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Any bike is good, so long as it fits. There is something better about a bike that is "yours." A better-fitting bike, with good shorts, seats, and shoes, will be more comfortable for longer rides, and a bit faster.
If you think you are riding too slow, add some "intervals" to your ride. If you are using a cycle computer, you have a pretty good idea what your average speed is in a given area. Raise your speed by 5 mph (or 8 kph), for 30 seconds. Then slow down to your usual speed. Do this a few times, and after a week or so, increase the time to 1 minute. If you do this for a few weeks, you'll find that you can lift your average speed significantly. Another thing I recommend is joining a group ride. It's fun to ride with others, the speed is higher, and you can drop out at any time. Faster riders tend to group together and ride away, average riders group together and ride at a moderate pace, new and lower riders group together and ride at an easier pace. Group rides are a good way to meet people and make friends, and to motivate you to get out and ride on weekend mornings. |
Am I to old and inflexible to ride dropbars ? I bought a dropbar bike last winter at 55 that and a diet has me touching my toes with my thumbs more flexible than i've been in quite a while.It's really one of those get out what you put in deals.
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Originally Posted by NomarsGirl
(Post 20465541)
Would it be crazy to go with some sort of road bike (at age 50) rather than another hybrid?
Many much older than that ride road bikes. It is not crazy at all.
Originally Posted by NomarsGirl
(Post 20465541)
The day after I passed him on a hill, he went out and bought a new bike.
-Tim- |
I'm 60. Started cycling earnestly at age 53. Since then I have purchased 5 new bikes. Looks like you had better get started!:)
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Why that's a simple question but the answer might be complicated.
It has to do with whether you are a left brain or a right brain dominate thinker: Pure left brain people are logical thinkers. The bike that you have is good enough so why would you buy a different one? Pure right brain people go with their hearts. You deserve not to have to ride a borrowed bike. Here's the toss up question: If you spend the money to buy yourself a brand new bike of your own choosing, what will you be giving up? |
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT CRAZY TO GET YOUR FIRST SERIOUS ROAD BIKE AT FIFTY YEARS OLD!
ok, I got the caps out of my system. While I did some riding much of my life, I consider myself having gotten my first "serious" road bike at age 56 (prior to that I was riding an inexpensive hybrid). The only caveat is finances ... as long as you can still afford to eat a meal every day or two and can afford a tarp to cover your body for shelter, I'd recommend trying out bikes at your LBS's and find one that is comfortable and you fall in love with :50: |
Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
(Post 20475807)
Here's the toss up question: If you spend the money to buy yourself a brand new bike of your own choosing, what will you be giving up?
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A nicer bike that fits you well is a real treat. I did find that in my 50’s I developed a bit of neck and shoulder pain. I sought out road and touring bikes that (1) put the handlebars above the saddle and (2) had room for fatter, more supple tires. I also gave up drop bars for more mustache-style bars which enable a lowered position as well as a more upright one. There are lots of niche bikes to check out these days. My Rivendell is more of a light touring/road bike. My sister in law recently bought an adventure bike which gave her room for slightly wider tires and also more standover. You may want to also look at cyclocross bikes which are racey but also a little more upright than an aggressive road bike. Any of these bikes might remain more comfortable as you move through your 50’s and beyond. john |
My wife has ridden a road bike for a number of years. She is not a great rider, and doesn't do a lot of miles, but she doesn't have a problem with riding drop bars. Setup is the key. Her drop bars are raised up higher than her saddle. She also has interrupter brake levers on the top bar so she can ride more upright at times and still have the brakes close by. You don't have to always ride in the drops or the hoods. This lets you ride more upright when you want and more aerodynamic when you want. It really works well for her. She is 10 years older than you are. For comfort, ride a minimum of 25mm wide tires. And pick a woman specific saddle. My wife likes the Serfas RX, but you need to find one you like. You need to figure out the gearing you want. Are there hills that you struggle riding? Are you pushing a big gear all out? It is important to understand what faster for you will be. If you are at 10/12 mph average, you may never be pushing a 50-11 gear ratio at 30mph. My wife rarely gets into her top gear of 46-12, but she does use her 30-34 on some hills. You need to find a shop that will work with you to fit your current cycling needs with some growth for the future... within realistic goals and not wishful thinking. Because if you outgrow the gearing, you have probably moved beyond the bike. John |
One more thing... I converted my wife's old road bike to a flat bar urban/commuter/hybrid or whatever you want to call it. It is a great around town/neighborhood/beach bike. It is set up as a 3x8 so she can cruise around anywhere on it. But, when she wants to ride faster, she takes her road bike, or fast bike for her. Even at her level there is a difference; just because the bike setup is more performance and aerodynamic. And even then it is far from how I would set it up for me. But it is where it should be for her. if you want to ride longer and faster, get a road bike. You will be amazed at being just a little more aerodynamic helps to ride further and faster. One last point. I swapped out the wheels on her road bike. The ones that came with the bike is where they cut cost and weighed an unbelievable 2600 grams (over 5 lbs). Even though the new wheels are not light (1700 grams) those 2 lbs really made a big difference for her. John |
Originally Posted by dennis336
(Post 20476319)
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT CRAZY TO GET YOUR FIRST SERIOUS ROAD BIKE AT FIFTY YEARS OLD!
I'd add; if you're talking about getting your first serious bike, it might be time to go for your first serious bike fit. My wife and I are having the same conversation. Given a sheer lack of female input in general, I'd love to hear your input here: https://www.bikeforums.net/recreational-family/1151257-ladies-new-bike-wife.html here are some of the links for (pretty cool) bikes designed for women mentioned in the thread above: https://www.liv-cycling.com/us https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/collections/womens-bikes/c/B504/ |
Originally Posted by Bang0Bang00
(Post 20588163)
+1 to that.
I'd add; if you're talking about getting your first serious bike, it might be time to go for your first serious bike fit. My wife and I are having the same conversation. Given a sheer lack of female input in general, I'd love to hear your input here: https://www.bikeforums.net/recreatio...bike-wife.html here are some of the links for (pretty cool) bikes designed for women mentioned in the thread above: https://www.liv-cycling.com/us https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...-bikes/c/B504/ |
58 and plan on riding a drop bar road bike when I'm 70+
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I began riding a road bike at my young 70s (almost 80 now). At 50 you are still a sweet young thang with a bright future ahead of you. There is quite a bit of adjustment on bike fit. The stem can be had in different length to support the bar further forward or closer to the cyclist. Also, they are available in different angles to support the bar higher or lower by flipping it over. This all means that any bike that is about right can be further adjusted to accommodate a higher or lower position. I would add that as you get up to riding 50 miles, your original position will change to something somewhat longer and lower.
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As someone that got their first road bike at age 60, I would say you definitely are not too old. Granted there may be some other reason that a drop bar bike is not for you, but it's not age.
I also transitioned from a flat bar bike. Initially I spent maybe 20% of the ride in the drops and gradually increased that as I became more used to it. I also gradually increased the miles and now at 62 regularly do 50-60 mile rides on the weekends. Go try out a few and see how it feels. |
Originally Posted by dennis336
(Post 20588224)
Hey, it sounded like your question was to me with a quote from my earlier post and you. If it was, fyi, I'm not a woman so can't help with personal experience. Having said that, a trip to the LBS to try a few bikes seems like the best alternative. If you think she wouldn't have the interest in doing a lot of shopping around, maybe you can do the research, select a few options to show her then open the door to looking around for others if she'd like to explore more.
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Originally Posted by Bang0Bang00
(Post 20589656)
Sorry, Dennis, I was addressing the original poster. Hence the female oriented gist of the post.
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For comfort, ride a minimum of 25mm wide tires. And pick a woman specific saddle. My wife likes the Serfas RX, but you need to find one you like. +1 to 25mm tires or larger. Jan Heine of Bicycle Quarterly did some testing and found no speed loss on larger tires. Even racers have been moving to larger tires lately. I’ve found my Compass 38mm extralight tires to be smooth, fast and, due to the lower pressures, resist flats without adding weight. It appears that some of the new “adventure bikes” or “gravel grinders” are pretty much road bikes that can handle larger tires (some up to 40mm maybe?). john |
I got meself a road bike, smaller frame size, swapped the drops for straightish ones, fitted decent sized bar ends which would comfortably accept my drop bar brake/gear levers.
I now have a bike which is supremely comfortable up and down hills, and am able to operate the brakes instantly when needed. That last facility has probably saved me from serious injury many times. |
Originally Posted by peterws
(Post 20592727)
I got meself a road bike, smaller frame size, swapped the drops for straightish ones, fitted decent sized bar ends which would comfortably accept my drop bar brake/gear levers.
I now have a bike which is supremely comfortable up and down hills, and am able to operate the brakes instantly when needed. That last facility has probably saved me from serious injury many times. But if you like it and it seems to work for you... end of story. |
My wife has an FX3, too. Actually, it's a 7.3FX, the previous name. It's a terrific bike. I call it semi-upright. It's right in between bent over and upright. If you like it, get one for yourself.
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Allot of us crazies here. Have Similar story as you. Started at 60, Torker Skukoom mt bike. Best bike ever had. Now a Sirrus Carbon, & a custom Kona Rove . IMO, time to find a good bike shop , get measured, Build a bike around you. You’re worth it & got many years to enjoy it :thumb: |
You should absolutely try all different kinds of bikes you can, including a recumbent or two. Ya never know unless you try them all. With a road bike, you'll have more hand positions available vs a hybrid. If you like the flat bars, you can get skinny-tired bikes that way, too. CX, Gravel, Endurance, they're all slightly different variations of a theme, but sometimes the variations are what triggers that "just right" reaction.
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50, is that all? Wish I was only 50. I started riding seriously again at 50 back in 2000. Almost 19 years later, I've bought 7 bikes. Still have 6, one was killed by a car - while I was riding it. Better get started, you have a lot of catching up to do. My bikes are all road bikes, 3 vintage steel, 2 modern carbon, one in between aluminum. Never had a hybrid or a mountain bike. Just do it.
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