"The cyclists proved to have reflexes, memories, balance and metabolic profiles that more closely resembled those of 30-year-olds than of the sedentary older group."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/w....nav=RecEngine

And, more ideologically mature-- we've learned to lean neither Left or right when staying the course is the common sense thing to do.

No surprise there. The dietary and lifestyle fountain of youth is well known -- unfortunately, too many people ignore it.

Good news.

And in my case, 3 out of 4 ain't bad?!?!

What was the question again?

Maybe I'll keep my hair?

You wish . . .

At my age it's a beautiful, healthy day just to be on the right side of the sod and recreating.

More discussion about this topic here:

Long Distance Cycling and Health

And a little bit here too:

Exercise before you get too old.

I love these articles. They make us all feel wonderful just for doing what we enjoy doing and give us some snappy answers when people ask us why we do it.

Kind if like that first cup of morning coffee, makes things seem just a bit better and reinforces the idea it was a nice thing to wake up and er, what was I going to say.......

Bill

Yeah. It's preaching to the choir of which I am a member.

But there are always naysayers so state that we could be run over at any time.

Use it or lose it.

Honestly, that's all great. But I can't help thinking that I love it so much, I'd do it anyway.

+1
The mental part
“enjoying it”
Wasn’t part of the study.
But is part of the big picture.

depends Where you ride.

if you ride indoors, it is about as safe as sleeping on the sofa. or riding Rural or Bike Trails.

I probably ought to try this, but I don't think I would have the same motivation. Nothing like having to get home prepares you to do 20 more miles! I am somewhat concerned about the safety of riding in traffic, so at least half of my riding is on MUPs. Almost got slammed by a deer last Friday, so I really don't know.

OTOH, I do spend a half-hour on my rowing machine every day, which is kind of the same thing, though just to get my real boats on the water would take at least an hour and a half so the motivation is convenience.

The real point is that activity is essential if you want to maintain your health well into your senior years. Perhaps the medical community will wake up and abandon their standard that assumes that some health switch flips when you hit 65. I'm tired of hearing that age is a significant risk factor and that I positively need this or that because of the age-related guidelines. If something is not recommended for a sedentary 40 year old, why should it become essential for a healthy 65 year old?

20 miles?

do what you have time for. today i rode about 5 miles outside as it was a nice day. sunday's are lite traffice and we live out in the rural, safety is less of an issue.

i don't know how a Rowing machine compares, my guess it is about the same. but i do know that some entertainment makes the mile fly by. we use YouTube and learn something.

doesn't matter much what the medical community thinks or anybody else, God gave us our body and instructed us to take care of it. at my age bicycling, and gardening are the ticket.

be blessed.

I know since I started about a year ago, I feel a LOT better, lost 80lbs and have a ton of energy. Cardio is through the roof, my wife used to beat me in the cardio and now she has to keep up with me. The feeling is fantastic.

If you set you rust.

I still have my hair and my teeth. Wait, what were we discussing?

Here's an update:
Every bit of exercise counts in reducing risk of early death: Study | CBC News

"Every bit of exercise counts in reducing risk of early death"

"The findings are good news for most Americans, who are becoming more sedentary and could break that up with short bouts of physical activity, he said.
"Take the stairs when there's the opportunity. Walk to the coffee shop instead of taking the drive-thru. Because that will all help you prevent bad health outcomes," he said. "Everything counts so take every opportunity."

The study also found that participants who got less than 20 minutes of MVPA each day had the highest risk of death, while those who did 60 minutes a day cut their risk of death by more than half. Those who did at least 100 minutes a day cut their risk of mortality by 76 per cent, according to the study."

A local doctor here stated that if exercise could be prescribed he would be writing many exercise prescriptions.

?

It can. What does he think is stopping him?

Hilarious. And one of the reasons why I'm skeptical of the pronouncements of doctors for athletic patients. Some doctors keep up and read the journals. Others simply do not. My doctor, a long distance cyclist himself, does read the journals and thankfully knows more about it than I do.

Yes, doctors do write "prescriptions" for both exercise and diet, though they can't be filled at your local pharmacy. For instance:
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-...of-medication/

I like it
1 gym membership - 1 hour - 3 times/week

1 Specialized Sirrus Carbon Elite
50 miles / week

Goona get my doc to write it
Insurance deductible met , wonder
how much insurance co. will pay?

Wonder if they cover bike fittings &
GarminGPS to monitor me