Yrs. on bike & what keeps you there

[Starfish]

I turn 42 this month.

Been riding for about 5 years now. Before that, not since I was in grade school.

Why? I trashed my knee running in college, and spent a lot of the next 10 years or more out of shape. Got my first bike after giving up my horses...found the freedom was the next closest thing.

Why do I keep it up? I love the combination of training goals & achievement, coupled with the joy, freedom and endorphin rush of working out, outside.

Weight loss? It goes up and down, depending on my eating. But, my legs and butt have really firmed up, and my body image has really improved since I've discovered my body can carry me up and down mountains all day on my bike, regardless of how it looks.

[MomOnBike]

Age: 53

How long and why:
Long answer: Um, I didn't get a driver's license 'til Elder Daughter was a year old and we lived in the geographic center of nowhere. Until that time I rode my bike whenever I wanted to go anywhere. I was much thinner then...

While living the homestead life, I gave up on riding, but managed somehow to stay active and busy.

We moved to the Big City and my weight ballooned. I blame the car. One day for grins I asked an RN at work to take my blood pressure. She turned white and sent me home with instructions not to stroke out on her.

Not long after I pulled out the old Raleigh and started amazing treks of up to 3 miles!!! One thing led to another and I bought a recumbent to take pressure off my hands and so I could tour.

Short answer: about 5 years - to stay alive.

Why continue:
To stay alive. Not just the body, but the mind, too. I'm happier when I ride, get more done, all that. I'm just more ALIVE. And then there are tours. To my mind there is nothing better than getting on a bike and going somewhere new. It's a feeling of freedom I can't get any other way.

Weight loss:
No. (great big sigh) I used to think that if I just rode 10-30 miles a day on a regular basis, weight would just fall off. Not off my body, it doesn't. Of course three (3) sedetary jobs have nothing to do with the weight loss problem. And don't give me the "fat weighs less than muscle" speech. Weight is weight. If you don't believe me, just ask my feet. Yes, I'm frustrated with my weight. At least when I ride I don't gain more.

[Fredwina]

age 47 next month
Cycling since 1993
why? A good question! I Like OakLeaf's comments on page1
Why keep it up:? see previous.
Weight loss 100 pounds, but I've put back on 30(age is slowing me down)

[kelownagirl]

I'm amazed at how many of us are in the 45-55 age range.

[shootingstar]

I'm amazed at how many of us are in the 45-55 age range.

You ladies are fab!
My story is more boring..no drastic weight loss..I was underweight. Now am trying to stay within my acceptable weight.
Cycling consecutively for nearly past 17 yrs. after abandoning bike at 19 yrs. old because of studies, etc. I was itching to get back on bike, but didn't know how... coincidentally met my partner ..who is a cyclist....rest is history.

Will be like roadie gal, in 2 wks. will turn 49.

Once on bike, it's like a drug that regenerates itself everytime I bike.
I love the freedom and to explore...because I don't drive. Car-less for most of life except for 6 years, when father bought a car. (I was 15 yrs. old).


I need the bike to do stuff around town and to take cheap(er) vacations.

Yea, we would also like to hear from women under 30? And is there anyone 60 and over?

[Tuckervill]

The most inspirational thread around here is the one about women over 40 or whatever it was. That was a GREAT thread.

I'll try to find it.

Here it is: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...hlight=cycling

Karen

[shootingstar]

Well, so far 26 ladies over 40..

Actually I've always said often to many people, that more women tend to take up cycling regularily in their mid-20's or 30's and up. Just my personal observation.

But then maybe much younger cyclists ie. early 20's and under would get bored here??

[crazycanuck]

Luvs2ride94 hasn't been here in a while..she's 14 and doesn't seem to mind us older folk

[shootingstar]

Luvs2ride94 hasn't been here in a while..she's 14 and doesn't seem to mind us older folk

Maybe she'll remember us...one day

[roadie gal]

Well, so far 26 ladies over 40..

Actually I've always said often to many people, that more women tend to take up cycling regularily in their mid-20's or 30's and up. Just my personal observation.

But then maybe much younger cyclists ie. early 20's and under would get bored here??

Maybe we have the time for it? I never had time to ride my bike when I was in college, then med school, then residency... That's about 12 years through my entire 20s and into my 30s that I just had no time.

[7rider]

Maybe we have the time for it? I never had time to ride my bike when I was in college, then med school, then residency... That's about 12 years through my entire 20s and into my 30s that I just had no time.

I think it's just a function of the demographics of this discussion forum, and not necessarily representative of women cyclists as a whole.

I know lots of women cyclists in my area who are NOT on this board...in fact, who have never heard of Team Estrogen (and a few who have and bust a gut laughing at the name ). It's likely they wouldn't spend their time cruising such forums. So, yeah...I guess it's just a matter of priorities.

[shootingstar]

I think it's just a function of the demographics of this discussion forum, and not necessarily representative of women cyclists as a whole.

I know lots of women cyclists in my area who are NOT on this board...in fact, who have never heard of Team Estrogen (and a few who have and bust a gut laughing at the name ). It's likely they wouldn't spend their time cruising such forums. So, yeah...I guess it's just a matter of priorities.

Methinks this forum is just a snapshot of entire female cycling population. As for women who are raising children, in my face-to-face friendship circle, over 70% of the women are childless. There is some time for some fitness, even if it means just a short bike ride..between campus and home...which is what my niece did for a few years. She probably needed cheap, flexible transportation and wasn't even thinking of fitness.

[RoadRaven]

Well, so far 26 ladies over 40..

Actually I've always said often to many people, that more women tend to take up cycling regularily in their mid-20's or 30's and up. Just my personal observation.

But then maybe much younger cyclists ie. early 20's and under would get bored here??

I think SS, that as late teens/ early 20s, many young women have other priorities...
Then women have families, and once those babies get big enough women start to make time for themselves again - and hop back on bikes...
Just a theory...