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70 and ride this

Wow! nice work! Maybe "up the road" I will have an interest in building a bike (I am an engineer (still)). But for now, I may go easy.....( I did ride the kid's new bike today and it was nice).

I see you guys like classics and rods. Well, my old Vette (65 Stingray) is no longer with me (a distant memory). I am restoring and driving this old Jetta TDI diesel with 200K on it:

Not much to do there. Get out and ride while you wait for it to fall apart.

Not fully in use yet as lots of work to do on it. Have a bike carrier rack that will fit on the back but a Neighbour is already setting his holiday up for next year for when the TDF passes to the North of France. There is a bit of Rust to get rid off on the bodywork but no rot on the chassis. Interior was dated so a new Rock n Roll bed fitted that converts to a large two seater. Kitchen units stripped out to be rebuilt so that both side doors can be used-(Rare model with doors on both sides) and a Utility battery to be fitted so it can be used at night without draining the main battery. Lots to do on it but it will be ready for next year.

And Gardening- I have just under 1/4 of an acre and want more. Garden keeps getting smaller with the wife's Pool- the Chickens- the increasing Flower beds and the grandchildren. Gardening I love but a Fence is currently being replaced and the bottom hedge needs Cutting down a bit----By about 3ft. Currently 4 major jobs in hand with Cycling getting done inbetween and the campavan being last on the list. Now if I could get someone to decorate the house and Paint the bike shed- I might get more riding in.

Yea, all interior stuff left and a new heater core (have to pull the dash out - fun).

Several years ago my neighbor and I decided to take up biking. Went to Wal Mart and bought one size fits all Schwinn Trail bikes. It was uncomfortable to me. Went to a bike shop to see if an extension could be added to raise the handlebars. Bike shop guy said bike doesn't fit you and raising handlebars wont really fix it. I asked which bike? He asked about my riding habits and recommended a Trek 7000 which was a low end bike price wise. I asked about some of the higher priced ones and he said the 7000 is all you need. I bought it and have been very pleased and have put several thousand miles on it. I did add a Brooks saddle and a few other goodies--Nightrider lights for one.

My wife and I went bike shopping over the past two days for a bike for her. She's short, only 5 ft 1 inch, and hasn't ridden for over 45 years. She wants something comfortable and easy to ride. First we went to a dealer that carries Giant bikes. We were both particularly pleased with the Giant Sedona W, as it looks very comfortable. However she didn't get a chance to ride it. The next day we went to a different dealer and looked at the Schwinn Voyageur 21 W - we both hated it. Very ungainly and an uncomfortable riding position. They had an inexpensive Diamondback that looked pretty nice - kind of like the Giant Sedona but half the price. However the angle of the seat was tilted up - not comfortable at all for her. We went to a third dealer and this time looked at the Trek 7100 W. Since I have the men's version of the 7100 I know it's a quality product. My wife did like this one, especially its upright position and beautiful light blue color, but we didn't get a chance to ride it. One downside is the price - almost $500. We'll probably go back to the first dealer to check out the Giant Sedona again and compare it with the Trek.

One thing came clear to me over the past two days - my wife is very nervous about riding again. I hope she decides to take the chance and start riding because I find it so rewarding and I think it would be great for us to ride together. But I know it has to be her decision.

Now my wife is thinking she needs riding lessons because she's so concerned about losing her balance. She's 66 and hasn't ridden since she was 16. I told her I thought the best thing to do is to just buy a bike and for the two of us to go to a nearby field where she could practice riding until she felt comfortable. I'm looking at the Giant Sedona W as a bike that would ease her back into riding. She's not crazy about its looks (she prefers the Trek 7100 WSD) but I think the Trek would be too much bike for her at this time.

There is never "Too Much Bike" but there are bikes that are not ridden because the Rider doesn't like them. Whether it be looks- colour or style.

Tell her my wife (now 74>75) started riding when she was about 65. She still does fine on her Trek hybrid.

stapfam has already given the best input, but I'm curious why you think the the Trek would be too much bike for her? They are both suspension fork, 21 speed twist shift with the same gear range. The Sedona is 26" and the Trek is 700C but you already have a 7100 so you know it's fine for the type of riding you do so I don't see what would be too much for her. It's going to be her bike, she needs to like it.

Jim

The Sedona has fatter tires and smaller wheels. I think she'd find it easier to learn on than the Trek.

You consider that old?

This is what old looks like! My dad's '65 Ford F100.

I have the Trek 7000. The 7100 you gain front suspension--really does a 66 year old woman need that? You also go from 21 speed to 24 speed. Again is that needed? I don't see the need for a higher high nor a lower low--everything needed is covered with the 21 speeds (and more--she want use all 21 speeds). Save a couple hundred and get the 7000. I put a Brooks saddle on mine and Niterider lights.

Suspension is not needed, particularly at this price break - the suspension will not be very good.

21 gears will get you where you want to go with no problems.

Just as an interesting comment on being 65, I recently took a 6-day, 300-mile "catered" tour on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath from near Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. This was a fairly tough route, being all on trails and with the C&O in particular not being particularly smooth (we actually had one day of a mudfest due to overnight rain). I expected most people to be 50+ with myself near the top of the age spread, so was surprised that I was only the 6th-oldest of 12 and there were only 4 people younger than 60!

It does me good to be around so many others in my age bracket who are in such good health and condition to tackle something like this, and everyone went through with flying colors. And I still remember once when we rode up some really steep roads to make a side-trip to Antietam; I thought I was leading the way to the top when the 75-year-old of the group just blew me away! He must have just been on a faster bike...

I was on an ACA Cycle Utah 6 day sagged tour earlier this month with about 75 others and was sort of disappointed that I was the oldest at 74. But earlier in April I toured fully loaded with a 70 and 76 year old in Big Bend. They were on bents though which saved me from being dropped on the hills.

I finally picked up a bike after several failed attempts on CL (sold before I arrived). It's a used Giant Escape 2, which is a low end bike, but good enough to get started on again. It has a few scrapes and scratches, but appears to have few miles on it. I tuned it and it's straight and true. So now the riding begins in 100+ heat.

Over the years I had bought my wife 3 different bikes. I doubt she rode each of them a total of 15 miles before hanging them up in the garage. They were all sold on a garage sale. I ride a Rans bent, and wanted a trike, mainly for my old age (im only 74). I bought it hoping in the meantime my wife might ride it. I was right, she really likes the trike and has ridden it far more than the regular DF bikes. And she continues to ride it. A trike may be the answer, as it gets rid of the fear of falling over. And they are really fun to ride.

On the riding- since I retired I have got into a Cost and fitness regime. If I can fit it in a Knapsack or in my pockets- I will do my "Local" shopping by bike. Will have to get the Beater bike set up with a rack so I can carry more.

No actual rides this week but so far I have done 80 miles on "Shopping" trips. Need screws so down to the hardware shop- needed some hasps and clamps so up to a Farmers- Sundry store to buy them- and many small trips into town for small shops. Only problem is carrying the lock and that is why I say Knapsack. Have a Krooklock and they are bulky but secure.

And this week--Finished the new run and coop for the "New" chickens- Scrubbed the decking round the pool and proofed it- Put the finishing touches to the fence I put up a couple of weeks ago and rehung the gate- And looked at the bike shed to strip it out in preparation for new shelving.

How did I find time for work before I retired?

Hey, 10Wheels, don't despair. I'm 70, up in Austin, and have run the Austin Marathon (as well as a lot of lesser races) for the last seven years. The last two years I didn't finish (got taken to hospital from the 19 mile mark in 2011, learned from that experience to do the sensible thing and convert from Full to Half (which I finished) in 2012. In both cases it was because I went into A.Fib.: I've had that fixed and am training for the marathon again - just today was thinking of entering the Sugarland in November. I shall die miserable if I don't finish a Marathon over 70! In the meantime, I've booked a ticket to Spain in three weeks and will ride Salamanca-Oporto-Santiago-Cap Finisterre-Bilbao-France. I've got 35 days and expect to do at least 1000 miles. A cousin now lives in the south of France, so I can afford to take my own bike (Bianchi Volpe) instead of renting one, as he will keep it for the winter.

A buddy the same age as me is organizing a group to ride the TransAm from Oregon to Virginia next summer - bring 'er on, boys!

Stapfam will appreciate this one. A couple of years ago I rode the Dutch and North German coasts from Amsterdam to Poland on a cheap folder. Flew to Gatwick with it, and decided to ride to London, but didn't have a map. So headed down the main road (A23?), mostly riding on the very poorly-maintained pavement (that's sidewalk to Americans), with no real trouble until I got to Sutton, where a policewoman told me it was illegal and to ride on the road. Fortunately, by that time I was really in London, so the drivers were relatively civilized. The next year (2010) I rented a Brompton in Edinburgh and rode the islands from Arran and Mull through Barra to Lewis, then up through Durness and J.o'G's to Orknew and Shetland. Terrific fun, rain wind and all!

Card me if you wish, I'm 66.
How do I spark interest at the Council on Aging hall. I joined the monthly meetings for men last week. It's going to be a hard sell, I need help.
I can tout the health bennies etc, the spike in positive attitude and the drop in blood pressure. What else?

I would suggest leading a VERY easy ride - 5 miles or less, where you, as leader, stop frequently to let everyone catch up, appreciate the beauty of nature, etc. Start with whomever will join you - 2 to 3 folks, if that is all you can get.

Beyond that

"You can lead a horse . . . . "

End at some social place where you enjoy an ice cream cone or coffee or something similar.

Thanks. I casually mentioned cycling as they stared at my tan. None have been on a bike in 50 years. They just sit around & chat like old men. It was raining that day or I would have ridden the bike there, maybe next time. I'll ride there today to see about bring it in to stir interest.
I inherited this bike from my older sister & become addicted again after 30 years.