Originally Posted by
Barrettscv
My father passed away at age 84 last year. I calculated that I have another 15 years of doing almost any activity, including unlimited cycling, skiing, hiking, I'm now 52. 15 years is not a long time. Past that point, I'll have to scale back some of my favorite activities while staying as active as possible.
It's motivating. I'm not wasting any time at this point.
Michael
Ironic that you use the 15 yr number on top of the 52. My dad is 67 and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, he spent the winter in Fla "dropping roadies", quite literally. He averages 19.2 mph (I know this because he emails me his numbers every day), and makes a sport out of sneaking up on pace lines and then blowing by them.
In the spring he will return to Northern Illinois and spend the summer riding the Wisconsin trail system. He trains for crazy stuff like riding across the country (did that twice, both times after age 60). His new goal is to ride up the entire length of the Mississippi.
So, you may be able to up your 15 year estimate. Personally, I am looking at and hoping to go strong until at least age 75. I find that commuting is one of the best ways to ensure that this becomes a reality. Of course, regardless our efforts, we still need some good fortune. It does take more than hard work to stay well, but it is indeed reasonable to plan for a long and healthy life.