I'm falling apart

[cylegoddess]

My Dad sent this;

'Welcome to the over the hill gang. The first requirement to join the gang is "every thing hurts." To become an officer in the gang it requires that "every thing hurts all of the time." To reach emeritus status it requires that "every thing hurts all of the time and it is going to be that way forever.'

He once said, dont get old kid, it sucks!

But my first love Jaque Cousteau ( the undersea diving legend, whom I adored at age 5 and up) said, he dove every day, as at 70 if he gave it up,he wouldnt be able to get back into the water.

Also, at the race two days ago - they made a special category for age 80 to 85 as they had one 85 year old.She hobbled up to get the award on a cane with ankle brace. Thats one tough cyclist!

[cylegoddess]

Solobiker ,

I had quit yoga for about 2 years or so, as the class was canceled and no others near me.

Thats when I got sicker, had more pains and felt creaky.
Needless to say, Im back at yoga!

[shootingstar]

Also, at the race two days ago - they made a special category for age 80 to 85 as they had one 85 year old.She hobbled up to get the award on a cane with ankle brace. Thats one tough cyclist!

Impressive.

Absolutely also agree with others here that yoga and other stretching exercises done regularily keeps one more limber, flexible, relaxed and less prone to muscular pain.

[Laterider21958]

As I read through the threads and the discussions around getting older etc. it brought to mind my husband's elderly uncle (no longer with us) who used to ride his bike to our place to visit his 94 year old sister. At the time he was in his late 80's. Uncle Lewis rode his old fixed wheel bicycle with confidence, but the mount and dismount was a little precarious as he struggled to raise his leg over the rear mudguard. Once he was mobile he was fantastic. Walking any distance was difficult for him but riding was a breeze.

[Zen]

Uncle Lewis rode his old fixed wheel bicycle with confidence, but the mount and dismount was a little precarious as he struggled to raise his leg over the rear mudguard. Once he was mobile he was fantastic. Walking any distance was difficult for him but riding was a breeze.

Bless Uncle Lewis' heart.
I have the same problems.
My clueless sister asks "if you can't walk, how can you ride a bicycle?"

It's like one of those commercials for The Scooter Store; my bike gives me mobility

[katluvr]

It's like one of those commercials for The Scooter Store; my bike gives me mobility

LOL!

[lo123]

Bless Uncle Lewis' heart.
I have the same problems.
My clueless sister asks "if you can't walk, how can you ride a bicycle?"

It's like one of those commercials for The Scooter Store; my bike gives me mobility

Ditto.. For me, arthritic hips and feet mean nothing on the bike, but walking is almost always painful.

Obviously this phenomenon is more common than I originally thought -- I've read that Georgena Terry can't walk long distances without mobility aids.

[cylegoddess]

All this is a bit grim but very cheering. I feel like I am the only one in the world, when I get up all creaky and stuff( which goes as soon as I ride to work.)

So many oldies that are just like energizer bunnies!! I love it( and them, too)

I thought I was never going to get out of this viral fatigue/post viral fatigue slump but I ended up riding 100 km lat week and a two hour, 30 km ride.I could have gone farther too but wasnt sure what it would do to me, later( nothing!)
It seems to me that cyclists of all shaped sizes and ages are really the sort to not give up. I like this and I like making friends older and younger than me, just because we ride. Im a bit of a odd duck, so its nice to fit into something communal.
I just hope I get to be like those old guys who whip the pants off everybody, riding 80 km a day ect.

[blackhillsbiker]

I'm 47. I have arthritis, scoliosis and "valvular insufficiency" (severe varicose veins which started in my teens). For a number of years I just felt sorry for myself. Add that to chronic clinical depression and I wasn't much fun to be around. Now I bike daily and graduated from a "comfort bike" to a flat bar road bike/hybrid. I feel much better. I was thin but not in shape. Now I have muscles and endurance. Energy to keep up with my kids. A smile on my face. I decided that life is just too short not to live fully. My house is no longer spotless. Sometimes meals are haphazard. My mom thinks I'm crazy and hopes I'll outgrow this phase. My husband is glad to have a happy wife. My kids cheer me on. I only wish I could get back the years I wasted being unhappy and sedentary.

Deb