cycling into old age

[willcee]

Very interesting contri..At 73 last month i havent been on any bike since September due to chest infections, perhaps the onset of copd and heart issues, it happened quite suddenly, attending a friends wifes funeral she was interred at the bottom of a very hill graveyard, I had issues breathing while climbing alone back to my car, nothing that was painful or stopped me just unusual that i would have heavy breathing when i sat down in the vehicle for perhaps 2/3 mins..locally getting to see a Doctor is akin and perhaps easier to see the prince of Wales or the Pope..we chatted on the telephone, so anti bios, diuretics, 3mg more BP meds and as my legs were filling with fluid odema had set in , my calves measure 19inches.. feel well enough, do my BP every day sister is a retired senior IC nurse..but its the first time in my life that i felt my age and began to take things a bit easier, i'm a 24/7 carer for my lady...seems my heart has a small issue and isnt working as it should , i have in the past year been checked 3 times and seen one consultant, its not serious according to them, and when i feel well enough get back on the bike... seasons greetings ..Will

[Audax67]

my legs were filling with fluid odema had set in , my calves measure 19inches..

A chemist's can advise on and supply compression socks, or failing that Decathlon carry compression socks. The chemist's are liable to be more compressive and can cause bruising if you wear them too long*, but compression sports socks should be wearable all day.

Both types are a bit of a toil to put on.

* To avoid swollen legs at the end of one long audax a chum & I bought compression socks from a chemist's. We snoozed in a hotel lobby with our legs up for around 3 hours and both had a fine crop of blue bruises when we woke up. Next time around we used Decathlon's socks and were fine.

[willcee]

Waiting on some being tailored to suit my measurements on / from instruction of the consultant..Dont know whether i'll gel with them on not i have my rear bed legs sat on 4 inch riser blocks to assist with overnite drainage.. havent seen much difference weekly now its down to calf level... but i'm getting asleep on my side all night .will

[bikepacker]

e-bike allows them to stay-on and, as long as they don't do a lookitme dash ahead up the 1 in 5, the group stays a group with less waits.

In my experience that is exactly what e-bikers do and do it with an arrogant 'look how clever I am' expression on their face.

[Cugel]

e-bike allows them to stay-on and, as long as they don't do a lookitme dash ahead up the 1 in 5, the group stays a group with less waits.

In my experience that is exactly what e-bikers do and do it with an arrogant 'look how clever I am' expression on their face.

What, all of them? How many e-bike-containing groups do you go out with!?

As with Strava-strivers, show-offs and others with no understanding of "group", the captain of the run should be admonishing them so that they cycle nicely.

Wot's that? No captain? Join another club, with a proper tradition.

Put another way, the problem isn't the e-cycle but the cyclist.

[bikepacker]

What, all of them? How many e-bike-containing groups do you go out with!?

None now. Please refer to my previous post for reasons.

[ANTONISH]

I gave up riding with my regular group when some of the riders started to push the speed beyond what it was meant to be.
I did consider going out with a "slower" group but they have all gone electric so the speed is beyond what I can manage.
Hence like others on this thread I now ride on my own at a pace I find comfortable.

I'm not drawn to the electric assist bike but it seems the choice for the ageing cyclist wanting to ride with a group is keep up or go electric.

[Cugel]

I gave up riding with my regular group when some of the riders started to push the speed beyond what it was meant to be.
I did consider going out with a "slower" group but they have all gone electric so the speed is beyond what I can manage.
Hence like others on this thread I now ride on my own at a pace I find comfortable.

I'm not drawn to the electric assist bike but it seems the choice for the ageing cyclist wanting to ride with a group is keep up or go electric.

The adoption of fashions by a group is often a spoiler of a previous group consensus and cohesion. Long ago, before cycling stuff was subject to the Great Consumer/Producer revolution, it was relatively difficult to buy bicycles very different from those of other cyclists. The bike tech lack of difference tended to be a leveller; or at least a means to notice the abilities of the cyclist over the abilities of what they were riding/wearing.

Yet the same factor remains important today in group cycling. The point of cycling as a group is to remain a group. If we have been too individualised by being made primarily consumers, keeping a lets-group meme going can be harder. Everyone wants to demonstrate that, "I am what I own" with "superior" ownerships being demonstrated by showing how much better my gubbins is than yours.

Still, it is possible to form old-fashioned cycling groups, no matter what the tech. All it takes is an agreement to do so and a few personalities strong enough to rein-back any members going consumer-daft. In such a scenario, an e-bike can enable some who would otherwise be excluded by a group-norm to successfully join.

[Carlton green]

^^ Some good thoughts there, though we go off at a slight tangent cycling group dynamics do affect the older rider so there’s a link.

Personally I’d like to see expectations of exclusion and inclusion (of the weakest) made clearer and I’d like to see clubs promoting rides for the weakest riders too. They’re rare, it seems, but sometimes small wheel bike riders join together and go out for a short and leisurely ride. I’d love for more groups to do that, get those out and about on their three speeds and small wheelers; celebrate the old (folk) and the slow who are just getting out there and enjoying fresh air, mobility and good company. Barr a medical condition one should, imho, never need an e-bike for club runs.

E-bikes have their place, that’s for sure, but with power comes responsibility and human nature’s not always good at managing that well. Got impaired health? Join the club run but expect to and ride next to the sweeper; ensure that your e-power isn’t pushing the pace by always riding behind the human only powered bikes.

Super fit and frustrated by slow riders? Leave the wonder bike at home and turn up on a Raleigh Roadster, you’ll still be quicker than some but the extra exercise involved will help you train and level the tables a little (fairly and in favour of the less able).

[TrevA]

My club has several rides per week and some are tailored to slower and older riders. We have 2 groups on a Wednesday and I usually lead the slower group. We average 13-14mph, and tend to stay on the flat around the Trent Valley and Vale of Belvoir. I’m one of the youngest riders at 65. We have a couple of 80 year old regulars, one with AF and the other has recently had a stent fitted. The AF rider has an electric road bike, but only uses it on hills (there are a couple of short hills to climb out of the Trent flood plain).

We have recently introduced a slower Sunday ride lead by the 80 year old AF rider and his “minder” (He’s not allowed to ride alone in case of medical emergency - he collapsed on a ride earlier this year, went to hospital but they couldn’t find anything wrong and he’s been fine since). These are around 12-13 mph.

I know these rides may sound too fast for some but they suit the riders who do them. I know of another club locally and their “slow” ride is 17mph!

[Carlton green]

We have recently introduced a slower Sunday ride lead by the 80 year old AF rider and his “minder” (He’s not allowed to ride alone in case of medical emergency - he collapsed on a ride earlier this year, went to hospital but they couldn’t find anything wrong and he’s been fine since). These are around 12-13 mph.

Whether fast, slower or slow having something that suits the people taking part is, I think, the way to go (groups to match rider capability). I find no delight in riding quickly and never have - except, maybe, when I was young - but, though it can be a useful bonus, the purpose of my ride isn’t exercise it’s to see things between departing and arriving at a useful destination - enjoy the journey. My rule of thumb, in so far as I have one, is that 12 miles in one hour is a good solo pace with a derailleur geared bike; group riding is marginally quicker ‘cause you’re carried along by the group. It’s not flat around here and my bikes aren’t the best but, imho, outreach of cycling clubs should include the less fit riding everyday bikes - ‘ordinary’ people as opposed to the enthusiasts that we become.

Do I time my rides, measure the distance and work out my performance? Certainly not, that would take out all the fun of spontaneously enjoying the simple pleasure of riding . Let’s have smiles per hour rather than miles per hour .

[djnotts]

So....ended the year on a total mileage of 5,460 for just over 104 p.w. average, against my target of 100.
31 miles down on 2023.
COPD continues its inexorable progress. For next year I shall have a min (3650) - max (4800) target range!
Safe and peaceful new year to all.

[rareposter]

Still, it is possible to form old-fashioned cycling groups, no matter what the tech. All it takes is an agreement to do so and a few personalities strong enough to rein-back any members going consumer-daft. In such a scenario, an e-bike can enable some who would otherwise be excluded by a group-norm to successfully join.

+1. It's managed quite well on the continent. I've seen an Italian cycling group of young fit roadies being paced up a climb by two older guys on e-road bikes. You get a lot of families riding that way too.

It seems to be more understood over there that e-bikes are not there for caning off the front on a hill and showing how great you are; they're seen as enablers for helping people of all abilities ride together.

[Kelvin]

I am 77 this month, less power and speed, but still enjoy it. Doing 4,500miles a year, which last year included a ride to Paris with my son and 15 year old grandson. Lymington to Newhaven over two days then Dieppe to Paris another two. Great to see Paris through the eyes of a 15 year old..

[willcee]

My last on here was pre Christmas, late December and January have let me know that this was really the first time that i felt my age 73 early Nov... if you jump across to the health section you'll see that i had a few anxious days in the excellent care of my local hospital suffering pneumonia, the thing that scared me is i had been low on oxygen for quite a few months and only a tummy bug and a chest infection at the same time as a racking dry cough late January , together with an uncontactable uncaring useless GP surgery brought the issue to a local caring out of hours medical operation who had me in the clutches of A&E within half an hour..in recovery as i write 3 weeks on and have had a couple of times where i needed the 'go to' Ventolin inhaler..w..