40 Years, 40 Miles...

"BH" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:57B8f.3775$UF4.28@fed1read02...

Quoted message said:

Today is my 40th birthday, so I rode 40 miles. (Actually, 40.7 by my GPS)

I must confess though that it was on a road bike on the pavement. I just
managed to get my self out of shape for mountain biking, and it's a big
struggle to get back there now that I'm an old fart. Next year, I'll do 41
miles on trails at altitude. Maybe I'll skip the altitude part.

Hey - go easy on the 'old fart' references. I'm 37 and miles from being an
'old fart'. Don't let the bald bit, the false teeth and the small gut
(where once sat proudly a wonderful 8-pack) fool you - I'm a beast!

Today I got back on the mountain bike for the first time in 3 years. Lactic
acid is again my enemy and at times thoughts turned to that big nasty
motorbike sitting in the garage - the whole reason I dropped 7 slots down to
the one-pack.

However, it was great to have done 3 hard hours of technical stuff, despite
the pain and I've vowed never to go backwards in shape again. Onwards to
strive for the right to once more shave my legs as I used to when 300+ kms
of riding per week was the norm.

So your 40.7 miles is a great start and I congratulate you. Keep it up and
in 12 months when I'm a step closer to old fartiness, we can compare notes
about the thousands of kilometers of smiles we've pedalled ourselves
through!

Cheers,
Dave E (Sydney)
PS. Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday and congrats on a great ride.

Now, was that on the flat or 'over the hill' and back?

BH said:

Today is my 40th birthday, so I rode 40 miles. (Actually, 40.7 by my GPS)

I must confess though that it was on a road bike on the pavement. I just
managed to get my self out of shape for mountain biking, and it's a big
struggle to get back there now that I'm an old fart. Next year, I'll do 41
miles on trails at altitude. Maybe I'll skip the altitude part.

Just think of what kind of shape you'll be in when you have to ride
100 miles on your birthday!

And not to worry - I've got almost a decade on you and I'm still able
to make the pedals go around.

Mark "even older fart" Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

Marz said:

Happy birthday and congrats on a great ride.

Now, was that on the flat or 'over the hill' and back?

Ask his GPS. I'm sure it's accurate to the nearest 3' since SA was
taken out.

JD

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

BH said:

Today is my 40th birthday, so I rode 40 miles. (Actually, 40.7 by my GPS)

I must confess though that it was on a road bike on the pavement. I just
managed to get my self out of shape for mountain biking, and it's a big
struggle to get back there now that I'm an old fart. Next year, I'll do 41
miles on trails at altitude. Maybe I'll skip the altitude part.

Just think of what kind of shape you'll be in when you have to ride
100 miles on your birthday!

And not to worry - I've got almost a decade on you and I'm still able
to make the pedals go around.

Mark "even older fart" Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

I'm 56 and didn't start riding until I was 50 (well I gave up when I was
14). Age is not relevant.

It was almost totally flat. Just a fast cardio ride.

The problem with moutain biking is that it requires endurance, skill, and
strength. I used to have a job where myself and a couple of other guys would
do about an 8 mile loop at lunch on local trails, then maybe drive somewhere
once or twice a month. Man was I in shape.

It's hard to maintain mountain biking fitness without a daily ride.

BH

"Marz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Happy birthday and congrats on a great ride.

Now, was that on the flat or 'over the hill' and back?

Man, I wish I lived in a metric system country (which would be every other
country). Then I could have rode 40 km instead of 40 miles.

I have vowed to stay out of backwards shape too, but I'll forego the leg
shaving bit.

Three years no riding? I went about two years, my bike was stolen and then I
went on a year's vacation to Mesopotamia and didn't get a new bike till
after I had been back for a bit. It must have been tough to get back on.
That's why I've gone to doing some distance road biking. It builds up a bit,
and takes the edge of the lactic acid on the trails.

40 is just really a psychological milestone. Mind over matter. If you don't
mind, it doesn't matter.

BH

"Dave E" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"BH" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:57B8f.3775$UF4.28@fed1read02...

Quoted message said:

Today is my 40th birthday, so I rode 40 miles. (Actually, 40.7 by my GPS)

I must confess though that it was on a road bike on the pavement. I just
managed to get my self out of shape for mountain biking, and it's a big
struggle to get back there now that I'm an old fart. Next year, I'll do
41 miles on trails at altitude. Maybe I'll skip the altitude part.

Hey - go easy on the 'old fart' references. I'm 37 and miles from being
an 'old fart'. Don't let the bald bit, the false teeth and the small gut
(where once sat proudly a wonderful 8-pack) fool you - I'm a beast!

Today I got back on the mountain bike for the first time in 3 years.
Lactic acid is again my enemy and at times thoughts turned to that big
nasty motorbike sitting in the garage - the whole reason I dropped 7 slots
down to the one-pack.

However, it was great to have done 3 hard hours of technical stuff,
despite the pain and I've vowed never to go backwards in shape again.
Onwards to strive for the right to once more shave my legs as I used to
when 300+ kms of riding per week was the norm.

So your 40.7 miles is a great start and I congratulate you. Keep it up
and in 12 months when I'm a step closer to old fartiness, we can compare
notes about the thousands of kilometers of smiles we've pedalled ourselves
through!

Cheers,
Dave E (Sydney)
PS. Happy Birthday!

"Barry Hartigan"

Quoted message said:

It's hard to maintain mountain biking fitness without a daily ride.

rode this morning with my 60 year old riding buddy, my 50 year old (former
state champ), me at 45 and the whipper snapper at 43. All staying in shape
with weekend rides.

You just have to go out and do it.

Gary

"Barry Hartigan" <bh@nowhere_fake_email.com> wrote in message
news:hLN8f.3818$UF4.2755@fed1read02...

Quoted message said:

Man, I wish I lived in a metric system country (which would be every other
country). Then I could have rode 40 km instead of 40 miles.

Bless Australia. However it's not all good. We have to report our golf
drives in meters. :-)

Quoted message said:

I have vowed to stay out of backwards shape too, but I'll forego the leg
shaving bit.

Isn't that the *real* reason we all cycle? :-)

Quoted message said:

Three years no riding? I went about two years, my bike was stolen and then
I went on a year's vacation to Mesopotamia and didn't get a new bike till
after I had been back for a bit. It must have been tough to get back on.
That's why I've gone to doing some distance road biking. It builds up a
bit, and takes the edge of the lactic acid on the trails.

Well, it's the morning of the day after and it's the top half of the body
that requires replacement. Under those bright red strips on the arms and
legs (major sunburn) the legs are doing fine but the upper body needs some
serious tlc, massage etc. I had forgotten how much of a workout you get in
technical riding. So yes, it was tough to be back into it yesterday, but I
suspect today will be a bit tougher - hobbling around like a real old fart!

Quoted message said:

40 is just really a psychological milestone. Mind over matter. If you
don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Yes - true! Like you I'm sure, I don't at all mind the pain. Hopefully a
bit of pain signalls a forward step in condition, and hopefully a bit less
pain next time (very soon!!).

Cheers,
Dave E (Sydney)

Per Geoff Pearson:

Quoted message said:

I'm 56 and didn't start riding until I was 50 (well I gave up when I was
14). Age is not relevant.

Once I read an interview with Jacques Costeau when he was sixty-something. Among
other things he said "I feel just zee same as when I was 22."

My immediate reaction was that ol' Jacques just wasn't pushing the envelope when
he was 22...."
--
PeteCresswell

Barry Hartigan said:

It was almost totally flat. Just a fast cardio ride.

The problem with moutain biking is that it requires endurance, skill,
and strength. I used to have a job where myself and a couple of other
guys would do about an 8 mile loop at lunch on local trails, then
maybe drive somewhere once or twice a month. Man was I in shape.

It's hard to maintain mountain biking fitness without a daily ride.

If you've never been in shape before like me, then you have nothing to lose!
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training