What's wrong with riding a bike at 81?
12-29-24 | 06:35 PM
#51
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From: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
When it happened Joe was mocked relentlessly by people on certain news networks and on line.
Seth's joke using the clip was not very funny, all jokes can't be funny. But it was just a dumb joke. It didn't mean anything beyond that. It wasn't an indictment of old guys riding or anything like that.
Seth and Joe Biden were on friendly terms and had spent part of a day together and even went out to get ice cream.
12-29-24 | 06:52 PM
#52
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12-29-24 | 07:18 PM
#53
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Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
I rode an event ~50 gravel miles (1st day) this Summer, found out at the end an 80+ BF'er finished the same route. He's a regular rider. Very cool.
edit: Hope he chimes in. In addition to respecting our elders, it's always good to hear from them.
re-edit: JoeBCyclist clips I saw were years ago and not merely the more recent wobbly fall. Either NBC or CNN did a piece with long range video footage of Joe and his SS entourage - it was a slooow ride, maybe 8-10mph. Cycling politicians were featured. Even the guy (Kerry?) who crashed while cycling in Europe on an official trip. My take-away was that if I had been a politician, I would have kept my hobby under the covers. No respect, ZERO, in America for cyclists. Even Bush builds a private course to keep it out of the public view. Coincidentally, Bill Clinton gave up 'jogging' early in his presidential days. Golfing with carts is IN again. Remember,
, you only have so many heartbeats in life (determined by your genes), ...why waste them on exercise?
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Last edited by Wildwood; 12-29-24 at 08:39 PM.
12-30-24 | 09:55 AM
#55
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there is nothing wrong with riding a bike at 81 mph - provided you understand the risks
12-30-24 | 10:20 AM
#56
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“Life is like a bicycle- to keep your balance- you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
12-30-24 | 10:23 AM
#57
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At a coffee shop stop, met an 82 YO doing a 52 mile ride. He was witty, sharp and in great shape. He informed me he had ridden coast to coast 5 times in his younger years and now has no intention of stopping riding. He attributed his age due to steady riding. Quite a guy and inspiration.
12-30-24 | 01:15 PM
#58
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Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
12-30-24 | 06:03 PM
#60
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Here's a buddy of mine, showing off some of his 2023 Huntsman Games medals. Age group 85-89.
His total take:
His total take:
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12-30-24 | 06:22 PM
#61
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So he gets on a bike once and is now a cyclist? Explain that to me, he rode a bike on a vacation he has made no indications of being interested in cycling beyond that.
I have no issue with people riding a bike in casual clothing but to consider someone who rarely rides and is not interested in cycling, a cyclist is odd. Would you consider someone who played chess once to be a chess player or if someone microwaves a hot pocket a chef, I pressed a key on a piano once am I musician? Most people wouldn't. None of this has ever said you cannot ride a bike but if you just ride once in a blue moon and aren't really interested in it why would you call someone a cyclist if they aren't?
Also you seem to have this thing about CaPiTaLiZaTiOn that makes no sense as you have some terms that I am not subscribing to in your repertoire that you think are so important that you capitalize them when nobody else would.
I have no issue with people riding a bike in casual clothing but to consider someone who rarely rides and is not interested in cycling, a cyclist is odd. Would you consider someone who played chess once to be a chess player or if someone microwaves a hot pocket a chef, I pressed a key on a piano once am I musician? Most people wouldn't. None of this has ever said you cannot ride a bike but if you just ride once in a blue moon and aren't really interested in it why would you call someone a cyclist if they aren't?
Also you seem to have this thing about CaPiTaLiZaTiOn that makes no sense as you have some terms that I am not subscribing to in your repertoire that you think are so important that you capitalize them when nobody else would.
Gordon’s Pond Trail in Cape Henlopen State Park on the way to Rehoboth,
12-30-24 | 08:08 PM
#62
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12-30-24 | 09:01 PM
#63
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I follow several local younger people in my area on Strava. They are all very gun-ho cyclists and most ride gravel or mountain bike. I have been on a couple of Strava challenges with the group, and one was climbing for November (outside only). The weather here sucks in November. But the point of this is that one of the local guys in his 40s has told me a couple of times that I inspire him. He can beat me in every way, but wants to be able to ride the way I do at my age. Since I don’t consider myself anything special, I was very flattered. As for more ways than riding a bike, I would hope, but the peeps are mum at this point.
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01-03-25 | 09:45 AM
#65
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Exactly so, particularly when you consider where and with all he rides. I myself have reduced exposure on my rides and can say I don't miss the traffic, darthing pedestrians looking at there phones, worrying about car doors, etc.
01-03-25 | 12:07 PM
#67
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that’s a typical if not good ride for me 
averaged over 15 on one road ride and I was feeling it … and with climbing … traded pulls with a small group of roadies - even hit 40 on a descent … began to have delusions of grandeur
averaged over 15 on one road ride and I was feeling it … and with climbing … traded pulls with a small group of roadies - even hit 40 on a descent … began to have delusions of grandeur
01-04-25 | 04:58 PM
#68
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Just another way for Hollywood to brainwash the zombies into believing we shouldn't be on the road. Or the sidewalk. Or here. Or there. Sigh.
01-08-25 | 03:57 PM
#69
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I don't think the joke was intended as an insult to old people or cyclists. It's funny to the average person that doesn't ride a bike or know any older people that do because they see cycling as something far more difficult and/or dangerous than it is.
I suspect most/all of you have had the experience of seeing people be shocked when you tell them you rode fifty or a hundred miles, or you rode so many hundreds of miles in a month, etc. One day I came back from a ride to the Pinnacles (~62 miles RT) and my neighbor asked me where I went. When I told him, he laughed and said "seriously, where did you go?" I'm still not sure if he believed me. To the average non-cyclist that is something that is unachievable for most people let alone someone that is 80.
I suspect most/all of you have had the experience of seeing people be shocked when you tell them you rode fifty or a hundred miles, or you rode so many hundreds of miles in a month, etc. One day I came back from a ride to the Pinnacles (~62 miles RT) and my neighbor asked me where I went. When I told him, he laughed and said "seriously, where did you go?" I'm still not sure if he believed me. To the average non-cyclist that is something that is unachievable for most people let alone someone that is 80.
01-09-25 | 08:04 AM
#70
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01-09-25 | 10:30 AM
#71
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Putting it all into perspective, the life expectancy for men in the USA is less than 75 years, and only 6% live past 80. So, the mere fact that you are still alive at 81 is a minor miracle. For myself, being able to ride a bicycle as long as I’m able to draw a breath is an affirmation of life and provides me with unending joy.
01-10-25 | 09:10 AM
#72
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Great thread. Love it. One tiny caveat: I've ridding RAMROD many times, my last one at 74. I'm hoping to be able to ride it once more at 80 or so, but it's a big maybe. In any case, I'm usually at the finish when the last riders come in - I volunteer to help after my ride's done. The oldest rider I've seen finish inside the 15-hour standard time frame was 80 though my sample is quite small and I've seen several riders older than that get sagged off the course. I have heard that an 83 y.o. stoker finished but in more like 20 hours. It's a tough ride on a tandem, done it. The ride is about 154 miles and 9,000' or so. So there are limits for most of us. OTOH, go for it! There's a goal for you It's good to have goals..
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01-10-25 | 01:54 PM
#73
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01-10-25 | 07:52 PM
#74
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I don't plan to quit riding until I can't remember where I parked my bike! I am 81 and my wife is close to 70. My wife and I have completed 23,118 miles of bike touring (total of 2 years) in 11 countries during the last 15 years. Then there are all the fun rides: training, recreation, and errands which come close to another 22,000 miles. Last summer we did a 1,050-mile bike tour in eastern Canada. We were 500 miles short of our goal, but it was not because of our ages. We may go back and complete our ride across Canada by finishing those last 500 miles.
We are in the planning process for a 2-month tour next summer. We are also planning our 12th annual bike tour with our daughters
I know it sounds a lot like bragging (well, maybe it is) , but I want to show what can be done with a little luck, and not talking yourself into "getting old".
We are in the planning process for a 2-month tour next summer. We are also planning our 12th annual bike tour with our daughters
I know it sounds a lot like bragging (well, maybe it is) , but I want to show what can be done with a little luck, and not talking yourself into "getting old".
Last edited by Doug64; 01-10-25 at 10:29 PM.
