Hi Over 50 folks. I've got 364 days left until I really belong here. Of course, I have days I feel like I've been over 50 for a long time.

Somebody on the road forum mentioned riding your age on your birthday. I didn't even ride yesterday. I was wondering how many over 50 folks do the birthday-age-ride. It seems much easier when you turn 25. One of my goals is to get in good enough shape this year to do 50 miles on my birthday next year.

I've been doing a ride my age ride (within a week of the actual birthday) for about five years now. Actually, I this matches the same time frame that I started posting here. I'll turn 59 in two days and have my ride planned for the day after (I can't reschedule two meetings so that I'd be able to do it on my birthday ).

I rode four times my age on a 241 mile fleche last year. But watch talking about mileage here.

Oh, and a belated Happy Birthday!

when I got back on my bike in 2007 my first goal was to be able to ride a 15-mile loop near my house. By the end of that season I was doing 40+ mile rides, and I rode 2x my age about a year after I got back on my bike.

I have never been a gifted athlete, but spent lots of time on a bike in my 20's and 30's. Getting back into shape was just a matter of diligence and frequency, and paying attention to bike fit so that I could ride comfortably.

My goal is to ride 2x my age sometime during my birthday month. Done it each year for the past 3.

Ditto on the rest.

I try to do something special athletically on my birthday which I have been doing since 1979. Riding my age is a piece of cake so I try for other more interesting events. Two years ago, I raced in an open (all ages) sprint tournament at the Hellyer Velodrome on my 59th birthday and was the fastest racer in the B group. The way the tournament works is 24 racers do a flying 200 meter sprint. Times are arranged from the fastest to the slowest and divided into groups of 8 by time. Then the groups compete in match sprints with two riders on the track with the first one across the finish line in three laps wins. Before the tournament started, all the racers sang happy birthday. It was my coolest birthday.

I started riding my age on or soon after my birthday with my 50th in 2005 after reading about the idea here. That distance is (usually) not a big challenge for me as I ride further than that often, but it is a nice tradition and makes a statement to my more sedentary friends and relatives. I hope it continues to not be a big challenge for years to come.

I thought the piece of cake came after the ride.

B-Dawg's comment is exactly correct. Riding your age on your birthday makes a great statement to your friends and acquaintances, and is a tangible step toward encouraging them (or shaming as the case may be) to do something good for their own health.

Don't rush the age thing Scott, it comes fast enough as it is. You might just think of this forum as 50 + or - and jump right in.

I like to ride my years on the birthday, but a December date makes it harder some years than others.

Welcome to the forum!

One positive way to look at the "50+ ride your age standard" is that the annual percentage of increase in mileage, actually decreases.

Happy Birthday. I'm a few months behind you. We can ride a 50 miler together next year.

We'll just find Bud and draft behind him. Should be easy.

I'm not kidding either. We can snap a few pics and properly introduce ourselves to the forum.

My birthday is pretty soon but if you think I am taking a day off work to be miserable in the cold weather and rain- youv'e got another think coming.

I wait until spring and just do it on a day when the sun is shining and the temp is right so I can do it without 4 layers and a ski mask.

I'm pushing 60 and feel like I'm too young to be here. Never have given a thought to riding my age, but I'll do it this summer. I do it practically every Sunday, anyway though.

No no no.... After riding it is beer and pretzels.

Turned 53 yesterday, but being a work day I rode 71 miles with 4121' of climbing (39 miles non-stop...brunch at my sister's, then 32 miles non-stop home)on New Year's Day instead. Yes, I had cake yesterday!

The only problem with that plan is that I ride recumbents, so don't provide a very good draft.......LOL.

Fixed.

A fairing pushes a lot of air, even if it's down low.

I often thought about riding my age on my birthday but its just before Christmas and its usually too cold. I'm lucky if its warm enough for me to do half my age.

Funny, I misread the title of this thread. I thought it read "On Your Left"

Fixed.

Birthday #61 coming up in a few weeks. (Ah, to be 49 again) Unless we have an unexpected warm spell, I doubt I'll celebrate by riding my age. May defer that till April or May, if that is allowed.

I allow the whole calendar year so take your time.