General Cycling Discussion - Feeling younger

I was thinking yesterday how good and energetic cycling and walking have made me feel.

At 42 years old, I want to continue to be as energetic as possible, for as long as possible, because it's the quality, not just the number of years of my life that's important. Cycling has helped me discover this in a personal way.

On the negative side, I'd hate to grow heavy and weak as I age.
I can't imagine the lives of some folk who are about to retire, but
aren't in any physical shape to enjoy that part of their life.

You're right. Exercise in general, and cycling in particular has helped me keep healthy, which I need to pass medicals for my job, but more importantly, for life in general.

That old saying, "if you don't use, you lose it", is certainly true of our bodies.

Man, I am 53 years old and I feel like 21, it in the mind, and really feel like very young at heart and spirit

I'm 57 and feel 40 something. :)
I was out with a group of younger cyclists (early 30s to early 50s) on Sunday and age came up in our discussion. I told them my age and one of the guys said he thought I was about 45. Must have bad eyesight. :D

Heart rate and blood pressure are lower than my peers and my beer belly is much smaller as well!

Unless I get hit by a dump truck, cycling is very, very good for me! :D

The best way to feel like a younger man is to NOT ride with young men. .:rolleyes:

In fact, perhaps the best way to feel younger is to fraternize with older people. :D

Originally posted by mike
The best way to feel like a younger man is to NOT ride with young men. .:rolleyes:

In fact, perhaps the best way to feel younger is to fraternize with older people. :D

Now that I've relocated to rural central Illinois, I don't get a chance to ride with younger riders too often. But when I did, I was able to drop a fair amount of them (even one is a fair amount :D). That always made me feel younger! :)

But you're right, there were a fair number that I couldn't keep up with either, ahh youth....

I'm 38 and cycling makes me feel fitter.

I need a lot less sleep.
I have far more energy.
I feel exhausted after a long ride but 30 minutes later I want to go back out.

All in all cycling is wonderful.

It's an interesting thing that people will decide to start exercising and immediatly take up Jogging, When I mention Cycling they look at me strange.

When I point out simple things like

1. it's low impact (running is tough on the joints)
2. The bike keeps moving when you stop pedalling(stop running and you stop)
3. off road is fun for all the family and a lot more safer than the roads.

Since preaching these points and leading by example I now have 10 neighbours who have bought bikes and are loving it. Okay they don't go far but at least they are trying.

i duno, i'm 22 and even with cycling and running i still always feel tired... i think my body just hates waking up at 5:30 every mornin... maybe if i got more then 6 hours and 45 mins or less of sleep a night i'd do better. Or maybe if i ate better... hmm

Originally posted by mike
The best way to feel like a younger man is to NOT ride with young men. .:rolleyes:

In fact, perhaps the best way to feel younger is to fraternize with older people. :D
Yeah but you don't want to patronize with grumpy old men

Wow, all the old school crowd!

Thought I'd say hi and chime in.

I turned 39 this year and with a 6 year old and a 6 month old biking is an insurance policy that I'll be able to keep up with them until I kick them out!

Since I picked up biking again 3 years ago I'm a new man with a new passion. No more running (sore Knees and ankles) less golfing (every year I get worse anyway) and a lot less time sipping beer and fishing. My weight is down. My cardiovascular system is better than I ever remember it and the ride to and from work is a lot more fun.

I wish I could get some of my other friends involved. I'm close to 50 now and at least three of my friends will never see 60. They are overweight, out of shape and lumps on the couch.

Originally posted by LittleBigMan
I can't imagine the lives of some folk who are about to retire, but aren't in any physical shape to enjoy that part of their life.
I have friends that are barely 30 and are so out of shape they couldn't ride a bike a block. Imagine what they will be like when they retire.

Originally posted by Greg
Wow, all the old school crowd!


:eek:

Hey, WHO ARE YOU CALLING "OLD?!"

I can't really say cycling makes me feel younger.I've had too many serious injuries and have parts that go click and clack.But I will say that cycling keeps me moving and motivated and I'm in better shape.

I'm 38 and right now I feel 48 - but I've only just got out of bed. Give me time to wake up and get on my bike and I'll feel 28.

I realised how much difference cycling makes when I was chatting with 3 guys around my age the other day. They are all on blood pressure tablets and various other bits and pieces. One of them turned to me and said "So, does this make you feel old?" I said "No, it's making me feel a lot younger".

The only daily 'medication' I take is a multivitamin and a good ride.

Originally posted by LittleBigMan

:eek:

Hey, WHO ARE YOU CALLING "OLD?!"

I Apologize for the ill inference, Pete.

Now put your teeth back in and smile!:D

from where I came from, the only one that grows old are the "bulls" you know what I mean

There is something about cycling that seems to make people look and feel younger, myself included. Recently, a young woman thought I was 27! Yeah, I was once- about 12 years ago. Actually, I always looked younger than I am, due to good skin, but I hated it when I was 19 and people thought I was 14.

Getting back to cycling, I keep seeing cyclists who look incredibly young and fit and then I find out they're like 60 years old and I'm GETTOUDa here. Just a couple of weeks ago we saw a very fit-looking guy on a cool bike and then my cycling buddy tells me he knows that guy and he's almost 60 years old! I nearly crashed right then and there- the guy used to race and he still looks like he could do a race. Last summer we met another guy who also used race and does triathlons- apparently, once he was on a ride and had chest pain and went to the hospital. Turns out he'd had a heart attack and right then and there he was operated on. When I saw this guy last summer I was stunned to find out he was 57. He has the physique of a teenager- I thought he was about 50. The reason he had a heart attack so young was a congenital thing- his own father died very young and they said that the fact that this guy was in such great shape saved him from the same fate (I doubt his father was a triathlete). And then I see people like the ones mentioned earlier- people in their 20s and 30s who never get any exercise, never get any sun and are so out of shape they get winded if they walk a block. I saw a couple of acquaintances like that- they got married (after meeting on the net, where they spend all their time and it SHOWS) and i can't believe people in their early 30s could look that bad. Pasty, dumpy, shlumpy, stringy hair, they move so slowly like invalids, they're the color of a toad's belly. Yeeech! I look and feel ten years younger than they do and 'm ten years older!

However, yesterday after going for two long rides two days in a row in windy conditions, our legs felt like lead and we were walking around groaning and saying, "Oh yeah man, I'm in such great shape, I'm so fit!" and we were too pooped to run for the bus!

Originally posted by AutoAudio
i duno, i'm 22 and even with cycling and running i still always feel tired... i think my body just hates waking up at 5:30 every mornin... maybe if i got more then 6 hours and 45 mins or less of sleep a night i'd do better. Or maybe if i ate better... hmm

You bet when sleep time drops below 7 hours I could tell and 7 1/2 is better. As to food well since my garden is starting to produce I'll bet you can get fresh stuff - nothng better for you. Give it a try.

I just wish the young girls thought I was as young as I feel.;)
Joe
:beer:

We had a guy down here in FL that was somewhat of a legend. He completed
the Iron Man at 82. He died riding on the Pinellas Trail at 84...on a 'B-ride'.

I wanna go like that.

Check this out!

www.bikeleague.org/mediacenter/medprs31.htm

Dang...

94!

Originally posted by Steele-Bike

I have friends that are barely 30 and are so out of shape they couldn't ride a bike a block. Imagine what they will be like when they retire.

Do we know each other? :D