"over 40"...show of hands?

[mfh1399]

I started riding 2003, on a road bike. I was preparing for the pennsylvania senior games ( for anyone over 50) when in june I was run off the road and hit a pothole and fell, seperated my shoulder, so of course the july senior games were out.

well this year i started in march and qualified for 10k and 20k for the senior olympic games in pittsburgh. my point is when i went to the senior games (held in ever state) i couldn;t believe what an insipration it was to see all those seniors out there doing there sport. swimming track and field etc. I was amazed ,and in the cycling, well there serious about that too. It was a lot of fun and the people are so great and friendly. there is life after 50 in the sporting world.

I love to bycyle and entered 4 races this year. some times iam the only one in the 60-65 age group, but thats okay, because everyone cheers you on, guys in there 20-30years. say to you ,
keep going your doing great etc. so much fun , lots of hard work but i just love biking.

[trekin']

I'm 49, and am just starting to get into biking seriously. I just picked up my new Trek 1500 WSD and love it! I spent a good part of my first ride pedaling into a stiff wind, which would have exhausted me on my old Schwinn Sierra.

I thought it would take me awhile to get used to a road bike, but I had no trouble at all, except when I almost ran into my own car in the driveway, because the steering is so sensitive. My usual 10 mile bike ride went so fast, a stop at the LBS for some adjustments added only 9 minutes to my usual ride time. My time to ride is usually limited to one hour a day during the week, but now I'll have to lengthen the route!

I did a lot of research prior to purchasing my Trek, and I learned alot from reading this forum. Thank you to all of you who so generously share your knowledge, wisdom, and experience...my learning curve will be alot smaller because of you!

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the board and oooo aahhhh on the Trek 1500. I have the Trek Navigator 200 and its sweet for tooling back N forth to work - but it just ain't fast enough! Drooling N dreaming over the Rivendells right now! Anyway - welcome and enjoy!

[trekin']

Thank you for the welcome, CorsairMac. Although I had briefly tried my friend's Trek 2000 and thought it OK, I had planned to do alot of shopping around to find just the right bike for me, but as it is with most things (I'm 5'1"), no one had a bike in stock that was small enough for me to try. The owner of the LBS in my town clearly has a passion for biking and treated me like an equal, so, after alot of internet research and looking at Cannondale, Fuji and Trek, I decided I wanted to try the Trek 1500. He special ordered the 43cm, and he told me it would be no problem if I didn't like it (unlike some other shops). I liked it when I road tested it, but was very cautious and kind of nervous since I wasn't used to the bike (and didn't own it yet...didn't want to bring it back in 2 pieces and say, "sorry, this one's not for me!"). Today, however, was a different story...I felt like I had moved from a pick-up truck to a Porsche! Even the saddle it came with feels good! I've got a busy day tomorrow, but, somehow, I will find time for a ride!

[wawaski]

Yeah,
about 10 years ago!
S.

[repto]

Hey all,

I'm over 40--and generally loving life. Age is relative, right?

I still am highly encumbered by small children when riding, but we ride a LOT together as a family. I use a duo-trailer and we have a trailer-cycle (tagalong) thingie too. We are contemplating on buying a Bike Friday convertible triple bike so that we can more easily be a bike train. Are we nuts?!

Jane

[echidna]

Another "over-40" checking in....born in 1963 so I'm in the club - but barely. Got 2 kids in high school. Mileage is suffering right now until marching band season is over....

[MomOnBike]

I'm looking really hard at 50 now, except I really don't feel that ancient. I keep wondering how it happened. I could swear I was 17 just yesterday...

Kids marching. Yep, know all about that. All Saturdays in Oct. are accounted for by marching contests. I found myself on a lovely fall day manning a consession stand instead of riding my bike - and NOT minding. Weird.

Kids generally: Younger Daughter messed up the front of our car last night. We are now down to .5 cars. (I count a car in the shop as .5 car.) Dad commutes on his bike, and I run errands on mine, so it's not a big deal (ignoring the $$$ to fix the car). Having YD take over the car has done wonders for my mileage. And hauling cat food and milk home up that hill just has to be good for me, Right?

[bentforlife]

Actually getting closer to 50. But it's been good years!! Now I'm just more determined to take care of myself, so I can enjoy being a grandma one of these days, if that ever happens!! My 21 yo is too busy trying to get her education and 14yo...let's not go there.

I sure understand about band competitions. The last football game is tomorrow night,woohoo!! No more marching until the Aldophus Children's Christmas Parade in Dallas. Our band will be one of the lead-off bands. Look for Boswell High School from Saginaw, TX(ok, shameless school promotion). Anyway, my daughter plays cymbals and is a "ahem" percussionist.


The bike is up on the trainer right now, but with the rain stopping I'll probably take it back down. BTW, I think I decided to name the big recumbent, Stretch. Corny enough to fit(pun intended), and Texas sounding too!

[Concretecutie]

Hi, Everyone:
Sure is nice to see that there are quite a few of us out there living life to the fullest from the seat of a bike.

I'm 57 and I started riding 7 or 8 yrs. ago to lose weight. I was successful at that endeavor--a pound a week for a year. Was written up in Prevention magazine, Win the Sugar Wars book by Rodale and a Boardroom magaine. So I've been devout ever since. Even used to work at Bicycling Magazine and had the opportunity to ride at lunch with co-workers.

Started track cycling this year and plan to train for the PA/NJ State Games this coming Aug. at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome.
Working on getting my trainer & coach, now. Also became a League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor last year and have been teaching people in our age bracket that are just getting started riding. If any of you are concerned about riding in the street or on the roads, contact your local LCI (League Cycling Instructor) for Road I classes in your area. You can find cycling instructors by going to www.bikeleague.org and then to the BikEd section and then to the instructors by state.

One of the things I saw some discussion about is having trouble finding bikes that fit? If you ever have pain while riding or seem to accummulate pain while riding, have your fit checked at a bike shop. If the problem continues, have a bio-mechanical fit.
It takes all your flexibility, injuries, age, weight, etc. into consideration when being fit for a bike.

I had a Trek 2000 road bike for several years and did a full century on it as well as all the training rides leading up to it and as time passed, I noticed pain at the base of my neck between my shoulders getting worse and worse. I worked on relaxing my shoulders and consiously pushing my shoulders down and nothing worked. I finally met a mechanic from Serrotta that gave me a fit check on my Trek and we discovered that the top tube was too long for my torso and the stem was already the shortest available. So I began my search for a custom built bike. Not one customized for me; but one designed and built just for me.

I have to tell you that my Serrotta is just the ticket. No more pain, well aside from the one in the butt that ya get after several hrs. in the saddle. It fits like a comfortable pair of shoes and I never knew cycling was supposed to feel this good.

This is not meant to make you feel that you need to have a custom built bike to be a cyclist, just if you ever have trouble and just can't figure out why. Start with the bike fit check up and go from there. Be sure to find a shop that does bio-mechanical fits because those quick fits that some shops do aren't always adequate to give you a comfortable ride.

[bikerchic]

That's me 52 and counting, well when you consider the alternative counting ain't so bad. I'll be 53 in February and I started cycling at the ripe old age of 46. Nothing hard core like mountain biking I'm a roadie and like to do endurance rides like century rides.

Who am I kidding right now I would like to endure a 10 miler......awhhh shame on me, but I'll be back in the saddle and strong as ever this coming year it's a promise I've made to myself.

Howdy all,

Kate

[Dogmama]

Originally posted by Concretecutie
I have to tell you that my Serrotta is just the ticket. No more pain, well aside from the one in the butt that ya get after several hrs. in the saddle. It fits like a comfortable pair of shoes and I never knew cycling was supposed to feel this good.

HOW FUNNY! That is EXACTLY what I thought the first time I road my Gilmour (custom bike) - "This feels like a comfortable pair of shoes." I would also add that bike handling became second nature also.

[Dottie]

I turned 50 on Nov. 2. Only been cycling for just over 3 years and sure do love it. It has given me a love for all kinds of fitness. I am in an aerobics class on Monday nights, have my own little gym in the basement of inexpensive used equipment that I have picked up little by little. I set it up in a 1/2 circuit in front of a tv and CD/ Radio player. I walk every morning before work. I also lift weights. I guess seeing my body toned and the compliments I get (mainly from my husband and adult children) have inspired me too. They say I look better now than I ever have!! My oldest son who is 28 tells everyone his mom is a jock! I think he is proud of me.
We have flat lands around here so I am envious of you all that have hills to ride! I have a hard time cycling against wind though.
Gretchen-I love yellow labs. We had one once. they are the best, loving, smartest dogs!!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I'm over 50 (OK, I'm 52!) - can I play too?

I celebrated my 50th birthday with a solo bike tour across the USA, and while that was my longest tour to date, it wasn't my last. I'm convinced that biking helps keep me young, and I'm looking forward to continuing this passion for many years to come!

[jobob]

Kate !! Nice to hear from you, I was wondering what became of you. Welcome back ! Now don't be a stranger, y'hear? You and snapdragen can 'encourage' each other to get out riding again

- Jo.