals, they know whats bunk or able to be maintained.

I need a new bike, not because someone dissed my ride - I'm starting to 'outride' my bike.
When i start cyclocross and road, I have to figure the old school before I graduate.
I'm a bit smarter that way...amd most serious bikers don't jump on any new product or style.

9 spd clusters and triples I have no use for....that doesn't translate to retro = means I run monster drive bikes and am able to climb hills with my legs.
Nobody dissin' ....wondering, kids pick up fast if you impart some of the 'info' gathered over the years.

I'd rather run a 40T chainring to a 12 cog = than a 38T to an 11T cog. 'bout the same speed, not the same feel if hammering the cranks.

Goodnight. Gonna be 40 this year. :(

Don't compare or ballance what you do\ enjoy against other riders. Cycling @! least for me is very personal.
:(

BINGO! ;)

When a man is 80, he is lucky if he can think about others!

and at 90, lucky if he can think.......