Just IMO but, 'spinning' with reference to riding outdoors is ~85+ RPMs as opposed to 'pushing' in the '60s that puts a bit of a strain on the knees (e.g., chondromalacia patellae), and in the '70s as probably engaged in most by casual biking enthusiasts with gear selection and to a lesser extent, experimenting with crank length. Physically, spinning shifts relative pedaling effort from your leg muscles to putting more emphasis on your cardiovascular system.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, it's a weather thing. Would I rather ride in 45° rain or indoors? Yeah, indoors. I've been riding my set of resistance rollers indoors for 30 years now. I can't say I like them, but they're a better workout than outdoors at the same HR, so I use them a lot. They're sorta like always climbing a steep grade in a low gear, if that makes any sense. There's always pedal pressure, 360°. They're great for balance and super good for paying attention 100% of the time. I can't say I love them, but they've made me a better cyclist. That said, back when I was a kid in my 60s, I used to ride in the rain down into the 30s all the time. I just don't have the drive to do that anymore.

E-bikes are brilliant. But I only know the European type, which is pedelec only and no assist after 25km/h (about 15mph).

I ride both types, and I get no less of a workout on the e-bike (a R&M Multicharger) than one of the normal ones. That's because the amount of effort is in your control. Effort can't be eliminated below a certain level.

The big advantage of an e-bike is the ability to carry heavy loads, including up hills, which means you don't need a car. Total car replacement with an e-bike will CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

Not just carrying heavy loads, but riding much longer distances, which means you use the bike for trips you used to consider other forms of transport to be required for.

Lastly, you can ride an e-bike in business clothing and ride in a way which prevents sweating (in reasonably cool weather). That is yet another expanded use case where you can be using the bike where previously you would drive a car.

I get much more exercise now, after acquiring an e-bike, than I did before -- because I was able to eliminate any car usage and almost all car-sharing and taxis, and use the bike far more than was reasonable to use a regular bike. My mileage has increased probably 5x.

True, cycling has changed, especially since ~2019 and for many, offer advantages that outweigh nostalgic recollections, e.g., this googled this from a blogger on a bike tour in '22–

"The terrain is pretty hilly as soon as you get away from the waterfront. So everyone seems to have given up on pedaling around under their own power. Easily 90% of the cyclists we have seen here are on e-bikes, especially the kids. Everyone in the 10-18 age range was on an e-bike. It struck us as a bit sad, because e-bikes actually seem to be replacing regular bikes, not cars - hardly a climate-friendly development. It’s also not the best for kids, who generally need more exercise rather than less."

Lightweight skinny tire race bikes with arse-killing English leather saddles are definitely becoming way passé....

In my world, e-bikes replaced cars, not push bikes, and exercise achieved on bikes increased dramatically. I use car-sharing when really only a car will do, but that occurs not more than once a month.

Maybe you're riding somewhere where throttle e-bikes (which are not really bikes, but electric mopeds) are allowed. Those are not allowed in Europe. On a pedelec hills are still hills.

Back in the day, I loved my Brooks leather saddle. Not "arse-killing" at all; you had to break it in properly. They were extremely comfortable provided you wore the wool cycling shorts with the chamois insert in the seat. I used to do 100 miles three time a week in season like that. The only thing I DON'T miss were the glue-on tires, or sew-ups or whatever we called them -- ick.

In my experience anything with two wheels, motorcycle, e-cycle, bicycle driven on a roadway is very dangerous. Especially if you put a teenager on one. Basically, two wheel converyances were known to me and my co-workers as " Donor Cycles" for obvious reasons. I now live in a "not traffic busy" area and was in a parking lot just yesterday when three kids, maybe 13-15, came riding by on e-cycles. I would estimate their speed at 20-25 mph, maybe a bit faster if capable. All I could think was "I hope one does not wind up on a slab."
If you ask me, same rules that apply to motorcycles should apply to anything with 2 wheels which is propelled by an engine or motor.

Been cycling public roads (mostly) for 40 years. Primarily solo and in groups periodically. No daytime lights. Never had contact with a car/truck/motorcycle. Also, never had a head-on crash with anything. Rim brakes work, are lighter and easier to service.

I'm passe, now I'm niche. Still pleased to be a cyclist riding 'death machines'.

Who still listens to the radio (regularly) as a music source, at home & during the day? I try to stay too busy to sit and listen to music, but when the radio plays a favorite song it can serve as a ~3-5 min break. No Internet needed, no streaming required, no cookies on the broadcast. Brief current news update at the top-o-th-hour. Old tech survives.

Passe & niche = & .

For as long as there's a Tour de France, us old fogies can still consider ourselves "micro-niche" or "hyper-niche" as opposed to hidebound dinosaurs!

Realized that at 76 I am now closer to the 85 part of this thread than the 65, lol. My riding has changed from 2 wheelers to a recumbent trike, but I still only use e-assist to offset the trike weight (+1 for programmable software) and I'm continuing to be car free. Moved my burley travoy to the trike so Costco runs can still happen. 18-20 miles a day unless it is pouring (rare, in Ca.). thinking it would be cool to find a coffin that can go around my HPV trike so i can be buried "while riding', lol. Roll on up to whatever I see at the end....

Never. The music I've collected over the years (and am still adding to) is too good. When feeling adventurous, I'll find something new on the Internet Archive from this amaaazing contributor, Radio Free Crockett:

RFC on the IA

And it's ad free!

I opted for a walk in a state park today, a windy, chilly day that started with a layer of ice covering most surfaces. I had 88 bike miles Monday thru Wednesday, my old legs off yesterday. This morning, three mile walk on a path through woods, 51 minutes. My old legs were feeling that. A lot ot of dodging forest debris that came down during Hernando, but the main outer loop.has been cleared.

I listen to Sports Radio almost every day. Not very long, maybe 30-60 minutes. I also will listen to the radio when in the car.

Same-same. I listen to NPR news and music every morning. My favorite DJ is a guy with "10,000 good songs." He has 'em.

Who still listens to the radio (regularly) as a music source, at home & during the day? I try to stay too busy to sit and listen to music, but when the radio plays a favorite song it can serve as a ~3-5 min break. No Internet needed, no streaming required, no cookies on the broadcast. Brief current news update at the top-o-th-hour. Old tech survives.

I worked in radio all my adult life beginning in college (was I really an “adult” then?). Top 40, free-form, album radio and finally public radio. Top 40 in the 60s was an interesting mashup of styles, from James Brown to Tammy Wynette. If it was a hit we played it. Free-form, radio in its brief heyday (I worked at KDKB in Phoenix) was a glorious, self indulgent joyride. Loved it. Once in a while when I’m traveling, I come across a really great community supported station, but we don’t have anything like that here, so I just play whatI want to hear via an iTunes subscription.

Breweries I visit after a ride oftentimes play '60s and '70s music... "Yacht Rock" is one of many Music Channel offerings that plays all the milder stuff when we were growing up (gets into the '80s tho)... like it when a song comes up and hadn't heard it in a loooong time so drop everything to check out the artist and release date... e.g., currently: Dr. Hook, Sharing the Night together, '78 and now... Christopher Cross, Ride Like The Wind, '79. Don't have a turntable, receiver and speakers anymore so never play the albums I bought back then...

Just started listening to Amazon Music and they do offer some good choices imo. I like the '60's and '70's soft rock playlists though often prefer rock and use my smart phones playlists I created years ago...my playlists are better imo lol.

At 71 I'm still riding solo, group rides and racing...in the real world and also on Zwift. I'm currently trying out TrainerRoad as my cycling coach and it isn't too bad. TR offers so many 'workouts'.
I currently race, on Zwift, once per week and generally do well. Recently won the Saturday INOX masters trilogy in the 70+ cat, and there were three of us woohoo, I also placed third in the 60+ and fourth in the 50+ when comparing finish times.

There are still quite a few of us still racing and at a competitive level even in our 70's so huzzah to us for staring the 'grim reaper' in the face and telling him 'not today' and 'try to keep up'...

Doc says gotta keep moving.......if you don't the Grim Reaper can catch up........."explative" him!!

I used to listen to music while riding to my own downloaded, copied and ripped favorite music on Walkman tape player, and later on Discman, then after about 2007 on an mp3 player. For about the last 15 years or so while riding I listen mostly with old fashioned wired earplugs to downloaded Audiobooks on an mp3 player worn on a neckstrap. Mp3 player works fine even though it has been almost used daily and is over 14 years old.



At home if I want to listen to music I sometimes use a smartphone, tablet or a newer mp3 player to bluetooth a good internet source to my audio system receiver. My favorite current source for background music has been a French streaming service (free) that has a great playlist (i.e. it plays mostly 60's and 70's R&B) with no ads or DJ gibberish Jazz Radio - Black Music

I don't vouch for the validity of this article but interesting bit.
Healthspan = new term to me - "Living in good health and free of disease",
Does that include survivors of multiple cancers?
Originally on www.today.com

Longevity Expert Swears by This 1 Free, Simple Activity Every Day to Live Longer

Longevity Expert Swears by This 1 Free, Simple Activity Every Day to Live Longer

We all know spending time outdoors in nature is beneficial for our wellbeing. However, it's also crucial for healthy aging.

So if you’re looking to reduce the risk of age-related disease, try to spend some time outside every day. Just 15 or 20 minutes a day in nature has benefits.


edit: the article also extoled all the virtues of healthy lifestyle, exercise and diet.

Got some interesting feedback from AI- what would be the better activity looking to reduce the risk of age-related disease, spending time outside every day for 15 or 20 minutes a day or a 12 to 13 mile bike ride every 3 days?

While both activities offer meaningful health advantages, a 12 to 13-mile bike ride every 3 days is generally more effective for reducing the risk of age-related diseases. This level of activity provides significant cardiovascular and metabolic challenges that 15–20 minutes of daily outdoor time alone may not match. (credited to the American medical association)


Comparison of Activities

• 12-13 Mile Bike Ride (Every 3 Days):
  • Intensity & Longevity: This amount of cycling (roughly 60–90 minutes per session) falls into the "vigorous" or "moderate-intensity" categories. Studies show that meeting weekly targets of 150–300 minutes of such exercise can lower all-cause mortality risk by 30–33%.
  • Disease Prevention: Regular cycling is specifically linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It also significantly protects against dementia and Alzheimer’s by increasing blood flow to the brain.
  • Immune Health: Remarkable research indicates that regular long-distance cyclists maintain the immune profiles of people in their 20s, even into their 80s.
• 15-20 Minutes Outside (Daily):
  • Vitamin D & Mental Health: Daily outdoor time is excellent for mood regulation, better sleep, and maintaining Vitamin D levels, which are crucial for bone health and preventing osteoporosis.
  • Lower Impact: While "forest bathing" and short nature walks reduce stress and inflammation, they typically offer lower cardiovascular protection than sustained cycling. However, even 15 minutes of exercise a day can reduce premature death risk by 22% in older adults.

That Immune Health bit (above) is something I'd never heard of. Sounds too good to be true- so, queried AI on that and got as follows:

That is a fascinating finding from a study by King's College London and the University of Birmingham.
Researchers found that these older cyclists didn't just have better cardio; their thymus—the organ that produces T-cells for the immune system—wasn't shrinking as it normally does with age. Instead of producing fewer T-cells (which typically happens starting in your 20s), their bodies were churning them out at the same rate as young adults.

That Immune Health bit (above) is something I'd never heard of. Sounds too good to be true- so, queried AI on that and got as follows:

That is a fascinating finding from a study by King's College London and the University of Birmingham.
Researchers found that these older cyclists didn't just have better cardio; their thymus—the organ that produces T-cells for the immune system—wasn't shrinking as it normally does with age. Instead of producing fewer T-cells (which typically happens starting in your 20s), their bodies were churning them out at the same rate as young adults.

I'd sure like to believe that- never heard of such a thing and looked into it a little further as to whether the 60 - 90 minutes three times a week would qualify and was heartened to learn as follows:

performance.

• Frequency and Volume: Riding every three days equates to roughly 2.3 sessions per week. This falls just slightly below the "three times a week" often cited for optimal metabolic shifts, but the 60–90 minute duration per session ensures you are meeting or exceeding the 150 minutes of weekly activity recommended by the CDC and NHS for older adults.
• Intensity Over Distance: The lead researchers, Professor Janet Lord and Professor Steve Harridge, noted that even "modest activity" that makes you "a little out of puff" is what preserves the thymus gland's ability to produce new T cells.
• Thymus Preservation: Your proposed routine is sufficient to maintain the thymic output (new T cell production) that typical sedentary aging normally depletes.

👍. Especially if one has to go outside to search and find.
And do the other obvious stuff we all know just makes sense.

Don't they? In Europe, you can use bike lanes and ride without a license only if: 1. electric assist cuts off at 25khp (15mph); and 2. there's no throttle -- i.e., you only get assist if you're pedaling yourself.

You can buy faster e-bikes -- called "Speed Pedalecs" -- but these are illegal on bike lanes, and you need registration and license like a motorcycle.

You can buy chips to raise the top speed, and being the old hooligan I am, I thought about doing that before I bought my first one. But then after a few weeks of experience I realized -- nope, that's not good, the flow of traffic is 25kph, which is fast enough, and any faster would be dangerous for pedestrians.

I don't know the rules and laws in Europe and I'm not certain about the US. I've been out of that type business for several years now and not kept up with the E-bike regulations. I do know, from past experience, that cycles of any type are dangerous when on a roadway.