cycling into old age

[snusmumriken]

I am 71. I’ve never been a ‘cyclist’ like most of you seem to be. But … I love the glittering lightweight bicycles of the last century and have used one as a means of transport whenever practical since I was 20. Likewise I favour ‘manual’ solutions to most things in life. I figured that way one could stay strong and fit by living, rather than jogging or pumping weights. I am not competitive, and I don’t worry about how far I have or haven’t cycled. I’ve rarely cycled with other people and have no interest in joining a club. I hate other cyclists passing me on the road, but am resigned to the fact that there will always be people fitter and tougher than I am.

I have had two bicycle accidents in my life. In the first, a following car got into a skid, scooped me up and dumped me onto the verge. It stopped within a few inches of running me over. The accident compounded an existing back injury which still gives me grief. Then 3 years ago I flipped on black ice and smashed the bones of one lower leg into many pieces. The medics cleverly drove a pin through the constellation of fragments, but the resulting Frankenleg took a year to fuse and I was unable to ride for 2 years.

However, I remain 70 kg at 6ft 1in, and am still pretty fit. So this year I bought myself a 1995 Super Galaxy to do some modest touring with my wife on her e-bike conversion hybrid. Not the intensity of cycling many of you seem to aspire to, but I’m keeping going, I don’t see any reason to stop.

[Cowsham]

I am 71. I’ve never been a ‘cyclist’ like most of you seem to be. But … I love the glittering lightweight bicycles of the last century and have used one as a means of transport whenever practical since I was 20. Likewise I favour ‘manual’ solutions to most things in life. I figured that way one could stay strong and fit by living, rather than jogging or pumping weights. I am not competitive, and I don’t worry about how far I have or haven’t cycled. I’ve rarely cycled with other people and have no interest in joining a club. I hate other cyclists passing me on the road, but am resigned to the fact that there will always be people fitter and tougher than I am.

I have had two bicycle accidents in my life. In the first, a following car got into a skid, scooped me up and dumped me onto the verge. It stopped within a few inches of running me over. The accident compounded an existing back injury which still gives me grief. Then 3 years ago I flipped on black ice and smashed the bones of one lower leg into many pieces. The medics cleverly drove a pin through the constellation of fragments, but the resulting Frankenleg took a year to fuse and I was unable to ride for 2 years.

However, I remain 70 kg at 6ft 1in, and am still pretty fit. So this year I bought myself a 1995 Super Galaxy to do some modest touring with my wife on her e-bike conversion hybrid. Not the intensity of cycling many of you seem to aspire to, but I’m keeping going, I don’t see any reason to stop.

You're as much a cyclist as any of us and maybe more so. My mantra is "If you're not enjoying cycling ( or a particular cycling discipline ) then it's not for you " - " Likewise if you enjoy cycling ( whatever genres ) then do it." I'm not and have never been a competition, audax or whatever cyclist but I do enjoy even the commute to work. Two wheels better!

[Carlton green]

I am 71. I’ve never been a ‘cyclist’ like most of you seem to be. But … I love the glittering lightweight bicycles of the last century and have used one as a means of transport whenever practical since I was 20. Likewise I favour ‘manual’ solutions to most things in life. I figured that way one could stay strong and fit by living, rather than jogging or pumping weights. I am not competitive, and I don’t worry about how far I have or haven’t cycled. I’ve rarely cycled with other people and have no interest in joining a club. I hate other cyclists passing me on the road, but am resigned to the fact that there will always be people fitter and tougher than I am.

I have had two bicycle accidents in my life. In the first, a following car got into a skid, scooped me up and dumped me onto the verge. It stopped within a few inches of running me over. The accident compounded an existing back injury which still gives me grief. Then 3 years ago I flipped on black ice and smashed the bones of one lower leg into many pieces. The medics cleverly drove a pin through the constellation of fragments, but the resulting Frankenleg took a year to fuse and I was unable to ride for 2 years.

However, I remain 70 kg at 6ft 1in, and am still pretty fit. So this year I bought myself a 1995 Super Galaxy to do some modest touring with my wife on her e-bike conversion hybrid. Not the intensity of cycling many of you seem to aspire to, but I’m keeping going, I don’t see any reason to stop.

I’m not one for saying that anyone who doesn’t do long distance rides isn’t a cyclist and think that anyone who uses a bike for utility purposes should be considered a cyclist, the definition should be broad.

To me it’s encouraging that someone who’s had to have time out for health reasons makes a recovery and gets back on their bike. Many here will have or have had health issues and to my mind the exercise provided by a bike is an aid towards a healthier body, so if you cycle then your basic health and recovery chances are improved.

[Cugel]

I’m not one for saying that anyone who doesn’t do long distance rides isn’t a cyclist and think that anyone who uses a bike for utility purposes should be considered a cyclist, the definition should be broad.

To me it’s encouraging that someone who’s had to have time out for health reasons makes a recovery and gets back on their bike. Many here will have or have had health issues and to my mind the exercise provided by a bike is an aid towards a healthier body, so if you cycle then your basic health and recovery chances are improved.

Having been in various cycling circles over the years (touring, racing, audax, commuting and just riding about) I nevertheless failed to ever classify myself as "A Cyclist" in that manner now called "having an identity". I was a cyclist when I rode my bike but otherwise "a fell/dog/A>B walker", "a woodworker", "a husband", "a friend", "a worker at ..." and a few dozen other things-of-the-moment. The notion of being "A Cyclist" never appealed since there's so many other things "to be" (or rather, to do) eh? Also, these identity pigeon holes are, well, pigeon holes.

One might have notions of wishing to be competent at various things, to various degrees for various purposes. I was quite good at racing and greatly enjoyed touring and could go to work and back on a bike day after day even if the distance was 50 miles or more. This didn't make me "A Cyclist"; and those who just rode about for pleasure and fitness with a slightly lower average speed "not A Cyclist". Anyway, it's hard to be a woodworker and a cyclist at the same time.

************
Cycling and many other physically demanding activities are indeed very useful not just for the pleasure of doing them but as an antidote to the gradual degradations of ongoing life, especially the degradations of ongoing modern life, with its consumer-producer "conveniences". But "the conveniences" are often addictive and many (now most) become addicts. Result: hordes of people who become physically incompetent, to ever decreasing degrees tending to various inabilities; then avoidable illnesses; then decrepitude; then (for them individually) early death with a miserable run-up to the event.

It's tempting and easy to blame the neglected human, suggesting that this is self-neglect, self-indulgence and self-abuse. But all of us can be caught, one way and another, in the nets of the consumer-producer pushers. Once we are, it can be very hard to escape. Their nets are mental as well as physical. Vast armies of "influencers" (including the pre-webbery old-fashioned kinds) have been aiding and abetting the pushers for decades.

Some of us have been lucky Boomers - an early life of depravation immediately post-WWII allowed some us to acquire habits of thrift and a childhood full of entertainments as exercise rather than screen-gawping at expensive consumer goods. Some good habits, in other words. Then we got steady jobs and could consume but felt less inclined than others to do so unfettered.

Perhaps the penury now being forced on the young will allow them too to acquire habits of physical ability and endurance, since cars, gallons of alcoholic beverages and even the tasty junkfud goos & pastes are beyond their purse? But many see the rich consumer world around them and would still rather have that than a strong self-resilience, perhaps?

[rareposter]

I am 71. I’ve never been a ‘cyclist’ like most of you seem to be.
<snip>
I hate other cyclists passing me on the road, but am resigned to the fact that there will always be people fitter and tougher than I am.
<snip>
Not the intensity of cycling many of you seem to aspire to, but I’m keeping going, I don’t see any reason to stop.

As has been mentioned, pigeonholing yourself as "a cyclist" isn't necessarily very helpful unless you are a WorldTour pro where it is absolutely a full time job!
And there will always be others better and faster and stronger (unless you are in the top 0.1% of WorldTour pro riders!). There isn't a lot that's more idiotic in cycling as riding along minding your own business only to find someone busting a gut to try and catch up or overtake to "beat" you. And if people do overtake you, let them do it. They are doing their own ride at their own pace, nothing to do with anyone else.

The trick is to do what you enjoy and not worry about what others are doing or riding or wearing. It sounds like you've got the first bit sorted which is really all that matters.

So this year I bought myself a 1995 Super Galaxy to do some modest touring with my wife on her e-bike conversion hybrid.

I (and I suspect everyone else on here!) wish you many happy miles of riding!

[ANTONISH]

I managed to fall backwards down the stairs last wednesday.
Hit my head and the top of my spine.
For a few seconds I couldn't get my limbs to move - a lady across the road (won't normally give me the time of day) who is a retired nurse took charge - ambulance arrived - took me to hospital CT ? scan - eventually found to be in working order - and allowed home to stay with my son and daughter in law.
I've had a couple of short walks - I've had a lot of muscle pain in various parts but I seem to be on the mend.
The thing is I'm due to go on holiday to the Loire - originally intended as amoving on tour but amended to staying at different centres and bike rides to and from.
I'm not sure how getting on my bike again will go.
Should I forgo the SPD's which I've been using for thirty years ? or would I be advised to go for something that will be easier to release? e.g toe clips and straps.?
I'm 85 and painfully aware that I don't bounce well.

[Jdsk]

Sorry to hear that.

Is a follow-up planned with a healthcare professional?

I suggest writing down your questions for that so that you don't forget any.

...

Now... what do you think caused that fall?

Jonathan

[531colin]

If you have been using SPDs for 30 years, my inclination would be to stick with them.

But when you feel ready (and your relatives will let you) have a little ride on the bike and see how it goes.

Hopefully you have already been asked this question…,,,,
Why did you fall?
Did you go faint or dizzy?
Did you miss your step?

Cross posted with Jonathan!

[Carlton green]

I managed to fall backwards down the stairs last wednesday.
Hit my head and the top of my spine.
For a few seconds I couldn't get my limbs to move - a lady across the road (won't normally give me the time of day) who is a retired nurse took charge - ambulance arrived - took me to hospital CT ? scan - eventually found to be in working order - and allowed home to stay with my son and daughter in law.
I've had a couple of short walks - I've had a lot of muscle pain in various parts but I seem to be on the mend.
The thing is I'm due to go on holiday to the Loire - originally intended as amoving on tour but amended to staying at different centres and bike rides to and from.
I'm not sure how getting on my bike again will go.
Should I forgo the SPD's which I've been using for thirty years ? or would I be advised to go for something that will be easier to release? e.g toe clips and straps.?
I'm 85 and painfully aware that I don't bounce well.

Sorry to hear that.

Is a follow-up planned with a healthcare professional?

I suggest writing down your questions for that so that you don't forget any.

...

Now... what do you think caused that fall?

Plus one (supporting JDSK’s response).

To my mind it’s imperative that you consult with a Doctor before cycling any (noticable) distance again, and I wouldn’t be cycling any noticable distance until there were good grounds to believe it was safe for me to do so.

I dislike cycle helmets, but in your situation I’d consider wearing one. Other forms of interface can work well but overall flat pedals serve me best and leave my feet instantly free to respond … which can be a game changer and save you from injury / worse injury .

The caring treatment that you received from others - strangers - inspires me to believe that there still are decent people in this world and a significant number of them too.

[Cowsham]

I managed to fall backwards down the stairs last wednesday.
Hit my head and the top of my spine.
For a few seconds I couldn't get my limbs to move - a lady across the road (won't normally give me the time of day) who is a retired nurse took charge - ambulance arrived - took me to hospital CT ? scan - eventually found to be in working order - and allowed home to stay with my son and daughter in law.
I've had a couple of short walks - I've had a lot of muscle pain in various parts but I seem to be on the mend.
The thing is I'm due to go on holiday to the Loire - originally intended as amoving on tour but amended to staying at different centres and bike rides to and from.
I'm not sure how getting on my bike again will go.
Should I forgo the SPD's which I've been using for thirty years ? or would I be advised to go for something that will be easier to release? e.g toe clips and straps.?
I'm 85 and painfully aware that I don't bounce well.

Sorry to hear that.

Is a follow-up planned with a healthcare professional?

I suggest writing down your questions for that so that you don't forget any.

...

Now... what do you think caused that fall?

Plus one (supporting JDSK’s response).

Plus another -- hope all is well and you get back to cycling when as soon as it's safe to.

At 85 my mum says it's just a number but she's starting to feel it a lot now. Well done to be cycling at that age -- I aspire to do the same.

[ANTONISH]

If you have been using SPDs for 30 years, my inclination would be to stick with them.

But when you feel ready (and your relatives will let you) have a little ride on the bike and see how it goes.

Hopefully you have already been asked this question…,,,,
Why did you fall?
Did you go faint or dizzy?
Did you miss your step?

Cross posted with Jonathan!

Thanks for your and Jonathan's input.
I will get a follow up with a health professional if I can get one in time but my local practice seem to have a permanent 14 day backlog so I might not get one in time.

My house is "open plan"and as I was going up the stairs I turned to speak to my partner. I can remember reaching for the rail but not being able to grip it and tried to catch the opposite rail as I fell.
I remember the top of my spine hitting the ground and experiencing what seemed like a flash of light.
I don't think I lost consciousness but the world seemed to be moving and my limbs didn't seem to be where I thought they were.
When the paramedics arrived they got me sittting up and moving my head right and left - then they helped me to stand.
When I got to the hospital the doctor wanted my head restrained which it was until they got the results of the CT scan.
I suppose I've been losing confidence in the spd's for some time - I don't know why because I've not had any release problems except when first using them ( riding round until I could find something to hang on to etc.)
My partner has never used spd's and is happy with toe clips and straps.
NCN1 passes through my village (partly off road) so I might try a short ride to see how I feel.
Thanks for everybody's input.

[Cowsham]

I never got on with clips ( SPD's ) although I used to ride with toe clips all the time I think I liked the familiarity of where my feet were in them -- probably no real efficiency gained in them -- never had any falls with them but when I changed to more robust utility bikes I just couldn't be bothered with them.

I don't like my feet hemmed in at all now and briefly tried the shimano spd clips but just found I liked the freedom more.
Also after a bad off ( on flat pedals ) and hearing how 3 of my cycling mates have broken collarbones from not being able to get out of clips in time.
In saying all that I agree with Colin -- stay with what you're used to.

[PT1029]

Hope you make a good recovery. If off to the Loire, be open when filling in travel insurance forms, especially if you are still having treatment.
While abroad, my wife went mad (in the clinical sense) some years ago. The insurance said they would only pay if they had evidence it was not a pre existing condition. Her GP duly (and correctly) said she had not been under any treatment, where upon 2 of us flew out all paid for (incl 3 weeks inpatient care), for 3 weeks until she was fit enough to fly, and we flew back with an insurance paid medic (I'd guess with a good stock of sedatives in his bag!).
Had it been pre existing and we had not declared it on the form, they would not have paid up

[ANTONISH]

Hope you make a good recovery. If off to the Loire, be open when filling in travel insurance forms, especially if you are still having treatment.
While abroad, my wife went mad (in the clinical sense) some years ago. The insurance said they would only pay if they had evidence it was not a pre existing condition. Her GP duly (and correctly) said she had not been under any treatment, where upon 2 of us flew out all paid for (incl 3 weeks inpatient care), for 3 weeks until she was fit enough to fly, and we flew back with an insurance paid medic (I'd guess with a good stock of sedatives in his bag!).
Had it been pre existing and we had not declared it on the form, they would not have paid up

Yes that is a good point - I'd better get in touch with the insurance company- thank you for that.

[531colin]

ANTONISH…..take a deep breath.

Basically, you turned (your head/body) lost your balance and fell….?
That’s a red flag to me.
The organs of balance are the semi circular canals in the inner ear; 3 in each ear in different planes, to detect movement in any plane. The canals contain liquid, and hair cells in the walls detect relative movement between the liquid and the canal so you can maintain both balance and a sense of where you are in 3 dimensional space. This is a sensitive system, it can go wrong.
I have had an unpleasant condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, where this system goes temporarily wrong. (BPPV for short)
I twice fell off the toilet, as well as sundry falling over in fields, etc .

If it was me, I would (first) be trying to reproduce the symptoms, ie standing somewhere i had hold of a support, and turning my head/body to see if I could trigger a dizzy spell, and (second) thinking about how much trouble I really needed on a foreign holiday. For example, I couldn't drive due to unpredictable dizzy spells, but my wife could drive.