killahkosha

Just rode the green river and interurban trail a couple of times yesterday. I noticed something though, every single rider had to have been at least 40, not a single one anywhere near my age. Do others notice the same?


-Jason Keller

holicow

Stupid old people, out messing things up for everyone with their old people bikes, and their old people smell..


Whoops, just had my big four-oh last week, almost forgot. Memory's going, I guess.

What was the question?

chalkdusty

Yes, I have definitely noticed that riders are of the older set. I'm the youngest in our bike club at 44. Not sure the reason for the phenomena, but I'd speculate that younger people are trying to raise families and make budgets stretch so they can't or don't budget in for good bikes and many don't find the time to cycle. Kids are over scheduled with activities and don't ride as much either. Then again there is the danger of riding on the roads. We don't have enough family friendly trails to ride on in my area.

7stitches

Could also be due to the amount of motorized riding toys kids have nowadays. It makes me sick.

scarry

Bingo!!!!Those motorized toys are soooooo stupid. A generation of kids who will never know what they are capable of.

sbhikes

I'm 40, so they're all near my age. As far as I'm concerned, once someone has a level of working stiff maturity they are near my age.

lilHinault

So far I at 42 have been riding group rides, yeah the easier ones, with a local club. And yeah the old folks stink, but can they go like stink! Jeeezzuz I'd like to see a lot of average couchbound 20 or 30 somethings at least go like they do. Fat chance! This has been remarked on here and there, the say 50-somethings in the US and up being on average more fit than the younger folks.

It's all about butts on bikes.

mirona

I do notice that the people riding in this area are always older. It's okay, but I would rather have someone that I can relate to. I can't talk about 401k's and stuff like that. Oh well. Stupid fat kids killing my social life!

Don Gwinn

I've been thinking about joining in on some club rides around here, and I'm 27. I've noticed that an awful lot of them are on weekdays at times when I'm either working or trying to get the kids taken care of. Might be a lot of younger riders like me sneaking in solo rides wherever they can.

will dehne

You know, instead of trying to understand others, just look what and why we do what we do.
Here is my story. Condensed.
Until age 25, I was supported by my parents, studied, and was very active in performance sports. (rowing)
Got married with child and had to make money. That became an all consuming thing until age 45.
Age 45, I found my-selves with size 40 waist, 240 LB (I am 74" tall)
Developed stress related health problems.
Started exercise program and became very serious about that at age 55.
At 63 it has become a priority passion.
Such is life for some of us.

will dehne

You know, instead of trying to understand others, just look what and why we do what we do.
Here is my story. Condensed.
Until age 25, I was supported by my parents, studied, and was very active in performance sports. (rowing)
Got married with child and had to make money. That became an all consuming thing until age 45.
Age 45, I found my-selves with size 40 waist, 240 LB (I am 74" tall)
Developed stress related health problems.
Started exercise program and became very serious about that at age 55.
At 63 it has become a priority passion.
Such is life for some of us.

Roody

I notice the same thing, and runners and walkers, even rollerbladers, are on the older side. Younger people either don't exercize, or at least they don't exercize outdoors. Maybe more at the gym and the Y.

genec

Left home at 17, had already been a bike rider in my youth. Joined the Navy... was Vietnam era vet... commuted when was stationed stateside.

Have ridden and commuted since, on and off, depending on opportunity and distance. Get burned out of dodging cars from time to time. Still love it, can never remember why I stop when I start riding again.

Have done some long distance touring. In various travels around the globe have seen that the US is a nice place to live but that many here really don't know what they have.

I also swim and have competed in many events. Hate running.

Have also been surprised by health problems. Getting old sucks.

As You Like It

Maybe the younger crowd is riding on the streets rather than along the trail/bikepath.

I know there are bike/ped paths here in KCMO, but overall I prefer riding on the streets. I can ride faster without having to worry about kids, inexperienced riders, and pedestrians. I have options for scenic routes, some just as nice or nicer than the ones the paths provide, and a pace more to my preference. I have a hard time riding slowly--my speeds seem to just creep up, and rather than be a danger or seem like a jerk, I'd rather ride where I'm not going to be in someone else's way and they aren't going to be in mine.

--From the perspective of a 28-year-old who likes to go zoooom.

FLBandit

Some of us just weren't smart enough to exercise when we were younger! For me at least!

RocketsRedglare

kids are still riding. You just won't find them on the road/trails. But look at BMX parks, and mountain bike trails, you won't find too many participants over 35.

While I love road riding, I can see how it would be boring to a thrill junky

genec

My son prefers the skateboard. Tried to get him into cycling... but even BMX was not enough compared to jumping curbs and zooming half pipes.

There are quite a few kids out there on skateboards. I recently asked my son if he ever considered riding a bike to any of his various destinations... Answer: "Why? I can skateboard!"

He does point to all the bikes in the garage and tells his friends that his dad bikes "everywhere."

RocketsRedglare

Well at least he's active.

Then again you really don't see a lot of sedentary kids in our neck of the woods

genec

Oh there's mushrooms around... hard to believe, but they do exist. Next door neighbor has two sons that both resemble beach balls. Sure, they have college educations, but neither holds a job... go figure.

RocketsRedglare

I see them too, but they are few and far in between, although the gang invested areas seem to have a higher proportion of "gorditos"

Even the goth kids look healthy and have tans

webist

I'm not claiming that this is a consistent demographic, but it may be an indicator. My daughter and son in law both bought bicycles soon after they married. For a couple years they rode with intensity and great frequency. That ceased immediately when the first grandbaby was on the way and hasn't resumed yet. They now have two kids. One was born last Monday. The oldest is 2.5. It's been three years since they stopped riding. I suspect it will be a couple more before they take it up again. They still have the bikes though.

Trek Al

I think all the young people are riding in the critical mass events, pissing off people and trying to get arrested to make a political statement.

Al

Alloy Addict

Cycling is a good, low impact exercise. That means it is easy to continue throughout our lives. Playing rugby at 50? I'm sure there are a few that do, but not many.

Of course if you have an accident cycling quickly becomes a high impact "exercise."