Silver riders

Sarnian

Chatting to a riding mate last night and we were discussing how many years (health allowing It) we could keep going for, we at the age we are, me 32 him 40 would like to think we had another 25-30 years In us. The oldest rider we know of (not including roadies as we know some of them near the 70's) Is 58.

When I was doing tri's I have met people In the 60-70 bracket still racing same with running, spoke to one guy In a half marathon of 75, just don't seem to see that many in mountain biking.

Just how old can you go

Steve Kish

The oldest rider we know of (not including roadies as we know some of them near the 70's) Is 58.

Pah, youngster! I'm 60 this year. First raced when I was 17 and got my first MTB in 1992, afer quitting racing.

Sarnian

Nice one, If I am still riding at 60, and I hope I am, that would be 46 years of mountain biking.
Makes you wonder what the bikes will be like by then.

Captain Turok

My dad still gets out there a couple of times a week (jammy git is retired). He's certainly 65+ He used to ride trials bikes, but he feels "with advanced" years he's safer on a MTB
But he rides a 29er, so not sure if that really counts

Stephen-Hawking

I'm 47, and quite fit, probably as fit as I've ever been since I stopped racing motorbikes 20 years ago, a pal of mine is 63 and I can't keep up with him - batsard!

Sarnian

So 63 Is the oldest so far.

robmanic1

Sarnian wrote:

So 63 Is the oldest so far.

Great, at least another 21 years to go (with luck), keep on rolling you vets!

PS

My old fella is still windsurfing and riding at 80-odd!

Sarnian

Robmanic1 wrote:

Sarnian wrote:

So 63 Is the oldest so far.

Great, at least another 21 years to go (with luck), keep on rolling you vets!

PS

My old fella is still windsurfing and riding at 80-odd!

Is that mountain or road? I have met some serious roadies vets.

I love hearing about people In there later years still keeping there hand In there sport, It gives you hope

Let me just rephrase that to super vets

robmanic1

Sarnian wrote:

Robmanic1 wrote:

Sarnian wrote:

So 63 Is the oldest so far.

Great, at least another 21 years to go (with luck), keep on rolling you vets!

PS

My old fella is still windsurfing and riding at 80-odd!

Is that mountain or road? I have met some serious roadies vets.

I love hearing about people In there later years still keeping there hand In there sport, It gives you hope

He has an elderly Spec hard-rock, fully rigid, which he rides on some fairly "gnarly" tracks, not at any great speed I'd imagine, but hey....

Quite a few wrinkly roadies around this way, funnily enough they always give a friendly wave even if I'm on the MTB.

The guys I ride with (on and off-road) are all in the 40-50 age group, but we are very young-spirited, I'm sure it's the biking that keeps us that way.

P-Jay

I'm 31 and would really like to keep DHing until at least 40, although my mate who's much fitter than me is outriding most people at the DH track at 39 and will keep doing it as long as he likes, I only say 40 because I'm not very fit and already the body is making noises about taking the knocks, especially my knees.

I'd like to keep riding xc forever, I guess the longer you ride the longer your able to ride.

robmanic1

I think you just need to keep "doing", the minute you stop, that's it ,game - over, couch potato, TV gazing time.

"Ride to live - live to ride"

Stephen-Hawking

Btw, as you are referring to 'vets' what age group are you considering this to be??

schlepcycling

Stephen-Hawking wrote:

Btw, as you are referring to 'vets' what age group are you considering this to be??

A vet is anyone over 40

topsey_turvey

I get my bus pass in a month. No longer got the out and out speed of 30 years ago, but many years of long, long fell races have given me stamina. The young 'uns always burst off and leave me at the start, but they are hanging on at the end when I'm still grinding away. No longer brave enough to throw the bike all over the place, but so what? I still enjoy myself, and that's what counts.

Stephen-Hawking

schlepcycling wrote:

Stephen-Hawking wrote:

Btw, as you are referring to 'vets' what age group are you considering this to be??

A vet is anyone over 40

Fukc!

robmanic1

Stephen-Hawking wrote:

schlepcycling wrote:

Stephen-Hawking wrote:

Btw, as you are referring to 'vets' what age group are you considering this to be??

A vet is anyone over 40

Fukc!

+1

robmanic1

I've just thought of a great new forum heading.......

Stephen-Hawking

Owld gits ??

Sarnian

Graceful peddlers

robmanic1

Old geezers who should know better?
Coffin-dodgers united?
In denial?

robertpb

Well I'm 58 until I get on the bike then I'm 18.

I still try to be the first up a hill down a hill, just can't help myself.

nicklouse

owner of my LBS must be late 70´s and still gets muddy. on a fully.

Sarnian

I am feeling about 50 years older, after the night ride I had to night. Especially after hinting a tree :roll:

spongtastic

one of the contractors that does work for me has just started out mountain biking and cyclocross as he's worried he'll damage his knees and ankles if he carries on fell running.

He's only 62!

grantway

Im bloody to old but have heard of a Downhill rider in Morzine whos
85 and wears full body armour.

Raymondavalon

I wouldn't call the 40 somethings "silver"
The term "Silver Surfers" was used to describe retired (60+) folk who were taking to use the Internet on a regular basis [or the (not so) bad guy in the Fantastic Four]
So i would relate the "silver" description to the 55+/retired generation or the change in my pocket that is worth something

I am in my 40's but have been active most of my life due to a Southern Hemisphere upbringing, so sports like playing and coaching (ice/inline) hockey, swimming, generaly having an active outdoors life every weekend, commuting and recreational motorcycle riding, a stint in the military and generally being quite active
Often I come across riders my age and sometimes a lot older than I am. On my last ride I came across two couples of "50+ somethings" riding, one couple were armed with those awful Argos tin sussers whereas the other couple had real nice bikes (Marin and Giant)
Bikes aside, it seems as if cycling is growing among popularity in the 40 plussers

Stephen-Hawking

Raymondavalon wrote:

I wouldn't call the 40 somethings "silver"
The term "Silver Surfers" was used to describe retired (60+) folk who were taking to use the Internet on a regular basis [or the (not so) bad guy in the Fantastic Four]
So i would relate the "silver" description to the 55+/retired generation or the change in my pocket that is worth something

Zactly! I've still got all my hair and it's all black, all my own teeth and if it wasn't for mountain biking I'd still have two good eyes!! There's no silver on my ride !!

Forty is the new twenty (so in my case forty seven must be, er, the new 27 )

Sarnian

I was thinking of 60 plus when I used the word silver rider, as I said the oldest person I know of still mountain biking Is 58.
Sorry If I offended anyone using the term, I will be 32 next month, and bold and what does grow Is grey

robmanic1

It's state of mind anyway, I know guys who've led sedentary lifestyles and are younger than me who look (In my opinion) much older, middle-aged in fact (I'm 42.9 ).

Stephen-Hawking

None taken Sarnian, we're only having a laugh.

Nice to see you're bold too

edhornby

as I often say, beware of crusty old cyclists on the club run - they are faster than you think !!!!