MRT2

But because I am working on my birthday, I did it today. Actually more like 50 miles. Rode with a local cycling club. Ride leader told me the ride was fairly flat. Seemed more like fairly hilly to me, but I guess it all worked out in the end.

I had been riding 30 to 35 mile rides every weekend, and shorter rides during the week.

So, next challenge. Metric century? 75 miles? 100?

Or maybe just resolve stay in good enough shape that I can do 49 miles on my 49th birthday.

10 Wheels

Happy Birthday Ride...

lolguy

Congratulations and welcome to the 48 year-old club!

goldfinch

Congratulations! I find it incredibly cool to ride my age.

chasm54

There's a better strategy. Ride your weight in kilograms. That way, your distances can fall year-by-year instead of increasing. And it's better for you, too.

kjmillig

That gives me some inspiration. I can't try for 49 miles on my 49th birthday mid-August because I'm recovering from a broken tibia. But I can shoot for 50 miles on my 50th birthday. I'll shoot for half way on my half birthday in February.

ChiefTJS

Very cool!! Good job!! My 48th is the end of September and I think I'll make that a goal for the day. Thanks for the inspiration.

otg 

Excellent job and happy birthday. Now have a nice piece of pie!

volosong

Well done! Take it in steps. The metric century next, and go longer as you fitness increases. The real challenge will be to ride double your age in miles or triple your age in kilometers. The important thing is to keep at it . . . slow and steady.

MRT2

A little background on why this is a milestone. May 2012 was a wakeup call for me. I had been off biking for 21 months (last biked in August of 2010) and unfortunately, completely sedentary for much of that year. So, after a couple of short rides around the neighborhood, I got the family together for a family ride into town which, all told, is about a 10 mile loop up and back. But, it was a hot day and much to my chagrin and humiliation, I found myself sitting on the grass trying to catch my breath on the first "hill". I put it in quotes because it isn't really a hill, but just a short incline. I thought I was dying for a minute. And I had only ridden a little over 2 miles. Anyhow, that was the end of the ride. I didn't walk, but rather rode home very slowly.

It turns out I was starting to get sick with whooping cough, so it took a few weeks to recover. Starting in July, 2012, I started to ride, and get back to the gym regularly, and changed my eating. And, I bought a new bike last year. Still, riding 47 miles on my 47th birthday was out of the question. My weight was way up, almost 290 in early June. At that weight and fitness, the best I did was 25 miles by the end of the summer. Losing weight takes time, and riding alone isn't enough. So, while I have fallen short of my goal last summer to lose 90 lbs, I did manage to ride as far yesterday, at 250 lbs, or possibly a little farther than I did 8 years ago when I was 215 lbs.

IAMAMRA

Happy belated birthday!

MRT2

Thanks, but actually my birthday is Wednesday.

digibud

Congrats. Knock off a few rides of that length then do a 75miler a few times and then...triple digits.
My wife and I did two rides of 40mi and then decided to do a 50mi ride but it turned into 75mi :0). I'm hoping she'll join me for her first century ride this summer. Maybe even do a "double our age" ride of 120. We'll see. good luck.

MRT2

Considering the 68 miler the end of August as my next goal.
https://www.creamcitycycleclub.com/co...dule_id=132345

MikeRides

Congratulations and happy birthday, MRT2!

ill.clyde

MRT - where are you located? Would love to find someone "local-ish" to ride with.

Beachgrad05

Congrats on riding your age plus a little extra! I turned 48 in April and I too rode my age. It was also Team Unlikely Cyclist's training ride that day so I had tons of company. Someone asked if we were having a rolling bachelorette party. Ha ha ha.

My mom would have been 75 tomorrow and am toying with idea of riding HER age.

MRT2

That sounds like a fine way to honor her memory.

MRT2

Update. Did 60 miles today! I was planning to do a group ride, but only 2 people showed up and no ride leader, so the 3 of us rode about 25 miles together, then after they went home, I kept going. Got to 48 miles and was 4 miles from home and decided to go for 60. Legs are tired but not too bad. If anything, my ride last week was tougher (more hills, and wind).

Funny story. The two other riders were a 60ish guy and a 50 ish woman. As we are riding the guy says to me at one point, this is a nice, relaxing ride. Nice not to have to compete with all the a--holes hammering away at 20 mph. Later in the ride the woman says to me, this is the toughest, most grueling ride I have had all year. How do you guys talk at this pace?

Lacumo

Congrats on the milestone ride. Do a couple more half-centuries and then up the ante to a metric century.

Bill Kapaun

I understand milestones-
I first got back on my bike on Feb. 27th. The day after I wasn't "required" to use my boot after "intermedullary nailing of the tibia".
I had to use crutches, but in this case used the bike as my crutch to get to the street. Used the curb to help me mount it and did a couple blocks.
I've been slowly getting better, but was having a lot of swelling from my sock (elastic) & shoe. Finally got some sandals July 7th and started to log some miles.
I logged a few too many to soon and had my knee swell up. had to take 10 days off with just minimal riding such as the grocery store & coffee shop.
The 28th, I did a 30 miler without issue. took 2 rest days and on the 31st I let'r rip-
70.3 miles which is my age +5. Beat a personal best of 50.1 from exactly 2 years before, which was my incentive in the first place.
Thanks to my wheel builder (me), my mechanic (me), 3 different "Big Pharma co."s that make my inhalers (Advair, Spiriva & Ventolin) and Dole bananas.

MRT2

Almost did a metric today.

2 wheeler

Congrats on the "age ride". Sounds like you're VERY motivated!