TejanoTrackie 

An old friend of mine just emailed me a photo of us from the 1970s on a return ride home after a four day bicycle camping tour called DALMAC. The safety flags were one of the tour requirements and I still have two of them that I saved. I'm the little guy second from the right and my friend is the pretty girl to my right.



Oh, and BTW this is the bike I rode and I still have it:

DougG

You know, they still do the DALMAC. I have never done it, but now I'm too old to want to put up with the hassles of tent camping for a week.

(For those who don't know, the DALMAC is a big ride in Michigan that goes from Lansing up to Mackinaw, with several different routes offered for different types of riders and daily mileages.)

TejanoTrackie 

IIRC it is only 4 days riding with 3 nights camping, and then you return to Lansing via chartered busses. Still, I'm no longer interested in roughing it, and stay in motels now. BTW, do you know what "DALMAC" stands for ?

DougG

Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw. I think Dick Allen is/was a state legislator or some such who originally organized it. I've done the Michigander and Shoreline West, which are other premier Michigan tours, but definitely had enough of the camping. Especially at my age, the mandatory getting-up-to-pee at 2AM was no fun, stumbling over tent pegs in the dark trying to find the porta-john, and then if it was raining and I'd had a beer in the evening...

This summer I'm signing up for a week-long road tour in the U.P. where I've never ridden before, and one in northern Ohio. Both are with motels and otherwise catered.

JohnBerry

Hello all. Very interesting about those Michigan rides - have to try one soon. I've been digitizing old photos: the B&W on the left is the only one I have found taken on one of my teenage rides, because it's the only time I ever rode with someone else: the kid holding the bikes is a school friend, and this is on a 100+mile ride in the Suffolk countryside, England, 1958 or '59. My bike is the "straight" handlebarred 3-speed BSA Light Tourer partially cut-off by the left edge of the photo. The photo was taken with my old 1920s Voigtlander bellows camera, which was hard to aim. The photo on the right is me on Sunday at Mile 8 of the Austin Marathon: final time was ~6:45:00. Now that that's over I can start riding the bike again to get ready for the summer.

RonH

John, can you repost or fix the attachments? I don't see the pics, just the attachment number.

JohnBerry

Ron: I can see the photos by clicking on the attachment number. But here they are again - I always have trouble with attaching things correctly on Bike Forums - the photos disappeared when I edited my post.

RonH

Where's the big smile in the first photo?

ctpres

Any 70+ riders finish century in under seven? Registered for Shiner G.A.S.P. 100 and having visions of sub seven - even with some 2,500 feet of climbing.

JohnBerry

RonH: that was the only time I ever took a friend - that's him. not me. It looks like it might have been a bit too much for him!

JohnBerry

ctpres: I live in Austin, 72 years old, and I might be able to do the ton in under 7 (I managed the MammaJamma 100 in that time a year ago, but missed the gate this year by a few minutes and had to settle for the 70-mile loop). Can't believe there's 2,500 feet of climbing down there in the coastal plain - all the centuries I have attempted have been up here in the Hill Country. But I suppose someone has measured it.

I'd be willing to give it a go - I'd need to do some training though.

John

TejanoTrackie 

A bit off topic. Yesterday, I received my high school 50th reunion yearbook. Many of my classmates had submitted bios with current photos, although most including myself did not. Of course, some of the submissions were eulogies for those who had passed away. It made me pause a bit, thinking about my mortality, and realizing that most of my life is now behind me. I hope to make the most of my remaining time in this life.

zonatandem

Did lotsa rides in Michigan/Ohio/Ontario in the mid-70s on our tandem.
TOSRV, the Canadian 200-MileEater, Pedal to the Pines, Hancock Hundred, GLEEP, Slow Spokes of Macomb centuries, etc.
Moved to Arizona in 1978 so we could ride year round . . . and still do at ages 81 and 78.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

TejanoTrackie 

Small world ! I've also done TOSRV 1/2 dozen times, as well as Canadian 200 ME, PP and HH, when I lived in Jackson Michigan in the 70s and 80s. I once rode stoker on a friend's tandem, and we did a flat century in Ohio, don't remember which one, nonstop in under 4 hours. Sadly, my friend passed away 4 years ago.

rdtompki

I'm 68-1/2. I can do a 100K with 3000'+ of climbing at about 15 mph so I'd have a good shot at a 7 hour flatish century (2500' around here would be a really flat century), but I don't know if my butt could handle it. I'm going to try a century in April with 6000' of climbing, but I won't make 7 hours: Did part of that Century last November (70 miles, 5300') and only averaged 12.2 mph.

DougG

I've never done a century and am not sure I ever will. The one time I started out with that intention on a large multi-distance event, I gave it up and finished on the 100K route instead. The biggest problem was the monotony of riding solo for as many hours as it was going to take to do it. It had just stopped being fun, and that's the main point of riding for me.

The one possibility I have is an event where I would know a number of people and could ride in a group. The event is the Big Bear 100 that starts in Grayling, MI and goes one-way to Oscoda. It actually follows along the Au Sable River on the day when they are also running a world-famous canoe race. The canoes start down the river the night before and it's a goal to get to the end before the first canoes get there.

lenA

I've only been riding 3 years ( 68 in june) and still look forward to a possible 7 hour century. There would have to be a lot of riders around to help keep me motivated to do that pace.

What are some of the big ones anyway?

fastcarbon

I am curious how 70+ riders out there train. At racing age 72 and trying to return to competitive riding after a multi-level back fusion, Pulmonary Embolisms and DVT's I generally will only ride with others whose riding quality I know due to continuing blood thinner use. These people only ride on weekends as they are aged 55 -60 and still must work. Recently I started to use Strava (premium) as I can compare times on riding segments with others 65+. Strava is a real motivator and I can ride TT segments and see my times decrease. It also motivates weight loss as my hill segment times are coming down with weight loss. Was at 230 lb. during rehab and down to 197 partially due to motivation from Strava to post competitive times on hilly segments. Unfortunately a TT I used to win at 60+ is now taking 37 minutes as opposed to about 31 in the past. Also, my muscle mass has unfortunately dropped and working out on weight machines doesn't increase strength like it used to. On the plus side I expect 16% body fat will put me at around 180 lb. as opposed to 190 lb. in the past. Orange County has around 200 65+ riders on Strava so you can gage yourself relative to many riders. Has Strava helped any of you gain fitness/ lose weight. It is working for me!

ctpres

GASP actually starts in Austin. Sure would be nice to have "age appropriate" buddy on the ride. If I can get at least five riders my company will design and supply jerseys and maybe even t shirts for our roadside fans.

JohnBerry

Let's do it: you can reach me offgroup at JLBAssoc@Gmail.com

Louis Le Tour

I'm 72 yrs. old/young (whatever!) and located in California's central valley near Modesto. In the spring of '15 I plan to retire and get on the road with my Surly LHTD and BOB YAK trailer plus my little dog. Right now it's a strain to finish 5 miles but my legs are already feeling stronger after only a few rides and as the weather warms up there'll be a lot more opportunities to train. If things go right I'll be strong enough to pretty much stay on the road indefinitely. Preliminary plans call for a ride starting in Grant's Pass, Oregon, down Hiway 199 to Crescent City and then up the coast to Seattle. THEN, the plan is to head cross country to Miami, FL. Yeah, I know that's a BIG chunk for a guy just starting out. However, the thought process is that by taking small bites at first, and then adding the miles as my endurance builds, I'll be able to do it by virtue of bull dogged determination. Proper diet and frequent rest periods are a part of the plan. Feedback please.

Update: 3-23-14, I'm up to 15 miles/day.

bowzette

I'm just a "kid"-68. Looks like an interesting ride. Are you sure it is only 2.500 feet of elevation gain? That is really flat. If I ride it I'll ride my fixed gear bike. I did the Piney Woods Purgatory this past October on the fixed gear and it was around 4,500 feet of climbing in 102 miles.
Mike

ctpres

Elevation from strava ride history - same event - last year I think. I will know more May 4th.

RollinGeezer

Please be VERY careful on 199. I drive it frequently. There are many areas along the Smith River where there is NO shoulder, and no where to even step off. You are against a rock cliff. In these places there isn't any room for the drivers to give way, especially when meeting an 18 wheeler. All that said, this is the area I grew up in, and to my mind it is the most beautiful place on earth going from river side vistas to Redwood forests in the blink of an eye, ending at the Pacific Ocean beach. Also be prepared for the 20 degree temperature drop as you exit the forest and drop down to ocean level. Have fun

ctpres

Two forum members already signed up. Join us - just need three more members to get free custom jerseys. Here is Strava history of many riders.
Strava | Activity Search
GASP actually stands for Greater Austin Shiner Pedal