Cyclists inspiring /motivating others

You never know with your regular cycling, who you might help motivate to become /remain healthy. Several things happen in the last few days:

1. Another employee who just had an organizational wide profile about her bike commuting year-round (in snow too), mentioned she remembered my profile from a few yrs. ago and was motivated by it. (She said inspired, but really, that's just flattery..)

2. Computer technician who fixed my computer this week was particularily proud and inspired by his 63 yr. father who lost a lot of weight from cycling all over the place with his wife. After he fixed my computer, he showed me some photos of his father's cycling forays. He wants to be able to kick butt like his father at his age.


My partner's children (in their 30's) don't really seem to ask much about his cycling work/trips but he knows they like the cool factor, of a father who bikes all over the place.

you also may never know how your own gratitude becomes the fuel that touches and inspires those who touch and inspire you.

A couple of weeks ago I was at the 'finish' line to watch dear Hubby complete the Dartmoor classic 100 miler (over evil, wild and hilly terrain), a sportiv that also included a 35 mile route for those not-so-hard-core cyclists. I was so inspired to see how many mature ladies and gents came through the finish, looking strong and exhilerated. A few ladies looked at least 10 years older than me (I'm 61) and there they were, victorious in lycra and with their trusty road cycles, having bashed one of the most challenging circuits in the country. Was I inspired? You bet!

I've been slowly trying to extend my rides, at the moment I do 12-15 miles (it's very hilly where I live too) and feel pretty nick-nakked afterwards. But I'm looking at the map, trying to add in little dog legs to my route to add a few more hills or a bit more mileage so that MAYBE I'll have to confidence to try a sportiv sometime. I may need to get a new bike, I ride a Trek hybrid 7.2 and love it but hubby reckons a lighter road bike would give me that extra oomph. So thank you, older ladies in Lycra....you have shown me it can be done!

Go for it Kernowcyclist! I started cycling again at age 53. I'm almost 59 now and ride about 100 miles a week most of the time. When I started, it was gradual- a few miles more each ride or each week. I've since ridden about a dozen 100+ mile rides.

What part of England are you in? My daughter is a graduate student from a university in Chichester but actually lives in Cambridge with her boyfriend at present (because the libraries are better ;) ) and we just came back from visiting them.

Kernow Cyclist- figured it out since it says Cornwall right by your name.

Hi Azfiddle, sorry for the late reply. Yes Cornwall, down in the far southwest of England. Very rugged and beautiful.

Today I went to our LBS and had a look at some road bikes. There's a discount on for the duration of the Tour de France. My favourite one so far is the Trek Lexa six. It's about the right budget and I like the spec. I'm going back next week, prepared to do a test ride. The assistant suggested hubby comes with me on one of the other WSDs and we swap half way round the test so I get to try both.

I rode a Trek Lexa on my tour in Ireland and found it comfortable. What are the components?

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes...a_slx_compact/ That's the baby. The only thing I'm not sure of yet is the saddle, which I might change, but a test ride out will give me a better idea. The other one I'm testing is the Lexa S I think. I was going to try a Cannondale but they didn't have any in my price range.