n/a

Interesting post. The important thing is to keep pedaling--and smiling!

BRIAN-middle age is anyone 10 years older than you are. This holds true until there is no one left who is 10 years older than you at which point you become middle age. I haven't figured old out yet.

If the average male lifespan is 75 years or there abouts and assuming one isn't a full adult until 21, then wouldn't young be 21-39, middle age 39-57, and old anything over 57? Boy, I'm glad I'm only 54-10/12!!! :D

(as I leave the forum ducking and running)

I've always held that anyone 15 years older than me was old. When I was 15, 30 was old. When I was 40, 55 was old. Now that I'm 55, 70 looks old. Whatever!

Old is 20 years older than whatever I am.

"Old" is not important, as long as it is not accompanied by "and decrepid".
Middle age is definately a state of mind or an excuse to the wife to go buy some expensive, crisis toys.

I think I turned the corner to "old" this year, but I'm hoping its temporary.
I'm 61, and I've never felt old until this spring. A combination of work, minor family emergencies and increasing laziness resulted in me getting almost no exercise from about Thanksgiving until a couple of weeks ago. I'm usually pretty active and at least lift and hit the gym a few times a week in winter if I don't ride, but this year I did squat for three months. I've gained 20 pounds, which I can take off, but I'm stiff, inflexible, my joints hurt and I find myself thinking things like, "I don't really want to watch a 'Friends' rerun, but the remote's way at the other end of the couch . . . ."
I'll get it back--I've already started working on it. But it's a lesson for all of us: Once you reach a certain age, apparently 60 for me, you can't take it for granted anymore. I have a LOT of work to do to get back where I was. It's a lot easier to STAY there than to GET there.

Ding! Ding! Ding! I nominate this for Quote of the Day -- maybe even the month. It's a completely true and an amazing insight.

I remember someone pointing out to me when I first started recycling (that is, cycling once again), that I was not "becoming" a cyclist, I had become one the instant I started pedalling.

I became a non-smoker a little over two years ago the same way -- instantly -- the moment I put out my last cigarette. (Sure, a few weeks of angst, but I was already a non-smoker. When I got THAT through my thick skull, the quitting was actually a breeze.)

Old- some of the oldest folks I know are in their late 30's.

Have 3 brothers - all born after me, but all older.
Big brother doing a tri this year? Whats up with that?
Closest brother retired at 52, auto industry, 'leveled' - now wondering how he's going to make it when he turns 62 in 5 years. Smokes 2+ pak's/day, 2 cases beer+/week, I figure he purposely doesn't plan to be there. Sad.

Since I started cycling, I'm not as old as I used to be!

Back when I was in my 30s, I was commuting to work and my secretary who was 2 weeks younger than me made the comment that she put her bicycle away when she was 15 and hadn't ridden it since. I told her I hope I never get as old as she is.

I consider this to be a form of slow suicide. Some things I just don't understand.

Old is dead.