1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Somehow over the years I've acquired 5 Cannondales. They just seem to fit better than any thing else I've ridden. I am wary that Cannondale's new owners will turn it into a WalMart brand.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Nope. Other than being a generic vegetarian and in general watching my diet (something I have done since college anyway) I don't take anything.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

A lot and it's mostly mental. A few hospital visits will make you realize what's at stake.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

Biked all my life. Grew up in a rural area where if you didn't cycle, you walked.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

Mostly for fitness. My SO and I take the mountain bikes to a state park from time to time but mostly it's longer rides on the public roads.


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

4k

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

I still surf when I get the chance. I like to take a couple long walks in hilly terrain every week.

It's all worth it. My dad had his first heart attack at age 55 (smoking, bad diet, alcohol, etc) and I've avoided all that. Plus it's nice when a new co-worker says something like "You're 53? I thought you were 40 . . . "

NC is a nice place to ride. I used to live in Tarboro, and felt like a fit racer on all that billiard-table-flat land. Utah cut me down to size quick. Good to hear you're not following the diet/health curve of the average NC 50+ male: grease, sugar, white bread, plenty of tea, heart attack, dead... Wonderful place, though. I miss living there sometimes. People have manners -

Tarboro is indeed smack in the middle of the coastal plain. I went to undergrad down the road at ECU in Greenville, did my first serious cycling with the Pirates Cycle Club back in the mid-70s. We'd ride way out to places like Black Jack or Bell Arthur and back on most weekends.

I've worked short-term contracts in SLC and enjoyed meeting the people there. In fact I spent a very nice afternoon walking the hills up around Park City with some natives and found them to be very fine people who went out of their way to make a visitor at home.

Greenville ("Grin-vul") was our "big city!" By the time I left they even had a Barnes and Noble and a Starbucks! I know Bell Arthur too, and Conetoe, Pinetops, Hobgood, and even Lizard Lick (my favorite NC place name). The coastal plain is a great place to bike - you can really get around there, and stop in some fascinating places. I wish I took biking much more seriously when I lived there, and that I had a better bike! I almost went to grad school at UNC, but decided on UofU instead - for a variety of reasons, not because I wanted to get out of NC. I would have been very happy living in Raleigh. I am glad you found Utahns hospitable. They can be gruff sometimes - ornery - but, like anywhere, if you keep your yard nice and are polite to everyone you meet, people can be pretty friendly here too...

Ive been biking all my life but took a break from 1994 to about 2000

I ride a single speed (home made ) 1983 team fuji that I got for a present when i got my masters' degree that year. That's my commuter bike

I also ride a decent cannondale with better than stock Vista wheels... that's my long ride bike

no supplements thought my doc says to start the Omega fatty acid supplement

I noticed that I can't ride as fast as I did way back when , but in terms of endurance, I seem to be still at a pretty good par with my younger days. I'm shocked that I am still able to commute to work (26 miles round trip) at age 55....

even being a 'clydesdale' sized biker, I can't believe how much better I feel when I am riding regularly.

I'll do about 2000 miles this year;

Karl Hoyt

I enjoy hiking but can't stand working out in a gym

Please tell us your age.

51

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Summer Road Bike....Specialized Tarmac (Carbon Fiber Beast), Winter Road Bike: 1977 Panasonic Sport DX outfitted with fenders and lights, Mountain Bike 1986 Specialized Hard Rock Comp...Been riding this friend for years, it's been rebuilt more times that I can count...only original parts are frame , stem, & seat.



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Just a multi vitamin



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

My body cannot take the beating of mountain biking any more so about 5 years I switched to road riding as a primary ( still ride the mountain bike about 5% of the time....now I am riding more that ever before in my life at speeds that I would have thought impossible 10 years ago.



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

As an adult since 86 when I bought my new Hard Rock Comp



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

Pimarily distance events...I am currently training for my 1st double century...Rail trail with my wife and friends for a slower pace....Mountain bike some with my sons, however as I said before doing singletrack with my hair on fire no longer happens, C & O Canal with the Boy Scout troop........etc etc....suffice to say my lifestyle is defined by biking




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

5 to 6 days per week....goal this year is 5000 miles...for more info see my blog on bikerides.com....name gkingsto



7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Just started yoga, do light lifting in the off season, x country skiing when the conditions are right, backpacking, kayaking, canoeing, ice skating......

No senlie dementia here. I asked the question twice because most folks have forgotten to answer it by the tme they get down to the end.

And, thank you for responding!

Please tell us your age.

50...joined the ranks today.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride? Interloc Impala - Reynolds 853 -


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older? Glucosamin-condroitin-msm


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any? I'm not sure if I ever sped up.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life? MTB recreationally for 25 years, roadie for the last 2 (after my MTB was stolen)


5. What type of biking do you do? Average ride is typically 20 -30 miles. I think I logged 50 miles in 2007 but that was due to a pretty severe medical issue with my daughter.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage? In 2006, I logged almost 2000 miles, 3 centuries and a couple of other organized rides. 2007...50 (see above). 2008...about 200 so far but hoping to start building again.


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.? Jog 2-3 times/week, 3 miles each time. 9 minute miles on average. Skied all my life but haven't been on the slopes in 3 years.

Welcome to the second half of the century.

regards

Please tell us your age.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

I have an old Schwinn hybrid and a K2 something or other.
Just oredered an Orbea Aqua to celebrate my mid-life crisis.



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Yes, a multivitamin, calcium, and fish oil capsules. Red wine as needed.



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

I've had to reduce my running miles.



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

I've been a recreational and commuter biker all my life with increased miles in more bike friendly areas.



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

We'll see after the new bike gets here!




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

Please see #5!



7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Yes. I was running about 40 miles a week before my injury last November. I now swim, deep water run, and

have just started some strength training.




Perhaps, if you haven't already, you might indicate your age on your reply?? 51

Please tell us your age. - 67

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
A custom built Surly Long Haul Trucker In CA and a custom built Surly Cross Check in CO. Also, a rehabilited Schwinn Traveler that I keep in CA and a Schwinn Mesa that I keep in CA but take along when I drive to CO each summer.


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Calcium with Vitamin D.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Yes - probably 20% from my strongest riding during my 40's.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
All my life, since going deliveries for my Dad's Times Square, NY business on my Rudge 3 speed when I was 14. But there have been 2 10-year periods when I didn't bike at all. Most recent period of biking began in 2004.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?
All of the above except communting, as I'm retired, so don't go to work anymore.



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Weather permitting, 5-6 days/week. Last 2 years I rode about 5000 road miles and maybe another 1000-1500 miles on stationary spinners each year, but this year I seem to be significantly less.


7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?
Downhill and cross country skiing, occasional open water kayaking, a couple of weeks of SCUBA every year or two, indoor aerobics and a little resistence training when the weather is unsuitable for biking or skiing.



Perhaps, if you haven't already, you might indicate your age on your reply??
Sixty seven

What type of bike do you ride??? Anything I want to. These are the golden years. Today I have two road bikes; Kuota Kredo and Aegis Victory. One Record and one Dura-Ace. These are my toys.
I am 52 and have been riding about 10 years. Since I have only been riding 10 years, I feel that my conditioning is getting better each year. I train hard, ride around 1000-2000 miles a year not counting trainer miles. My riding partner is a friend who happens to be a personal trainer and a triathlete. He is a real hammer and makes me work like an animal. I do plenty of base rides and distance rides by myself and with other frineds and this is critical for building up each spring. I find that long slow miles give me the base that I need to get stronger. I also work out with weights twice a week with my trainer. I am physically in better shape than I was at 19. I have my bumps and pains, but love the riding lifestyle. I have already done one metric century this year and intend to do several regular centuries including a big one here in Georgia called Six Gap. I intended to do it last year but ended up with Epstein Barr virus while training for the ride. It weakened me for 5 months. Now I am recovering from a bout with the flu but I am regaining my form from training through the winter. I ride a lot of base on my tacx i-magic and work on my footwork on rollers during the off season.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Titanium, Carbon Fiber, Steel, Aluminum

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

oh please...

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

well, duh, yeah... i can't crank out 120rpms like i used to...

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

since 1975...

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

daily 20-25 milers, with 50-milers once in a while

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

five days a week, with 4,000 miles average over the last three years...

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

walking and sex...

Perhaps, if you haven't already, you might indicate your age on your reply??

53

Well, 717 responses later, surprise, it DIDN"T DIE away!

Amazing

I think you may be makeing to big an issue of age and food. although consumming to much sugar does do a number on me. As a life long harvester [self employed earning my living in the estuaries and forests of maine small boats[sailing ones in my case] and bicycles were used as secondary transport and a veriety of bikes were needed and I used them all.These days my favorite is a 7300 trek 28" but in the woods and for boat use [a custom alu-access]gets used the most ,it has very low gears and is very light. For road fun this year im useing a like new old schwinn 6 speed derailier World Tourist and im working on a few more that the kids usually get.I still care for two large tracts of land 4to 6 hours a day. One tract is blowdowns /pine and hemlock/that are worked to timbers and the other tract is hardwood worked for timbers and firewood. Im 68 y.o. and HATE it other wise life is interesting every day.

This is what is cool about this thread!
Here we have Kenebec cranking miles for fun, caring for woodlots and railing against the years. Bravo!
Linux also exercise regime also includes walks and sex.
Donegal is a hotshot training like an animal and trains with state of the art Tracx.
rkokish is a 67 year old newbie doing 5000 per year.

and Dnvrfox retains perspective on the whole soup. This is just too cool. Like more and more things, it is too complex and detailed for me to digest, compile, fold and spindle.

Instead, like ingredients in a soup, I enjoy the flavors and combinations of these vinyettes. THANKS!

1: I ride a Crumpton SL carbon fiber w/ Campagnolo Record group. The bike is just celebrating it's first birthday this month. I love it.
2: The only supplement I use is coffee. I put water in my bottle(s) and occasionally drink an additional caffeine-laced drink (Red Bull, etc.) in the middle of some rides, depending on how long they are
3: I probably have slowed down, but it's early in this year's riding season and I haven't yet quite got my legs underneath me. Yesterday's ride was 54 miles at a 18.5 mph clip and about half of that was into a steady 15-20 mph headwind.
4: I've been cycling for my entire life. As a kid, I used to race around a good friend's tennis court in our own mini-crits. I used to cycle to work but no longer can.
5: I primarily road bike. I have a mtb, but it mostly collects dust in my basement.
6: I try to ride 2-3 days a week, depending on weather and work schedule. I rode 3,400 miles last year. I'm 53 years old.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

Steel for me

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

Good idea. Maybe I should

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

Yeah, but who cares. I don't mind when some young turk struggles to take me on a hill then he just passed an scrawny, grey-bearded old fart

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

Regularly ever since 1977; I was 27

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

Mainly rec riding ... 40/wk in winter, double that the rest of the year. Also one or two overnight bike tours in the summer. Any one-person errand within about 5-10 miles.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

About 4/week. Aim for 4,000 per year.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Yardwork

Perhaps, if you haven't already, you might indicate your age on your reply??

58

New here - just noticed this thread.

please tell us your age: 64

1. What type of bikes: Gios compact pro; gios megalite fixed gear; cannondale caad 5; univega; electra cruiser; pedal force RS2.

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older? no

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any? more than I like to admit

4. How long have you been biking? off & on since about 1975

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, and tour

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage? 3-5 times a week - 20 to 50 miles at a time. I don't keep track.

7. Other type of physical activities - light weight lifting, gym aerobics, swimming laps.

Please tell us your age. 71

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride? Shogun Mach 2, Giant Boulder



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older? Gloucosamine, one a day.



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any? Quite a bit, especially climbing stairs in the late afternoon!



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life? First bike at age 12, on and off for years, Motorbike at age 60, sold it at 70 after having a lot of fun and being accident free (so far)



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?



7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Please tell us your age. 71

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride? Shogun Mach 2, Giant Boulder



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older? Gloucosamine, one a day.



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any? Quite a bit, especially climbing stairs in the late afternoon!



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life? First bike at age 12, on and off for years, Motorbike at age 60, sold it at 70 after having a lot of fun and being accident free (so far)



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race? Mainly training rides of up to 40 km, trying to build fitness and loose some weight.




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage? 4 or 5 times a week, I covered about 3500 kms last year.



7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.? Not really, do a bit of walking with my dog, row a dinghy out to my yacht occasionally.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?

I have and ride mountain bikes, road bikes, cross bikes, "Beach Cruisers" folders, and a Miami Sun Trike

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?

I drink two or three 2 liter bottles of Mtn Dew soda a day, does that count?

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?

Have slowed down. In early /mid 90's was averaging 10,000 miles a year (did not own a car) will be lucky to break 2,000 miles this year

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?

:eek: My name is bicyclerider4life. Does that answer the question? :D

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides, commute, tour, race?

What is a "Long Ride"? What is a "Short Ride"? I consider a trip from the house to Marathon and back on the trike pulling a trailer a nice short ride. After all, it is only 19 miles to town, and on average another 10 or so miles to where I want to go in town (usually Home Depot, K-Mart, a couple tackle shops and the Library), so it's only 60 miles or so round trip. The post office is only 5 miles. I don't race, so I guess my riding would all be recreational, 5 to 150 miles a day.


6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?

This year I will be lucky to break 2,000 miles, I've not had much chance to ride, due to work and work related travel.

7. Do you do any other type of physical activities - weight lifting, skiing, running, etc.?

Snowshoeing, canoing


Perhaps, if you haven't already, you might indicate your age on your reply??

I am 53

This is my first day on the forum, and in that I am a Newbie. Am 59 years old and I am an alcoholic ---Oh, sorry, wrong forum/meeting. Aaa, errr, I'm 59 years old and have been cycling since I was 40, 'cause I got to looking at my 268 lb. self and was totally disgusted. Started riding an old Sears bike I'd had for years and within 6 months dropped down to 185 lbs with no change in diet, only a change in not sitting on the couch so much...

Anyway, 19 years later I have divested myself of the Sears and along the way killed a Peugeot Nice (1987 model) and picked up a 1990 SR Prism aluminum, 1993 B'stone XO-1, and a 1970's vintage Libertas which I've totally rebuilt. These are all road-type bikes, even though the XO-1 is considered a cross-bike. I've got it in my head that I need a new carbon "comfort bike", but haven't really decided that I like them - maybe have too much iron in my blood.

First "big ride" was a local MS 150 in 1987, and have done 13 more since then for old time's sake. Rode the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) in '88, '89, '90, '91; Bike Ride Across Tennessee (BRAT) each year from 1988 - 1998; Texas Chainring Challenge 1992 - 1996; Pedal The Peaks (New Mexico)1994. Because of a change in work and a work-based Katrina exile have been unable to go to the week-long rides like before, but am registered for BRAG from June 7 - 14, and am waiting for the BRAT info for September to be published. Then there's the club rides which are too numerous. My weekly mileage on about 4 days a week is about 125.

No meds, no suppliments.

Yes, I've slowed down riding, but due mostly because of work because the cheapskates won't hire anybody else (which has stopped me not one whit from targeting 3 years until retirement giving me a total of 35 years).

Well I actually turn 50 in five days. I'll be riding the same bikes then so I answered now.
Bikes:
Giant Cadex with 105
Basso Ti Frame all Camp Record
198? Miayta converted to fixed gear (currently under total rehab)
Supplements:
Omega 3 fatty acid, Isopure zerocarb shakes 3-5 times a week
Slow down: I can ride and exercise same and better now than 20 years ago. Recovery is longer though
Biking history: Have biked since I learned. As a kid it offered my first sense of freedom. Got serious about 20+yrs ago.
Type of Riding: Road bikes only. Have tried mtb, but like road better. Rides are usually in 40-50 mile range. Will do centuries again this fall. Enjoyed a 5 day Vermont cycling trip this past summer.
How often: I ride at least once a week now, but am increasing to 3-4.
Other sports:
I made a complete switch from cycling to rowing sweep boat for 5 years. Rowed 4-6 days a week, trained and traveled to competitive regattas around florida, s and se usa. Got tennis elbow and 2 cortisone shots later with physical therapy and still can't row. Can't even open a bottle. So I began running again 2-3 times a week (my knees can only handle 3-5 miles), swim 1 day, lift weights 3 days per week. Currently in best shape of my life. Doctor tells me I exercise too much and then each year takes credit for my execelant heart and improved cholesterol results.