Age Distribution of about 200 50+ Bicyclers
 

As you grow a bit older, it might be of interest to know that - at least in the 50+ forum - people are still active in bicycling into their 80's. Our 80yo rider bicycles 100+ miles per week on a tandem with his wife, who is 77. Our participants ride many styles of bicycle, but mostly CF, AL and some steel road bikes. Many have stables with multiple bikes, including road bikes, mtn bikes, 'bents, commuters, etc. Some compete (and win) nationally and internationally in a variety of races, randonneuring events and the like. We have a separate sub-forum devoted solely to racing of all types. Some complete double centuries and centuries are common, and there is touring and brevets, "A" and "B" and more relaxed group rides and technical (and not-so-technical) mtn biking. We have many commuters. Many folks build their own bikes. Some just pedal for the pleasure. Some are folks just returning to bicycling after many years absence, or even starting as brand new riders. Below are the results of a current 50+ age poll.

http://www.ourwebs.info/ages50plus.jpg

We have several people in my bike club that are over 80s and ride daily. I had my butt kicked by a 75 year old a few weeks back. To me, this is encouraging. This means that I can still get faster.

I hate old cyclists who ride fast. It's discouraging.

can you enlarge that poll? or provide a link to a bigger version? my over 50 eyes aren't as strong as my over 50 legs ... :-)

This is an original size copy of the original version. Your browser image can be enlarged by pressing control+. Just do that.

I find being old discouraging.

As everyone says, "It sure beats the alternative."

Hmmm....I'm turing turquoise soon!

Sometimes I get a bit depressed because I started cycling only when I was in my 50s. What could I have been if I had started younger?

I still would have been slow and too fat for this sport. That also depresses me.

Sometimes I get a bit depressed for no reason at all.

Then I think that, if I'm lucky and play my cards right, I might cycle another 20 years. That makes me a bit happier.

Then I ride out in the subfreezing weather this AM. It made me feel even happier.

But mainly I'm just kind of depressed.

Thanks for listening.

Is this better?

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...utionchart.jpg

Nice to know.

I will be joining the 50+ gang in just a few short years.

Save room for me.

We have a number of folks not yet 50 who also participate in the 50+ forum.

I notice that you don't actually say that it's encouraged. :D

I just try not to mouth off too much and I've found it a friendly place.

I would not have mentioned it at all if you were not welcome.

Thanks for that. To me, cycling is as close to the fountain of youth we have. I hope to ride into my 80's. Moreover...if I live that long, I am hopeful that age reversal will be realized by then.

I have reached .5 past 50. This puts me in the yellow category. I am a faster stronger rider than when I started at 48. I guess cycling really is the fountain of middle age.

No, it's still blurry...

We don't want skinny people like you.

I can't join the 50+ forum. If I did, I would be acknowledging that I'm over 50.




that just can't happen.

I ride with a group of guys from the Tri-Valley, CA area who cheerfully call themselves the "Old Farts". Since we're a pretty informal bunch, I'm none too clear about our exact demographic, but at 64, I'm sure I'm no where near the oldest in the group. Trouble is, I am close to the slowest :( Be that as it may, I'm sure as hell faster than I was a year ago, and as has been said, that fact that some of my "seniors" are faster still only supports the assumption that I can get stronger. Add to that the fact that I'm now in better shape than I've been in 20 years, and I see no reason whatever to be depressed. :D

Picky, picky, picky... :)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...chartcontr.jpg

I agree on getting faster. My best friend is 75 and can outride most of the good riders in our area including many in their 20s and 30s. He can kick my butt most of the time. I tell him when I grow up I want to be just like him (I'm 59 and been riding 1.5 years). We have some winter texans in our area that ride this time of the year and some are past 85.

No, really. I'm looking at this enlarged graph with my try-focal glasses and it's still blurry...

At age 55, Clair Duckham co-founded the Dayton Cycling Club (in 1961).

39 years later, from a year 2000 article:

DAYTON CYCLING CLUB CO-FOUNDER CELEBRATES 94TH
BIRTHDAY; RIDES WITH OHIO GOVERNOR BOB TAFT
Dayton Cycling Club Co-founder Clair Duckham has been riding a bike for 60 years. At age 94, he still rides 44 miles roundtrip every Sunday from his home in Dayton to a restaurant in Troy for breakfast with a group of friends. Duckham and the late Horace Huffman (former Huffy Corporation Chief Executive) founded the Dayton Cycling Club (www.daytoncyclingclub.org/) in 1961. This league-affiliated club is one of the largest and most active in the U.S.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft joined Duckham and members of the Dayton Cycling Club to celebrate his 94th birthday on April 28th for his 22-mile weekly ride to Troy. Governor Taft presented Duckham with a resolution honoring him for his cycling exploits, which include riding the Tour of the Scioto River Valley in Ohio and the Hilly Hundred in Indiana last year at age 93. Governor Taft is a great grandson of President William Howard Taft, who was the Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt when Duckham was born in 1906. Duckham continues to ride centuries as he approaches the century mark in age, and plans to ride the Hilly Hundred again this year in October.

~~~

And still riding an 18 mile breakfast ride in 2007, as a stoker on a tandem trike: 101-Year-Old Still Pedaling Bicycle

Yea, it must be the numbers that are fogging things up... :innocent: