Age vs. Cycling Ability

[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