"over 40"...show of hands?

[steph40]

Have been biking off and on since I was 5. Bought my new bike June 9 2001 and had a horseback riding accident a week later...moved twice in the next 2 years and am NOW just NOW getting back into it.

Lots of dangerous traffice here in Ft. Lauderdale. Anyone know of good times/places to bike here? My bike club is very suburban....I'm closer to downtown and the beach. Don't like the idea of driving to the suburbs just to ride in THEIR traffice as opposed to my own!

[mtnbikenmama]

I'm 45, started mtn biking 2 years ago, I was an avid hiker prior until the hip started bothering me too much, took up the bike and haven't turned back. Now I'm a happy cycling fanatic.

donna

[AutumnBreez]

HI!
Hey! Thanks so much for the show of hands! I was just reading last night an article in Biking Mag. about bone loss and biking. I thought being a swimmer and biker i had picked two very sensible sports (as far as how they treat your body)...boy you can't win! So, here i sit about to head off to spin class eatting my 12 grain toast and soy nut butter...yummie! Any of you have back problems? I'm looking at surgery (And it better be an "in and out" deal) to help relieve a pinched nerve.

Irulan and Jo< what's your training routine like? I love to compare notes on this.
thanks! happy trails!

I am 4 years from 40, but the chiropractor balanced me out when I was waking up feeling crippled every morning and evening.

[Bike Goddess]

How about over 60? I am 64- You women are a bunch of youngsters in my book! Just know, if I can do this, you can too!

Long distance runner turned cyclist in summer of 2003 due to degenerative arthritis in both knees (family trait). Should have taken this up sooner as cycling is a natural for me. When I look at all of you young uns I wish I could turn the clock back- oh well, I'm in this til the end!

[LBTC]

Nancy you are an inspiration to me!! I'm 37 and hope to be riding hard well into my 80's!! cycling is, well, life!

Do you race at all? I do a little racing now. I kind of dream of doing a solo 24 hour race when I'm in my 50's....

Namaste,
~T~

[cruziegirl]

51 soon-to-be 52. I started cycling about 11 years ago - commuting to work - and was immediately hooked. The original idea was getting some good exercise but I became hooked on cycling and I also got hooked on watching competitive road cycling. One day I started watching a stage of the Giro d'Italia and that was it - I was lost! My plan is to keep cycling for the rest of my life - it's just too darned much fun to quit!

[Bike Goddess]

Do you race at all? I do a little racing now. I kind of dream of doing a solo 24 hour race when I'm in my 50's....

Namaste,
~T~[/QUOTE]
Namaste- Well, I don't race unless you count chasing guys 20 years younger and faster than me! Haven't found any road races that interest me so far. And, I'm training to do the AIDSLifeCycle ride from SF/LA this summer so I am pretty busy gettin' in those miles

Like I said, I wish I had taken this up 20 years ago like a lot of you I read about have. Oh well, better late than never, right?

I also worry about the possibility of crashing during races- the old bones aren't as limber as they used to be! So I just enjoy riding to my fullest extent and training myself to be lean and mean

Nancy

[LBTC]

I also worry about the possibility of crashing during races- the old bones aren't as limber as they used to be!

Bones heal! actually, they are a lot easier to get over than a lot of other things (broke my right humerus in two places 6(?) years ago in a bike crash - 3 pins for 4 weeks, 8 weeks off work, 6 months of physio, 1 cortisone shot, being faster on my bike than ever...priceless)

As long as you're enjoying yourself and not terribly scared worrying about crashes and stuff...that's what it's ALL about!!

Namaste,
~T~

[lkrider]

[QUOTE=gretchen]I'm just wondering how many of you are the "over 40" crowd?

45 for me. The big wake up call I had on the age thing was a ride I was invited to join a few years ago with a friendly group called the "bikin bunch". I think the median age of their club was 65, both genders. I struggled to keep up and realized I had goals to work on when kindly "little old ladies" were smiling and encouraging me to "just get to the top of this hill and you'll be ok"

[Bike Goddess]

Namaste- Yes I know! I've fractured an ankle and a wrist in past years. The last time that happened wrist about 10 yrs ago) the doc said I would probably have arthritis in that area in the near future. NOPE! However, I didn't mention to you that on my last bone scan I am considered a "stage one" as far as bone loss is concerned. AND this is after running consistently for 26 years!!! Family genes!

However, I will say that exercising and working out means less sickness and all that stuff. Even when I do get sick (rarely) it doesn't last, thank goodness. Couldn't stand being off my bike for more than a day or two

[UpNorth123]

Hi there-
Can't tell you how glad to see that even though I've come to the cycling world a little late (46), I'll be in good company. I did commute on my bike many moons ago when I lived in a college town...but my recently purchased road bike is a first (and boy, it's way cool!).

The reason for the leap onto the pedals-I'm participating in Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will be riding my first century in June (America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, Lake Tahoe). I wanted to get back in shape, loose the extra mid-40's baggage and do something for others...this was the perfect match for me as my dad is a non-Hodgkins lymphoma survivor, my sister just lost one of her long-time friends to leukemia, and one of my best friends lost her brother to lymphoma. Having the support of a coach and a team of fellow riders working for a common goal has been great. And they are so nice to the old broad bringing up the rear of the pack (but, hey, I can still them...so they haven't even come close to lapping me...yet).

Lots to learn, many miles to go, but so far I'm having a blast! That includes riding in 23 degrees, having my water bottle turn into a giant Slurpee, and falling over once at a dead standstill (darn clipless pedals).

All the best-
UpNorth123

[CorsairMac]

Welcome to the Board UpNorth! What a wonderful story and what an inspiration. Wishing you all the best and keep up the good work!......you just wait...one of these days They'll be trying to keep up with YOU!

[Barb]

I haven't heard from her in a way long time. I haven't heard much from her daughter Fultzie either. Hmmmmm

[Debbie Long]

Hey there. Do to my husbands mid life transition we are biking across the country. I just started training a little over 3 weeks ago and doing better than I ever expected. Of course this is a full time event for me right now and I am following the plan laid out for me, eating the right foods, etc. I am surprised at how well my body is responding and I am sure you will do great. I hope this will be something I will c ontinue for a long time. It's beautiful out there and when you get bored, just sing some silly songs.

[Debbie Long]

I took Black STrap molasses, unsulphered, from the health store and my blood count was higher than any woman's the Red Cross had ever seen. I also recomended it for my friends baby and his blood count immediately went up. Doesn't taste great but it works.