How old were you when you started cycling?

[Brandy]

Just curious how long everyone has been cycling and how old you were when you started. For extra credit, tell how and why your got into cycling.

I'll go first...I rode around a little today, but my first real ride on my road bike will be tomorrow! I'll be 29 for another nine days...then I hit the big 3-0.

[Popoki_Nui]

Um...how far back can we go? I started riding when I was five years old...so more than 40 years. I didn't ride much at all during my late 20's and throughout my 30's because of my carreer. I began again at 39 to get in shape for an upcoming surgery I needed, and have kept at it since.

~Sherry.

[snapdragen]

Not counting childhood through age 16, I started riding again at age 42. I had a friend who died from AIDS, and a number of friends living with HIV/AIDS. I wanted to do something, so I signed up for the California AIDS ride in 2000. Bought my bike in October 1999, did the ride in June of 2000 .

[KnottedYet]

If we count tricycles, I've been riding since I was walking. About 1 1/2 or 2. I've always had a bike. But only ever one bike at a time. I aspire to greatness, and my own stable of bikes. (a commuter, a road tourer, and a recumbent)

[maillotpois]

Also not counting childhood (where I rode more horses than bikes anyway), I started mountain biking at about 26 (DH got me my first bike with gears the weekend we got engaged) and road riding at 34. I'll be 40 in December. So I've really only just started riding!

[Aggie_Ama]

I didn't really do any cycling until 2004, I was 23 at the time. My DH bought me a road bike for our first anniversary. That wasn't really my present, but I got fitted for and bought it on our anniversary (5/24). That is when I got started. I didn't get the cycling bug until we signed up for the MS150 last spring and I set my mind on training for it.

I used a bike growing up to go to school and friend's houses, but I wasn't competitive. Back then I didn't even understand the gears!

[bike4ever]

I rode everywhere when I was younger. Due to college then career, like Popoki_Nui I stopped riding. I began again at age 35 when I needed to keep up with two young boys on bikes and one in a stroller. I decided to get a bike and trailer and haven't stopped riding since. I look back at where I rode when I was in high school and realize my mom would freak even now to know how far from home I went.

[Starfish]

Maillotpois, I also rode horses, not bikes, up to about age 25. Had a VERY brief stint with a mountain bike on logging roads...thought that would help me get over losing a rural, horsey lifestyle with a man. It didn't take. Then, at 35, I met my husband, who was an avid cyclist. I drug out that old mountain bike for road use, and my first 10 mile ride was a red-letter day. A couple years ago got my road bike. My (ex)husband told me I couldn't keep up on the bike, and he is gone. But, the bike stayed, and what a lifesaver. Today I talked to 2 women about showing them the ropes about biking, teaching them how to change flats, etc. I am so thankful for biking, and how it helps me through the tough days. It's true that I couldn't keep up with my husband on the bike, and I aspire to being much stronger and faster. But, I am amazed and thankful for what I *can* do on the bike. And, I love seeing what happens when women start riding and finding that strength and joy.

[roughingit]

21, and that's counting childhood! I had a two hour walk to get to work, then an 8-9 hour workday, then two more hours home...good motivation lemme tell ya!

[KSH]

I learned how to ride a bike without training wheels at 3-4 years old.

Then, I got a 10 speed later in life... I guess around 8-10? I rode that thing everywhere! I loved it!

When I was around 11-12, I tried to go ride with a group from the bike shop in town... but they said I needed the padded shorts, and I we couldn't afford them.

Well, I still rode on my own... and even rode to work until I was 17 years old.

Once I got a car though, the bike was gone.

Then, in October 2004... I decided to start doing triathlons... bought myself a Trek 1000... and I now have 2,200 miles on it!

I love bikes!

[Starfish]

bought myself a Trek 1000... and I now have 2,200 miles on it!
I love bikes!

The Trek 1000 got a great review in Bicycling Mag's big review issue. Sounds like you've liked yours?

[Brandy]

The Trek 1000 got a great review in Bicycling Mag's big review issue. Sounds like you've liked yours?

That's what I just got as well. I haven't put any miles on her yet, but she looks really pretty sitting here in my living room!

[Lise]

Early memory of falling off a tricycle when I was three. Then riding my blue Schwinn without training wheels at 7. Joy-filled memory of riding my bike to swimming lessons on summer mornings when I was 8 or 9. Rode to get around in HS, had a bad endo on a dirt path with skinny tires at age 19, scraped up my face pretty badly, didn't ride too much for a few years. Rode to get around some in college until my bike was stolen...didn't ride much again for many years.

In the early '90s I would ride to work...that bike was stolen, too.

Got depressed, overweight etc. Got divorced. Started riding again in 2002, lost a bunch of weight, became a triathlete at age 42, and LOVE to ride now! And I have very, very good locks. I'll be 46 this summer. The best is yet to come. I'm looking forward to those summer mornings...sometimes I wake up and feel like I'm 8 years old again, and I can hardly wait to go ride my bike.

[Starfish]

Got depressed, overweight etc. Got divorced. Started riding again in 2002, lost a bunch of weight, became a triathlete at age 42, and LOVE to ride now!

Hey, thanks for this post. I just got divorced a few months ago (not my desire), and I sure have been grateful for the bike. I also turned 40 at the same time. Now I have a friend (50!) who did her first Ironman last year, and she wants me to train for 2007 with her! I think that is out of my league for this year, but I am hoping to be fitter and stronger at 50 than I am now. Thanks for mentioning becoming a triathlete at 42.

[allabouteva]

, became a triathlete at age 42, and LOVE to ride now!

Well, I'm 42 now, and would love to be a triathlete, but one small problem CAN'T SWIM! So good for you Lise!

I started when I was about 8, which is late. Didn't really get a bike until I was a bit older then that. Long story...

Then didn't ride at all in my teens, twenties, thirties.... Bought bikes in my twenties and thirties, but didn't really get the bug, until late last year, and now I really have the bug, as I've bought two bikes in 6 months (a Giant CRX hybrid and an Orbea Aqua Dama roadbike).

I just love riding now.... Still have some balance issues (find it hard to ride one handed etc), but who cares as long as I can ride!