Some of us commute, some of us like to cruise and recreate, a few may even go out can collecting, others may use the bike to meet women (!), and some use the bike as a tool to push back encroaching barriers of aging and social expectation, even personal barriers of doubt and "angst". Some just like speed and sweat and endorphins. Doesn't seem to matter here at BF50+......no one is excluded nor have I seen anyone discouraged or blown off because of their skill level or style of riding. I haven't found much that would cause anyone to feel excluded because they were less than elite-- unless that person was predisposed to those associations.

It seems normal to take pride in pushing back a barrier, whether it's Will Dehne's 3000 miles or a recovering
back injury's ride round the block. If you follow threads here, it seems evident that all riders at BF50+ are encouraged and reinforced.... not just the "elite" top achievers. Nothing is inherently wrong with being a fat old fart or with being a lean, intense old fart. I won't deny that societal judgements about fat and lean, dedicated and casual, 100 miles and 10 miles do creep in here-- but then so does politics, religion, and sex....just like in all other aspects of life--at the dinner table, the work place, church lobbies, bike forums, etc..

The point is----- we do a pretty communally good job of keeping that stuff in balance and respecting everyone. You're free to post and be listened to, so is jppe. The value judgements are left to you-- I doubt others are being disapproving in a chronic, destructive way or there is an inherent tone of valuation at BF50+. In the end, we're all basically "old farts"-- who cycle no matter what the modifier.