DnvrFox

Now that we have thousands and thousands of members, and a 50+ Forum, how many folks are willing to identify themselves as 50 and over?

Tell us about yourself at:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...8&page=1&pp=30

SteveE

I'm in the 50-54 category and don't see any need for a special 50+ forum. The length of time it takes to recover from an injury is about the only thing that seems to have changed for me.

Dannihilator

Hasn't this been discussed before? I seriously don't think it is needed quite yet, that might change a few months down the road.

operator

I really don't think there is a need for age specific forums. Like we have the bmx forum which is pretty much for 12 year olds with their 'u' and 'ur' and '4' and other types o AOL'ese talk.

And then we have road cycling forums which don't seem to be populated by such illiterate people.

Nightshade

With the Baby Boomers now passing the 50 year mark many will
be retiring and "re-discovering" cycling as a great past time
sport. A sport that will require a different focus than the
20 somthing to 40 somethings require.

Now we're not talkin' old folk's home here. What we are
talking about is bike that will not be full race bikes nor
will they be full BMX,dirt or other hard rock extreme sport
type bikes. They will ,in the end , be commuters, weekend
touring bikes, and town bikes that have a greater level of
comfort with ease of maint. & Hi reliablity. Some makers are
already starting to feed this type of bike into the market
now. But for the most part, the go fast, live dangerously
crowd will become a fully seperate market from "Boomerbikes".

Sure, some Boomers will NOT admit they can't perform like
they were 20 anymore.......until they get hurt trying. THEN
they , too, will want a "Boomerbike". So there will be a need
for a more mature "Boomerbike" forum here in time.

slvoid

Why not? Because you're always young at heart.

Retro Grouch 

I'm going on 62 and I definitively vote no.

I think there are already way too many sterotypes regarding older riders. Go to any bike shop looking for a new bike and watch them trot out all of the "grandmother" comfort bikes. I think that if we keep age out of it, we'll have a better chance of being treated as individuals rather than as a part of some age group.

Raiyn

Yeah but the only people who would see this is a few curmudgeons. Besides aren't you the one who's always looking for equal (not special) treatment for your demographic?

late

I'm 54, and I did not vote. I doubt we need our own forum.
Btw, I am a big fan of supplemets like calcium, vitamins and antioxidants. But the drugs you mention are just too risky, you juggle hand grenades and eventually one will go off.

Maelstrom 

Ditto...also are we gonna create a segregation for every single person different. I have fingers missing and no second digits on my left hand, I don't feel the need for a handicapped sub-forum. Besides...I will be over 50 someday...the information is useful to all.

sorebutt

I would like to see a "over 50" forum. Some of the young kids here have a hard time relating to what we are asking or talking about.

pinerider

I dunno, since I turned 50 in March, I want to hang around more with younger people.
A 50's forum would be a great opportunity for us to post every time we whup some young 35 year old punks whilst climbing hills. Then the rest of the posts would be about what drugs we're taking this week (aspirin and glucosamine sulphate)
Then we could throw in the odd mid life crisis post to keep everybody else interested!!!

Seriously, though I think there are too many sub-forums now, I don't have time to read them all (is that a 50's statement???)

RonH

I'm 59 and get lots of great information from the forum members, regardless of age.
But I get some of my best information from

smoore

I'm 50ish.

Yea, I notice a difference. I don't recuperate as quickly nor do I heal as quickly. I take vitamins and anti-oxidants. The only thing I can say for sure is Glucosamine with Chondroiton really does work for me and helps my back.

Sometimes it's depressing knowing that no matter how much I train I'll never be as good as I was when I was 35...but that's life and you learn to maximize what God gives you.

Hitchy

g'day,

I'm not 50, (sorry)....In Oz you become classified as a 'veteran' or 'master' (in bike racing terms) at the age of 35. thus anyone over the age of 35 is elligible to join a 'vets' racing club if they wish. The races in these clubs are ranked by ability, rather than age. Thus it is common to have guys aged anywhere from 35 to 65 racing in the same grade (cat. to you seppo's).....After racing 'vets' for a few years, (i still race 'open' as well), I can tell you that there are 2 stand out differences between 'vets' racing & 'open'.

1/ the 'vets' guys generally have more ,omey to spend on all the latest 'you beaut, go faster' bits

2/ the 'vets' have more time to train (especially if they are retired or have a grown family)

I ride what you would refer to as Cat 2 or 3 in open comp, so I'm no bozo in races, but i regularly get my arse kicked by guys 20 years my senior!....they might be a little slower in the sprints but they make up for that with pure rat cunning!....so old guys still rock....BTW we have 3 90 y.o in our club.......1 has to be lifted on & off the bike, but once he's on & clipped in, he can shame plenty o' 70YO's ...LOL

cheers,

Hitchy

SteveE

Hitchy,

It's the same in the states. Anything over 35 is classified as "Masters". I've been racing in the Masters 45+ category (first year of racing) and am happy if I come in mid-pack. Sometimes these guys will race down in age if they think the 45+ course and/or distance isn't tough enough. A fair number of them were Pros and Cat 1 racers in their prime. I'm thinking I should try a Cat 5 race and see if it's any easier.

SteveE

Hitchy

G'day,

the obvious difference is that our 'vets' races are graded on ability rather than age.The only time we race as 'age groups' are special occaision races like 'age group championships' or something of that nature. The other problem in OZ, is that I need to have 2 seperate licences if I want to race both 'vets' & 'open', as the 'vets' aren't affilaited with the UCI. Gets kinda expensive!. As far as racing 'vet' or 'open' goes, I like both. Open is obviously harder, wheras 'vets', whilst still tightly contested, is more relaxed & a social activity. there's certainly something to be said for not having to chase 120lb 17 y.o's up hills tahts for sure!....We have 2 olympic gold medalists in our club, so I know how you feel as far as the competiveness goes,

cheers,

Hitchy

TechJD

well Go 50 and up
I hope I can still be rideing at that age
not too far off lol ssssshhhhhhh a serveral years to go
body done feels like it got there a few years ago

a little Ouch yesterday

Dannihilator

I need another 26 years to get to 50.

Faust

I would like to see a 50 and over forum. We could bring our collective wisdom to problems, if we could just remember where we put this storehouse of wonderful tidbits. The forum could be in very large type for those of us who have fallen victim over the last twenty year or so to the business conspiracy of ever smaller typesets. We could go on talking even when no one is listening, which I have been practicing for some time now. We could share our favorite mashed food recipes for the dentureless. A separate medical section would be a hoot for discussing the endless variety of afflictions we succumb to. I could begin to tell you my fascinating life story from the beginning, detail by detail. Hello, hello, anyone still there?

I have written this very slowly for those of you who no longer read very fast.

RonH

I'm much healthier, stronger, and lighter than I was at 35.
At 35 I weighed about 230 pounds and never exercised.

shokhead

I'm 51,big deal. Why would all the youngsters on here listen to us,they dont listen to anybody else because they already know everything. Let them fill us in.

Nightshade

First I'd like to congratulate you for taking such good care
of yourself and being lucky enough to avoid health issues or
injury.

However, you must admit that on a percentage basis the
majority of Boomers will not be as wise as you nor as lucky.
It is to those Boomers that the "Boomerbike" will be addressed.
To think otherwise seeks to deprive these less lucky folks of
the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of calmer cycling.

I do agree that a 50+ forum would serve a place to discuss
issues that are the providence of the Boomer group and of
no interest to any of younger folk's.......yet.

roadbuzz

I'll be 50 on my next B'day. That makes me close enough to submit an opinion, but only old enough to vote once!

Personally, I'm not crazy about the additional stratification, but with the ever increasing volume of posts it makes it easier to filter down to the areas of primary interest. So, why not? If it isn't a big deal to create, put it out there and see what happens. If there is little interest, let it die and get rid of it.

Just curious... Is 50 special? Why 50 as the age break?

Nightshade

Given the fact that Boomers age run from 58 (1946) to 40 (1964)
Most of the ages in your poll may not yet be cyclist or if they
are they will be indpendent as you are. This is to be
expected as they will be from the Depression or WWII
generation which is noted for fierce independance.

That said I still manitain that there.....will be ... a need
in the not to distant future for a 50+ forum for the Boomers
to gather in and swap tips stories and encouragement about
cycling.......IF they ever decide to re-join active cyclist.