What do you miss most about being on the other side of 50?
Likes For teejaywhy:
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,372
Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1794 Post(s)
Liked 1,668 Times
in
953 Posts
I miss the huge discount I once applied to a trip to the hospital. I'm more risk averse these days and I tell myself that I don't want to put my wife through that but maybe I don't want to put myself through it.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
#53
High Plains Luddite
My parents.
The spontaneity to just go do stuff, without having to plan and pack and bring sunscreen and think about what the kids (we have two in high school) need also.
Oddly, and this just popped into my mind while writing this, Sears stores. Seems like every time I need something, I think, "well, I'd go to Sears for that, if they were still around..."
The spontaneity to just go do stuff, without having to plan and pack and bring sunscreen and think about what the kids (we have two in high school) need also.
Oddly, and this just popped into my mind while writing this, Sears stores. Seems like every time I need something, I think, "well, I'd go to Sears for that, if they were still around..."
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,442
Bikes: 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3714 Post(s)
Liked 2,681 Times
in
1,634 Posts
Likes For MinnMan:
Likes For Riteway:
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 1,944
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 763 Post(s)
Liked 1,804 Times
in
870 Posts
Anything with mostly plastic parts, a motherboard and digitalized will not last more than a few years without something breaking.
Seems I'm always looking at youtube videos by handyman types repairing newer appliances when my 30 y/o refrigerator in the garage has never had a service or replacement part installed.
#57
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cental Illinois
Posts: 77
Bikes: 1990 Schwinn Curcit is my main bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 35 Times
in
26 Posts
-- 24 hour recovery time.
--Riding with the Saturday morning club rides.
--Smoking the new guy wearing $300 worth of bike clothing.
--Touring with my wife in the boonies
--Our tandem.
--Being the "go to guy" for bike repair.
--Riding in the winter in below freezing days.
--Never worrying about "going down". (Now a broken hip scares me silly!)
--I mess some of my old bike mentors that have passed. (Don E. Harold M. Ernie S, and Scot C. you guys are still with me, when I ride.)
.
--Riding with the Saturday morning club rides.
--Smoking the new guy wearing $300 worth of bike clothing.
--Touring with my wife in the boonies
--Our tandem.
--Being the "go to guy" for bike repair.
--Riding in the winter in below freezing days.
--Never worrying about "going down". (Now a broken hip scares me silly!)
--I mess some of my old bike mentors that have passed. (Don E. Harold M. Ernie S, and Scot C. you guys are still with me, when I ride.)
.
#58
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,094
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1319 Post(s)
Liked 1,152 Times
in
580 Posts
I don't mind the loss of muscle mass. Kind of miss smiles from pretty girls, but that's not a show stopper. I can do without sprinting...when I was 45 , I beat my neighbor's kid in a 40 yard dash.What I really miss is the ability to function on 5 or less hours of sleep. Seems like even 8 isn't enough, if you're exercising everyday.Saturday is sleep recovery day for me now. Before it was family day or shopping day. Now, all I do is sleep or nap.Can't wait to retire! Or not? A lot of my friends and social network are through work.
I am now 81 y/o
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#59
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 5,951
Bikes: Scott Addict R1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2404 Post(s)
Liked 2,409 Times
in
1,220 Posts
Contrast that with the bike industry's planned obsolescence, where they simply stop making replacement parts required to keep your bike functioning.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat
Ride, Rest, Repeat

Likes For terrymorse:
#60
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 4,998
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2013 Post(s)
Liked 4,065 Times
in
2,202 Posts
I miss the group rides where we would smash 60-80 miles at 20+ MPH on Saturday and go out and do it again Sunday. Also miss doing centuries. After a hard 60 by myself these days I am ready to wrap it up. Then there is getting up multiple times a night when i try to rehydrate like crazy after a ride - and more susceptibility to leg cramps.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
#61
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: georgia
Posts: 371
Bikes: Caloi MTB, Raleigh heritage international
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Liked 31 Times
in
20 Posts
Everything. Why lie? My health took a nose dive right around age 50, with chronic pain from injuries after being hit by cars twice in less than 20 years, so it's hard to find anything good about aging.
The only advantage I've found to being older is maybe a little more patience. But that's due more to a lack of energy. I was usually pretty low key and patient before.
The only advantage I've found to being older is maybe a little more patience. But that's due more to a lack of energy. I was usually pretty low key and patient before.
I used to be great physical shape until 50. I went downhill all at once, probably in the span of a month. It was like all those bike wrecks I thought I healed from came back. Two locked up knees and a frozen shoulder

After that I had an operation once a year to fix a joint. Eventually got a store bought knee.
It's like after a few years of inactivity and all the surgery I deconditioned or something. It was a very depressing time.
But I fought my way back!

I retired a few years ago which was an adjustment, mostly just walked the dogs and hiked, which I enjoy. But recently I dusted off the bikes, it will be too hot for the pups, and I'm breaking my butt back in.
Friends and acquaintances have gotten older, a few died. Some have let themselves get into terrible shape, they don't walk at all. I do a lot alone because even though it's not unreasonable, it's too much for my friends and neighbors.
But to answer the question more concisely, I miss my cartilage the most.

#62
The Wheezing Geezer
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Española, NM
Posts: 797
Bikes: 1976 Fredo Speciale, Jamis Citizen 1, Ellis-Briggs FAVORI, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
318 Posts
I miss my youth, strength, and relative health, of course.
But the thing I miss the most is the country that I grew up in.
But the thing I miss the most is the country that I grew up in.
Likes For Fredo76:
#63
Newbie
I don't miss the 40 pounds I've lost since retiring
all that restaurant food, free soda, and donuts while working took its toll
since retiring eating better, biking, hiking, paddling, ... basically seldom sit on my butt (bikes, canoe, kayaks excepted)
all that restaurant food, free soda, and donuts while working took its toll
since retiring eating better, biking, hiking, paddling, ... basically seldom sit on my butt (bikes, canoe, kayaks excepted)
Likes For Zara Sp00k:
#64
Full Member
Thread Starter
Remember that movie with Brad Pitt where he aged in reverse? Can't remember the name.We should be born at age 80 and then after all the stress, tears, hard work, tragedy, lost friends and frustration, proceed towards 70, 60, 50, 40, 30 reclaiming friends and watching our tears retreat back into our eyes, our nightmares turning into glee, and then as a reward, re experience the crazy, carefree, euphoric fearlessness of youth. Of course we also have to do our 20 miles daily on a tricycle, which would take --oops maybe I didn't think this out.
Last edited by AJW2W11E; 04-22-23 at 12:42 AM.
Likes For AJW2W11E:
#65
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,270
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3559 Post(s)
Liked 5,119 Times
in
2,598 Posts
#66
Junior Member
I’m turning 55 this August and the thing I miss most about being younger is the quicker healing process.
In Nov. ‘21, I was hit broadside by a careless driver making a left turn across traffic. I’m lucky to be alive. My injuries were extensive; concussion, broken shoulder, broken ribs, broken ankle and four fractured vertebrae along with extensive bruising down my right leg from butt to calf.
Before the accident I was in probably the best shape of my life; riding daily, running 5Ks and 10Ks occasionally and getting in some regular strength training, too.
But, here it is 19 months later and I’m still recovering. Already being in great shape (and, months of PT) helped a lot get to where I am, but I’m just recently starting to hit average speeds I was able to do before the accident. And, I just completed my first 10K run since the accident; it was harder than I remember!
In Nov. ‘21, I was hit broadside by a careless driver making a left turn across traffic. I’m lucky to be alive. My injuries were extensive; concussion, broken shoulder, broken ribs, broken ankle and four fractured vertebrae along with extensive bruising down my right leg from butt to calf.
Before the accident I was in probably the best shape of my life; riding daily, running 5Ks and 10Ks occasionally and getting in some regular strength training, too.
But, here it is 19 months later and I’m still recovering. Already being in great shape (and, months of PT) helped a lot get to where I am, but I’m just recently starting to hit average speeds I was able to do before the accident. And, I just completed my first 10K run since the accident; it was harder than I remember!
Likes For DirePenguin:
#67
Senior Member
This isn't getting old though. It's I've never been able to do that, bad knees runs in the family. Nor have I ever been able to bend down and touch my toes. I have to bend the knees a bit just to be able to touch my knees. Even in grade school phys ed class when we were instructed to sit and reach to touch our toes, my body wasn't capable of bending at the waist to 90° and the teacher would hurt me as they walked through and pushed on my back, "Bend and touch your toes." Ouch, it's impossible for me to do.
#68
Senior Member
OP mentions not being able to function on 5 hours sleep. I can't sleep any longer than 6 hours. Never could. I wake up and it's impossible to go back to sleep after 6.
I miss being able to stay up later. It's fine during the week, 10:30-11 pm I'm heading to bed and up at 5 to get ready for work. Friday nights however, I use to stay up until 1am so I could wake at 7ish. I'm finding that I can't survive a 24 hour day any more because 18 hours is too long to be awake these days. I need a 22 hour day so after 16 hours when I'm tired and falling asleep, I can do so and get up when I need to 6 hours later. Friday nights now I struggle as I don't want to be waking up at 5 am when I don't have to go to work. But the eyelid muscles don't seem to work very well after about 9 pm any more.
A while back, but I was watching a new show and the scene was in a basement playing cards. Had one of those moments where your head nods momentarily and you jerk yourself back awake. Like seconds later. Then I looked and was confused about the scene and the characters on the show I was watching until I checked. During that second or two of nodding my head and catching myself falling asleep, 6 episodes of the show had lapsed
I miss being able to stay up later. It's fine during the week, 10:30-11 pm I'm heading to bed and up at 5 to get ready for work. Friday nights however, I use to stay up until 1am so I could wake at 7ish. I'm finding that I can't survive a 24 hour day any more because 18 hours is too long to be awake these days. I need a 22 hour day so after 16 hours when I'm tired and falling asleep, I can do so and get up when I need to 6 hours later. Friday nights now I struggle as I don't want to be waking up at 5 am when I don't have to go to work. But the eyelid muscles don't seem to work very well after about 9 pm any more.
A while back, but I was watching a new show and the scene was in a basement playing cards. Had one of those moments where your head nods momentarily and you jerk yourself back awake. Like seconds later. Then I looked and was confused about the scene and the characters on the show I was watching until I checked. During that second or two of nodding my head and catching myself falling asleep, 6 episodes of the show had lapsed

#69
TimeServedPedaller
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Scotland
Posts: 3
Bikes: Diamondback MB, Bianchi via nirone, Viking Fixie, Raleigh Nova, Viscount Aerospace, Dawes Kingpin, Ridgeback Stowaway, Dawes Tandem, Meldon hand-built tourer,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Shorter times and simpler times...
I miss shorter recovery times, as I can easily collapse for a nap after exercise of late.
I miss bike shops with experienced staff able to fix and repair, not pressuring you into replacement !
I also miss club runs and the variety of characters they attracted.
At 59 I still enjoy cycling for its own sake, for freedom / being "awheel" and a son who gets that.
I miss bike shops with experienced staff able to fix and repair, not pressuring you into replacement !
I also miss club runs and the variety of characters they attracted.
At 59 I still enjoy cycling for its own sake, for freedom / being "awheel" and a son who gets that.
Last edited by BlueMeldon82; 07-09-23 at 08:30 AM. Reason: Typo
Likes For BlueMeldon82:
#70
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: West Coast
Posts: 716
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Liked 350 Times
in
236 Posts
I miss shorter recovery times, as I can easily collapse for a nap after exercise of late.
I miss bike shops with experienced staff able to fix and repair, not pressuring you into replacement !
I also miss club runs and the variety of characters they attracted.
At 59 I still enjoy cycling for its own sake, for freedom / being "awheel" and a son who gets that.
I miss bike shops with experienced staff able to fix and repair, not pressuring you into replacement !
I also miss club runs and the variety of characters they attracted.
At 59 I still enjoy cycling for its own sake, for freedom / being "awheel" and a son who gets that.
