Hey, 10Wheels, don't despair. I'm 70, up in Austin, and have run the Austin Marathon (as well as a lot of lesser races) for the last seven years. The last two years I didn't finish (got taken to hospital from the 19 mile mark in 2011, learned from that experience to do the sensible thing and convert from Full to Half (which I finished) in 2012. In both cases it was because I went into A.Fib.: I've had that fixed and am training for the marathon again - just today was thinking of entering the Sugarland in November. I shall die miserable if I don't finish a Marathon over 70! In the meantime, I've booked a ticket to Spain in three weeks and will ride Salamanca-Oporto-Santiago-Cap Finisterre-Bilbao-France. I've got 35 days and expect to do at least 1000 miles. A cousin now lives in the south of France, so I can afford to take my own bike (Bianchi Volpe) instead of renting one, as he will keep it for the winter.

A buddy the same age as me is organizing a group to ride the TransAm from Oregon to Virginia next summer - bring 'er on, boys!

Stapfam will appreciate this one. A couple of years ago I rode the Dutch and North German coasts from Amsterdam to Poland on a cheap folder. Flew to Gatwick with it, and decided to ride to London, but didn't have a map. So headed down the main road (A23?), mostly riding on the very poorly-maintained pavement (that's sidewalk to Americans), with no real trouble until I got to Sutton, where a policewoman told me it was illegal and to ride on the road. Fortunately, by that time I was really in London, so the drivers were relatively civilized. The next year (2010) I rented a Brompton in Edinburgh and rode the islands from Arran and Mull through Barra to Lewis, then up through Durness and J.o'G's to Orknew and Shetland. Terrific fun, rain wind and all!