DougG

Not to belabor this subject too much, but this is one reason why I no longer enjoy going on those big week-long bike tours where you camp out as a group every night. I really hate having to get semi-dressed to crawl out of a tent at 3AM with a flashlight and stumble (literally) through the tent city to get to the nearest porta-john, not to mention if it's raining. I did my first small-group "catered" tour last June where we stayed in hotels and B&Bs along the route; it was like heaven to know there was a soft bed and a private bathroom with a hot shower waiting at the end of every long day!

rydabent

Doug

See going first class has its rewards. It only hurts your wallet.

bwrench

Last Wednesday I turned 65. Two days before that I did a 300K ride. That is 188 miles of riding. I had a ball and am looking forward to many more miles on the bike!!

Artmo 

You and I are of the same opinion. I can't think of anything worse than a)camping and b) camping in a crowded field, and all that you describe, after a long bike ride c) repeating b).

RonH

Awesome!!!

DougG

Spring finally arrived here this weekend, with a glorious day yesterday (Saturday). My wife and I went for a long ride on our favorite rail-trail and had never seen it so busy with cyclists, especially out in the more rural section of the trail. Riders of all sorts, from the most casual to the tri-athletes and paceliners.

My wife also commented on how many younger riders there were, by which she meant people in their 30s and 40s. Then I reminded her that we usually prefer riding that route on weekdays and that's why we're used to seeing mostly "older" riders all the time!

Gotta get those kids back to work to pay my Social Security and Medicare!

DougG

I'm whipped, but I do this every year: when the warm weather (finally) hits, I feel like I have to be outside doing something any time the sun is shining, and it's wearing me out! I'll run in the early morning, do some yardwork in the late morning, then go for a bike ride in the afternoon. In the evenings, assuming we didn't ride together in the afternoon, my wife wants me to join her for a casual ride or brisk walk.

It's almost a relief when June gets here and it's too hot to do so much. Anyone else prone to this behavior? (Those of you living in areas with year-round mild weather need not reply!)

eghaley

DougG:
I completely understand your reluctance to get up in the middle of the night to visit one of the outhouses on those week-long bike tours. The urge seems to come more often as we get older and that doesn't help when you're trying to restore your body after pounding the pedals for 80 miles or so the day before.

I live for those weeks of biking across states. I try to do 3 or 4 every year. Usually 2 or 3 new states and 1 or 2 revisits to states that I liked. Camping is my preference way above all others as I have enjoyed meeting new friends and shooting the breeze at the campsite until we hit the sack early. I'm 70 and need to hit the hay around sunset.

To solve the problem of getting up in the middle of the night to walk to the outhouse, I bring along a collapsible 1 liter soda bottle (wide-mouthed ;o)) and pee in the bottle. At least 2 or 3 times a night this works for me and I haven't come near to filling the container yet. Of course, extra care is followed to prevent overflow or spilling. In the morning when I begin striking my tent, I carry the bottle to the outhouse (usually before daylight) and empty it. It's not a perfect way to solve the problem, but it works for me.

Next month, I ride BAK, Bike Across Kansas. In July, RAGBRAI and in the fall, CNC, Cycle North Carolina. I've already done the Orange Blossom Express (Biking in Florida around the Tampa - Orlando area. In between, I have fantastic biking area in upstate New York. As I sit and write this, it is warmer in Rome, NY than it is in Dallas Texas. Go figure!

Anyway, enjoy you're Golden Years and keep biking. It keeps arthritis away! LOL

Ed

DougG

If you haven't done it already, I'd highly recommend Michigan's Shoreline West tour as one that meets your requirements (see lmb.org for details). It doesn't go across the state, but instead follows the Lake Michigan shoreline from Muskegon to the Straits of Mackinac, visiting many scenic towns and roads along the way. And don't be fooled by it being on the "shoreline": it's surprisingly hilly in many places as the road goes over dunes and glacially-carved terrain along the way.

Next week I'm going on a small group tour from the Road Scholar catalog (formerly Elder Hostel), riding most of the way across Missouri on the KATY Trail. I'll post a trip report when I get back (and I hope the weather improves for it).

eghaley

Thanks for the heads up on the Michigan Shoreline West. I did some biking along the Lake Huron shore in Michigan while sailing up the coast - sort of used the bike for some exercise and getting supplies. Enough to show me the beauty of Michigan. I'll have to add Michigan to my bucket list.

Over the years I've had to modify my quest for 'cross state rides and also include rides with at least a weeks cycling, such as Bike Florida, that don't necessarily travel across the state horizontally or vertically. I may have to ride across these state using my Bob trailer if there is no organized tour. That's the next step, no pun intended, of 'cross state travels.

The only negative I have found in riding different tours, if one can actually say a negative exists, is not being able to ride again with the great friends I meet on every ride. And I mean some truly great people as well. If I dwell on the great people I haven't met yet on future rides, I look forward to new tours.

tcdwrench

I think I'm in too. 70 this year. But I'll leave if all we talk about is our infirmities. I belonged to an RV club in a retirement area & all they talked about was their operations. It was like they were just waiting in line for a dirt suit! More to life than that! Ride long, ride often and ride hard. If you can't do that, then work on your ride(s). If you don't, it will be tooooo late.

Photom8kr

Looking for opinions. 68yrs young M, getting in better shape. My problem is i have short legs compared to my torso. I've cheaped out buying mountain bikes off the rack because they give me standover height. But, they've never really fit me right and I probably could have bought a couple of custom frames for what I've spent over the years. I've decided to bite the bullet and have a custom frame built. I'm considering a road bike but I've never ridden in the aero position and am concerned about the effect on my back. Should I be? I've had back problems off and on and I've been told "you'll kill your back" and "it will help your back" Confused

lenA

At 67, I'll be riding my first cross state, (RAGBRAI) this July. I'll be on a LHT, self contained, which should allow for more options, less confusion and waiting on lines. Hopefully I can make arrangements with locals on the fly so I can set up camp part of the time away from the hooting, farting and moaning....at least part of the time. As for peeing, call me crude, but on tour, I just open the tent flap and whiz out the door... with some discretion of course.

RAGBRAI is on the B' List...and it need checking off. :-)

DnvrFox

H1 Phtom8k

Some thoughts:

1. I have VERY short legs - a 6 foot body (well, it used to be) and I wear a 29inch inseam on my pants. 73.5 years old here.

2. Standover height is HIGHLY overrated. Of all the bike fit dimensions, it is the very least important. I ride two road bikes with very little SOH, and all my parts are still with me.

3. You might consider a compact frame with a sloping top tube.

4. As far as the back - it depends onthe back. I was going through terrible back pain a couple of years ago and the only thing that helped - and was approved by the back doctor - was the leaning forward on the road bike as it stretchend out those hurting discs, etc. It really helped. An upright position, for me, simply put all thos vertebrae in alignment waiting to be further damaged by bounces and weight, etc. However, YMMV. Depends on the problem

I finally solved mine with an L-4;L-5 fusion.

5. Nothing wrong with a custom bike - that would be great and go for it. If you are going to have back surgery, you might want to wait.

DnvrFox

I have been into a comprehensive fitness program for many years, and am curious as to how many of you are also?

In addition to bicycling (road and mountain biking) 100+ miles per week, I participate in the following activities:

Swimming - about 4 hours per week

Walking - several miles per week (my body will not allow me to run)

Resistance exercises - a whole mess of varied resistance exercises emphasizing the core, upper body - TRX, weights, elastic bands, bridges, exercise ball stuff, etc.

Balance exercises using a BOSU ball, balance discs, balance board.

Inversion table

Prescribed stretching for some Achilles Tendon problems, ITB tightness, hip tightness.

Nutrition - lots and lots of fresh fruit, little red meat and fats (although I do cheat now and then), veggies.

OK, how about you other 70+'rs? Or even some 65+'rs.

Photom8kr

Thanks for the input. I've been avoiding surgery. They put me on the "rack" once a year and so far that has helped.

eghaley

I've had 4 back surgeries already and the last was a spinal reconstruction of the lumbar vertebrae back in 2003. Two discs were removed and replaced with a barrel-shaped spring along with 2 rails to the side. A couple months after surgery, I began exercising on gym bikes and later graduated to a real bike. The aero position, which I ride about 10% of the time now, is similar to the McKenzie method of stretching your back - like doing a pushup. Far and away, this position REMOVES back pain if I have it and also keeps the pain at bay if I don't have it. Or, to state it a different way, if my back is hurting I go for a bike ride. Of course, your back is not my back and I would try the gym bikes first.

I ride from 1000 to 2000 miles each summer on week-long tours (RAGBRAI, CNC, BRAN, CNC, etc) and probably no more that 500 miles to train. In addition, there are plenty of nice areas where I live to spend a morning or afternoon. In all my rides, my back has never been an issue. Stiff in the morning a bit but after 10 -20 minutes, all is well.

I also have 2 artificial knees and these make me slow on hills unless I stand and pedal.

Figure out what's good for you and get out and ride. It could be the start of a new life.

Photom8kr

Thanks for the info.

one half wuff

Well, I guess I'm legal now. Turned 65 two weeks ago tomorrow. Did 25 miles today in triple digit humidity I think. Rode my Trek 930 I've converted to a commuter.


Sitting out with my dogs unwinding from a rough week and fighting off the Mosquitos after all this rain.


By the grace of God I'm still kicking pretty well save a bad right knee but as long as I don't do too much climbing it's not too bad.

TejanoTrackie 

Had a bit of a health scare a month ago, when my PSA levels were up and the urologist felt a lump on my prostate. So they did a biopsy and fortunately it's just BPH, so I had to celebrate by buying my first ever titanium frame bike, a Salsa Colossal Ti. I'll be 67 in two weeks, so it's an early birthday present.

RonH

Enjoy the Salsa. Ti is awesome.
My 12 year old Litespeed (Ti) is getting to be a bit heavy for me when I'm riding hills. Not as fast as my Felt (CF). Maybe I just need to HTFU.

TejanoTrackie 

Nah, just get lower gears.

RonH

Its not the gears. We weighed the bike the other day at the bike shop -- 20.5 pounds without the pump and seat pack. I think the Felt weighs about 14 pounds.

TejanoTrackie 

That's exactly what the Salsa weighs, 20.5 lbs minus the seat bag with tools and water bottles. My old road racer bike, which is oversized aluminum with full carbon fork and stays weighs 16.2 lbs with Zipp 303 tubular wheels. The extra weight of the Salsa doesn't bother me, because it has lower gears and I'm not in a big hurry to ascend hills. The Salsa rides like a magic carpet over Texas chip seal roads, while my aluminum roadie practically knocks my teeth out. Your Felt is insanely lightweight !

Sandy Barringer

69er checking in. I love this idea and the 50+ forum doesn't need to worry. We can post in both. I'm glad to see so many that are over 65. For a long time, I thought I was the only "ancient" person the city who rode a bike because "I want to, not because I have to." Call me ancient if you like, but I'll be riding to 100 years old or older.