Longer ride, nice road, out towards the cascades,
Green River access at local state park. Lots of signs. Several about car parts stripped and break-ins.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1cd436d97.jpeg
Power line and Kangley Quarry - out Ravensdale way.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb3e35b4a.jpeg
When front yards start including backhoes, large dump trucks, double axle trailers, etc. = you may not be in the big city today.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b4ebd43ed.jpeg

Success! Finished the Sacramento Metric Century, 61.7 miles, 6 hours total time. My average moving speed 11 MPH, I had aimed for 13, but Mother Nature wasn't having it! I had thought 10-11MPH for the first 30 miles into the wind, then 15MPH with the wind pushing me back for the second 30 miles. This was before the rain was predicted. Fortunately, it only rained the last 10 miles. This was the first rain of the season, so the roads were pretty sloppy and the wipers on my glasses did not work! So the last 10 miles were pretty slow. (Yeah I know, slow to me, not the folks that were passing me!)
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a67ff61756.jpg

Retired in June
 

Atmangene - Congrats on 65. :bday:.
Extra credit for considering racing at that age. :thumb:
Triple credit if you reconsider. :innocent:, or go the TT route - pack racing can be hazardous with all those ambitious Cat5 new (old?) racers feeling daring. ;)
Roll on with vigor.
and welcome to BF.

Tt ?
 

Thanks for the congrats TT is time trials?

[MENTION=570857]Atmangene[/MENTION] - time trial. Or top tube.

Recently had 3 days around the NE corner of Mt Rainier NP.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...982d7e609.jpeg
Hwy 410 - Sunday morning quiet
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ebcd206bb.jpeg
a climb for a view
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...46a3bb4b7.jpeg
a climb to end each day on a 3 day weekend recently.

While I admire your ambition, you may want to consider watching a few racing videos with crashes involved - and in any type of pack racing, especially among 'newbies', there are bound to be some - and think about how you'll feel with road rash, a broken collarbone, or worse. Don't think entering a race with people near your own age will make any difference. I'll wager that quite a few of them raced a lot when they were younger, and know the dynamics of bike handling in a tight, fast group.
Look for a time trial in your area. Often times a local cycling club will hold them. You may be asked to join the club for insurance reasons before you can participate. Time trials are perhaps the safest way to get your feet wet in racing. Mostly, you'll be racing against the clock and yourself, and unless you lose control of your bike, you'll most likely end up unscathed. Tired, yes, but not bloody.

GREAT advice!

Yes good advice from Bald Paul. Now in my 70s and a lot more safety conscious I have taken to using my annual El Tour de Tucson (100+ mile, 60+mile or 30+ mile races) as year long training motivation. Much safer than the smaller events with 7,500 riders every year and huge support staff and facilities.

Add "-cycle regularly on a non-electric bike"
and
"have sex every day or at least every couple of days"

I qualified for the geezer thread a few months ago.

Not in great shape but not all that bad either -- reasonable weight, and good joints. I have been cycling more or less daily this year, often 10-15 miles at a time, and notice what a big effect it has on how I feel. It's a really great form of aerobic exercise, which is really important to keep up as you push into geezerhood.

No smoking, sure- that's obvious, but... do legs work properly without alcohol?

I turn 68 in 13 days. I retired back in June and bought a cheap mtb to have something to do. It's helped improve my health quite a bit. I've had fun doing upgrades to it. The last one I did is the one I like the best. I don't take it off the road, or the MUP, so I changed out the knobbies for slicks. What a difference! Softer ride and faster too.
I've purchased an '84 Schwinn road bike, and a late '90's Raleigh hybrid, but even after getting them up and running my favorite is still the mtb.

Road bikes are an acquired attraction, although... I'd like to be able to put a larger tire than a 25 on the rear of mine.

Turned 65 last week.I’ve been riding for almost two years now since I retired from a full career in logging in Alaska.Just over 4000 miles pedaled and five bikes acquired so far culminating in this 2019 Domane SL7 that I got used(from Trek Travel)a couple weeks ago. Last bike probably…
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...14de181c3.jpeg

4000 miles in 2 years? And you think that's your last bike? I reckon you'll wear this one out and a few more after that, at least.

I will soon be 70 years old; have always enjoyed riding bicycles, including for commuting. But lately, it seemed like I was the oldest person on bicycle trails (a mix of paved and unsaved gravel). I mostly use road bicycles even on unsaved trails because our county officials maintain them well enough. This thread for 65-85 yrs old riders is encouraging to me and gives me reason to be optimistic! 👍

I don't think the age range for this thread is totally right. At 79, I have a lot less energy than I did at 65 and 70, and recovery from injury, illness, and even vaccinations takes a lot longer now than 10 or even 5 years ago. I don't know if there are enough 75+ BFers around to support a 75-85 thread, but I'm not sure how much I have in common with my 65 year old capabilities.

But your name says you're 57. :D

But then again, mine says I'm 84.......

Except for mild arthritic issues in my hands. my 76 YO body feels about as healthy as it did when I was 65YO and still bike commuting to work. I do ride less miles though after retiring because my riding was never about setting or achieving mileage/performance goals but rather to bike to and from places and destinations at my own pace and enjoy the ride, and that I feel makes me have less in common with the "concerns" and "attitude" of the performance/fitness oriented clique that dominates the posting on the 55+ list.

I am 83 and read every all the post on this thread. My riding is much more limited than when I was 70. I enjoy building a new vintage project. All my rides are short but still fun .
Ed

I average 4470 miles a year (past 11 years), but this year a surgery layoff means I'll be lucky to get 4000 in. Old age catching up!
Every year on my birthday I ride one mile for each year above ground (grim humor!). This year I did 73 miles, and was a half hour faster than last year, so there's hope. 4:01 minutes per mile average this year.
I don't think I'm losing too much fitness, if any. Six weeks ago I spent two weeks bikepacking in England and Wales, riding those darn 15-20% steep hills. I managed way more effort than I though I had in me. Sleeping in a small tent in the rain is getting old though.
https://i.imgur.com/44YKZ5dl.jpg

I just turned sixty-six, but this is me on a Sunday 60-miler to Windham over the summer, when I was a mere sixty-five years of age:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bb7e284a24.jpg
Me, Grubb w/tubulars

I was a road bike flipper for a lot of years and sold over 700 bikes so when I sold my house six years ago It was hard to stop working on projects for my self. I have a old 93 Cannondale that I keep for every time I need some thing to get on and ride not needing any work. I just finished up one of my old 1983 Schwinn Supersports as a everyday rider so I do not see it going to a new home untill I can no longer ride. My current project is one to use up parts from old projects. It is a Paramount PDG that has a crack in top tube. I got tired of the frameset sitting here so I am building it up STI 8 speed. I had ridden it for quite a while with the crack before striping it. Some one in the past over tightened it in a bike stand clamping the top tube and cracking it. When I was 70 I was still riding 6-7 thousand miles a year.
Long answer
Ed

That's cool. I like to do a project every winter, to keep me occupied. My main thing this year is a '59 Claud Butler that I am turning into my first fixed gear. A couple that I found on the street are a '65 Hercules mens 3-speed and a '55 Elswick ladies 3-speed that I want to get back on the road and sell.