I'm Almost 65 and Just Bought 2 Bicycles....am I Crazy?

[cwood59]

I resigned from my employer of 7 years two weeks ago. I had been doing a 125 mile round trip commute most all of that time. I enjoyed my work as welding engineer (hot tap and pipeline intervention) but just got tired of the commute.

Anyhooo, I got a wild hair and decided to upgrade my physical health, as well as my wife's. So I got online and ordered two cruiser bicycles from "SixThreeZero". We usually do a 1-mile walk around the lake at our neighborhood here in Houston, but I thought the bikes might get us out more and with our two grandduaghters (8/9 yrs) as well. Any old farts on here that bike ride? I did ride bunches of Harley's all my life and never had a bad accident, so I'm OK on two wheels. I think I just need some encouragement to stay active and not become a couch potatoe.

Thanks all......curtis

 

[WSnyder]

Lifelong cyclist. Started at probably age 4. BMX rider and racer as a kid, road and mountain racer as an adult. Motocross bikes, 3 wheelers and street bikes. Still ride mostly mountain now. Just a hair younger than you so no you’re not crazy to pursue bikes for fitness! I still hammer on the much younger kids I ride with

 

[MS50]

Good call on the cruisers. Sitting more upright is a good thing. I rode road bikes, and mountain bikes on mostly rail-to-trail and urban streets for years. Hand arthritis is a problem when leaning forward on the handlebars, even with the hybrids that my wife and I currently ride. We typically use max 5 gears anyway. Our next bikes will be even more comfortable. She's 72, I turn 70 next month.

 

[rijndael]

Lifelong cyclist.

I got a late start in life, but I'm closing in on 50K miles (road).

 

[R.Morehouse]

Smart to keep the legs moving. I am not a bicycle guy anymore but I DO walk the crap out of my 1/2 Shep. 1/2 Lab, average 3 to 5mi a day depending on where we go. I am by no means taking the things I enjoy out of my life at 66yrs old. Steaks, Premium Cigars, and all that stuff shall remain. If that takes a few years from me.....So Be It........LOL

It's GREAT you and your wife have this thing you can do together....And doing it to see the Grandkids......It Don't Get Much Better Than That...

Regards
Rick

 

[Intheshop]

Recovering from an especially nasty motorcycle "getoff" 3 years ago that tore me up bad..... me and the bike are doing well. M/C is coming along nicely.

A cpl years ago,wanted to get some two wheeled training started so snagged this as a complete "beater". Went through every square inch,with new base/clear paint,decals,gravel tires,etc. It's an original 5 speed,and DANG fast.

Don't need wifeypoo's life history but as she approaches retirement,I wanted her to start getting off the rat race pace and slow down. She's in excellent health,and getting stronger every day. Found her a really nice 15 y.o. mountain bike. Frame is one size too small but she loves it. Got her a gel pad for the seat. Her bike has front shocks,hard tail rear. She rides more than me,haha.... she's every other day,I'm once a week.

 

[ebb]

Ill be 69 in a few months and I just bought a motorcycle. Good luck, don't let some texter knock you off.

 

[clowdis]

I'm 76 and still riding, although no 50+ mile rides. My first advice is to buy the brightest most expensive flashing light you can find to put on the bikes. It really does make people take better notice of you and move over further, or so it seems. Also, if you're going to ride very far those spandex riding shorts may be gross looking on us older folks but they do have these wonderful pads in the crotch area that makes your day a lot more comfortable.

 

[FNSafari]

65 is nothing! If you aren't, get in shape, keep your weight down, your BMI down and enjoy the rest of your life on Earth in ways many who don't stay in shape can't. Good luck.

 

[338 Mollett]

I would like to thank you guys dearly for the inspiration !!

 

[rijndael]

I ride with a guy who's 82 and is crazy strong. He doesn't recover from long rides like he's 20-40, but he can really hang with some strong folks.

He says that long breaks are really bad ... it's hard to get back on the bike after a week off, so he tries to ride rain or shine.

 

[Mikey_P]

Curtis, you're not crazy at all! Bicycling is a great form of exercise. Not only is it good for cardiovascular health and muscular strength, but it also keeps your balance sharp. I'm a lifelong bicyclist (and motorcyclist!) and am in the same age group as yourself. I hope to keep turning the pedals over as long as I possibly can..

Just a few recommendations - try to stay away from traffic, if at all possible. Wear a good helmet. And, keep your hamstrings loose. A daily stretching/strengthening routine will help you both on and off of the bike.

Best of luck and keep on pedaling!

Mike

 

[Minshooter]

I'm 76 and still riding, although no 50+ mile rides. My first advice is to buy the brightest most expensive flashing light you can find to put on the bikes. It really does make people take better notice of you and move over further, or so it seems. Also, if you're going to ride very far those spandex riding shorts may be gross looking on us older folks but they do have these wonderful pads in the crotch area that makes your day a lot more comfortable.

Absolutely. I'm in that age group, and ride every chance I get.
Lights -The single most important safety item, outside of your brain.
Any of the inexpensive rechargeable LEDs, set to flashing red on the rear, white in front.
Most of them now charge on a USB-C, same as your phone. Mine were $15/pair, shipped.
They are so inexpensive, I use a pair of each; very important for backup at night.
For night, you might also want to add an additional more powerful steady white light.
Unless you have perfect blacktop, another major improvement for bikes without shocks
is a shock absorber/damper seat post; it's almost as good as shocks at saving your coccyx.
Letting some air out of medium diameter tires (not the super skinny tires) will help a lot, too.
Mine are rated for 75psi max; I run them around 50, and it's a major comfort improvement.

 

[Exercion]

I resigned from my employer of 7 years two weeks ago. I had been doing a 125 mile round trip commute most all of that time. I enjoyed my work as welding engineer (hot tap and pipeline intervention) but just got tired of the commute.

Anyhooo, I got a wild hair and decided to upgrade my physical health, as well as my wife's. So I got online and ordered two cruiser bicycles from "SixThreeZero". We usually do a 1-mile walk around the lake at our neighborhood here in Houston, but I thought the bikes might get us out more and with our two grandduaghters (8/9 yrs) as well. Any old farts on here that bike ride? I did ride bunches of Harley's all my life and never had a bad accident, so I'm OK on two wheels. I think I just need some encouragement to stay active and not become a couch potatoe.

Thanks all......curtis

Great! Ride and enjoy. I'm not quite the same vintage as you, but not all that far behind and I bike as much as I can. Also I ride with folks both much older than you and me and much younger. Up here in PA we have tons of rails to trails that make for great riding. I bet you do too.

 

[Robert Weidler]

I resigned from my employer of 7 years two weeks ago. I had been doing a 125 mile round trip commute most all of that time. I enjoyed my work as welding engineer (hot tap and pipeline intervention) but just got tired of the commute.

Anyhooo, I got a wild hair and decided to upgrade my physical health, as well as my wife's. So I got online and ordered two cruiser bicycles from "SixThreeZero". We usually do a 1-mile walk around the lake at our neighborhood here in Houston, but I thought the bikes might get us out more and with our two grandduaghters (8/9 yrs) as well. Any old farts on here that bike ride? I did ride bunches of Harley's all my life and never had a bad accident, so I'm OK on two wheels. I think I just need some encouragement to stay active and not become a couch potatoe.

Thanks all......curtis

When I was 65 I enjoyed bike riding to the tune of 25 miles a day and 75 to 100 on Sunday (Saturdays off.) Now that I am 77 (78 soon) I don't ride any more so have two bikes to get rid of. Enjoy it while you can, it's great exercise and the scenery is very nice.

 

[coldboreshot]

Been riding bicycles most of my life but became seriously involved in the past 28 years doing off road extreme freeride and downhill racing. As of today, in my 60's, I continue with trail riding simply for the cardio.

 

[BP1]

Been thinking about getting a bicycle to ride in the evenings myself, only problem I live in the Tx hill country and everywhere you go it’s uphill both ways.

 

[rijndael]

Been thinking about getting a bicycle to ride in the evenings myself, only problem I live in the Tx hill country and everywhere you go it’s uphill both ways.

Some of seek out the hills ... just focus on time in the saddle, rather than mph, and enjoy it.

One of my favorite climbs is an 6-8% hill for 55 minutes ...

 

[nakneker]

Congrats cwood59 on a good decision. I rode mountain bikes hard in my 20s, 85-95, back when a Shimano Stump Jumper was the shiz. Unfortunately I didn’t keep the habit, me and my wife decided we would buy a couple of quality Mtn Bikes 4 years ago and I think we’ve ridden them twice, absolute fail. We do walk a lot everyday but cycling does so much more for your cardio and legs. I hope you’re able to stay with it, maybe I’ll get of my butt and find some motivation myself.

 

[cwood59]

Thanks all, I feel better!