Age vs. Cycling Ability

[Tuckervill]

I think we have two groups here:

• those who were athletic for much of their lives
• those who started later

Silver was never athletic and started running in her late 30's. Within 9 months, she did her first marathon and now she's coaching tri-athletes!

I was never athletic as a kid (I was the drum major in the band!). 18 months ago, Silver nearly killed me on a 9 mile ride. Last month, I rode across Indiana!

My only point in saying this...and in starting this thread...is to encourage people of 'wisdom and experience' to not sell themselves short and to allow themselves to benefit from thinking big.

This has been a fun thread for me to read, there's so much wise feedback from insightful people.

Thanks

+1!

I do have to say that there's a third category:

*those who were athletic as kids, put it aside, then found it again.

I was a cheerleader, softball player, volleyball player and generally active kid. I rode my bike everywhere I went from the time I learned at 4. Then I got married and had kids. My last bike ride before almost 5 years ago was when my oldest was about 6 weeks old. I put him in the backpack and took him for a spin. It was too cold, and I never rode with him again. He'll be 26 next week!

So a 20 year hiatus from athletics (I did play a season of co-ed softball or two, but it hurt), and I'm BAAACK!

I ran a whole mile at boot camp today, just because I decided to. The whole class gave me high-fives.

Karen

[Susan126]

Tuckerville is right. I am 54 and my childhood growing up in the 60s was so different then kids' growing up today.

I walked or biked to school, came home had a snack did my homework then was out the door until dinner. Home for dinner then back out with my friends until curfew. TV was 3 channels (black and white tv) and rabbit ear antennae. Summer break was 3 months of playing with friends outdoors, softball, whether organized or just a quick game with neighborhood friends. Going on family vacations with my 2 sisters, brother, and our parents every July to the lake (Lake Erie) for two weeks. Roaming the streets of my hometown on my bike with my friends. Going to the stream where we would swim with swinging old tire tied to a tree which we used to swing out over the deepest part of the stream and then let go!

I had the best childhood and stores of memories. I sometimes feel sorry for today's kids. With their computers, video games, and lack of exercise. Not forced exercise but "kid" exercise. The kind that comes naturally to kids. Exercise that you never thought of exercise but fun times with friends outside doing fun things.

During lunch recess a game of softball, jump rope, tag; we didn't need adults to tell or show us how or what to do. We knew what to do to have fun.

Biking recreates part of that for me because some of my favorite times were spent on my bike. All decorated up for our local parades through my home town. Memorial Day, Fourth of July . . . riding our steeds my friends, siblings and I through our town.

Kids today don't know how to "play" . . . maybe because they were never given the opportunity. I don't know. I tried to allow my kids (now 24 and 26) outdoor time when they were growing up. Joe and I lived in beautiful places before he retired from the military and went to work for Boeing. Alaska, Montana, Virginia, taking the kids fishing, to zoos, camping, hiking, local sites and attractions, limiting their tv and video game time.

I feel if you grew up with this life style you never lose it. And that is why you see a lot of older folks regaining their youthful ways on bikes. For me it was a wonderful time of my life and again it has become a wonderful way of life for me again. I feel like a kid again. I have fun when I am on my bike. I feel like the kid I was back in the 1960s! Well almost!

[pardes]

This thread is taking on a life of its own which is appropriate since we are all surmising that aging will hopefully also have a life of its own beyond the physical limitations that often come with it.

Fabulous point that many of us were never athletic as kids at least in organized sports with some wanting now to be competitive and others embracing all aspects of the recreational facets of biking.

Either way self-pride seems to be the laudable point and what is more age appropriate to aging than finally learning both the acceptance of limitations and the Boomer trait of wanting to change the world starting from within that knows no limitations.

Some Boomers will claim we changed the world by stopping a war but I would like to see us change the world again by reaching out to the fretful young with examples in living color of how it's possible to "have it all."

[Crankin]

Excellent points. I also grew up in the 60s and spent every night running around the streets with my friends or riding my Raleigh 3 speed up huge hills, and playing in streams. I tried to give my kids the same kind of upbringing, allowing them the freedom other parents gasped at. Most of the time it worked, although once when they were 5 and 8, the older one left the younger alone in the woods for "no reason." Thankfully, he had a walkie talkie with him and I was able to talk him out by sighting a house in the distance. They both did a lot of computer stuff, but very little video games. At 23 and almost 26 one is a super athlete and the other is just normal active. He takes the bus to work, instead of driving, and often gets off 2-5 miles before home and walks. He also does some long fitness walks on the weekends, some swimming, and hiking once in awhile. I gave him my old mountain bike, hoping he would ride it, but nothing yet. I don't want to push him, but I have been giving gentle hints that if he doesn't start now, it only gets harder!

[shootingstar]

With their computers, video games, and lack of exercise. Not forced exercise but "kid" exercise. The kind that comes naturally to kids. Exercise that you never thought of exercise but fun times with friends outside doing fun things.

During lunch recess a game of softball, jump rope, tag; we didn't need adults to tell or show us how or what to do. We knew what to do to have fun.

Biking recreates part of that for me because some of my favorite times were spent on my bike. All decorated up for our local parades through my home town. Memorial Day, Fourth of July . . . riding our steeds my friends, siblings and I through our town.

Kids today don't know how to "play" . . . maybe because they were never given the opportunity. I don't know. I tried to allow my kids (now 24 and 26) outdoor time when they were growing up. Joe and I lived in beautiful places before he retired from the military and went to work for Boeing. Alaska, Montana, Virginia, taking the kids fishing, to zoos, camping, hiking, local sites and attractions, limiting their tv and video game time.

I feel if you grew up with this life style you never lose it. And that is why you see a lot of older folks regaining their youthful ways on bikes. For me it was a wonderful time of my life and again it has become a wonderful way of life for me again. I feel like a kid again. I have fun when I am on my bike. I feel like the kid I was back in the 1960s! Well almost!

I do seriously consider the best of years of my health and life (am 49),...are now with it accelerating when I returned to cycling at 31, as overall even "freer" than my childhood, teenager when I now have the financial means to do and see things ...not just cycling but also other fun activities.

Since parents didn't have much money to keep their 6 kiddies entertained..we entertained ourselves. Since I was the eldest, by default I was a built-in babysitter daily, and hence thrown outside to look after siblings. So we played...with very little toys, had 2 bikes and 1 tricycle among 6 children.

I can't quite believe I could double-dutch-skip rope up to 2,000...remember that? Those contests ... But there were shared bikes within the family.

So returned to cycling much later after dropping it at 19. ...

I was a nerdy, brainy introverted kid. Sports was never my thing, but I did experience the euphoria of a sport by happily playing softball for 2 years at recess and after school with the other girls..on a pavement diamond. Not a grassblade on our school layground. It was not really team-based just loosely organized softball games. I was addicted since summers got up to 90 degrees C with high humidity.

I started softball when I was 10. A common age turning point for girls. to realize a glimer of their future potential.. around 8-14 yrs. where the probability of building confidence and experiencing it through things they like doing...starts then and can influence a girl's self-confidence in a major way.

I still don't consider myself a great cyclist, just way more more active cyclist/physically active than I ever was when growing up. And probably quite active and in good health, compared to many women in my age group that I know.

[Red Rock]

I am approaching 40 My brain says I'm younger than that, so it is hard to be thinking that I am approaching the later years in my life. Ugh.

I was one of those totally active kids and basically have been my whole life. I was a gymnast from 5 years until 6th grade. Then I picked up tennis, cycling, hiking, swimmming, crosscountry and probably others. From junior high onward. I was always on some team in high school or college. When I was in College, I was a part of the cross country ski team. That was cool becasue I was able to see and experience all parts of New England. I could tell you which campuses had the best food. That was all the fun part. Training is training.

Now I just ride for fun and enjoyment even if it is about 30 miles a day or on a weekend.

Red Rock

[kayandallie]

55 here. I've been flirting with cycling for the last 3 years or so, after riding here and there all my life. My son works in a bicycle shop and is a Serotta fitter, so I have a very positive influence in my life (of course, he was destined to be so as his dad brought in a baby bike to the hospital the day he was born). I ride 3-4 days/week and in the past months or two or three have just really been pushing it. I used to stop and relax but now I have no need; I just want to keep riding. I'm in better shape than I was when I was younger although I'm heavier (sigh). I love to use my age as an excuse when I need to, but I just keep on doing my own thing by myself and loving it.

[han-grrl]

only because i liked this

[shootingstar]

Han-grrl...rare that men his age (whatever his real age is) would look like that.

For certain I can confirm my honey does not look that buff at 65.. but he remains regular cyclist and does loaded bike touring often on his own through the mtns. from home and elsewhere.

A month ago, I learned of a 70 yr. woman (a grandmother) who did do radonneuring in earlier years, did several loaded bike trips (including across Canada with camping after retiring at 65); then did loaded bike group tour with other similar-aged folks in past few yrs.; was highly active and vocal in Vancouver-area cycling advocacy for over past decade. Now she must withdraw from some of this stuff because of impeding cataract eye surgery and a long-term heart problem (irregular).

But she has achieved alot cycling-wise and it is clear to others who know her that cycling has benefited her physically and psychologically ..in terms of a positive life outlook.

[teawoman]

Well, after a year in my bike club, I can finally keep up with the 60-something men. (I'm 43 and new to cycling).