trackhub

There a lot of things I like about being over 50. With my good showing of grey hair, the blue-shirts in Best Buy leave me alone. Cops in their 20's and 30's call me "sir". Money in the bank? Yep, got it. No one ever asks me "do you have experience"?

What do I like best? Well, I don't have to care what the cool crowd thinks. I don't use a cycle computer. Heart rate monitor? Nope. Clipless pedals? I didn't need them in the 70's, and I don't need them now. Don't like it? Tough noogies. Don't like the brakes on my fixie? I don't care. A fixie with brakes on both wheels seems to activate some kind of weird, agitated sub-routine in the 20-somethings. Beats the heck out of me as to what the problem is. Ditto for my lack of a cycle computer. People look at me totally dumbfounded over this. "Don't you care about your,,,," insert some kind of numbers here.

So, I was wondering if any of my fellow over-50 riders felt the same way about some things. Is here stuff you do where you don't really care what anyone thinks?

Jet Travis

So, umm, could I borrow a little something to tide me over 'til payday?

Longfemur

I feel the same way about most things, except clipless pedals. I didn't use any in the 1970's because there were none. I didn't get with the program until 1998. But I wouldn't go back to toe clips, no more than I would go cross-country skiing on skis with no bindings. It's one of the few cycling developments that really make a difference versus what we had to use before. But no computers on the bike for me. I ride to get away from that. On the other hand, I don't care about brakes on a fixie because I don't ride one, so I guess we're not one big monolithic block just because of age.

Yen

Yes. It doesn't bother me at all to wear my pink helmet with tropical flowers and my fun bike socks together with my Sidi shoes on my little-black-dress bike. Sort of the opposite of wearing a full lycra team kit on my upright hybrid.

cranky old dude

I have no use for those Garmin Navigator thingies, especially the talking
ones. I've got a wife to tell me when I screw up. A neighbor offered his
to us (garmin, not wife) to use on our bi-annual college kid trip to Milwaukee
last month and I graciously declined. I like the maps just fine, and something
about my "Aura" seems to mess up electronic gizmos.

MP3 players & ipods... no use for them, though I do like compact disc players.
I love my digital camera, and I used to coat film for a living. I take
it on all my rides.

Enough complaining for now.

guybierhaus

Love my mp3 player, and like to record my miles traveled and time with the simple wired velometer and occasionally remember my pay as you go cell phone. But no clipless required, no Garmin or heart rate monitor, cell phone doesn't take pictures on have web access. No text messages, no Blackberrie. On longer rides I carry simple breakfast bars, no super gel shot blocks.

Sixty Fiver

I must be older than I thought...

Ed in GA

In 1999, I made the statements that

1. I can think of no reason why I would need a cell phone.

2. What in the world would I ever need a computer for.

3. Digital Camera? That'll never catch on

4. Married? Me? I think not.

2008

1. I have a nice Motorola Krzr Cell phone.

2. Well, I'm posting here. Right?

3. Uh, My Pentax K20D sure is a nice camera.

4. Well, Never say never.

BengeBoy 

I still think automatic transmissions on cars are just a fad. With one brief exception, none of the cars I've bought for my personal use have had automatics.

Louis

I swore I'd never own a cell phone, but now I do. Yes we change, and as Stuart Smalley would say "that's okay".

I don't even know what a MP3 is.

VROD

In the 70's I rode with clips and cleats,cut off jeans said I would never wear cycle shorts,a cycling cap and said I would never wear a helmet.I could cruise at 20mph all day long.I started back riding a month ago on my old road bike with clips and cleats and a helmet.Then 2 weeks ago got my first fixie(love it) with a front brake and clipless pedals(love them) and also a pair of bibbs and a couple of jerseys plan to buy another pair of bibbs and another jersey tomorrow.Since I work some times until 7:00pm I also got a small light and tail light so people could see me when I ride after supper something I would have never done in the 70's.As for a cycle computer and HRM I think I will pass on them right now riding about 15mph and loving it wouldn't want to get to serious that might take the fun out of riding.

Wildwood 

I try to appreciate the old stuff that still works, and adopt the new stuff that fits my lifestyle.

So I still have (and occasionally ride) 2 early 80s road bikes,
I often wear wool on cool weather cycling days,
I still have a record player and vinyl albums,
I still have an old Scottish cap I bought on my first trip abroad nearly 40 years ago,
I still have my Oakley Eyeshades,
I still ski non-shaped skis,
I only wish I still had my luggable Osborne.
I can't tell you how old my best 2 pairs of leather shoes are, etc.

But on the other hand,
I mostly ride 10 speed Campy road bikes (1 carbon fiber & 1 lugged steel)
I couldn't do business without my cell phone, soon to be PDA (way better than the old Palm)
Breathable materials are great on the bike and for winter sports,
etc., etc.

Don't think I'll be ordering a power meter for my next bike.
Oh, and a personal trainer is definately NOT my style.

stedanrac

Riding a Brooks Saddle with springs.... Ahhhh...

(not quite over 50, but knocing on the door

SaiKaiTai

I don't know... I guess I like it all or, at least accept it.
Not a big phone of many people with cell phones but the phones themselves have their place
But I like the carbon and the clipless (Speedplays, for goodness sake) and the Garmin... all that stuff.
But I'd love to have the steel Varsity back that I had in my teens or the steel Gitane I had in my 20s-30s

Robert Foster

Never thought I would enjoy traveling with a RV and now I do. Never thought I would use online banking and now I do. I thought my Thomas Brothers maps were fine now I use a GPS or Streets and trips on my Laptop for all my trips. I jumped ship to the digital world years ago. I believe I sold my last 35MM Nikon in 2000. I haven’t used a day planner since I got my first Palm Pilot and now I use my PDA as a phone, day planner, address book and sometimes e-mail.

If it makes my life easier and gives me more time to enjoy my hobbies I am willing to give it a try. I sold my Sextant three weeks after getting my first GPS when I had my boat. I enjoy watching people that are good at doing things the “old” way. But I see nothing wrong with using the technology we have developed. I don’t hand crank homemade Ice cream I used a electric motor to do that for me. That way I get to eat it sooner.

lhbernhardt

I've never considered it to be "driving" unless you're shifting gears. This is the big difference between North American and European drivers, and why Europeans are better drivers (besides the fact that they have more respect for cyclists). They take driving seriously, and most Euro rental cars have a manual transmission. Automatics are for wimps, and anyone who can't shift a manual can't doesn't really know how to drive.

The one concession I would make to an automatic transmission would be a car with the Formula 1 "paddle shifters." Somehow they remind me a lot of the brake lever shifters on bikes.

But back to the OP - I've been winding down my racing career, so I have never bothered to get the cranks or hubs that measure your power output. I used a heart rate monitor for awhile, but once I got used to what the various zones felt like, I stopped using it. But I am toying with the idea of getting a GPS with the map display. This may become a standard piece of equipment on recreatoinal rides. I can see riders downloading route sheets onto their GPS's at the start of a ride. The only problem is that my GPS would have to be kinda large if I don't want to wear my reading glasses while riding. I like having a small bike computer, since I use just about every inch of the handlebar tops changing hand positions on rides.

L.

DnvrFox

Some folks are ahead of the curve, some folks are behind the curve, some folks are right on with the curve.

I used to be ahead of the curve, at least as far as knowledge about stuff went. Now I feel behind the curve. There is just too much stuff going on and too many new things as far as changes in the world we live in to keep up, and, besides, it can be darn expensive.

I read advertisements on the internet and catalogs on the internet for items that I don't have a clue what they are used for.

BUt, I think this is a product of simply getting older. My mind is weighted down with the products and ideas of the past. If I was young again, I wouldn't have all that junk in my head to clog things up.

Overall, I pretty much don't care, fashion-wise, what folks think about me - how I dress, what I wear, etc.

Gotta go ride in the dark with my new lights.

freeranger

I don't think I saw any other riders in Louisville's Mayor's Hike and Bike ride on Labor Day using a Camelbak. I had my Camelbak Mule, and like not having to reach down for a water bottle, or wonder where I'll store my wallet, keys, and freebies that were given out. Real convenient, and the water stayed cold! And I wear regular wicking t-shirts and running shorts when riding, and my pedals are mtb style platforms. Not what most road riders use, but suits me just fine.

bobbycorno

Clipless? Yep. Love 'em
Computer? Yep. Helps me keep track of how fit I am, and find my way on brevets.
Helmet? Yep.
Lycra bib shorts? Yep. I wore wool shorts back in the '70s. Never again.
Indexed shifting? Yep. No muss, no fuss. (and my cars have almost all been stick, thanks.)
Fixed gear? Nope. Been there, done that, can't see the point except for racer training.
15lb CF wonder-bike? Nope. Can't afford one, and if I could, I'd probably buy top-end custom steel instead.
Recumbent? Yep. Switched over a year ago, after 45 years on df's. Why on earth did I wait so long?

Overall, it seems I have this bizarre obsession with stuff that works...

Scott P
Bend, OR

oilman_15106

The part about the computer reminds me of when I worked for US Steel Chemical division and our esteemed but dumb president made the famous quote in 1980 that "there will be no $5000 paper weights on anyone's desk as long as I am boss".

jiminos

Denver mentioned being ahead, behind or on the curve.... in the past, my jobs pretty mcuh required me to be ahead of the curve. now.... i make a conscious effort to do more with less technology. i ride rather than drive when possible. i don't watch t.v. or listen to an mp3. i read books with pages. rarely listen to the radio.

eh... who can say? each generation has a wide variety. ours is no different.

be well,

jim

maddmaxx 

Powered lawnmowers and..........................jet engines. I just can't get used to those darn contraptions........................

Mojo Slim

I love technologyl. In fact, in college I wrote a paper called, "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Computer" -- 1n 1968, I think. That said, I haven't found the NEED for ALL the new gadgets, but understand those who need everything. Couldn't live without the 7000 songs on my iPod. I use one of my two digital cameras every day and spend time playing with the photos on the computer. I have found a simple cell phone handy in the last couple of years, but can go days without using it. No GPS for bike or car, but will probably succumb eventually.

Beverly

I've never been one to care what others think but I love my Garmins, smart-phone and computers

Pat

Nothing like life to prove one wrong. A good thing in your favor is that you have the objectivity and sense of humor to know when to change with the circumstances. Obviously, you are not qualified to be a politician because you "flip flop" on the issues.