I have been a 5 day a week commuter for good part of this year. Even in the rain I am out there. Only a super downpour will stop me. My commute is not that long. About 6 or 7 miles to the subway, then 2 miles when I get off. Sometimes the ride is so sweet, that I get off 5 stops before my stop, so I can kick in an extra 10 miles. Sheesh, at 72, I don't ever want to grow up..

However, lately, the weather has been getting to the old bones.. Around 39 this morning, I am layered up, warm gloves, in fact I got so much on, that when I board the subway, I have to peel off the top layer because I would be too warm. The last couple weeks, the bones have been aching like mad. Right now, I feel like somebody has took a baseball bat and hit me in the ribs, about 10 times.. I had stopped taking a shower in the morning before I leave in the cold weather, just a fast wash down, as I take a shower at night. My wife has been trying to get me to get off this routine. This routine has become a habit, big time. It can be raining out, and my wife would tell me she is driving me to work, while I look for my rain jacket, and tell her, I am okay!! The habit is big time strong with me! Almost like dope, although I have never tried it, I see how people can't resist it!! I have rode in the rain, at 5:50am, pitch dark out, and I am screaming in the helmet saying "oh boy"..

Next week, I am going to allow the wife to take me two times a week, and commute the other 3 days.. See how that works out..

Thanks for letting me vent!!

Smart old man.

Vent on bro....or is that Ventoux on bro!

Got to listen to your body!

Thanks fellas. When I get home today, that is if I don't call her to pick me up, and I leave the bike, I am going to get the wife to rub me down with the old folks stuff, "witch hazel"...

ride on a trainer the other 2 days and stay in shape for the warmer times.

Yes, listen to your body.

BTW, I like your jacket photo. LOL

Alternatively, you could move to Arizona.

Working and riding at 72. That's how to stay fit!

Most people don't believe from looking at the machine I be riding.. We only go around one time..dam, these bones hurt!

I'm not 72 (54) but... 39 isn't that cold. That's what I rode home in last night (with moisture, not quite rain) and it felt pretty good. My point is: make sure you're cutting back for the right reason. You train pretty hard. You might have pulled or torn something. Check everything out is all I'm saying. Good luck.

H

Sounds to me like someone not only cares about you - but is real interested in keeping you around as long as possible! Maybe thats a GOOD thing!

Don't quite have your years but I'm becoming increasingly aware that at my age it would take longer to recover from any mishap than it would've 20 or 30 years ago and am practicing 'risk management' a bit more seriously. And life is still just as much fun.

Nothing wrong with that. Here's a 35 year old part-time roadracer, full-time employed worker bee, 3/4-time bicycle commuter aspiring to keep this racket going as long as possible. Kudos!

Thats cool...

I wonder if something else is going on. As said, 39 F with the right clothes is not that cold, for someone as fit and acclimated as you. By all means have your wife drive you for a week, if you still feel bad, see the doctor.

were the heck do you commute to at age 70!?

please don't count me at 70+, I am not your ordinary grandpa ..

Thanks for that input. It was not that kind of pain. It was the chill type that comes with fever, and aching of the bones. I thought I was dressed warm. Anyway, today is Monday, I rested the weekend. I left the bike at work on Friday. Today, I will ride it home. After the 3 days of rest, I feel brand new. On Friday, I felt like I was going to leave here!!

Again, thanks for those tips..

Good on ya! hell... 70 is the new 50.
Pretty soon, full benefit social security age will be well after 70. Keep pedlin' !

Summary and closing of this thread.

Today, I am good as new. What happened the day I started this thread was the beginning stages of a cold. Because of my age, the weakness and bones aching was big time apparent. That made me readdress my commuting 5 days a week. This morning I feel good as new. In fact like superman, 50 pushups to start the morning off. In addition, I almost wanted to skip work because the first leg of the commute was really giving it up too!!


Trick is to realize, mainly in the colder months, when you are about to or have a cold and deal with it instead of riding.

Also takes some rest days. I did make a promise to my wife that I would cut down, so, from now on it will be 4 days a week commuting. If I am lucky enough to reach 90 years old, 18 years from now I want to be doing the same chit!!

Ah ha! I thought there was something else going on. Glad to hear you are back up to snuff.

Oh, wait a minute. I just noticed your list of bikes.

You know, I think, after reflection, that you are just too old to ride. Time to hang it up, grampa. I'll be helpful and take some of those bikes off your feeble hands. Let's start with the Litespeed :-)

Ha, don't get me started..

Looking at your stable of bikes, we was at the same count up until two days ago. We both had 9 bikes! However, the bicycle gods shined on me, and led me to a sweet 89 Cannondale Black Lightning in my size!! That pushed me to 10!! thank you!!

As I know you already know, there is nothing like landing a sweet C&V bike. The hunt, the acquisition and the price negotiations that come with getting a C&V bikes are all super thrills. I see you got a wish list too.. .

BTW, not too long ago, I landed a sweet Park Tool PSC-4 Deluxe stand for $43 off CL..That was so sweet I even started a thread on that.. I told you not to get me started...

Safe riding to you...