bruce19

A couple weeks ago I jumped onto my clubs' B+ ride. Although I am capable of being a B+ rider this was kind of early in the season for me to attempt it. And, I really like our B ride group. In any event, I was talking to two guys in their early 50's and explaining that it takes me a little longer to get in shape as I age. One of them asked how old I am and when I said I'd be 69 in June he was stunned. His comment was, "I'll just be happy if I can still ride when I'm 69." Then we started to discus what being older feels like and how your perspective on things changes. It was a lengthy discussion but at one point I said that one day I had an eye-opening revelation. I had been out with a motorcycle buddy and we ended up at my college up in MA. I took him to the football field and said, "Dave, I scored touchdowns on that field. That was a half century ago." WOW!

Just wondering if anyone else has had that moment.

freedomrider1

I was riding with a guy from work, and he made the comment "you are only 20 years older than me" i about fell off the bike LOLin.

randyjawa 

At my age, almost three score and ten, I have learned that most of what I do know for sure, is a miserable fraction of what is out there to be known.

I chuckle at the younger people who are so certain about this or that, and, trust me, this or that look and feel different now, than they did then.

Bottom line, in my opinion, is that you can't really share your experiences with a younger person and expect them to heed well. Example, and one that you are all aware of...

Say to a child "don't touch the stove, sweetheart - its very hot". That all but guarantees that the wee one will touch the hot thing and, guess what - they will learn for themselves.

I was fifty years old before I finally learned to listen to the advice of my elders. Glad I finally did.

Gerryattrick

The only way to get age-related perspective is to get old. Your 50+ club riders will soon find out for themselves where life is going to take them.

When I was 18 I thought my 39 year old parents were ancient and never listened to them. Now I think my 89 year old Dad is ancient - and I still don't take his advice.

I would worry just a bit about youngsters who listen too much to the advice of old people.

Jim from Boston

Explaining age related perspective to younger riders.....

Did you happen to see this recent thread on the Commuting Forum, ”50+ Commuters: Say Something...”

Many of the comments were (not unseemly) frivolous, but I got serious, though not morose:

Jim from Boston

Back in the 1960’s when (we) Baby Boomers were becoming active I read a quote by Eric Severeid contrasting the benefits of youthful idealism with the reality of aging. I couldn’t find the quote, but I have carried the concept over the years. He too said something like you have to get old to understand the perspective of experiencing life for such a long time. I took that to mean historically, but I guess it could include physically and emotionally as well.

If you know who Eric Severeid was, you may understand that too.

PS:I just remembered this quote, not to be religious but apropos of the "best laid plans of mice and men (often go astray)":

Garfield Cat

That Woody Allen quote, good thing God has a sense of humor. Something we share with God.

JohnDThompson 

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

-Mark Twain

Bill Kapaun

I've realized the older I get I don't feel like killing as many people.

berner

Part of aging is the change in physical abilities. As boy in high school, I worked on a dairy farm during summer months and the main job was making hay. I was able to toss a 35 pound bale of hay 10 -12 feet up to the top of a loaded hay wagon. I was nearly 40 when I noticed physical abilities diminishing. The other part of aging is a change in attitude. At the ripe age of 76, I'm learning and re-learning to pay much more attention to the here and now.

I have the belief that we enjoy sports because physical activity draws attention to the present moment and as a consequence of that, each moment becomes a richer experience. I find this to be so while skiing, hiking deep into woods, sailing and cycling. All these activities are fully mentally engaging and meditative.

Wanderer

And, when you got to the front of the wagon, you had to do it backwards....... LOL

That 35 pounder must have been straw, as I remember those wire hay bales going about 75#.... LOL

The good old days

Biker395 

Egad ... Bucking bales ... I remember that. Oof!

loky1179

That moment came to me when I was talking about my bike commuting to a younger colleague. I suddenly realized that my water bottle was older than he was. I'm not kidding - I bought that water bottle in '86 - he was born in '88.

I don't know what's to be learned from that little story - maybe I should replace my water bottles more often?!

bruce19

Reminds me of a conversation I had with a young kid who worked for a motorcycle accessories shop on line. I called to let him know that some rain gloves they had sold me were not waterproof as advertised. He proceeded to try to lecture me on the proper way to use rain gloves in the rain. I let him finish and then I asked, "In 1978 I was doing a solo 10K mi. motorcycle trip around the United States. What were you doing?" (I assumed correctly that he wasn't even born.) A profound silence ensued. He then refunded me my money for the gloves.

Rowan

I am in the camp that life is about learning. If I haven't learnt something new each day, I feel short-changed. That can be about my work, cycling or the things around me.

I also don't have any issues or jealousy watching young people with talent do and achieve amazing things. Machka and I make it a point these days to go and watch the end-of-year presentations by two dance schools, and the talent and dedication on show is humbling and uplifting at the same time.

I also love working with young people when we get to the cherry-picking season where I work. Some listen to the advice extended to them, some don't. But that is what living with others is all about.

I don't tend to mix much these days with young people when cycling. Admittedly, in randonneuring, there are very few who get involved, and perhaps that has something to do with the physical and emotional stickability that is needed to get through three days and nights of riding to complete a 1200.

BobbyG

I joined an improv troup five years ago. We range in age from 62 to 20. We were discussing something about childhood experiences and I realized the 20-year-olds reaction to our description of growing up before cellphones and the internet, was similar to my reaction to hearing about my father's boyhood before TV. Also I was commuting home on my 1983 Nishiki International last year and pulled up to a stoplight with a young guy on a 1990's mountain bike. "I don't suppose you'd trade me for an older bike like mine," he asked. I then pointed out that not only was my bike older than his...it was older than him!

osco53

Birthdays are a count down to me.. I don't play that game.. I feel under 30, I'm Good

StanSeven

It's funny how most of us stay current with the times as we age through our 30s and 40s. Then almost suddenly in our 50s, we get stuck in time. We start talking about the good old days and dispell anything new. We become our fathers!

FBinNY 

My first awareness of age happened when I was younger, and wasn't bike related.

When I was about 20, my best friend and I would often do all-nighters at a non-profit we were both involved with. His sister was one of those late babies and not yet in school, and he was often tasked of taking care of her. He'd bring Maroline with him, and at her tender age she was introduced to the joys of a 36 hour day.

Eventually she got too old for his babysitting services and years had passed that I hadn't seen her. So one day a couple of years later, I casually asked "how's Maroline?" and he responded "that's Dr. Maroline to you". Wow.

But I do miss doing a century as my first Spring ride, suffering for 2 days and being ready for the season. Those days had to end when I went out of warranty.

JimF22003

I think it's kind of rare to be able to truly put yourself in somebody else's shoes, or even imagine yourself as some future, older person. I just turned 58. There's no question I can no longer do the things I could do even five years ago. I find myself wondering if I'll even still be able to ride a bike in ten more years. I keep thinking, I'll only be able to do this for a little while longer.

Which is kind of nuts. I expect to still be getting a lot of pleasure and other health benefits from riding in 10, 20, or more years.

The trick (for me) is not to get discouraged by the slow decline. Fight it, sure. Do all I can to maintain my current abilities. But learn to take pleasure from whatever I can do at whatever age I am.

This is a hard transition for me. Up until recently, I have gotten better, and faster, and had more satisfying personal accomplishments every year. Now, not so much. I need to be able to appreciate different kinds of accomplishments, such as riding new places, or doing new kinds of rides, even as the previous accomplishments (more miles, harder miles, more mega-hard event rides etc.) fade into the rear view mirror.

irwin7638

Younger riders I know are mostly in their 30's and 40's who qualify as spandex hamsters. Most are overly concerned with their garmin scores and showing off their lastest "kit" while they scurry around in their weekly pretend race. It's all good if it keeps them on two wheels. The biggest difference is the goal setting. I simply tell them I want to go to more different places on my bike. That's all. They talk of average speeds, wattage and what not. I talk about enjoying the landscape on my way to a different state park campsite. While most of them set "lofty" expectations to get 2-3K miles in for the season, I end up passing that before their season begins. They look at me confused while I ride my Sam Hillborne past them on a metric century ride while they bonk out at the second rest stop. It seems a question of proving oneself or enjoying more more often.

Marc

jeromephone

come out to paw paw we have a route that sends you past 7 lakes. (Cheating a bit as two of them are on either side of a road.

Dolanarc1

Interesting thread, as we all move towards the next phases of our lives. For as much as things change, many things remain the same.
I love hearing from the younger people when they say " you did what time on that model of bike" mostly talking of steel and spokes,

I personally enjoy the challenges of working towards minimizing or damage control with my performance levels on the bike. We all have to realise that it's all inevitable . Just how long are we able to hang onto performances.

rydabent

Actually the alfalfa bails in Nebr were near 90 pounds when I was in my teens in '55. They were tough to throw around when you weighed 125 lbs. I had to boost them with my knee, and wore out many a pair of blue jeans. I think it was '55 with the first cutting Dad and I picked up and took 700 bails into the barn.

rydabent

In response to this thread, the old saying about life not being fair is pretty much true. In my case tho I am on the far end with the winners. I will be 77 this year, and usually ride about 30 miles every other day. I am some slower now, but I really dont feel much different than I did 25 years ago. To top it off, I can pass as being in my late 50s. I attribute my good health to the fact that I do cycle. I am a firm believer in the fact that if you set you rust.