realway

My age is 72

I have a 2007 Shogun flat bar road bike and a Giant mountain bike.

I dont take any vitamin supplements but do take a statin, a blood pressure pill and some aspirin as I had a double bypass heart op about 15 years ago.

I suppose I am slowing down a bit but still ride my bikes, sail my yacht competitively (Etchells) and fish and swim.

Have ridding push and motor bikes most of my life.

I ride around 200 kms per week. Mostly on my own with a few hills or with a group of younger friends!

Please keep this as a sticky thread or even create an over 70's one!

Cheers

John from Australia.

DnvrFox

Shall this be a sticky again?

LAST CALL!

OKAY, given no objections, and several requests to turn this thread back into a sticky, tomorow I will ask the mods to turn this back into a sticky, unless others object.

elarrecostao

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

bought a sun ez-1 sx last november. so comfortable!!!

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
not yet.


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

don't know, never rode much but i am 55 now and started riding again last november.

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

before owning a recumbent i didn't ride much because i could not stand the conventional saddle. the ez-1's seat lets me ride for two or three hours at a time.



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
for now i ride mostly in parks; one of them has a 5 km bike path, the other a 2.5 km path which i combine with some road. recently became a member of sierra club and critical mass. that means i'll be doing more road.



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
around 40 km weekly but i know i can do much more and will do. i plan on cutting down the use of the car but it will take time 'cause my city is so bike UNfriendly.



Perhaps you might indicate your age on your reply??

bikinfool

I'm 52

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
This one rides mostly mountain bikes on singletrack, gnarlier the better. Some road biking.



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?
Lately my slowness has been caused by laziness and fair weather riding more than age, but age surely a part...



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Rode a bike a lot when I was a kid, starting at age 5. After I started driving put the bikes away mostly for a while, started riding more in the late 80s.



5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Seeking epic singletrack on the mountain bike all over the western US, although more local as of late. Some road biking in the local area as well. Don't know how long my rides are but try to keep them with good amounts of elevation gain if not so many miles...




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I'll try to ride 4-5 times a week but will let rain reduce that amount. Haven't been keeping track of numbers but estimating come up with something like 3500-4000 miles/350000-400000 ft elevation gain per year on a mountain bike, somewhere around 1000-1500 miles/75000-100000 ft elevation gain on the road.

northbend 

I am a baby on this forum (51).

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Road:
'77 Bruce Gordon (owned since '81 used primarily for commuting these days)
'98 Merlin Extralight (my go fast bike)
MTB:
'99 Fat City Yo Eddy (for playing in the dirt)
Fixed:
'88 Schwinn Paramount - conversion (to learn something new)

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Multi Vit's, Glucosomine

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
It takes longer to recover from hard workouts, injuries.

4. How long have you been biking?
Have owned and ridden bikes ever since I was a kid.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Frequent Commuter - 56 mi R/T (I have a very nice route)

Solo rides, rides with friends...

I like to do several organized rides each year. The ones I like best have included rides like "High Pass Challenge" and "Tour DeBlast", "Crater Lake Century", "Native Planet Classic" all here in the Northwest and feature lots of climbing in the mountains. The rides I am looking forward to this year include Mt St Helens' "Tour DeBlast", the "Death Ride" in California and "RSVP" which is relaxed 2 day ride from Seattle to Vancouver BC with my son who is starting to show an interest in cycling.

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

Approx mileage? Never cared to track. Over 4k? (kept track for a month long "Bike to Work" challenge and logged 1050 mi's in May last year...).
Spring: several times a week
Summer: nearly every day
Fall : several times a week
Winter: several times a month weather permitting. (I prefer to ski in the Winter)

RonH

Ok everyone. It's a sticky again.

RonH

I read thru some of the old posts and many of the folks who posted aren't with us anymore.
And some of the info (like mine) needs to be updated.

DnvrFox

The original point of the thread was to allow folks to have an opportunity to read the ranges of riding, activity, bikes, etc., in which people engaged.

Total accuracy was not the point, and if folks are no longer with us, that is fine.

I have had a number of folks who have told me they read every single thread, and that it gave them (particularly newbies and those returning) some idea of what can be accomplished, and where they may fall in the range of activities.

So, no need to update unless you have that desire.

Thanks for "re-stickifying" the thread.

rnl

My first post:

Merlin Cyrene, Zipp 404 wheels with powertap, Campy Chorus
75-100 miles per week. 20 mile round trip commute and weekends
5-6 times a week. 3500 to 4000 miles
I will be 55 on the 21st of March


rnl

duckbill

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Hello, I am 56.
I have two custom Marinoni's, 1-Sport Touring, Shimano 105 and 1-Race, Campagnolo Athena.


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
1000mg Vitamine C, 500mg Vit E, Beta Carotene, selenium, caffeine and Beer.

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Quite a bit, a mere shadow of myself from 10 years ago. I no longer race so the long hard training miles is no longer there. I am also 8 lbs heavier, (158 lbs).*


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
My first experiance was riding my mother's balloon tired bicycle at age 5. The next Christmas Santa brought me a bright red CCM coaster bike and I have not been without two wheels since.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
I still spin 20 min. every day on the trainer during the cold months and warm sunny day rides when available. I will start to commute again when it gets a bit warmer.



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Not as much as I would like.


* May 06 2009, New and improved 152 lbs.

cyanemi

1.Currently searching for a bike. Very infatuated with the Electra Super Deluxe cruiser I have a diamondback that is uncomfortable and haven't ridden since back surgery 4 years ago. I use an elliptical and lift weights and hike with dogs in the woods.
2 Fish Oil and Super Greens, multi vitamin. Vitamin D.
3. Definitely slower but don't know quantity. Was very thin until 35 and then gained about 40 that won't go away.
4. Biked constantly as a kid, got into swimming then running then elliptical. New to biking
5. Live in a subdivision around a lake and will be biking in the subdivision which is nice and safe with very little traffic. Potential for many miles
6 Age 48 not quite there yet but when I announced myself and my intention to get an Electra I was directed to this forum immediately.

StanSeven

I am 61

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

I have three road (Cevelo SLC-SL, Seven Ti, and an old Waterford), a mountain, and a fixed gear


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

No, unless beer counts. Oh wait, I always had beer

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

I really haven't except for sprinting and I don't feel as quick

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

I started when I was 8 and stopped in high school. Then I started again when I was 26 and stopped at 35. I finally started again in 1989 and haven't stopped.


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

Pretty much everyhthing including some tri's



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

I average between 3,000 and 5,000 miles a year. I try to get some form of exercise every day even if it's just riding on the trainer when the winter days are bad.

DnvrFox

That's interesting, because I don't recall having a serious discussion about an Electra (or similar bike) - like forever???

Anyway, welcome!!

crosswater

I did my Kula to Haleakala visitor center ride in 2007. 22 mi linear and about 6500 ft vertical. Probably the most emotional ride I have ever done. I did it with my 34 yo daughter. She said she couldn't imagine doing the ride in 25 years...I said I couldn't either...then it dawned on me, She was saying she couldn't imagine doing it at my age. I decided to start driving an 18 wheeler with a flatbed....just to stay in shape...I lost 20 lbs my first three months on the job. It worked out a different set of muscles. When I had my partial knee replacement done last year the doctor said, " Walking - Bad; Biking - Good." Thanks for jogging me again. Tomorrow the rack gets put on the headache rack of the truck.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Still riding my Eddie Merckx and my old TREK single track combo bike(this one rides on the 18 wheeler I started driving two years ago...yeah, I know retirement isn't for me).


2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Nope. Just trying to eat reasonably. Which entails as much fiber as I can find in fresh fruits and veggies.


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
No more than last time. I have lost some of my conditioning because I do not like the trainer and it was too darned cold to be riding on the weekends. I did my nuclear stress test three months ago and surprised myself as to how long I was on for the target HR.


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Off and on for a while...less this last year.


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Right now, just short training rides to build up my semi-new knee. (Feb 2008-partial knee replacement )



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Putting the Trek back on the headache rack....Hope to have over two thousand this year.



If you haven't already, perhaps you might indicate your age. It helps others to see that folks 50+ do great things.

61 years old

survival

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Specialized Crossroads Sport hibrid

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
50+ daily vitamins, fish oil


3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
a little ,but gaining


4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
since 11 and on and off during 80's and 90's and now that I'm retired, much often


5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
rails to trails rides



6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
a couple times per wk. 1000 yr. and increasing



If you haven't already, perhaps you might indicate your age. It helps others to see that folks 50+ do great things.
62

DERoadie

1. Cannondale R700, Raleigh Cadent 2, Surly LHT, and Catrike Road
2. Lots of meds but no supplements.
3. Lost about 40% of when I was 22 - 59 now.
4. Been biking for about 40 years.
5. Commute and medium distance on weekends. Hope to ride across US in not too distant future.
6. Almost every day from March to Nov. Minnesota winters limit me to about 2-3 time per week in middle of winter. Annual mileage about 2400 miles.

gash44

I am 56 years old and have been riding for years.

I ride a number of bikes.

1996 Bianchi Eros - road bike

1993 Showgun - cross bike

1996 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo mountain Bike

2007 LeMond Versailles - road bike

and boy do I have fun. At 56 I still ride 40 to 50 miles a day and do century rides when I can. I do mostly road biking but still love to get on the mountain bike. I ride about 4 times a week and every day when I am on vacation. There is nothing better than being on a bike on a warm summer day,

mljoshua

great thread - I like to ride, but haven't for a long time - just decided to get our bikes back out and have them worked on so that we can ride again.

tarkus

2009 Superfly for MTB and for the road Cannondale R-3000
Vitamin B Carnatine L only when i ride and aspirine.
I feel great compared to people of my age.
What i do normally is from Wednesday through Saturday is between 1:30 or 2:00 hour of a very specific training depending on what kind of race we have for Sunday.
Doing some numbers i could make 14,000K per year
This is my year 20 biking and i still very exited as the beginig, i always like to race and this year i´m in the new category for MTB here in Mexico call Master 50 i´m one of the youngest, last race i was second at national level.
On nights i do some special exercises for bikers at the gym from Tuesday Through Thursday.

Tarkus.
Monterrey Mexico

Professor Foo

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
2004 TidalForce M-750

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Men's one-a-day, low-dose vitamin, Omega 13, coffee

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
A crapload - mostly due to weight gain rather than aging.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
I've commuted by bike on-and-off since 1976. Longest round-trip on commute is 22 miles (now), but others were 10 miles in VA when I was in my 20's, 15 miles when I was in my 30's, 6 miles in my 40's.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Commute to work and back. Don't much bike for fun unless with family.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Every day when bike and weather are good. Bike is currently getting its batteries replaced and motor cleaned and serviced.

7. Age
57 years old

kjc9640

1.What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
A- 1984 Raleigh with upgrades

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
A- None

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
A- A lot since I road in the 80s

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
A- Road serously during the 80s, quit until 2008 then started again

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
A- Average ride is around 25 miles

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
A- As often as the weather allows... 3,000 miles last yr. will do about 5,000 this yr.

If you haven't already, perhaps you might indicate your age. It helps others to see that folks 50+ do great things.
A- 67 yo

tony2v

I'm 51 yrs old

1.What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
2006 Moots Compact - Campy Chorus/Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels
2009 Masi Speciale Sprint Track bike
1981 Freschi Super Criterium - Campy Super Record
1975 Albert Eisentraut - setup for touring

2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
Multi-vitamins and a regular donut diet

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
I know I'm a smarter rider not stronger than when I was riding in my 20's.

4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
Started when I was 22, but took 8 yrs off when the kids were into club soccer. Started again in 2004, down from 204 lbs to a current 172 lbs. Did the SLOBC Wildflower Century one year after getting back into riding.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Fast club rides, racing on the velodrome and now racing in the 50+ catergory on the road. Want to do the SF to San Diego self contained coast trip again soon!

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I do spin class 3-4 times a week before work. 2 nights a week at the velodrome (Tues night racing). The weekends club rides, Sat - 60 mile fast club ride (20+ mph avg), Sun - 50-80 mile recovery ride. Ride to work once in a while, 54 miles round trip.

bumblebikemike

Some questions:

Please tell us your age.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
My regular ride: eisentraut custom, dura-ace components, open pro wheels, brooks b-17 saddle.
event or fast bike: scott addict, dura ace carbon wheels, fizik saddle



2. Do you take any special supplements/vitamins/minerals as you have grown older?
vitamin c, omega 3



3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
not so much slowed down as I need more time to recover after hard efforts.



4. How long have you been biking? New, around a while, biked all your life?
22 years of serious cycling.

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
presently I enjoy fast paced club rides and have completed many century and double century rides.




6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
5 6 times per week. I don't keep training logs. minimum 5000 miles a year seems right.




If you haven't already, perhaps you might indicate your age. It helps others to see that folks 50+ do great things.
59 y.o.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OverTheHill

I am 59 years young.

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
2008 Giant Sedona DX

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

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
Quicker to get out of shape. Longer to get into shape. More discipline to stay in shape.

4. How long have you been biking?
36 years

5. What type of biking do you do? Long rides, touring, short rec rides.
Recreational, touring & cardio
5 miles to 15 miles

Enjoyed riding Shark Valley (Everglade NP) this past winter. Watch out for the gators!

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
Spring: Several times a week
Summer: Almost every day
Fall : Several times a week
Winter: Everyday (In Florida)

USAZorro

I am fresh meat. Turned 50 in April

1. What type of bikes do 50+ folks ride?
Mostly Classic & Vintage stuff - I have nine bicycles of various sorts (from a 1954 Hetchin's Magnum Opus to a 2008 Surly Long Haul Trucker Most of mine date from the 70's though) and a unicycle.

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

3. How much do you feel you have "slowed down" if any?
I have slowed down a lot from when I was 20, but I can kick butt on the vast majority of 50 year-olds in society at-large, so I don't feel quite so bad.

4. How long have you been biking?
First bike when I was 5. There was a rather long hiatus from about 1981 - 2003 in there though.

5. What type of biking do you do?
I'm an aspiring (if lazy) randonneur. Most rides are 15-40 miles though.

6. How often do you bike? Your approximate annual mileage?
I've been averaging 2,000 miles a year, but work and other obligations have really cut into things this past year. I'm actually trying to position myself to ride much more regularly - we'll see how that turns out. I'm a major weather-wuss. I don't enjoy riding when it's less than 50 degrees out.