84 yr. old inspiration
04-11-09, 12:52 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
84 yr. old inspiration
Saw a biker in front of me a couple of hundred yards as I was pedaling along at 15-17mph. As is my custom, I try to guage how fast he is going and what it would take to catch up. This goes on a couple of miles, and I am gaining, but only incrementally. I finally ride along side and we speak for a minut or two, I pull ahead after passing pleasantries.
At the end of this road there is a beach, jetty etc. I stop to have a drink and rest. Momentarily my acquaintance pulls in and we chat. Turns out he is 84 years young, has fairly painful arthritis in hands, shoulders. Oh, also has had a stroke on his left side, and has had his left knee replaced. He is riding a Raleigh 10 speed that is at least 30 yrs old, no helmet, sweatpants and a pair of coaching shoes. He confides that he is always in pain of varying degrees.
As I leave him I think, "but here he is, out here doing it, enjoying the day and keeping as fit as he is able". He made a real impression on me
All in all a very humbling meeting but one that inspires this 60 yr. old to HTFU and stop complaining about the occasional cramp, pull, ache etc.
At the end of this road there is a beach, jetty etc. I stop to have a drink and rest. Momentarily my acquaintance pulls in and we chat. Turns out he is 84 years young, has fairly painful arthritis in hands, shoulders. Oh, also has had a stroke on his left side, and has had his left knee replaced. He is riding a Raleigh 10 speed that is at least 30 yrs old, no helmet, sweatpants and a pair of coaching shoes. He confides that he is always in pain of varying degrees.
As I leave him I think, "but here he is, out here doing it, enjoying the day and keeping as fit as he is able". He made a real impression on me
All in all a very humbling meeting but one that inspires this 60 yr. old to HTFU and stop complaining about the occasional cramp, pull, ache etc.
04-11-09, 12:56 PM
#2
Senior Member
Speaking of 80+ inspiration, I've linked to this journal over at Crazy Guy on a Bike before. This 82-year old is now 800 miles into his transcontinental tour -- Kenneth Payton, he updates his journal almost every day.
You can leave him a comment in his guest book.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...c_id=4767&v=4N
You can leave him a comment in his guest book.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...c_id=4767&v=4N
04-11-09, 05:04 PM
#3
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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Inspiring, yet I hope to get there with fewer pains/strokes/replacement parts. Probably not possible.
I ran into this guy:
at the top of Mount Constitution in the San Juan Islands. He's 79 and rides up, without stopping, once per year. Note RAMROD shirt.
I ran into this guy:
at the top of Mount Constitution in the San Juan Islands. He's 79 and rides up, without stopping, once per year. Note RAMROD shirt.
04-11-09, 05:24 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Inspiring, yet I hope to get there with fewer pains/strokes/replacement parts. Probably not possible.
I ran into this guy:
at the top of Mount Constitution in the San Juan Islands. He's 79 and rides up, without stopping, once per year. Note RAMROD shirt.
I ran into this guy:
at the top of Mount Constitution in the San Juan Islands. He's 79 and rides up, without stopping, once per year. Note RAMROD shirt.
04-12-09, 08:36 AM
#5
a77impala
Here it is, how to remove mirror from back.
Last edited by a77impala; 04-12-09 at 08:41 AM.
04-12-09, 09:12 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thanks Al I needed that. I should look that good, or ride that good, at that age.
__________________
George
George
04-12-09, 09:21 AM
#7
GadgetJim57
Saw a biker in front of me a couple of hundred yards as I was pedaling along at 15-17mph. As is my custom, I try to guage how fast he is going and what it would take to catch up. This goes on a couple of miles, and I am gaining, but only incrementally. I finally ride along side and we speak for a minut or two, I pull ahead after passing pleasantries.
At the end of this road there is a beach, jetty etc. I stop to have a drink and rest. Momentarily my acquaintance pulls in and we chat. Turns out he is 84 years young, has fairly painful arthritis in hands, shoulders. Oh, also has had a stroke on his left side, and has had his left knee replaced. He is riding a Raleigh 10 speed that is at least 30 yrs old, no helmet, sweatpants and a pair of coaching shoes. He confides that he is always in pain of varying degrees.
As I leave him I think, "but here he is, out here doing it, enjoying the day and keeping as fit as he is able". He made a real impression on me
All in all a very humbling meeting but one that inspires this 60 yr. old to HTFU and stop complaining about the occasional cramp, pull, ache etc.
At the end of this road there is a beach, jetty etc. I stop to have a drink and rest. Momentarily my acquaintance pulls in and we chat. Turns out he is 84 years young, has fairly painful arthritis in hands, shoulders. Oh, also has had a stroke on his left side, and has had his left knee replaced. He is riding a Raleigh 10 speed that is at least 30 yrs old, no helmet, sweatpants and a pair of coaching shoes. He confides that he is always in pain of varying degrees.
As I leave him I think, "but here he is, out here doing it, enjoying the day and keeping as fit as he is able". He made a real impression on me
All in all a very humbling meeting but one that inspires this 60 yr. old to HTFU and stop complaining about the occasional cramp, pull, ache etc.
I've been making good progress though .... slowly but surly! I also am doing much better keeping up with exercising at home before and after riding. Have lost more weight, and my waist size has gone from 42 to abut 37 in the past year!
I'm sleeping better, feeling great, and enjoying riding ....
Oh yes, I recently met a retired boxer, in his 70s, riding his bike around town (his only transportation now).
