Cycling UK Forum

I see quite a few cyclist older than me. (see signature.) They all seem fit enough to leave a less fit person half their age behind. Even I scalp the occasional youngster. But them I'm cheating on a recumbent!

By the way, I don't think of my self as 'elderly'. Getting older and slower possibly, but that's been happening since I was 30!

We have all ages (not to mention shapes and widths) in our club. I think that the oldest active member but be nudging 90 by now...he might not be the fastest but, like the everready bunny, he just keeps on going (and some of his bikes are older than him).

I had the privelege of meeting the late Ron Beams, who was still cycling at 99.

IIRC he belonged to a group (Midweek wanderers) that had 5 or six octogenarians and at least one other nonogenarian.

Edited - found it:

Look at these youngsters in the group photos from the South West London DA's 99th Birthday party for Ron

Cunobelin wrote:I had the privelege of meeting the late Ron Beams, who was still cycling at 99.

IIRC he belonged to a group (Midweek wanderers) that had 5 or six octogenarians and at least one other nonogenarian.

Edited - found it:

Look at these youngsters in the group photos from the South West London DA's 99th Birthday party for Ron

I so want to grow old cycling like that!

I wrote a letter to the Observer supporting the use of bike helmets about 10 years ago and it was published. Ron Beams wrote to me about it!

I'm 60, my wife is 59, another couple with whom we cycle are 58, my regular training companions are 65 and 66. We often do 70 milers and the odd century. I cycled Lejog with the CTC the last two summers.
60 is old for some people, but for people who've had some luck and who've stayed fit all their lives, it's not that old.
I was cycling in Brittany two years ago with a friend and we met this young whippersnapper of 75 who was out for his daily spin and was flying.

Some years ago I met an American cycletourist cycling to the top of the Connor Pass in Kerry. This at 650 metres is the highest pass in Ireland. He told me that he was 65. The old lady cycling with him was his MOTHER!! The youngest she could've been was 82, but I reckon she was 85 or more.

DavidT wrote:My mate and I see a regular Sunday club run out in the Vale of Belvoir of riders who all must be 60 or 70+? Respect. The group seems evenly split between men and women and they are all kitted out in lycra etc. Frankly apart from their obvious advancing age they look like something out of Cycling Plus! I'll say respect again, as there is presumably a good chance that one or more are reading this.

I'm the one out in front on a Hewitt or a Moulton. One of the youngsters at 67 going on 45. Actually the fastest rider on the hills is one of the women who's coming up to retirement. Noone can stay with her.
jonty

Back in the 80's Freddie Dale was his club's time trial champion at around 70, I think. But on one of those drear damp days in Feb 2 of my clubmates had made it to a Pub about 16 miles out of Cov (they had had 11's first in the Little Chef across the road). As they came out FD was riding up the road, and passed with his customary How Do.

The younger (30 something) announced I wanna be like Fred when I'm that age, to which the older replied, you're not like him now how can expect to be like him at 70, esp as he will have done 70+ miles today while we've been languishing in the pub.

eileithyia wrote:The younger (30 something) announced I wanna be like Fred when I'm that age, to which the older replied, you're not like him now how can expect to be like him at 70, esp as he will have done 70+ miles today while we've been languishing in the pub.

Superb.

They say you are only as old as you feel. I usually am a bit coy about revealing my age but since I am completely anonymous here I will admit to being 75 but usually feel quite a bit younger particularly as I mix with cyclists much younger than myself. This winter my longest daily distance has been about 25 miles about half of which is off road. Normally I would expect to do about 50 to 70 miles in a day run depending on weather. I no longer race but I am the guy hanging around with the clipboard and stopwatch. I do not feel superior to much younger riders who think they are old at 55 or 60 since quite a bit depends on luck with health and quite a bit owed to the NHS in my case since I have had a few intimations of mortality but so far managed to slide out from under the axe. The message I think is to keep cycling and most important keep contact with cyclists younger than yourself since they make you extend yourself a bit more than would happen otherwise.

Just came across this article on Bent Rider online

A mere youngster of 103!

Last Monday I was cycling in the Peak District when I came upto a bloke on a bike. I slowed (not a lot but I was stronger than him) and he hung on to my wheel as we climbed out of Bradwell. He told me he was 75, which put me firmly in my place.
However he also told me that he had started time trialling aged 46 and had done a PB aged 66 so there is hope for me yet

It used to be said that people who cycle regularly will (on average) live five years longer than non cyclists.
Another useful piece of knowledge is that cycling and swimming will give all the exercise you need. Just need secure bike parking at the locals swimming baths, and then like Howard in Last of the Summer Wine, we've "cracked it".
I'm 65 at the end of the month and itching to get back on my bike after an RTA last September. Nearly there.

There were a good few entrants to our club's open 10 and 25 mile TTs last season in their late 70s, I think two riders were 79.

I just looked up the VTTA records pages- the oldest rider who could beat my best time (early 40s) at 10 miles was 79.

For 25 miles it's 80 (under the hour!)

AB702 wrote:It used to be said that people who cycle regularly will (on average) live five years longer than non cyclists.
Another useful piece of knowledge is that cycling and swimming will give all the exercise you need. Just need secure bike parking at the locals swimming baths, and then like Howard in Last of the Summer Wine, we've "cracked it".
I'm 65 at the end of the month and itching to get back on my bike after an RTA last September. Nearly there.

Swimming and cycling should be supplemented with impact exercise to strenthen bones, and resistance training to add strength and muscular endurance. Running, walking and boxing training are excellent for the former and weight training about twice a week provides the latter.
Also as has been reported in the Press, having an allotment helps with fitness, strength, good diet and mental health.
jonty

DavidT wrote:My mate and I see a regular Sunday club run out in the Vale of Belvoir of riders who all must be 60 or 70+? Respect. The group seems evenly split between men and women and they are all kitted out in lycra etc. Frankly apart from their obvious advancing age they look like something out of Cycling Plus! I'll say respect again, as there is presumably a good chance that one or more are reading this.

I know there's going to be loads of similar posts but surely that one sums it all up? - but don't let that stop you from posting!

Having lived in rural Europe for eighteen years and seen 'the old' working: out in fields in the heat of the sun. Taking over when their sons and Daughters for whatever reason might have had to temporally to pass the reigns back to them perhaps because of sudden illness, crisis. Terrific men and women and (most of them) tempered with the wisdom that old age brings...

Oldies of the world unite! Dump the Lycra and the 'let me turn you into a complete Tw*t'. With a regulation polystyrene ripoff "Safety" Item to wear upon your head together with it's underlying philosophy of abject surrender - you gullible cowards have no business upon a bike.

So long as we don't buy the false message we have nothing to fear.

So right you lot, it's reporting with your bikes at 7am sharp for a few physical jerks, then to set off for a leisurely round trip of thirty miles. Into the secret bits of England that they have yet to rape - why, I understand there's even an old-style teashoppe type place where one can actually sit down and a pretty waitress (get this), actually comes over, cleans the table off and asks you what you'd like.

Ps: too shy to ask but think she's probably Polish...