(I somehow posted this earlier in the wrong thread, and wouldn't have noticed except that Carbonfiberboy liked it there. Thanks, I guess.)

Of all the decadal milestones, I found 50 to be the most challenging emotionally. It was the feeling that the best of youthful life was mostly in the past, and that I was looking at diminishing time, energy, fun, life. Turning 30, 40, and 60 didn't really have the same effect, and I don't think 70 (some years off) will either.

But I had started as a serious cyclist only in my late 40s, and pretty much through my 50s, I either got stronger and faster or plateaued. So in some ways, the impression I had on turning 50 was totally wrong.

It wasn't wrong in some other ways, but never mind about that.

50 was not a physical transition.