I was riding towards the Golden Gate Bridge yesteday when I saw this older gentleman going up this steep little hill hauling a trailer behind his bike. I rode up next to him and just made a quick comment about doing it the hard way climbing up with a trailer. It turns out he had ridden his bike from Seattle to San Francisco.
We talked for a little while and it was pretty cool hearing the stories about some of the things he had seen along the way.
He was 57 and had just recently retired and wanted to visit San Francisco. So instead of hopping on a plane he decided to ride his bike from Seattle. It was amazing seeing the big smile on his face and how proud he was of his accomplishment. He said that it felt like a dream when he rode over the Golden Gate bridge because he knew he had finally made it to San Francisco.
Along the way he would set up a tent to sleep or stay at Hostels. He carried everything he needed in his trailer.

One of the things he said was that at 57 he was in much better shape than at 37.

Sometimes I get too wrapped in seeing how fast I can ride or how high I can maintain my heart rate. It's refreshing meeting someone who is riding for the pure pleasure of it and for the scenery. Sometimes I forget the reason I started riding in the firt place, for the enjoyment of it.

Joe,
I think there are quite a few BF members who are like this "young" gentleman, in better shape at 57 than 37.
I'm 56 and I know that statement applies to me.

Perhaps someday each of us can retire and enjoy life the way he is. Sounds wonderful. :thumbup:

I'm still a young spanky, but it's my goal to be in better shape at 30 than I was at 20, then to be in even better shape at 40, and so on...

chris

That guy sounds super cool, I would be proud of biking from Seattle to San Fran myself. I would feel like a pioneer from the old days, tackling the wild unknown.

xactly... :cool:

I'm 32 and I know I'm in better shape now than when I was 20. At 20 I was a lazy, long haired fool who drove a car to a store that I could see from my apartment. Spent all my money on alc. and other "party favors".

Yep, Much better shape now, physically and mentally. Alot of it a direct result of cycling.

I'm still a "a lazy, long haired fool", who spends " all my money on alc. and other "party favors", but at 46, I'm in better shape than I've ever been in and lovin' every minute of it.

Now at the age of 28, I am as in shape as when I was 16. I am attempting to make it through life without ever being out of shape. If I can say that I am in shape at 100, then I will know that I was successful.

I was actually discussing this "getting in better shape as years go by" thing with some biking friends the other day and it just so happened that there was someone present in 30s, 40s(me), 50s and 60s. Each said that they were in better shape than they were one decade ago. Could this mean that biking reverses the aging process! Have we discovered the fountain of youth? The truth is that more than any other sport, biking bridges the age gap. To me it is actually encouraging to have a hard time keeping up with someone 20 years older, it helps me believe that I will be biking for a long time. On the other hand, a 14 year old girl approached us on a ride one Saturday asking if she can ride with our group ranging in age from 44 to 67 or so! She just thought we looked like we were having a good time. I think the shape you are in is as much mental as physical and as long as you keep doing what you love you are in great shape!!!!!
Sheryl

You said it, Sheryl!

Count me in that group. I am 49 and in far greater shape than I was at 29 and hope to be in even greater shape at 59.

pf

I KNOW that I am in better shape than I was in my twenties and certainly in my teens. I was never much of an athlete and was lousy at most sports as a kid. I was in my late 20s when I realized I wasn't in good shape and began working out at the gym. Also I don't smoke anymore. Now, with the gym and running and cycling, I am in ten times better shape than I was 20 years ago in high school!

If you can say ANYTHING at 100 you should consider it a success!

The gentleman who convinced me and two other freshly-minted UCLA graduates to ride the Los Angeles Wheelmen double century was 50 at the time. He had gotten himself back into shape after years of smoking and inactivity. Enroute, we encountered a 76-years-young Angelino who proudly wore the patches from 11 previous double centuries.

Sister Madonna Buder, whom one could call the "flying nun," still completes several triathlons per year, at age 70+.

Mike R's comments about being 100 reminded me of George Burns, who often said in his later years, "I'm really glad to be here. Actually, at my age, I'm glad to be ANYWHERE."

I decided at age 35 that I wanted more out of life than what I was getting. I was put in the hospital twice with chest pains and it turned out to be stress, panic attacks and bad life style.

So I quit drinking, quit smoking and started working out at a gym all 3 months apart in 1988. Haven't looked back since then. The better shape I get in the better I want to get in and just maybe one of these days someone on the forum will say they were passed by an 80 year old on the bike trail the other day and it will be me.

Later

Yeah I know I turned that last sentence into a paragraph. Grammer is not my forte...

I met 5 guys in oregon riding from seattle to L A the youngest was 64 the oldest was 75 the 5th guy drove the sag wagon. Every day these guys would start out and ride a full day stop for breaks and lunch. the guy with the sag wagon would wait every 10 or 15 miles at the end of the day they put the bikes on the bike rack and headed to a motel and nice dinner. hot shower and warm bed, these guys were having a blast. In the morning they would go back to where they left off and start again. I d see them every day for 4 or days. The guy in the sag wagon would pass out cold water and fresh fruit to any biker that came along every one on the road knew of them

their story was that 4 years ago they all met each other on a cross country bike trip one that they had to camp in tents most nights. They all loved the ride but hated the camping. They made a plan to meet every year for a ride together but no camping. these guys were an insperation and a pleasure to meet.
I am 50 and hope to stil be touring when im in my 60's and 70's
catfish

I'm 57 also and in much better shape than 37. I didn't start riding until 50 and could only manage a couple miles. Since then I've done 6 centuries with the longest 137 miles. Who would have thought it possible. I didn't even know people rode that far let alone that I could.

Wow that's great GM! And encouraging for us youngsters! (44)

What I sometimes notice, you pass by some really fit looking cyclist, thinking he /she is some really fit young thing. Look her in the face, and she could be your granny. The physique and the face just do not match. The face says 60 plus and ocassionally the body says 20 plus. Such a problem.