Riding your age
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,058
Likes: 943
From: Washington County, Vermont, USA
Bikes: 1973-4 Gitane Tour de France, early 1970's Lejeune, 1970 Italvega Super Speciale, 2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker 26
Riding your age
I took my recently commissioned PX-10 on a 62.4 mile ride today. (I don't have computers on any of my bikes, but that's what I came up with when I measured the route on the map with my dad's Korean-War map-measuring wheel--I suspect that it may have been a bit longer on the ground.) I turned 62 in May, so I guess that counts as an age ride.
It was a pretty hilly route, and I'm not in the best of shape this year--it took me six hours from start to finish, and I was mostly on the middle chainring on the last 10-mile stretch of the Groton Forest Road. It's clear to me now that age rides start to get pretty challenging as one's 60s go along. I should start mapping out some flattish routes to use later--not that there are any 60-mile-and-longer routes in my neck of the woods that are remotely flat.
Who's older than me and riding their age every year?
It was a pretty hilly route, and I'm not in the best of shape this year--it took me six hours from start to finish, and I was mostly on the middle chainring on the last 10-mile stretch of the Groton Forest Road. It's clear to me now that age rides start to get pretty challenging as one's 60s go along. I should start mapping out some flattish routes to use later--not that there are any 60-mile-and-longer routes in my neck of the woods that are remotely flat.
Who's older than me and riding their age every year?
__________________
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
#3
I rode roughly my age today. 45m (46yo). I have been riding often with a 72 year old that averages 900 miles a month and runs 75+ more! He rides his age+ a few times a month. His wife was a pro runner and had some national records, needless to say they are probably not average for their age.
I opened my mouth so we are doing 60-70 saturday. I just wanted to collect old bikes, show them and casual ride....
Both are over 70 and ride some miles.

I opened my mouth so we are doing 60-70 saturday. I just wanted to collect old bikes, show them and casual ride....

Both are over 70 and ride some miles.

Last edited by Bikerider007; 07-28-16 at 10:07 PM. Reason: added pic from today
#4
What??? Only 2 wheels?


Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,501
Likes: 995
From: Boston-ish, MA
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
I have been for the past several years. I mean, I've been riding my age. I've been older than you for a lot longer.
Over in the 50+ forum the thing to do is a "birthday ride". I do mine as close to my b'day as weekends and weather will allow.
Last year's ride overshot the target by 6 miles. I'm 67.
For some reason my b'day ride always happens in November when it's a bit cold for riding. I keep hoping it will be earlier in the year but so far the calendar hasn't cooperated.
Over in the 50+ forum the thing to do is a "birthday ride". I do mine as close to my b'day as weekends and weather will allow.
Last year's ride overshot the target by 6 miles. I'm 67.
For some reason my b'day ride always happens in November when it's a bit cold for riding. I keep hoping it will be earlier in the year but so far the calendar hasn't cooperated.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#5
Senior Member


Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,405
Likes: 1,584
From: Near Pottstown, PA: 30 miles NW of Philadelphia
Bikes: 2 Trek Mtn, Cannondale R600 road, 6 vintage road bikes
My B'day is a month later which also challenges the 'ride your age on yer B'day' idea but our Boxing Day rides do help. I'm 64 now and rode my first full century (106 miles) last year and have done metric centuries w/o issue. I now do 50+ mile rides with little to no planning or prep, on 40 yr old bicycles. Neato. Good for my heart. And I never really was an athlete sorta guy - skinny nerdy engineer.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,940
Likes: 363
Right behind the OP, this year is a decade birthday, so I felt that I needed to man up and ride the 60 miles this November. Doing some training and planning for this one, we have a Century event here close to my B-day, and it has a metric component ride as a part of the route(s). Regardless, this year is getting a birthday ride, within the month of November.
Average, nondescript engineer, that was never an athlete, either. (sorry Prowler, had to ride your wheel on this one, too inviting to pass up
Bill
Average, nondescript engineer, that was never an athlete, either. (sorry Prowler, had to ride your wheel on this one, too inviting to pass up

Bill
#7
Senior Member



Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 18,822
Likes: 11,673
I've been doing a birthday/age ride for since I turned 50, seven years ago, and fortunately my birthday is in April so the weather is usually pretty good. Earlier this month I did a 4x my age plus ride (232 miles), so I think I've built up some credit for my later years.
#10
weapons-grade bolognium


Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,615
Likes: 3,326
From: Across the street from Chicago
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
I've been doing this fairly consistently. My birthday is in late September, so I usually have the fitness to do it. A spring birthday would be tough.
#11
feros ferio

Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,410
Likes: 1,876
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#12
feros ferio

Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,410
Likes: 1,876
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Let's raise the bar, since this is the C&V forum. How about riding the combined age of yourself and your bicycle? That would be 94 to 123 (double metric century) for me, depending on which bike I chose.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#15
If I own it, I ride it


Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,685
Likes: 821
From: Cardinal Country
Bikes: Lejeune(14), Raleigh, Raysport, Jan De Reus, Gazelle, Masi, B. Carré(4), Springfield, Greg Lemond, Andre Bertin, Schwinn Paramount
I did a metric ride my age Wednesday. Working on an Imperial. My feet seem to be the limiting factor at the moment. My butt and hands are manageable. Got a few months before the actual date to get there.
#16
What??? Only 2 wheels?


Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,501
Likes: 995
From: Boston-ish, MA
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Nah, it's harder. Those metric years are smaller so there are lots more of them.
Yes to this! (In fact I threw out that spec once or twice a few years ago but it didn't get much traction after a few days.)
Because you are a monster. No question. Well done.
Because you are a monster. No question. Well done.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#17
When I read the title of this thread I first assumed it was referring to riding bikes around the same age as you as opposed to riding your age in miles. This would have been fine for me given that I was born in 1987 and I happen to like that era of bikes but I then remembered that I'm an outlier here and if we did it that way it would be a thread full of suicide shifters and rod brakes.
#18
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
It wasn't so long ago, I rode double my age for my birthday ride; Now I struggle to ride my age, though here in Mexico, as in Canada, it's a significantly shorter ride.
#19
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,066
Likes: 2,153
From: NW Ohio
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-1977 Univega Grand Rally, S LTD, 1973 Sears Free Spirit 531, 197? FW Evans
In golf, at least you get a little help to shoot your age as you get older. With bikes, the target just keeps getting farther away.
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,496
Likes: 771
From: Chicago North Shore
Bikes: frankenbike based on MKM frame
With bikes, the target just keeps getting farther away.
My birthday was last week, and my doc didn't let me get on my bike until mid-June. I hope to ride my age at the Evanston Bike Club's North Shore Century - the metric century + miles to and from home. I'm not as fast as you guys, though.
Last edited by philbob57; 07-30-16 at 12:55 PM.
#22
Junior Member

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 196
Likes: 44
From: St Louis Park MN
Bikes: Mead Ranger '24- Armstrong 3sp '64 Follis 172 '74 Miss Mercian '78 Centurian Accordo 80's Mercian KOM '85 Mark Zeh road '86 Kona Explosif '93 Merkx Ti AX '97 Santana Arriva tandem '99 Bike Friday tandem
No I haven't. My problem is that my next birthday will be my 78th & my birthday is in January. In Minnesota.
#23
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
#25
What??? Only 2 wheels?


Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,501
Likes: 995
From: Boston-ish, MA
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10




