Cycling too dangerous for those over fifty?
08-18-11, 08:50 AM
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I can't believe you folks aren't taking this warning to heart. This guy is a doctor and he has written books!
Heck, I'm convinced. I brought all my bikes with me to work today and gave them away to guys in their 20s and 30s. At least they'll have a few years to ride them safely before turning 50 and needing to stop or risk certain peril.
Thank goodness I saw this thread and followed the link or I might have continued to participate in this dealy activity for decades more, not realizing the extreme risk I was taking.
Heck, I'm convinced. I brought all my bikes with me to work today and gave them away to guys in their 20s and 30s. At least they'll have a few years to ride them safely before turning 50 and needing to stop or risk certain peril.
Thank goodness I saw this thread and followed the link or I might have continued to participate in this dealy activity for decades more, not realizing the extreme risk I was taking.
08-18-11, 10:25 PM
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Since my dog induced crash, I have known of at least five more dog induced and very serious crashes, four were older people. One of them had a broken tibia and clavicle and she is not walking yet after nine months. Of course, sometimes there is no accounting for the individual. I got up and got going as soon as I could bear the pain, but who knows--.
During the post op recovery visit the surgery team was trying to cheer me up and told me I would be back on the bike and doing things soon. I was about to cry really over the whole thing and told them I might be done with cycling. I think the look on their faces made me feel worse than I already did because I know they were trying to be positive. My doctor told me not to quit. Of course, as soon as my brain was back to working normally there was no quitting option.
Old(er-ish) people break, young(er--ish) people bounce. The only sure way to die in bed is to never get out of the bed. In the real world, we expose ourselves to danger and we do the best we can to live our lives like today is the last day, and for me, it very nearly was on that horrible day.
LC
Last edited by Loose Chain; 08-18-11 at 10:32 PM.
08-19-11, 08:44 AM
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Well, thank you but my point which I guess you missed is that cycling is dangerous to older people. As I said, twenty years ago I am not sure I could have done any better at avoiding two attacking dogs but had I hit the ground, I doubt I would have snapped my femur in two places and then had a delayed healing process. Yes, cycling is dangerous and possibly more so to older people. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, there are many things more dangerous and cycling does have positive life benefits of which exercise and enjoyment are two.
Since my dog induced crash, I have known of at least five more dog induced and very serious crashes, four were older people. One of them had a broken tibia and clavicle and she is not walking yet after nine months. Of course, sometimes there is no accounting for the individual. I got up and got going as soon as I could bear the pain, but who knows--.
During the post op recovery visit the surgery team was trying to cheer me up and told me I would be back on the bike and doing things soon. I was about to cry really over the whole thing and told them I might be done with cycling. I think the look on their faces made me feel worse than I already did because I know they were trying to be positive. My doctor told me not to quit. Of course, as soon as my brain was back to working normally there was no quitting option.
Old(er-ish) people break, young(er--ish) people bounce. The only sure way to die in bed is to never get out of the bed. In the real world, we expose ourselves to danger and we do the best we can to live our lives like today is the last day, and for me, it very nearly was on that horrible day.
LC
Since my dog induced crash, I have known of at least five more dog induced and very serious crashes, four were older people. One of them had a broken tibia and clavicle and she is not walking yet after nine months. Of course, sometimes there is no accounting for the individual. I got up and got going as soon as I could bear the pain, but who knows--.
During the post op recovery visit the surgery team was trying to cheer me up and told me I would be back on the bike and doing things soon. I was about to cry really over the whole thing and told them I might be done with cycling. I think the look on their faces made me feel worse than I already did because I know they were trying to be positive. My doctor told me not to quit. Of course, as soon as my brain was back to working normally there was no quitting option.
Old(er-ish) people break, young(er--ish) people bounce. The only sure way to die in bed is to never get out of the bed. In the real world, we expose ourselves to danger and we do the best we can to live our lives like today is the last day, and for me, it very nearly was on that horrible day.
LC
But reading this post, I think we are in agreement. I wouldn't tell anyone to stop riding, unless they are really unprepared physically or are just so poor at riding tht they will kill themselves, but as you said, the injuries as an older person can be so much more serious. I think the doctor is saying that too. He is saying "think twice" and i think many older people should do just that before taking up cycling. You certainly know, the hard way, that bones are more brittle and the recovery time is alot longer, if you ever fully recover at all. Many of the opinions I'm hearing here is that the over 50 crowd thinks this is crazytalk and they are every bit as good as they were at 20, which just cannot be true. Maybe they are denying father time, but he will have his day with all of us.
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08-19-11, 08:58 AM
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I think we need to send the AARP paratroopers in to teach this guy a lesson...maybe take over his favorite buffet.
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08-19-11, 09:05 AM
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Physically speaking, yes we're injured easier and heal more slowly. Where I really disagree with Dr. Yaremchuk is in how we evaluate risks vs. benefits. I also disagree that experience and better judgement don't lead to fewer accidents.
08-19-11, 09:14 AM
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My father rode a bike and he died from throat cancer two years ago; my grandfather rode a bike and died from colon cancer fifteen years ago; my father-in-law had average yearly mileage in his sixties at least twice my best year for mileage in my twenties... and he died from lung cancer two years ago! Just like the doctor has seen three people with facial injuries and has all the evidence he needs - I have lost enough people close to me to know for a fact that every single person who rides a bike will die!
08-19-11, 02:33 PM
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I agree that cycling over 50 is much too dangerous. At that speed you could get seriously hurt if you crash.
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08-19-11, 03:38 PM
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Many of the opinions I'm hearing here is that the over 50 crowd thinks this is crazytalk and they are every bit as good as they were at 20, which just cannot be true
But yes, we all think it is "crazytalk".
08-19-11, 04:44 PM
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The doctor is saying, "don't do it."
08-19-11, 04:46 PM
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I repeat:
The key to being safe on your bike is knowing your limits and practicing your manuverability AND keeping a high level of situational awareness when riding on the roadway. Practicing with cones in a parking lot for making sharp turns and/or evasive manuvers is essential for the beginning cyclist. Also, understanding how to use your brakes and practicing sudden stops at different speeds so you can get a grip on total distance needed for stopping at different speeds.
I believe we cyclist have the upper hand over motorist with manuverability and if you know how to handle your bike you can avoid 99.5% of all collisions.
The key to being safe on your bike is knowing your limits and practicing your manuverability AND keeping a high level of situational awareness when riding on the roadway. Practicing with cones in a parking lot for making sharp turns and/or evasive manuvers is essential for the beginning cyclist. Also, understanding how to use your brakes and practicing sudden stops at different speeds so you can get a grip on total distance needed for stopping at different speeds.
I believe we cyclist have the upper hand over motorist with manuverability and if you know how to handle your bike you can avoid 99.5% of all collisions.
08-19-11, 04:48 PM
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08-19-11, 05:30 PM
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From the article -
If you are over 50, think twice before you get on a bicycle, especially if you plan on riding in busy traffic.
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08-19-11, 05:59 PM
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08-19-11, 07:30 PM
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I wonder what Dr. Paul Dudley White would have to say about this? For those not from the Boston area, Dr. White was the Chief of Cardiology at Mass General for a long time.
He felt that bicycling was great exercise for people of all ages. The bikeways around the Charles River basin are named for him, and his bicycle, a vintage 3 speed Schwinn, hangs in the Boston Museum of Science. (Haven't been there for some time, so I'm assuming it is still hanging there.)
That aside, this article sounds suspiciously fake. As others suggested, it sounds like it came from the Onion.
He felt that bicycling was great exercise for people of all ages. The bikeways around the Charles River basin are named for him, and his bicycle, a vintage 3 speed Schwinn, hangs in the Boston Museum of Science. (Haven't been there for some time, so I'm assuming it is still hanging there.)
That aside, this article sounds suspiciously fake. As others suggested, it sounds like it came from the Onion.
08-20-11, 07:15 AM
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I repeat:
The key to being safe on your bike is knowing your limits and practicing your manuverability AND keeping a high level of situational awareness when riding on the roadway. Practicing with cones in a parking lot for making sharp turns and/or evasive manuvers is essential for the beginning cyclist. Also, understanding how to use your brakes and practicing sudden stops at different speeds so you can get a grip on total distance needed for stopping at different speeds.
I believe we cyclist have the upper hand over motorist with manuverability and if you know how to handle your bike you can avoid 99.5% of all collisions.
The key to being safe on your bike is knowing your limits and practicing your manuverability AND keeping a high level of situational awareness when riding on the roadway. Practicing with cones in a parking lot for making sharp turns and/or evasive manuvers is essential for the beginning cyclist. Also, understanding how to use your brakes and practicing sudden stops at different speeds so you can get a grip on total distance needed for stopping at different speeds.
I believe we cyclist have the upper hand over motorist with manuverability and if you know how to handle your bike you can avoid 99.5% of all collisions.
08-20-11, 07:17 AM
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Ok. That's it. This thread freaks me out.
I'm setting up a stationary bike in front of the big screen tv and replay old TdF's.
Which gel paks should I buy? How many can I put in my jersey pockets?
I'm setting up a stationary bike in front of the big screen tv and replay old TdF's.
Which gel paks should I buy? How many can I put in my jersey pockets?
08-20-11, 09:04 AM
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MyLilPony says what he's really saying is the "People over 50 shouldn't crash their bikes." and we agree!
08-20-11, 09:30 AM
#99
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His comparison of walking two miles with biking two miles is silly. Instead, he should have compared time spent exercising.
His message should have been "be careful out there," not "don't bike, old farts."
His message should have been "be careful out there," not "don't bike, old farts."
08-20-11, 09:39 AM
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"2 miles @ 4 mph takes 30 minutes to burn 150 calories
2 miles @ 10 mph takes 12 minutes to burn 75 calories
so on a bike you would burn 150 calories in just 24 minutes wouldn't you?"
A very good point! Also no one has pointed this out yet, but aren't their just more people in the over 50 category these days? You know baby boomers and all that? jus sayin'
2 miles @ 10 mph takes 12 minutes to burn 75 calories
so on a bike you would burn 150 calories in just 24 minutes wouldn't you?"
A very good point! Also no one has pointed this out yet, but aren't their just more people in the over 50 category these days? You know baby boomers and all that? jus sayin'