Special Thread For 50+yo Bicyclists

[ryhonrei]

Please tell us your age: 50

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
1989, Bridgestone MB4, Double Diamond CroMo
Cranks: 26-36-48 T
Cluster: 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-27 T
Wheels: Shimano WH-M540, 16 spoke
Tyres: Continental Sport Contact 1.6"


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Multivitamins, Creatine monohydrate and L-Arginine; 100 Plus (isotonic drink) during rides for hydration.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
I was previously comfortable with gear settings which enabled me to pedal at 85-95 rpm. At 50 I'm finding a higher pedal cadence of 95-120 rpm (at a lower gear setting) more to my liking. So in fact I'm riding faster, not slower, trading off muscle force for muscle speed while maintaining a heart rate range of 60% - 80%.

4. How long have you been biking New, around a while, biked all your life?
About 25 years

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Mainly commuting and fitness rides.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I average 60km a week which translates to 3,120km a year.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Resistance training: with weights once a week, with bands twice a week; Tai Chi once a week; swim laps once a week.

[BJ Ondo]

Some questions:

Please tell us your age.
50

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
2005 Fuji Monterey Comfort/Hybrid, fat tire bicycle.



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
LOL, just the Mature or Sliver labled multi!



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Well my last "bicycle" was spent "Novice Level" NORBA Mnt. Bike Racing with my son between 1982-1985. So YES, I've slowed down, LOL!! Now it strictly for FUN and to spend more time with wife!



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
I biked all thru Jr. High and High School, (60's to mid-70's), then in 82 I started serious bicycling, touring, century rides, etc. I bought my mountain bicycle (Raliegh Mt. Crested Butte model), fell in LOVE with mountain biking and then NORBA novice level racing and "SOLD" my road bike (Univega Specialisima). We fell on really hard financial times in lat 86 and sold all our bicycles and didn't ride bicycles again till May 7th. 2005.



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
We've been doing mostly "the local" trail/path systems here in Colorado Springs, CO, the outlying areas and a few thru the State of Colorado. Our avg. seemed to be about 20 to 30 miles a ride, strictly "Rec. Rides" for FUN! I've just completed a 1/2 Century ride and I'm thinking of more "road riding" for longer distances and maybe doing some "unsupported touring" in the next couple of years.




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Starting on May 7th. 2005, I now have "620 miles" on the bicycle computer, mostly club rides and self-exploring rides, except for the recent 1/2 Century ride.


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
My wife and I still like to "walk and hike" quite a bit. I have Reiter's Syndrome, (chronic arthritis conditon) so I can't "run or jog", it would just kill my joints!! Cycling does give me join pain but unlike running or jogging, I seem to be able to "recover" much, much easier.







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Dogbait]

Some questions:

Please tell us your age.
I am 60

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

1980 Schwinn World Sport rebuild (SunTour ARX drivetrain; SR stem, seatpost and bars; Weinmann brakes and levers; Araya/Maillard wheels; Suntour Ultra 6 freewheel.)

1982 Schwinn Super Le Tour with Shimano Altus drivetrain. Currently awaiting rebuild/upgrade to a 9 speed Shimano drivetrain based on 26-36-48 crank and an 11-34 cassette.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Glucosamine/Chondroitin plus MSM, 1000 mg vitamin C

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I feel I have slowed down somewhat. I am also overweight and trying to get it under control.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

In the '80s, I biked to work (7 mi each way) year round and went for rides up to aboput 60 miles on some weekends. In 1992, I moved 30 miles from my workplace and the bikes were put away until this spring when I refurbished the World Sport to be used in my fitness program. I am now retired and wondering how I ever found the time to go to work.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

I currently ride to the gym for my workouts 3-5 times a week. The round trip is 7.5 miles. I have been trying to get in a longer ride on days I don't get to the gym. I have gotten this ride up to 25 miles but have suffered some overuse injuries (knee) and have taken some time to recover. I hope to be able to go on some longer, organized rides starting next spring.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

I lift weights and hope to start kayaking



Dogbait
"Has anyone seen my pepper spray?"

[Zarathu]

Some questions:

Please tell us your age. 56

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Well...I ride what I rode 30 years ago when I commuted to work: a 64cm Motebecane withevery part modified except the frame.



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Yup, lots....and more recently I've become totally vegan, with 4 glasses of carrot/celery juice a day.


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Don't know.....before i started cycling again this past month I was running for about an hour every other day, with 2 pound weights on my ankles.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Cyled everyday from 1973-1978; once a week until 1983; ocassionaly after that, since i started running instead.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

hour rides every other day mostly hills




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

no clue

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

some weight training in the winter



Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply?? 56

[mollusk]

Please tell us your age.

51

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Road bike: 1986 Cannondale SR400 with upgraded wheels (Campy record/Mavic GP4), pedals (Suntour Superbe Pros), and saddle (Brooks team pro that was off my even older bike). I don't remember if the Cinelli bars and stem were upgrades or not. Still riding with toe clips and my old Detto shoes.

Commuter bike: Some 10 year old Univega low-end mountain bike. I used to haul my kids to and from daycare on the way to work on it and its predecessor (A KHS Montana Pro that eventually had a dropout failure). Had kids late in life: I was 37 years old when my first son was born and 41 for my second.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

No. I eat food instead.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

A little.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

Rode a balloon tire Schwinn when I was a kid and didn't ride again until I was a graduate student in the mid to late 1970's. Bought a cheap Peugeot for commuting and discovered the joys of riding in the country and rode ~1000 miles per month for the first summer and just kept on riding. Around New Year's Day 1983 the Peugeot was stolen but now I had a real job and could afford a decent bike and got a mid-level Bianchi that was upgraded over the next few years so that at the end it was almost entirely Campy NR or SR. That bike was stolen out of my house and I bought the Cannondale. Six months later the Bianchi was recovered at a local bike shop when one of my riding buddies that worked there recognized it when someone brought it in. It was really easy to recognize with Celeste paint and pink Benotto tape and cables. The bike shop bought it from the insurance company and I bought back the Brooks Pro saddle that had about 20K miles of my butt on it. I'm still riding that saddle! My wife (dear thing that she is) almost bought the Bianchi from the shop as a surprise for me, but they wanted too much.

During the early child rearing years my riding fell WAY off and only started riding much again (other than commuting) during the last few years. My younger boy (now 9) likes to ride. Last year he rode 48 miles on a rail trail on his single speed 20" fat tire Mongoose with me. He now rides a multispeed 24" fat tire Trek and if he still is into riding next year I'll probably get him a decent bike. I've been looking at some of the small Felt bikes.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

I commute by bike rain or shine all year long. Its a short ride (~2.5 miles each way). Over the last few years I have been doing some rides with my boys in the 20 to 50 mile range with me on my commuter bike to slow me down enough to make it work and occasionally I would get out my road bike for a 30 to 40 mile ride. This summer I was able to arrange my schedule to have Tuesday and Thursday mornings off for riding and generally I would ride 70 miles of Tuesday and 40 on Thursday. Its about 4 miles of street riding to get to a rail trail that is about 15.5 miles long so on Tuesdays I would ride the trail twice and on Thursdays I would ride it once. I had been timing my rides on the trail and my times have gotten down to times similar to what I rode when I was 30 years old (generally 1 hour 35 minutes for the 31 mile ride and 3 hours 25 minutes for the 62 mile ride). So you can see that I'm not a racer. This past week I had off and rode on Tuesday (87 miles at a brisk pace for me, ~ 5 hours and felt great afterwards), 20 mile recovery ride on Wednesday, and 20 miles with intervals on Thursday. So far, so good. On Friday I set out for a 40 mile ride at pace and felt terrible. I decided to slow down a little (ride it at 16 to 17 mph instead of 19 to 20 mph), slog through the ride, and not ride on Saturday.


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

I bike just about every day. 25 miles per week commuting and I have been averaging about 120 miles per week on the road this summer, but that will fall off to around 50 per week in the Fall.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

I fence. Way cool sport! I used to play full-court basketball three times per week, but my ankles always seemed to hurt so I gave that up around a year ago. Giving up hoops really started back into cycling more as I needed it as a replacement activity.

[steve13]

Bike details from 50+

age is nearly 57

I started 1 yr ago with flat bar fuji road bike, quickly wanted better ride

bought an Orbea Onix with Ultegra 10..Great bike, maybe not just right for my old neck, so I am going to order a custom frame this week, will be last bike for me I hope, so selling Onix now at a $1k loss!!

Have started with joint supplements, hard to say if they help, but bad neck needed all the help it can get!!

Can't say if i've slowed down in cycling vs in years past as I slowed to a near crawl in general from no physical activity until 18 months ago, tried walking and then running, no enjoyment at all!!!! so decided to return to cycling, put new tires on 17 yr old mountain bike that sat in garage for many years...that started me back on the way...massive improvement, now slower to improve but still getting better

I ride for fun and exercise, try to ride 5 or more times a week, ride along road sides with good (safe?) shoulder area and through some neighborhoods, from a 'quicky' 8 mi route close to my house to a longer 15 mi route to a low 20's route starting at a veloway a few miles away. Heart, lungs and legs were more than ready to ride longer, need to get to 30-40 miles to ride with some locals I know, was set back due to saddle problems and then neck issues (hit from behind in car in April '05), will hit 30 miles quickly with new bike, then beyond..Lots of small to medium hills here (Austin), and TONS of Lance driven, young cyclists to keep me motivated. Hit 1300 mi through June, will do better in 2nd half of year..however too cool/cold or wet and I stay off bike, I hate the cold!!!

I really do not do any other exercise, should do some upper body stuff, but think cycling is super for a guy my age, blood presssure cholesterol, etc are very good, all due to my bike!!!

[DnvrFox]

I really do not do any other exercise, should do some upper body stuff, but think cycling is super for a guy my age, blood presssure cholesterol, etc are very good, all due to my bike!!!

See this

[Bert]

Some questions:

Please tell us your age. 52

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

40 pound antique Norco Bush Pilot for commuting to work.
16 pound brand new Motobecane LeChampion SL for fun.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Not so far, but I'm looking at the supplements suggested for improved bone density.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I must have slowed down, but not in my mind. I still pass lots of people. (Do others pass me? I can't remember.)

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

Was really into it 20 years ago, but stopped when a friend was killed by a motorist. I took up running pretty seriously, but arthritis in my ankles brought that to an end 3 years ago. So I returned to biking, filed my fears in the archives, and have been having a blast ever since.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

I do what I can fit in. Usually 2-3 rides of one hour during the week, and 1-2 rides of 1-2 hours. I haven't been in any competitions, but I would be interested in participating in some kind of organized ride if there were any in Victoria BC

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

2-4 times per week. Annually about 3000 km.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Stretching, light weights, daily walks 30-50 mins.

[jetstar]

I'll ask it again since bnet1 rides a bent. What is it with older riders and bents? I just don't get it. I tried riding one once, and just like mountain bikes, it wasn't my kinda bike. So what's the big fascination with bents?

Hi everyone....first the questions:

Please tell us your age.

58

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica (my favorite)
Trek 2200 pro
Custom carbon fiber Mountain Bike.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Multi-vitamin, 500 mg C.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Not at all. I am faster on the bike today then I was at 35. Recovery takes longer though.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

I have been biking (on and off) all my life. Recreational only. I was really into mountain bikes during the 80's. Road biking during the 90's and now I am very excited about recumbents.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

I do several centuries each year, and I train for the next one, daily. I sometime just cruise and enjoy the ride.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

I am a pilot and am on the road 3 or 4 days per week. I try to ride everyday that I am home and ride an indoor trainer in the hotel or gym on my "away" days. I manage to ride 100 to 150 miles per week. I ride one long ride 60-80 miles per week. I ride about 3000 miles per year.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

A little weight lifting, alot of yoga.

Now on the recumbent question....Why do I ride a recumbent?

Well I don,t ride a recumbent because I have to. I can still ride my trek road bike with no problem. I guess the best answer is that I ride a recumbent bike because it is SO MUCH FUN!! I have never had as much fun on any other type of bike. This thing just glides along, very fast and comfortable. Because of this I want to ride longer and more often.

There are very slow and heavy recumbents, just like there are heavy and slow Diamond frame bikes. High performance recumbents are just fantastic machines!

I think you should ride whatever type of bike pleases you.....recumbent, mountain, road, cross, comfort...they all have fans and provide pleasure to thier owners.


Mike

[olddirtret]

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Schwinn Super Sport Road bike most of the time.
Cannondale H500 for the Rails to Trails rides

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Glucosamine/chondroitin, Multi-vitamin, Zetia for cholesterol and Fish Oil

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

May have slowed down a little. ( Depends on whether you ask me or my children) Still manage to ride at an average speed of 15 mph. Takes a few miles to get my legs but feel good the entire ride. Since retiring I have been riding more. Rode 2100 miles last year.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

My first bike was a Huffy Convertible ! As soon as my Dad took the training wheels off my bike, I was riding everywhere. I rode on and off over the years until knee surgery in 1989. After the surgery, I began riding on a regular basis. I try to ride at least 75 miles or more a week.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.

I ride mostly on the road but do the Rails to Trails thing with my children and grandchildren.. I try to do several organized rides each season. The biggest ride last year was the Civil War Century (Thurmont, Md). I rode the Over The Mountain Without Pain part ( Plenty of Pain) with my son. Really tough 75 mile ride which included 4 mountain climbs. The next weekend I did the Three Creeks Century in Boiling Springs, Pa.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

Try to ride as many days as I can . Daily rides are 15-20 each. Weekend rides are 30-50 miles each. I try to ride about 1500 or more each year. Last year I managed to ride 2100 miles. I ride in the Shippensburg, Pa area which has a wide variety of ride options. I can vary my rides with rolling hills, flat rides or mountain climbs.

Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

At 56 I feel pretty good.

[lesliegee]

Some questions:

Please tell us your age. 51

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
I am a 5'3" woman, and found that the Lemond men's bike I started on 4 years ago just didn't fit correctly. Had lots of problems with dumb hands. When I shopped around, it was even difficult to find women specific bikes that fit me correctly -- so hand a custom titanium Seven built for me last year ( in honor of my upcoming 50th birthday. Figured it was a good present to myself.)

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
I try to remember to take iron supplements, as I have a tendency to have iron deficiency.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Since when? My cycling speed is on par with most of the male riders around here. I do need more sleep than when I was younger. (I wish I would have discovered this kind of cycling when I was in my 20's.)

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Cycled a Fugi 10 speed in my 20's. Then came marriage, child rearing, and with working full time, commuting 2 hours a day, was too difficult to put much time into anything that took up much time. Started back into cycling about 4 years ago. Didn't put in many miles the first two year, but put in moderately serious time now.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Probably my favorite rides are the nightly/weekend group rides. - usually in groups than go 20-24mph. Do weekend centuries. Am riding a local Michigan ride in a couple weeks called the DALMAC. Am riding 500 miles in 5 days. Yee haa.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Try to get in at least 5 days a week. - Should have over 4000 miles by October.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
As soon as it's too cold for me (usually November) I'm in the gym doing spin classes, weight lifting, and as soon as there is snow, downhill skiing most every weekend, and one week (this year I'm going to Italy in January to ski).

[John B.]

What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Specialized Roubaix Comp Triple
Motobecane Grand Sprint (many upgrades)
Trek 7000

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Glucosamine/chondroitin, multi-vitamin, Vit E, Rutin (banishes Hemorroids!)

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

Since I have just gotten serious about bicycling in the last 2.5 months I'm getting faster all the time.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

I biked as a kid but when I got my license that was it until I bought the Motobecane in 1979. Rode regularly for a couple years but then after a move, new business & family it became very sporadic. After health issues last winter I decided it was time to get serious about getting fit & losing some weight. Started riding regularly in June on the Sprint & bought the Comp last month.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.

Mostly road riding right now as I try to get into shape. Longest rides so far have been 23-26 miles but my endurance is getting better with every ride. Looking forward to riding my age next month on my birthday which shouldn't be a problem the way my training is progressing. Lots of nice back roads with plenty of hills here in N.E. Connecticut & little traffic to worry about.


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

Currently I'm riding 3-4 times a week allowing a day or two off after rides(12-26 miles) so my out of shape body has some recovery time. No annual mileage yet but I'm up to 65+ per week at this point.

Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

54 for another 33 days.

[DaveTaylor]

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

I ride a Concorde Strata 105 ; CrMo lugged 54cm road bike

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

No

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I started commuting 25km each way at age 45, I am now 60 and do country road rides and have probably slowed down a bit.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

As a serious activity, 15 years. Started on a mountain bike, added a Miyata 110 as a commuter bike and a Cannodale road bike. "Upgraded" to a steel frame road bike for more comfort.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.

Short rec rides and longer rides, mostly on secondary country roads.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

3 to 4 times a week, for a average 150km per week, April to October. Say 3500km per year.

Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

Hit the big six-oh this year!

[Louis]

Sorry I've not posted to this thread sooner. I tend to be a procrastinator.


1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Six road bikes and one mountain bike now set up as a road (city) bike.


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
No.


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Some, mostly because I don't push as hard as as I used to.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Since age 40 - almost 23 years.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Last two seasons I did the XOBA cross state ride in Ohio, approx. 400miles in 7 days.
Except for those XOBA type rides I ride alone, as club riding doesn't interest me much anymore.



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Three or four times a week in season, less in winter. Approx. 3K miles


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
I used to XC ski and hike a lot in winter but lately I've slacked off these activities and just ride indoors.




Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??
I'll be 63 in September '05

[rck]

I thought there might be some interest in a thread such as this. If not, it will go the way of all threads - just die away.

So, here is my first contribution.


Some questions:

Please tell us your age. 54

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
1990 Cannondale 400st


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
occasional fish oil cap, in winter vit d


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Don,t know how much I've slowed-recovery period is longer and hurts more but thats why we have asa .


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Have biked since a kid but biking seriously only intermittently(this is an on year)


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Usually 20-50 mile rides.




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I try to bike 3-4 times weekly. Shooting for around 2000 miles this year,


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
I play racquetball once weekly and lift weights twice weekly during the biking season.



Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

I'll hit the double nickel nest month. Ride on!

[Longhorn]

Please tell us your age. 50

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

I have a Trek 7200 hybrid and a Lashout electric bike.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Just a multi-vitamin and extra calcium.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

Actually, I feel better now than in previous years. My "slow down" was five years ago when I had some knee problems which were improved by strengthening leg muscles.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

I rode as a kid but only a few blocks at a time to play with friends. My husband bought me a Raleigh Talon mountain bike in the late 80s which I rode occasionally but for some reason, it didn't "take." Then in March of this year, my sister mentioned that she was starting to ride for exercise and the lightbulb went off in my head. I had never really found a sport or exercise that I enjoyed enough to keep at it. So I took the Raleigh in to get fixed up, stuffed it in the back of my convertible, and went riding at the veloway. I enjoyed it so much that I drove straight to the LBS and bought a rack. After a couple of months of that, my husband decided to get a bike. I was going to have slicks put on mine and see about getting a better fit when they told me my bike was too small for me. No wonder it was so uncomfortable! So I got the Trek. My husband and I both turned 50 this summer and these were our birthday presents.

Funny thing is, my sister hasn't ridden in months!

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

I started with after-work rides at the veloway and then started a partial commute of 12 miles rt this summer. Beginning next week, I'll be doing a one-way 17-mile commute and eventually hope to do the full round trip. My husband and I occasionally ride together on the weekend.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

Four to five times per week, maybe 2000 miles?

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

I haven't done anything else once I started cycling. I need to get back to using the elliptical and home gym on days I don't ride. We enjoy skiing but usually only get to go once a year, if that.

[Rickochet]

I am 50 years young!

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
2005Trek Navigator 200
2000 MRY Mountain Bike


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Just a one a day multi vitamin



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
The more I ride the better I feel. I do like to sleep a little more....


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
I have been a rider in my youth---I rode my Schwinn 5 speed "Banana Peeler" everywhere! After a long hiatus, I have returned with vigor!



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
I am breaking into my return rather slowly... the most I've ridden in one day is 25 miles.




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I have been trying to ride every day. Uncertain of what my mileage will be.

[stercomm]

I am 52 years of age!

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Cannodale R6000, my wife just surprised me with a Specialized Roubaix Triple Comp (great hill climber)


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Vit C, multi-vit.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Use to race in my 30's, have lost a 3-4 MPH but also have lost the desire or drive to grind it out all the time. I like to do long rides at an even tempo (60-80 miles at about a 17MPH average with intervals at 20-21 MPH)


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Biked as a kid to get around and to deliver papers, rode some in college, got into triathlons in my early 30's and then went exclusive to bikes in my late 30's. Just recently got back into cycling after 5 years of being a road warrior at work.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Long rides at an even spin tempo 16-18 MPH, short rides at an up tempo, will do hill intervals to build legs and lungs



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Averaging between 2000-3000 per year depending on travel schedule, need to get a bike Friday to travel with.

[harmstrong]

Please tell us your age.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
I am 50 years soon to be 51


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
None. Glass of wine with dinner


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
I thought i had untill i started riding again. suprised at how quickly it is coming back.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
i did a lot of trail riding 10 years ago. i have just picked up thebike again but am riding my mx on the street. Same 11 year old canondale mx700


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
i started with a 12 mile circle and am trying to move up the mileage and intensity. i did 30 miles yesterday at 15.1 mph. this is after a month.



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Try to go about 4 times a week. this is my first month and i have done 300 miles


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.? Weight lifting and sailing. i just started back getting into shape after 9 years of trying to deal with the stress of work without exercise. Biking is Fun, even just poking around the neighborhood.

[pihwht]

I'll be sixty in a few weeks, I've got an old 10-speed Manufrance which I haven't ridden in years. For no good reason, I started thinking about biking this past summer. I think I blame a recumbent I kept seeing last spring. After lots of inner debate and rading, I decided to look at my old bike. One of the last things I did before I quit riding was to repack the bearings and clean everything up, so it appeared to be in pretty good shape. I have enough sense to know that the little, tiny, tubular tires need to be replaced before the thing is ridden. While I debated whether to get a new bike or find a used on with relatively modern parts, I decided to get some tires and ride around a little bit. That hasn't happened yet. The Raleigh shop I stopped at on the way home, doesn't carry them anymore. That saved me a little money, but it also just about tempted me into buying the Maravista 05 the shop's owner had sitting there. Fortunately, it was raining and he didn't want to get it muddy. We postponed my test ride. Now, perhaps, I will be a little more rational than I would have been last night.

[Shouva]

I thought there might be some interest in a thread such as this. If not, it will go the way of all threads - just die away.

So, here is my first contribution.


Some questions:

Please tell us your age.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Not riding at present. Looking to get back into riding after 8 year hiatus. Hoping to buy a rode touring bike. Researching at present. Strange, my 1993 Trek 1420 has grown since I last rode it in 1997. The stand over is now too high for me.


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Good gravy! too many bottles on the kitchen shelf to list!



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Breast cancer in 1999 followed by severe reaction to a chemo drug left me with sever neuropathy throughout my body. For 4 years I had to use the hadicapped electric carts just to do my grocery shopping. Moved out of LA Nov. '03 to a moutain cottage and began to get better. I've been able to go back to work part time. So I slowed down almost to a stop but now am getting back up to speed. I'm looking for a new bike so I can pedal the streets again.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Rode 10 miles/day as a kid (to school and home). Did not ride age 13 to 37. Divorced and bought a mountain bike, but didn't do much until age 40 (1991) when I had both my knees rebuilt. Started riding for therapy. Boyfriend at the time told me I would ride 50 miles within 6 months of the surgery. Wore out a cheap Bianchi hybrid. Graduated to my Trek 1420 road touring bike in 1993. Rode regularly for 6 years total then became involved with Renaissance Faires and quit riding.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

Now none. Past: 50 miles each Sunday on the beach bike pathes in So. Calif., 20 mile commutes to work 1 or 2 times/week, 100 mile round trip overnights occasionally.


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Now not, then, averaged 2,000 miles/yr for about 5 years.


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Now: started back to gym in June doing weight training and am up to 20 minutes on the stationary bike up to level 6. Belly dancing with my old troupe and dancing to belly dance videos when the neuropathy in my feet allows me to stand for longer periods of time. I hope working out and ridiing again will improve my condition so I can get back to working full time again.



Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

54

[levensnevel]

Turned 50 a month ago

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
- a 1983 Aerts (race)
- a 1988 Koga Miyata Valley Runner (commute)

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Nope

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Speed is no concern to me. I simply enjoy every ride

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
All my life

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Commuting - Touring with the missus - Long rides

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
10,000 km plus

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Nope

[fal777]

I thought there might be some interest in a thread such as this. If not, it will go the way of all threads - just die away.

So, here is my first contribution.


Some questions:

Please tell us your age.
57
1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Merlin Agilis, Merlin Aerial, Griffen Triton, LeMond Alpe de Huez



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Chondritin, MultiVitamin, CoQ10, Mineral Supplement


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Think I am getting faster!

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Biked for the last 10 years; Ranroad races prior.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Training for triathlon, USCF Time trails, century rides , any excuse to be on the bike


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
3-4 X per week average 90+ miles per week


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
weights 2X per week, run 4X, swim 2X bike 3-4X weekly



Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

57

[Rossy]

I thought there might be some interest in a thread such as this. If not, it will go the way of all threads - just die away.

So, here is my first contribution.


Some questions:

Please tell us your age.53 ..

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Trek 2300/Ultegra 10spd -Schwinn MTB



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Multivit/coenzyme q10



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Haven't ridden since I was a kid so I am off to a slow start



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
7 Months



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
Short to medium 30 to 60 km




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
on Road twice a week (its winter) spinning 3 times a week



7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Gym 3 times per week




Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

[RabidCyclist]

I thought there might be some interest in a thread such as this. If not, it will go the way of all threads - just die away.

So, here is my first contribution.


Some questions:

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Trek 2200 with Brookes Team Pro Saddle and Time Impact Mag pedals


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
CoQ10, DHEA, Multi and lots of Calcium


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Some, but still going


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

On and off since I was a teen

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

Commute 2-3 times a week 30 miles each way. 4 centuries the last 2 months


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

3 - 4 days a week. Approx 3000 a year

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Bowflex



Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??
50