patentcad

Just sayin'. And this is dawning at me @ 51. My next thought is the strangeness only accelerates with the years. It's like we're all 50-70 year olds who don't feel or think too much different from 20-30 year olds except our kids are grown, our parents are old or dying, and we're slower on the bike. That latter comment doesn't apply to me of course, but you get the point.

This all sucks of course, but it beats the alternative. I like that J. Mayer lyrics from his song about aging, 'Stop This Train':

Had a talk with my old man,
Said help me understand,
He said turn sixty eight, you renegotiate,
Don't stop this train,
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train

At least here they won't call me old man so much. I would imagine.

If I wasn't riding my bicycle, so help me, I'd blow my F-ing brains out over crap like this. Of that I have no doubt what so friggin ever.

SaiKaiTai

I rather think of it as getting older but, yeah, I couldn't agree more.
Richard Thompson once wrote of "Writing out checks that his body couldn't cash"
Yep, that sure is frustrating.
But then I think of how much more I'm doing -and expect to do- at this age than I would even try 25 years ago. Not in YOUR realm of course but, you know, good for me.

And even now, 4 years ahead of you, I can say it does go faster as the years pass.
Oh well, as you Roadie boys are so wont to say: HTFU.
It's all you've got.

Hermes

It is strange but one can rationalize new ways of thinking to make it more normal. I age up this year to 60 and get to race against the even faster 60 to 65 year olds. I am looking forward to this. I have a buddy who is excited about aging up to 70 this year and will be very competitive in Districts and Nationals. 70 is the new 30...for now. We are just getting started.

rnorris

Does anyone else experience their years of life as a collection of earlier "selves" that are still quite real? Competing sometimes in me is the 7 year old who loves to play tag with my cousin's kids, the 15 year old who's trying out a stretch of gnarly singletrack, the 20 year old who likes to have a beer with friends and worries about relationships, the 45 year old who has lost parents and family members, and the 53 year old who's trying to keep the whole lot of them functioning as a unit. At least all of them love to ride!

Just curious.

Bill Kapaun

I'm going to turn 61 next week and it does seem a bit odd.
When I was a kid, someone that old had the waistband of their pants nearly up to their armpits.
Me? You can almost see the crack.....

cyclezealot

A minister friend was re-canting a past funeral of a parent whose daughter died in an auto accident. The conversation had been.. It's so unfair to take a daughter of teenage years. How can some divine being be so cruel.. It's so unfair.. Such can't be allowed to happen.. I am sure the minister was more compassionate in person to the grieving parent. But, her comment to us. I do scores of funerals each year of teenagers. Life has no guarantees.. Her point to us.. It's unnatural to not think life will end... .. When you accept that fact, you'll be better adjusted to that reality. Was she harsh.. Remember, she'll die too. Meanwhile, keep on cycling, it'll keep you young...
ps.. A favorite song , I think will keep us on track..
Bob Dylan's "Forever Young."

BluesDawg

Having been forced last year to see just how real mortality is, I still have the same view on aging; it beats the only alternative.

As for good songs about getting older, I submit Little Feat's "Old Folk's Boogie"

And you know that you're over the hill
when your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill
Old folks boogie (and boogie they will)
'cause to us the thought's as good as the thrill

cyclezealot

Being old, A state of mind.. It's possible for one to be forever young. ?.

NOS88

Geez... you all think to much. I'm gonna put on some extra layers and go for a ride in the 6 degree weather instead. I'm here while I'm here and I'll be gone when I'm gone.

Jet Travis

Im not sure about the answer to that one, but I find I just laugh about many things that used to drive me around the bend. I also retired as chief spell-checker of the Internet and general manager of the universe, which has left me with time and opportunity to pursue other interests.

JimF22003

I'll only be 51 for another two months... after that I'll be over the hill.

patentcad

I'm not sure you'd get over my hill old man (I figure I can come over here to find some people to call 'old man').

tntyz

52 here and feeling younger than I have in many years. Last year I got serious about my weight, fitness, and nutrition. I haven't been this fit in years and I feel great.

I did it because I started feeling old and needed to keep up with my 48 year old wife.

DnvrFox

"Old" or "old man" (or woman) is entirely relative.

To me, approaching 70, "old" is about 85.

Old is generally about 15 years older than someone is. Ask a 5 year old what "old" is!

I look forward to new challenges each day. I have lots and lots of interests and activities going on in many different areas all the time. I don't have time for "old."

DnvrFox

A bit more:

My current interests that keep me young at 69?

The a cappella gospel singing group I started. We are currently preparing for a gig at the Gospel Winterfest - along with 12 other groups. We range from 64 - 78 years old. We did 12 gigs over Christmas with our special Christmas program

The National group I started to end waitlists for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The parents group I started and moderate.

My recent efforts on a statewide campaign.

My weight lifting, swimming, bicycling, walking and stretching.

Several choirs.

And, it looks like I may be doing some consulting in a month or so.

I'm too busy for old!

billydonn

Interesting thoughts all. I turned 61 yesterday. Among the things I reflect on sometimes is the interesting and very rich time I grew up in. The cars... the music... dam I'm glad to have been young when I was!

maddmaxx 

Here, your still just a kid...........keep on keeping on.

Allegheny Jet

At 56 I still about 25 years behind my parents. They have always been "old".

Rick@OCRR

My parents are gone, my kids are on their own, and at 58 (going on 59 in Mar.) I've found these 50+ years to be the best of my life. Best, in this context, meaning the most fun with the least hassle.

Sure, there are still problems and challenges to deal with, not that it's all been really easy or anything, but overall, big picture, it's been great so far! Looking forward to many more years and (hopefully) no big health issues.

Rick / OCRR

RoyIII

I'm 65. Married. Kids and step kids are grown and on their own, one grand daughter, and 2 grandsons enroute [and man, are they fun] Still working, going to the gym, riding, working on the bikes, music gigs 3-4 times a months, rehearsals - 2 per week with 2 other bands, practice piano, take care of the house/yard, play with the three dogs, a little church and recovery group/higher power...life at this stage is excellent, in my view. I got a chance at life #2 when I sobered up at age 47. I wouldn't go back there for anything. I love it, now. I got more to do than I can say grace over-IF I want to. "..ya gotta ack-centuate the positive...e-liminate the negative,,,go wi the affirmative,,,and don't mess wit Mr Inbetween," Hoagy Carmichael. and I got to agree with Billydon, we all lived and grew up in one heck of a time. I was a teenager in the late 50's and the early 60's and I do not think the USA will ever hit those heights again - post WWII economy, that is.

sherbornpeddler

My cousin the Doc says his older patients that do the best are those that refuse to modify their lifestyle until they can't do those things then abruptly change the rules and go about living under the new set of rules. Its like re-writing history, never give in.

leob1

Growing old is something that can't be helped, it happens.
Growing up, on the other hand, I'll delay that as long as possible.

Fredmertz51

When I was 21, I hired into Caterpillar. My first trainer was 55. He was pretty much the oldest guy in the place. He said he still felt like he was 17, he just got tired quicker. I'm 58 now, and he had it pretty much correct.

Red Rider

The biggest change I've noticed now that I'm 54 is that I take time to reflect and appreciate what I have and what I'm doing with it. Not navel-gazing, just taking a moment or so here and there to notice things. Looks like Pcad is getting there.

You know, P, you're eligible for the Senior Olympics now. There won't be any 20 yr. olds to smoke you and make you feel old. Those that shell you like a cheap oyster will be older than you. That'll give you lots of material for self-loathing and ranting.

Aging isn't for wussies. HTFU.

Cleave

OK p-dog, is this just a case of the mid-winter, its-too-friggin-cold, blues? Jeez, you just turned 51 a couple of months ago. Or are you just depressed about your vapor-ware S2?

The 50s are going OK for me. I find that I am enjoying my job more than ever before and my riding is still reasonable. My performance hasn't fallen off of any cliffs, but my fantasy of turning a sub 1 hour 40K ITT is looking like it might remain a fantasy.

Regardless, I still have my family, health, and good looks.