Old Man
04-04-16 | 02:35 PM
#26
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/...67&page=1&v=FV
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
04-04-16 | 02:40 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,101
Likes: 17
From: Minneapolis
Lots of people are going to try to convince you to retire. Many have their own agendas, like justifying their own inactivity at an early age or just wanting to hang out with you more. Don't let anyone else tell you when to get off the bike. You will know when it's time.
Since I started retiring at age 30 (work a year - take a year off), most of my good friends were very active retired people from age 55 to 75 (because I could not find any 30 year olds to hang out with). The honest truth as I gathered it by speaking to these people is that most felt a major decline in physical capability around age 70. This is the average. One of those people still races cyclocross and his DAD still races road and cyclocross in his 90s. Is he blazing fast? No, but he is still doing it and enjoying it. I have another friend in her mid 90s who is not a cyclist, but could certainly do it. She just fast-walks for exercise and travels all over the world regularly.
So my take, given my experience, is that if you take care of yourself and NEVER stop doing athletic things, you will likely have "game" into your early 70s. After that, expect to slow down and smell the roses a little more. You should be able to enjoy cycling until very near the day you drop dead, assuming you don't get some other injury or condition that trips you up.
So my take, given my experience, is that if you take care of yourself and NEVER stop doing athletic things, you will likely have "game" into your early 70s. After that, expect to slow down and smell the roses a little more. You should be able to enjoy cycling until very near the day you drop dead, assuming you don't get some other injury or condition that trips you up.
I knew somebody who retired every few years.
Personally I enjoy my work but there's so much more I would do if I had the extra time, and yeah an older co-worker of mine was told to "appreciate his 60's" because things got harder at 70. He was on the fence about retiring and that was one of the things that convinced him.
I've don't see retiring until my kids have gotten a foothold into their adult lives. Once that happens and our nest egg is where it needs to be, I'm done. I imagine that may be a tough right of passage emotionally so maybe I'd stick around a little longer but I hope not.
Last edited by tjspiel; 04-04-16 at 02:45 PM.
04-04-16 | 04:41 PM
#28
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 435
Likes: 76
From: Richmond, VA
Bikes: 83 Bianchi Special 96 Specialized Stump Jumper Comp 09 Gary Fisher Paragon 09 Surly Cross Check 11 Surly Long Haul Trucker
I plan on retiring at 62 but will never become inactive. I'm 56 now and the key is, as my 86 year old Dad says: use it or lose it. There's an 80 year old guy on my hockey team that has become and inspiration to the team. Not that I'm going to play ice hockey forever but I will keep moving forever in one mode or another.
04-05-16 | 09:33 AM
#29
Member Not Found
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,490
Likes: 418
If I ever retire I will immediately sell the house, buy an RV, and put at least 5 states between myself and my relatives. I might even get a 900 phone number so every minute spent yakking on the phone costs the other party money that goes into my bank account.
04-05-16 | 10:14 AM
#30
Seņior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
I'm a month from 52, and I'm in better shape than when I was 20. I better stop getting more fit or I'll have to go through puberty again, but this time backwards.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
04-05-16 | 01:19 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 14
From: La La Land (We love it!)
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
04-05-16 | 03:07 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,101
Likes: 17
From: Minneapolis
CAUTION!!: Several of my friends retired and IMMEDIATELY got a daughter complete with grandchildren BACK IN THE HOUSE! Sometimes just the grandchildren. Seldom just the daughter/son. But in the USA with the economy the way it is, this is becoming very common.
If I ever retire I will immediately sell the house, buy an RV, and put at least 5 states between myself and my relatives. I might even get a 900 phone number so every minute spent yakking on the phone costs the other party money that goes into my bank account.
If I ever retire I will immediately sell the house, buy an RV, and put at least 5 states between myself and my relatives. I might even get a 900 phone number so every minute spent yakking on the phone costs the other party money that goes into my bank account.
For different reasons my wife and I have seriously considered downsizing to a condo or small townhouse after the kids move out. That's what we lived in before we had kids and I'll be more than happy to get away from home maintenance. It wouldn't prevent a kid from moving back in but bringing along their family just wouldn't work.
My wife has some friends who have their kids sign contracts saying they won't move back in after they've finished school.
Of course none of that means that our kids won't ask for financial help or that we won't feel the desire to offer it.
Last edited by tjspiel; 04-05-16 at 04:54 PM.
04-05-16 | 06:59 PM
#34
Seņior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
My plan is as soon as the kids move out, their rooms become secondary workshops. I'm already building a separate building for a shop, I don't think I could survive in a condo. Where would I put the bridgeport and the CNC mill?
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
04-05-16 | 07:31 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 48
I live part time in The Netherlands. Sometimes it seems like a giant old folks home with all of the old folks riding bikes all over. They ride to meet each other for coffee, to go grocery shopping, to enjoy a ride along a dike on a nice day, and to go to and from work. BTW, I don't consider anyone old folks until they're at least 70.
And, about 70% of bicycle rider fatalities in The Netherlands are people over 65 (and I think something like 50% are over 80). Many of these are heart attacks or strokes so not really a bicycle fatality but it just happens to happen while they happen to be riding. Oh, Dutch live about 3-4 years longer than we do in the U.S.
And, about 70% of bicycle rider fatalities in The Netherlands are people over 65 (and I think something like 50% are over 80). Many of these are heart attacks or strokes so not really a bicycle fatality but it just happens to happen while they happen to be riding. Oh, Dutch live about 3-4 years longer than we do in the U.S.
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