51 and a half. Hadn't ridden since I was a child until a couple of years ago. I used to walk into university (mature age student) then the office, but when we moved more than a mile away from the CBD (downtown?) SO bought me an old beater bike to commute as I don't drive, and I was past relying on our (appalling) public transport. Didn't ride much more than 20k until last year, when we took off for France (en famille) in July as part of my 50th celebration year (yep, I celebrated the entire year! ). Took my bike, intending to poodle around the Tour DF, and for the first week didn't do much more than the requisite 20-30k, before the motor home turned up behind to pick me up (they would pack up the site, do the shopping etc while I rode on ahead). One day, they didn't turn up behind me, so I kept riding until they did. 90k later, I heard that familiar beep behind me... they'd had a flat tyre, with attendant dificulties, and tried to 'phone but I was out of range. I was exhausted, but exhilirated, and I've never felt so safe riding anywhere as I did on French roads - such respect for cyclists! But having done it once, I did it again and again. That's almost a year ago, and now I register for every long road ride going around here. Even on my regular runs (Sat and Sun mornings) I don't feel as though I've been on a decent ride unless I do a minimum 50k. I've upgraded the bike to a Daccordi Race Fiber (full carbon fibre with Campagnolo Record) and I'm just loving it. I will never be as good as any of you who started early or who exercised throughout their lives (my claim to exercise in my 20s was careering around a stage singing in a punk band, then strengthening my right arm by lifting glasses of interesting but generally volatile liquid) but you know, every time a sweet young thing passes me by, as they often do, I just acknowledge that I am who I am, I'm doing what I do, and to my mind, I'm doing it bloody well. And as for being in my 50s? I'm the strongest, the heathiest, the smartest and the most confident I've ever been. Oh okay, some days I fall over and get a case of 'the olds', but then I get on the bike; 30k in, and I'm okay again. I'm back in the zone. 51, and still punching holes in the ceiling with my fist.
A