Originally Posted by
subgrade
You must be descending very steep stairs then. I don't find carrying bike up or down normal (50%) stairs any more awkward than just walking up or down the stairs. Currently I have to cover only two flights of stairs, so I don't bother lifting it up on my shoulder as I would do for longer ascents/descents; I just hold it by the top tube, closer to head tube when going up and closer to seat tube when going down, with the other hand on the handlebars
It depends more on how narrow the stairs are. If they are narrow then it would be very awkward unless you lift up the bike overhead which might be hard for someone who is in their 60s. If they are narrow but not too steep then I would just ride down. Or even walk the bike down if very wide. I am not 62 yet only in 40s but should be doable to ride down if there are no turns and it's not too steep.