Oldest Women Cycle Touring

[daddig]

My partner and I cycle tour regularly, she is erm 56! In discussion over our daily distances, the question arose as to how old she would be when she stopped. My panicked response was the must be women touring well into their 70's so am I right ?

[MLJ]

I recall a tour to Quimper in 2002 for the Semaine Federale: one very elderly gent was escorted by two much younger ladies who were apparently only in their late 70's! Age is no reflection of ability. As long as anyone feels able to continue, age is irrelevant. The distance covered each day may reduce, but why stop because the calendar suggests it?

[Swallow]

While waiting for the ferry to Roscoff last year, I met a couple in their 70s who were setting off on a tour around Brittany having ridden JOGLE the previous year. If I remember correctly they only took up cycling when they retired.

[jezer]

My gf is 65, and I will be in a few days. We regularly ride CTC tours, where we are often amongst the youngest there

[eileithyia]

Plenty out there cycling in their 70's Give up at 56!!! You must be kidding!

[Halla]

Lets take it to the next decade, we have plenty of ladies (and men) over 80 cycle touring and camping in East Sussex CTC, I guess it will soon be quite possible to find someone 90+ still out there doing what we all enjoy!! Trouble is they never look their age, proves that being out there keeping fit is good for you.

[lindagordinho]

Thank you for this thread, I was just wallowing in the horror of turning 45 next month and it's just what I needed. So how old is too old to do The Big Tour I wonder? The one where you jack in your job and your home and take off round the world?

[bigjim]

Ann Mustoe was 76 when she died whilst touring.

[eileithyia]

I commute to work, cycle that is... this thread has reminded me of a couple of conversations I have had over the years. Most recently a work colleague who asked when I would give up cycle commuting????????? Errrrrrr Just had never even considered giving up let alone setting a date / age etc. I will cycle until I can't

Similarly a few years ago when pregnant I was asked the same... at what stage of pregnancy did I intend to stop cycling: only when it became too awkward / difficult /painful or ill-advised to ride due to a pregnancy condition, as it happens at 35-6 weeks I was touring in Cornwall, did 65 miles 3 days before I delivered and was on the bike when labour pains began!

I do not see how you can set a time a limit.. continue until you cannot.

[daddig]

Thank you for your replies, it has given my partner a spur. Which was what she needed! I'm 65 in July with no intention of stopping until I physically get on my bike, then start looking at recumbents maybe!

[Galloper]

Met a lady doing the Southern Tier route across the USA, she was in her 70's and going very well, camping and with panniers fore and aft.

[JJF]

My lady cycling companion took up touring in her early seventies when she met a cycle tourist (me). She says she had seen tourists earlier but didn't know how to go about it. In the next few months she will be on her first tour as an octogenarian. Although she sometimes cycled to work in her earlier days she hasn't got a cycling history. Our tours are planned (length and terrain) to suit her level of fitness. However they include excellent countryside/history/landscape/seascape etc that you get in a bike tour. England, France, Holland, Belgium staying in small hotels and B&Bs. I don't think you should think of an age when you stop. Keep going as long as you can. I hope there are plenty of lady tourists in their 80s and 90s.