Yrs. on bike & what keeps you there

[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

[RoadRaven]

My mental health is far better when I ride than when I don't. I don't snap at people, hard problems get solved with less frustration, hard conversations are less biting and hurtful. I love to watch the world go by and when it's a great day I love seeing how high I can make the numbers on my wattmeter go up. And my husband, who never dreamed I'd pick up anything like this and run with it, thinks it's really sexy.

Can I add this bit to my reasons "why" as well?

[Ninabike]

Over 60 here (63). My brother and I were serious cyclists in the early '60's, and rode with a club when road bikes were not a common sight. College and other things got in the way, and didn't ride again until the mid '70's. At that time I got my DH interested in cycling. Other things got in the way and I didn't cycle again until about 4 years ago when a friend of mine told me her spinning class was going on a charity ride of 50 miles. I said, "Oh, I could do that!" - not having ridden in about 25 years; never been spinning and didn't even have a bike!! Got a road bike and rode the charity ride 2 days later: result -sore butt but I got hooked again (DH too).

Anyway, I have been on the bike ever since. I am no longer as strong a rider as I once was, but give me a bike and I'll ride it. As far as weight goes, I have lost a few lbs.; am 5'2'' and 125. Could still lose a few more.

I think what has always drawn me back to the bike is the following: I have found as I have grown older, that I love exactly the same things now as when I was younger, i.e, I loved road cycling, loved to play the guitar (which I still do in several music groups and also play bass), and I loved art (started college as an art major) and plan to go back to that when I retire. There is something about the technology and beauty of a road bike that draws me to it. That along with the sense of accomplishment when riding - especially distance riding. Cycling also makes me feel younger and healthier. Most people don't even believe my age. That's my story.

[mimitabby]

Number of consecutive years you have been regularly cycling.

I guess this is the 4th year

Your age

56

What keeps you on the bike
staying alive!! I need the exercise, and those new muscles feel/look good

If you have lost weight, what was it and kept it off?
nope. Gained weight, that's right, 5 pounds of muscle..... maybe more because
I lost some abdominal fat (gut) too. I weigh about 120 lbs right now at 5'3"
I wasn't worried about my weight.

[IFjane]

Number of consecutive years of cycling:

12 or 13 - I started with a mountain bike when my DS was in college. I would ride with him and his friends. Finally got tired of leaving body parts on trees and rocks and switched to a road bike.

My age:

54

What keeps me on the bike:

I absolutely love it! I have always been active but never excelled at anything. Cycling is something I can do all day every day and never get tired of it. I might be slow, but I can usually keep pushing the pedals.

How much weight have I lost?

It depends - if I work out really hard I can lose 10 - 15 lb. but somehow manage to put it back on every time there is a health crisis that keeps me off the bike for a bit. Very, very frustrating! However, I am fit and feel good about that - just wish the clothes were a little more loose.

[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.

[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...

[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.