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.

[Marangel]

I started indoor cycling when I was 39, mountain biking when I was 42. I got my road bike a year ago when I was 44 and did just over 3000 miles my first year! I'm hooked!

[Prairiedog]

Sandy!!! You won a new kayak?!?!?!! Wow. Why doesn't that stuff ever happen to me?!! I love to kayak, you are so lucky. Please enjoy your kayak and think of me, okay?

[Brandy]

I love reading all of the stories...thank you so much for sharing!

[jobob]

There seems to be a lot of us in our forties, esp mid-40's. We might be near the top of the bell curve here !

- jo "46.5" bob

[RoadRaven]

Yeah, Jobob... certainly a pattern here... alot of us cycling loads in our teens and then stopping for kids, career, marriage etc and coming back to it in our late 30s and 40s

I think its fantastic!

We rock, Bike Goddesses!!!

[easterbird]

never biked as a child...grew up on a farm in southern PA. Took a used bike to college but never rode it around campus because I really didn't know how and how could I learn?? Fast forward many years to Sept 2005, I am overweight,retired and ready to take on life but my knees quit...osteoarthritis. A physical therapist mentions as part of rehabbing that biking might be good exercise for me. The rest is history for me(recent). First bike ride Sept 12 2005. Bought Giant Sedona comfort bike Oct 2005, bought Giant OCR C2 Mar 2006. I am hooked and I love it.So far have logged ~2500 miles since the first 'bite'. I just want to ride and ride and ride. Nothing is as much fun or lifts my spirits like feeling the wind in my face(alright, I hate a head wind too!) and the power of pushing the pedals and myself. Know what I mean??

[RoadRaven]

I just want to ride and ride and ride. Nothing is as much fun or lifts my spirits like feeling the wind in my face(alright, I hate a head wind too!) and the power of pushing the pedals and myself. Know what I mean??

Absolutely Easter!!!
Wonderful - its freedom... its one thing where we are completely in control... its moving meditation and I love it... Always thrilled to hear your kind of story.

Now just to convince my boss to keep paying me while I solve problems on the road... there must be a way to frame the idea so he actually believes me...

Hmmm ---- hes a triathlete... maybe I could convince him that we have team meetings in a bunch ride...