How old (or young) are you?

[DebW]

I've been a roadie since I was about 12, but that was back in the stone age before clipless, lycra and cytomax existed..... (though I admit to liking all of the aforementioned these days) I even had the first Bell hardshell helmet - the big white one with the orange reflecty tape...

Wait a minute, Eden. I thought you were only 35. You're a youngster. I bought one of those original Bell helmets in 1977 when I was 21.

[Eden]

Wait a minute, Eden. I thought you were only 35. You're a youngster. I bought one of those original Bell helmets in 1977 when I was 21.

Yup - you've got my age right - but that big clunky white bell was still the only one when I got my first - or at very least it was the only one available in my area.... heck it couldn't have been too much later anyway - maybe '82 or maybe even earlier when I got it - (of course I didn't have the 1st one made, but it was that original hard shell) I guess that makes me a roadie since before I was 12 then. I had that big heavy helmet for a long time. When I replaced it I got a cherry red Vetta that was still a hard shell - I think it was made of Lexan.

[Trek420]

Wait a minute, Eden. I thought you were only 35. You're a youngster. I bought one of those original Bell helmets in 1977 when I was 21.

I thought so too.

On the Ride to Redhook Eden blew past us one way with her team, turned 'round, caught up, rode the 20 something with us and then some after.

She's spinning so easily ahead of us, no hands at some points. Granted I'm slow, real slow, granted I'm on a Raleigh Hybrid (Thanks Mimi, really a great bike) but I thought "well of course she's a way stronger rider, she's a 20 something racer gal".

Do the math and helmet styles folks, Eden does not look ... or ride her age.

[Aggie_Ama]

26 as of the 17th! Around here a lot of people my age are still doing the bar scene several nights a week. If all your money is being drank away and you don't have much to begin with, well you can't afford cycling. Also I hear a lot of excuse out of the youngsters I work with, they all claim to have ailments that keep them from being active. I do notice I am about 10 years younger than most of the women I see. Of course many of those 35+ women are dropping me.

[Eden]

Interestingly enough I'm probably around the median age on the team (and we have around 90 members), though this year I think we picked up some younger gals. We have several very fast and very talented 50 somethings that can kick my butt and two juniors, both of whom I think are 16 this year.

[Trek420]

We have several very fast and very talented 50 somethings that can kick my butt.

Well, I'm talented and 51 (as of the 27th next month) but I sure can't kick your butt

[velocilex]

I'm 41. Funny how that number keeps creeping up every year.

[Ninabike]

Going on 63!! I do tend to see more men my age cycling, but I also see a few women. I started cycling seriously in the early '60's, NO helmet, toe clips with cleats, sew-up tires, wool jerseys and shorts with "real" chamois, my bike, a Frejus (Italian) with Campy Gran Sport componants; gave up cycling for a while, returned in the '70's, left again and returned a few years ago. What is interesting to me is that the things I loved as a teenager - cycling being one of them, are the exact things I love now. I don't even feel that I am any older!! Even during the years I wasn't riding, beautiful road bikes always caught my eye. Go "baby boomers"!!

Nina

[LBTC]

Yay, Nina! I plan to be you in 25 years!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Ninabike]

Alright!! LBTC, I'll be wait'n for you!!

Nina

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh yeah?....well Nina, I hope to be you in TEN years!!!

[dakay]

Going on 63!! I do tend to see more men my age cycling, but I also see a few women. I started cycling seriously in the early '60's, NO helmet, toe clips with cleats, sew-up tires, wool jerseys and shorts with "real" chamois, my bike, a Frejus (Italian) with Campy Gran Sport componants; gave up cycling for a while, returned in the '70's, left again and returned a few years ago. What is interesting to me is that the things I loved as a teenager - cycling being one of them, are the exact things I love now. I don't even feel that I am any older!! Even during the years I wasn't riding, beautiful road bikes always caught my eye. Go "baby boomers"!!

Nina

Nina,

I too had a Frejus in the 70's. Actually, I still have it. My husband just rebuilt it last year before we started riding again. It really never fit me so now I have a new WSD Rodriguez.

Kathy

[Ninabike]

Nina,

I too had a Frejus in the 70's. Actually, I still have it. My husband just rebuilt it last year before we started riding again. It really never fit me so now I have a new WSD Rodriguez.

Kathy

Kathy, a little drift here. I don't know how may people even know what a Frejus is. My brother and I each bought our Frejus bikes in 1960 from an LBS owned by a 1956 Olympian tandem cyclist - Don Furgeson. He was a great guy and let us work on our bikes in his shop with his tools. We learned a lot!!He even let me ride one of his Cinellis for a while. When I went away to college, my mother asked if she could give my bike to a girl in our neighborhood who was recovering from rhumatic heart disease (her Dr. said cycling would would be good for her). I said "sure". When my brother went to Viet Nam in 1968, he gave his bike to our neighbor - a pediatrician. Believe it or not, I think he still may have it, although I have lost touch with that
family. Incidentially, my Frejus didn't fit either - at least by today's standards. Nobody talked about "fit" in those days. You just "made do".
Those years are some of my fondest memories!!

Nina

[wurkit_gurl]

I am just now looking into the sport at age 26. But I know several young men my age who actually cycle (not just baggy-pantsed mountain bikers!), and who've been doing it for quite some time. I've dated 3 cyclists- one who did it recreationally, one was a former nationally-ranked triathlete in his late teen/early college years, who also mountain bikes, and the most recent one raced both road and mountain bikes in college and still cycles/mtbs regularly for fun and is looking to get back into racing. I think for most 20-somethings though, it's a money issue. Certainly for me; I just finished grad school in May and up until now I've really not had enough income to spend on something like this. Plus, I used to be a dancer (undergrad in theatre), so didn't have time for extra sporty hobbies. And because I used to be a dancer, everyone sees me as some weak, wussy girly-girl, who can't hack a real sport (ie, all of my cycling exes). But I recently got into rock climbing, and am trying to branch out more, because I really enjoy athletic pursuits. Dancing is actually very athletic, just in a different sense.