I'm new to the 50+ forum, but have been hanging out on the C&V forum for maybe ten years, as all my bikes are of a certain age. I'm 68, retired, ride 4-5 days a week, both for recreation and transportation. When I was still commuting (just now Google wanted to autocorrect "commuting" to "vomiting" - trying to tell me something? ;-)) I arbitrarily decided a "ride" had to be at least ten miles and have stuck with that definition. I'm expecting to hit somewhere close to 5000 miles this year. I've got a half dozen bikes ready to roll, one that just needs tires, and the other frames in various states of partial build.

I'm currently taking Doug Fattic's framebuilding class, so I will soon(-ish) have a new bike, but it will still be steel with a level top tube. I'm slowly graduating to indexed shifting. I have one bike with 7sp SIS (in the form of the rather unusual Regina America '92 group). The new bike will have eight (count 'em!) speeds (mostly DA 7400).

From a ride the other day, early 60s Frejus Tour de France in front of the Uncle Buck house:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e916ccc1b2.jpg

Is anyone who started on this thread when it was first created still alive? I feel like I am watching black and white reruns of the Lawrence Welk show. I am 75 and just put three grand into updating my very expensive racing bike so I can race next year. anyone else still racing?

I note the original poster DNVRFOX has been banned? That's crazy!

I was 67 when this thread started. I never was a bike racer. Went on a few very long bike trips when i was younger. Always have been a bike rider since a kid in the 1940’s.
Eddyr

I am fine watching Lawrence Welk in black and white. I always stay to hear the Champagne Lady sing.

Mike

sorry to get back to you so late, I definitely have enough greats and I gear down. The problem probably was combining long mileage (for me)and some hills on the same ride. Felt better by this past weekend

well I hope he was banned. I thought he passed away

Norma Zimmer?

I played in a rock band during the 1960's and I always wanted to see Buddy Merrill and Neil La Vang play their guitars. They were great.

Ray9, exactly Norma Zimmer. Buddy Merrill tore it up within the constraints of the show, as did Myron Floren and Pete Fountain. Wunnerful.

Mike

You mean, is there anyone still hang'n 'round that was permanently banned by Tom Stormcrow years ago? No, no of course not.

Denver is still around, just a different handle! Nora and he still get in some rides outside of Denver, CO.

Ah, he changed his user name so they banned his old one?
That makes for a much happier ending. ;)

Well, I found out today at my visit to my urologist that I'm going to need surgery (TURP) to fix my urinary retention problems due to a very enlarged prostate. I'm postponing the surgery until the fall so that I can get my summer riding in, since I won't be able to ride for up to a month after surgery. On the positive side, I just built up a new bike.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...884af7a86c.jpg
2020 All City Big Block frameset with Retrogression wheelset

All my saddles have cutouts or are of the split rail variety - hopefully the prostate cancer is gone, but some degrading material will always ride with me.

Apparently, there are less invasive TURP alternatives about which, fortunately... I know little (from what I Google I would go for the alternative) but, a cutout saddle is definitely de rigueur for me.

Interested to see that, "men who drink more than is otherwise good for them have fewer prostate symptoms and better sexual function than teetotalers."

Unfortunately, I'm not a candidate for TURP alternatives such as Urolift. My prostate is too large and I have a median lobe that protrudes into my bladder, acting like a check valve. Basically, I leave about a third of my bladder filled, which can lead to infection. Anyway, I'm just going to have to bite the bullet, and get it done. At least it's not cancer.

Perhaps I should have drunk more alcohol? To avoid a large prostate AND its' cancer?
That's not what the docs told me all along. Moderation or less.
Shucks.

Never trust the Docs and their data. They both age poorly. In most cases.

Hopefully, moderation till now means going forward, at this age... no longer need to give a s***

... and add... don't smoke modern day weed like some may have 50 years ago and many of the younger folk probably do now cuz... it's >3X times stronger.

So funny.

First time I smoked modern day weed, after a twenty year hiatus, I ended up hiding under the covers in my bed, absolutely sure I had broken my mind forever.
I haven't smoked any since.

Still bicycling at 83 and 85
 

Well here I am at 83 with my wife 85 and we're still bicycling together. This is the highline canal in Denver Colorado. I also run a very successful Facebook forum for older riders. You may be interested that it was I and Joe, the original owner of the entire forum, who started the 50 plus forum. The language of the 50 plus forum on the index page are words that I wrote. Joe eventually sold the forum at a nice profit.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6388f018d2.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f52d75233.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db5323a0ae.jpg

Hey, I heard about this new thing on social media…
 

…it was trending last decade, maybe before….


called MAMILs
Middle Age Men In Lycra

i mostly wear wool - when possible -

Do you think I can join the club?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...60ec06752.jpeg
Enjoying the dry cooler Fall weather. May hold for a streak.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6d454da50.jpeg

Here's Roger, my good friend and cycling mentor, dialing in his Pinarello setup for a time trial at the upcomimg Huntsman World Senior Games.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3104da2b57.jpg

He's 84. Even though he's at the bottom end of the 80-84 age group category, I suspect he has a decent chance of making it onto the podium.

He's signed up for all four cycling events: hill climb, time trial, road race, criterium. Of course he has.

terrymorse - any pics of bike(s) for other events?

I am not competitive in the Washington State Senior Games (70+), nor was I in Califorrnia (50+).

Life dreams are good, living them is better.
is that self-actualization?

No other pics, sorry. That's the only photo Roger posted.

I'll be using my every day ride for the hill climb:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be47e344b.jpeg
Terry's Scott Addict, at Lick Observatory

I won't be competitive in the 60-64 category, either. Not posting the slowest time is my goal. This is my "practice" year.

Notising arthritis creeping into by back had me recall this post that I meant to reply to and forgot. I hope you have found that this is unlikely arthritis. My and my extended family's experience is that the discomfort is all joint related so achy thighs would not be and as for the hips it is unlikely as we would not call the pain dull it is more sharp even if a low level. Even if it is arthritis, 1 in 4 US adults will get it, it can be mild. I have osteoarthritis and on bad days I ride a recumbent trike which I very much enjoy.