New Discussion Group for Low-Impact Cyclists

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

Quoted message said:

I couldn't resist starting this discussion group for "the rest of us"
cyclists; those whose days of speedometers, odometers, and

state-of-the-art

Quoted message said:

bicycles are behind us.

We're over forty and we just like to get around and see the world on two
wheels.

If all goes as planned, this group will be about nothing else but great
rides -- whether we're talking rail trails, county bike paths, or
low-traffic roadways. No debates about LBS bikes vs. XMart bikes (we
already know which are better and we don't care) and no soapboxing about

the

Quoted message said:

best way to carb up before a century. If anything, this will be the place
to find out where to get a beer or an ice cream cone after an afternoon
riding with the family.

Please join us, and please stay on topic. All spam and flamethrowing will
be immediately deleted.

Thanks, I hope to see you at:

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/The-Casual-Bicyclist

New York Rides

www.geocities.com/NYRides

No offense, but I'm quite a ways beyond 40, and my days of "speedometers,
odometers, and state-of-the-art bicycles" are definitely not "behind
me"...although, you probably are :-).

GG

In article <[email hidden]>,

GaryG said:

No offense, but I'm quite a ways beyond 40, and my days of "speedometers,
odometers, and state-of-the-art bicycles" are definitely not "behind
me"...although, you probably are :-).

That's what I was thinking. Over-40 cyclists tend to be more hard core
than younger folks. Their lives are more stable, the kids can take care
of themselves, and they've focused on cycling as one of their main hobbies.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

No offense, but I'm quite a ways beyond 40, and my days of "speedometers,

odometers, and state-of-the-art bicycles" are definitely not "behind
me"...although, you probably are :-).<<<<

Probably...but I'm having a better time on the bike than ever.

I'm not really as slow or lazy at it may seem, by the way. I still do at
least one multi-day/multi-state ride per year, and 75 mile rail trails don't
scare me (although I usually find them kind of boring after a mile or two).
But, at 42, I'm feeling kind of out of place on the mainstream newsgroups
that are full of cross country tour logs and mudslinging arguments about
which seatpost is better than another. I still enjoy reading these groups,
but I find that I don't have a whole lot to contribute, as most of my riding
these days is with my wife and our friends and usually ends up at an outdoor
pub somewhere. Plus, usually when I post looking for information about a
ride that might be suitable for my wife (strictly a weekend rider) I don't
get any responses, except for the ones that bash my wife for not being a
seasoned cyclist.

Anyway, your remark is taken with the tongue-in-cheek attitude I'm sure you
intended. To anyone else who misinterpreted my comments to mean that ALL
over-40 riders feel a certain way, rest assured I was describing a certain
type of bicyclist personality, not speaking for the whole generation.

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I couldn't resist starting this discussion group for "the rest of us"
cyclists; those whose days of speedometers, odometers, and

state-of-the-art

Quoted message said:

bicycles are behind us.

We're over forty and we just like to get around and see the world on two
wheels.

If all goes as planned, this group will be about nothing else but great
rides -- whether we're talking rail trails, county bike paths, or
low-traffic roadways. No debates about LBS bikes vs. XMart bikes (we
already know which are better and we don't care) and no soapboxing about

the

Quoted message said:

best way to carb up before a century. If anything, this will be the
place
to find out where to get a beer or an ice cream cone after an afternoon
riding with the family.

Please join us, and please stay on topic. All spam and flamethrowing
will
be immediately deleted.

Thanks, I hope to see you at:

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/The-Casual-Bicyclist

New York Rides

www.geocities.com/NYRides

No offense, but I'm quite a ways beyond 40, and my days of "speedometers,
odometers, and state-of-the-art bicycles" are definitely not "behind
me"...although, you probably are :-).

GG

My sentiments, exactly. what's the address of that website?
rec.bicycles.freds? rec.bicycles.whiners?

"You're not a nice person 'cuz you ride too fast. You're supposed to ride
at 12 mph like the rest of us." Whine, whine, whine.

Naw ... seriously, I wish them all the best. I just don't want to hear from
any of them telling me how I'm "supposed to" ride.

I guess this will get their discussions going.
--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's what I was thinking. Over-40 cyclists tend to be more hard core

than younger folks.<<<

Please see my follow up post. I wasn't speaking for all "Over-40"
cyclists -- just those of us who have mellowed into a different type of
cycling. In my lifetime, I, personally, have proven myself to be a very
adept rider, capable of achieving pretty decent speeds, covering many miles,
and climbing some huge hills. These days, a ride to the drug store is
enough to get me off.

Please don't turn this into a bash fest.

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

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

GaryG said:

No offense, but I'm quite a ways beyond 40, and my days of "speedometers,
odometers, and state-of-the-art bicycles" are definitely not "behind
me"...although, you probably are :-).

That's what I was thinking. Over-40 cyclists tend to be more hard core
than younger folks. Their lives are more stable, the kids can take care
of themselves, and they've focused on cycling as one of their main

hobbies.

My point exactly. What the hell are bicyclists so angry about that we can't
carry on a thread for more than two responses before it deteriorates into a
barrage of personal attacks?

I'm going to say this one more time and then I'm retreating to my new sissy
whiner fred group...I wasn't speaking for all Over-40 riders, just those of
us with a different attitude about cycling -- not a better one, not an
inferior one -- just a different one. We know who we are and I'd like to
invite anyone who shares the same attitude to join the new group. If you
don't want to come, you can stay right here and you can ride as fast and as
recklessly as you'd like, my friend.

Thanks. I will not respond to any more posts in this thread.

NY Rides said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>That's what I was thinking. Over-40 cyclists tend to be more hard

core

Quoted message said:

than younger folks.<<<

Please see my follow up post. I wasn't speaking for all "Over-40"
cyclists -- just those of us who have mellowed into a different type

of

Quoted message said:

cycling. In my lifetime, I, personally, have proven myself to be a

very

Quoted message said:

adept rider, capable of achieving pretty decent speeds, covering many

miles,

Quoted message said:

and climbing some huge hills. These days, a ride to the drug store

is

Quoted message said:

enough to get me off.

Please don't turn this into a bash fest.

"C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

GaryG said:

No offense, but I'm quite a ways beyond 40, and my days of

"speedometers,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

odometers, and state-of-the-art bicycles" are definitely not

"behind

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me"...although, you probably are :-).

That's what I was thinking. Over-40 cyclists tend to be more hard

core

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than younger folks. Their lives are more stable, the kids can take

care

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of themselves, and they've focused on cycling as one of their main

hobbies.

I could not keep out of this thread even though I decided to become a
lurker instead of a poster. I think your idea was great. What is it
about aging that makes our older sagging skin crawl? Biologically you
are losing muscle tone, like it or not. Look at how rich the plastic
surgeons are becoming with this obsession with youth. If you are 40
you are twice as old as you were when you were 20 and twice as smart
hopefully. Are we frightened of looking and feeling old because it
reminds us that we're mortal? So we are over 40. We are not
biologically capable of doing all we did in our twenties. What makes
people, especially the 40's 50's and so on of this american youth
culture run in fear from age or run to the X games to prove a point. 50
is a scary number but I am getting used to it. Age 40 scared the [censored]
out of me so bad that I decided to act like a damn fool. What makes
people lash out at someone for even the mere hint that some people over
40 like more relaxed sports. My friends who played football in high
school and college, are not playing football now. Most of them are
having surgery on their knees.

Maybe cycling is a sport you can participate in until you drop dead and
do it with intensity, but that does not stand true for many other
things. If it did, I would not see so many viagra ads running during
the football games on TV. Just the commercials alone which are geared
toward the baby boom generation remind us of the effects of age.

That was a good idea to have that group. There are many people who
would love a discussion group like you suggested and it was really
fabulous that you thought to put it out there.....and get abused.

I think there are people who will thank you for your effort. Of course
you will be abused for the suggestion that over 40 is not just as vital
and full of energy as a 20 year old.

My 22 year old can stay up all night long and then go to school and
work...he can do it for a few nights in a row. If I tried that, I would
be dead.
Maggie (who is supposed to be lurking)

"I'm very pleased with each advancing year. It stems back to when I was
forty. I was a bit upset about reaching that milestone, but an older
friend consoled me. 'Don't complain about growing old - many, many
people do not have that privilege.'
Earl Warren (1891 - 1974),

NY Rides said:

If you
don't want to come, you can stay right here and you can ride as fast and as
recklessly as you'd like, my friend.

^^^^^^^^^^

NYRides, it's not the fact that you want to ride at the speeds that
you want to ride at, it's your choice of words. The first time it
sounded like you were speaking for the entire population of cyclist
over 40. Now it seems that you think anyone who rides fast is
reckless. Either broaden your view of the world or narrow your mouth
as it's getting the rest of you in trouble.

BTW, I actual will wish you luck with your group. I know a number of
riders from various clubs who ride at what suites them best. I myself
wave to the folks doing the passing or the folks being passed. I'm
somewhere in between and I'll probably stay that way. But that doesn't
mean that I don't want to ride the Tour route. It just means I'll
never ride it as fast as the slowest rider on the Tour.

--
Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry [email hidden]
http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/ (Text only)
http://hcs.sourceforge.net/ (HCS II)
http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog

Maggie said:

NY Rides said:

Quoted message said:

>>That's what I was thinking. Over-40 cyclists tend to be more hard
>> core than younger folks.

Please see my follow up post. I wasn't speaking for all "Over-40"
cyclists

Quoted message said:

I could not keep out of this thread even though I decided to become a
lurker instead of a poster. I think your idea was great. What is it
about aging that makes our older sagging skin crawl? Biologically you
are losing muscle tone, like it or not. Look at how rich the plastic
surgeons are becoming with this obsession with youth. If you are 40
you are twice as old as you were when you were 20 and twice as smart
hopefully. Are we frightened of looking and feeling old because it
reminds us that we're mortal? So we are over 40. We are not
biologically capable of doing all we did in our twenties.

I can honestly say I'm in better shape now than when I was in my
twenties. I may have a spare tire but I tended not to weigh anything
(I weighed 98 lbs when I graduated HS, 5'7"😉! Though I may not be as
fast as a twenty year old I can ride further. I know a bunch of older
riders who reqularly kick my butt on rides (I = 43, they 60+). I was
promptly embarrassed by a 72 year old lady who rode my butt into the
ground. OK, she was the Senior Master champ, but she looked like some
Grandmother, with fine pearls et. al. she had as much style as Jackie
Kennedy!

Quoted message said:

"I'm very pleased with each advancing year. It stems back to when I was
forty. I was a bit upset about reaching that milestone, but an older
friend consoled me. 'Don't complain about growing old - many, many
people do not have that privilege.'
Earl Warren (1891 - 1974),

I've lost too many friends and I have no intention to go out quietly!

--
Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry [email hidden]
http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/ (Text only)
http://hcs.sourceforge.net/ (HCS II)
http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog

In article <[email hidden]>,

NY Rides said:

I'm going to say this one more time and then I'm retreating to my new sissy
whiner fred group...I wasn't speaking for all Over-40 riders

If you had started out by calling your new group "sissy whiner freds", then
people would have understoud what you were talking about. When you called
the group "all over-40 people are wimps", then you were insulting (or at
least confusing) lots of over-40 people. Less confusion == good.

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

Quoted message said:

My point exactly. What the hell are bicyclists so angry about that we
can't
carry on a thread for more than two responses before it deteriorates into
a
barrage of personal attacks?

I'm going to say this one more time and then I'm retreating to my new
sissy
whiner fred group...I wasn't speaking for all Over-40 riders, just those
of
us with a different attitude about cycling -- not a better one, not an
inferior one -- just a different one. We know who we are and I'd like to
invite anyone who shares the same attitude to join the new group. If you
don't want to come, you can stay right here and you can ride as fast and
as
recklessly as you'd like, my friend.

Thanks. I will not respond to any more posts in this thread.

Aw c'mon. I was just pokin' fun. Kinda like the way Andy pokes fun at
Barney. If you're over 40, you know what I mean.

But since you brought it up, at what exact speed do you cross the threshhold
into wrecklessness? About the most dangerous thing I ever see on my bike is
when a group of faster riders is about to overtake a group of slower riders.
The faster riders call out "on your left" or some similar warning and,
almost invariably, the slower riders start swerving all over the place and
acting like someone just took their training wheels off. Maybe in your new
newsgroup you can discuss how to ride properly when in the presence of
faster riders. That would be a great service to mankind.

Good luck with your group.
--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

Quoted message said:

Thanks. I will not respond to any more posts in this thread.

I checked the web page and it seems limited to New York. Am I missing
something

In article <[email hidden]>,

NY Rides said:

I couldn't resist starting this discussion group for "the rest of us"
cyclists; those whose days of speedometers, odometers, and state-of-the-art
bicycles are behind us.

We're over forty and we just like to get around and see the world on two
wheels.

If all goes as planned, this group will be about nothing else but great
rides -- whether we're talking rail trails, county bike paths, or
low-traffic roadways. No debates about LBS bikes vs. XMart bikes (we
already know which are better and we don't care) and no soapboxing about the
best way to carb up before a century. If anything, this will be the place
to find out where to get a beer or an ice cream cone after an afternoon
riding with the family.

I really do wish you well with your new forum. But personally,
y'know what? I /like/ the diversity of opinions, motivations,
experiences and personalities expressed in good ol' r.b.m.
And there still is plenty of room in r.b.m for over-40 people
who like beer, ice cream cones, gelato, pizza, and just riding
for the heck of it. There's also plenty of room for commuters,
couriers, freeriders, XCers, DHers, CXers, tourists, club cyclists,
Streeters, Flatlanders, dirt jumpers, track racers, road racers,
gym rats/bunnies, cruisers, lone wolves, and beginning adult
cyclists. Riders from all those diverse approaches & disciplines
bring a vast wealth of experience, knowledge and stories to share
with, and enrich everybody. And as an over-50 rider who has
'outgrown' speedometers, odometers, etc, I think I'll just stick
around here in r.b.m and enjoy the contributions of so many
different fellow riders.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

I think ya been dinged, there, NY. There are lots of us over 40. I
just turned 55 myself a couple of weeks ago and my days are only
beginning.

Here in the Texas Panhandle we have some great rides. Rides in Palo
Duor Canyon State Park are really great. Stay on the road if you
want, but you'll miss the best rides if you do. I suggest the
Lighthouse trail--an intermediae trail going out and beginner coming
back. It's mostly down hill coming back. It's my favorite ride but
there are trails all over the place down there.

Rides around Amarillo can be flat or hilly depeding on where you ride
and how far you go. This is a great place to ride. Gets cold--y'all
might say shirtsleeve weather where you're from, but generally you can
ride most of the year.

If you're gonna come out this way, wait until about the 4th of July.
The "Texas Legacies" show at the Pioneer ampitheater runs six nights a
week. You'll like it.

Doc.

NY Rides said:

But, at 42, I'm feeling kind of out of place on the mainstream newsgroups
that are full of cross country tour logs and mudslinging arguments about
which seatpost is better than another.

The only things that have ever turned me off are "Requirements" for
something I do for enjoyment. These are, special costumes which must
be worn for proper riding, certain aerobic performance goals which
must be met to be considered serious and worthy of respect, certain
brands which must be ridden, a certain way at a certain speed for a
certain distance, etc.
I do this for fun, relaxation, and entertaining exercise, and to
decompress from a 110 Hour Work week...It works miracles for me.
I thoroughly enjoy it, and cannot wait for the snow to melt- but I
do not need another religion or another job.
I AM, however a cycling enthusiast, because I am 60, and with
cycling and lifestyle cleanups CERTAINLY in better shape than I was
when I was 35, so I do not need preaching or converting. I just need
the respect of not being told what to do...I have enough of that with
a Day Job and running a business.
If one passes me, say "Hi".
But don't treat me with contempt, because it will only make a bad
impression (To put it politely.).

Tom Keats said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

NY Rides said:

I couldn't resist starting this discussion group for "the rest of

us"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cyclists; those whose days of speedometers, odometers, and

state-of-the-art

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bicycles are behind us.

We're over forty and we just like to get around and see the world

on two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wheels.

If all goes as planned, this group will be about nothing else but

great

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rides -- whether we're talking rail trails, county bike paths, or
low-traffic roadways. No debates about LBS bikes vs. XMart bikes

(we

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

already know which are better and we don't care) and no soapboxing

about the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

best way to carb up before a century. If anything, this will be

the place

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to find out where to get a beer or an ice cream cone after an

afternoon

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riding with the family.

I really do wish you well with your new forum. But personally,
y'know what? I /like/ the diversity of opinions, motivations,
experiences and personalities expressed in good ol' r.b.m.
And there still is plenty of room in r.b.m for over-40 people
who like beer, ice cream cones, gelato, pizza, and just riding
for the heck of it. There's also plenty of room for commuters,
couriers, freeriders, XCers, DHers, CXers, tourists, club cyclists,
Streeters, Flatlanders, dirt jumpers, track racers, road racers,
gym rats/bunnies, cruisers, lone wolves, and beginning adult
cyclists. Riders from all those diverse approaches & disciplines
bring a vast wealth of experience, knowledge and stories to share
with, and enrich everybody. And as an over-50 rider who has
'outgrown' speedometers, odometers, etc, I think I'll just stick
around here in r.b.m and enjoy the contributions of so many
different fellow riders.

cheers,
Tom

How can I be a lurker....I am too opinionated. Plus I love a good
argument. You really have just about included everyone in that post
Tom. It is also very well written. It is nice to wish "NY Rides" well
with his new group. He seems like a nice guy. Following the well wish,
you go on to express a well thought out opinion, kudos to you sir.
Impressive. ;-)

Why do some people have to go on the attack immediately. God help us
all if we infer or even hint at the notion that someone over 40 is not
as "in shape" as someone who is 20. Or if we say an athlete in his or
her 40's is as good as an athlete in his or her 20's. What a bizarre
thought. I feel bad for the football players who are considered old
men at 34. (And they have to hear it publicly.) Who could ever believe
that 40 and 20 are not the same. "How Preposterous!"

I think alot of people are age sensitive or trying to prove a point
about age. I have no idea what that point is, but there must be one.
No matter how many people tell me I can be better or even on the same
level as my daughter (26)and her friends, I won't believe you. But as
they say.."Wisdom is what's left after we've run out of personal
opinions."
I guess I have not attained wisdom yet either...I still have too many
personal opinions.
Maggie.

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

Quoted message said:

Tom Keats said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

NY Rides said:

I couldn't resist starting this discussion group for "the rest of

us"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cyclists; those whose days of speedometers, odometers, and

state-of-the-art

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bicycles are behind us.

We're over forty and we just like to get around and see the world

on two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wheels.

If all goes as planned, this group will be about nothing else but

great

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rides -- whether we're talking rail trails, county bike paths, or
low-traffic roadways. No debates about LBS bikes vs. XMart bikes

(we

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

already know which are better and we don't care) and no soapboxing

about the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

best way to carb up before a century. If anything, this will be

the place

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to find out where to get a beer or an ice cream cone after an

afternoon

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riding with the family.

I really do wish you well with your new forum. But personally,
y'know what? I /like/ the diversity of opinions, motivations,
experiences and personalities expressed in good ol' r.b.m.
And there still is plenty of room in r.b.m for over-40 people
who like beer, ice cream cones, gelato, pizza, and just riding
for the heck of it. There's also plenty of room for commuters,
couriers, freeriders, XCers, DHers, CXers, tourists, club cyclists,
Streeters, Flatlanders, dirt jumpers, track racers, road racers,
gym rats/bunnies, cruisers, lone wolves, and beginning adult
cyclists. Riders from all those diverse approaches & disciplines
bring a vast wealth of experience, knowledge and stories to share
with, and enrich everybody. And as an over-50 rider who has
'outgrown' speedometers, odometers, etc, I think I'll just stick
around here in r.b.m and enjoy the contributions of so many
different fellow riders.

cheers,
Tom

How can I be a lurker....I am too opinionated. Plus I love a good
argument. You really have just about included everyone in that post
Tom. It is also very well written. It is nice to wish "NY Rides" well
with his new group. He seems like a nice guy. Following the well wish,
you go on to express a well thought out opinion, kudos to you sir.
Impressive. ;-)

Why do some people have to go on the attack immediately. God help us
all if we infer or even hint at the notion that someone over 40 is not
as "in shape" as someone who is 20. Or if we say an athlete in his or
her 40's is as good as an athlete in his or her 20's. What a bizarre
thought. I feel bad for the football players who are considered old
men at 34. (And they have to hear it publicly.) Who could ever believe
that 40 and 20 are not the same. "How Preposterous!"

I think alot of people are age sensitive or trying to prove a point
about age. I have no idea what that point is, but there must be one.
No matter how many people tell me I can be better or even on the same
level as my daughter (26)and her friends, I won't believe you. But as
they say.."Wisdom is what's left after we've run out of personal
opinions."
I guess I have not attained wisdom yet either...I still have too many
personal opinions.
Maggie.

The poster who just signed his/her name "C" summed it up quite simply and
accurately, I thought. Sure there's no way a 40 year old should be able to
perform at the level of a 20 year old under most normal circumstances with
all things being equal. But things aren't equal. There are plenty of 40
year olds who, because the kids are grown and gone and their careers are
stabilized, etc. have many more free hours to devote to training. There
are also some phsiological factors that come into play. There are studies
that indicate that it takes years (the usual figure cited is 10 years) of
training at an activity like cycling before the capillary system reaches its
peak capacity. This is why many younger riders lack the stamina of older
riders. When I turned 45 I'd been riding and training for about 10 years
and I was riding rings around almost all the 20-something riders in our
club. Getting run over by a car has knocked a bit of that edge off, but at
49, I can still hold my own with the 20-somethings on a 50 mile ride. At
100 miles, I'll be done, packed up and home feeding the goats before they
cross the line. At our club's Fall century, 4 of the first 5 finishers were
over 40. One was over 50. It was a very hilly course and the first guys
were in at around 4:35. There were 2 college racing teams and one regional
"pro" team. We didn't see any of those guys at all after about 70 miles.

This is off the original poster's topic somewhat. But it goes to the point
that's been made that people in their 40s can't perform at the level of
people in their 20s. That's a load of [censored] and there are very logical
lifestyle and physiological reasons why it's a load of [censored].

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

psycholist said:

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

Quoted message said:

Tom Keats said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
"NY Rides" <[email hidden]> writes:
> I couldn't resist starting this discussion group for "the rest

of

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us"

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> cyclists; those whose days of speedometers, odometers, and

state-of-the-art

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> bicycles are behind us.
>
> We're over forty and we just like to get around and see the

world

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on two

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> wheels.
>
> If all goes as planned, this group will be about nothing else

but

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great

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> rides -- whether we're talking rail trails, county bike paths,

or

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> low-traffic roadways. No debates about LBS bikes vs. XMart

bikes

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(we

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> already know which are better and we don't care) and no

soapboxing

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about the

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> best way to carb up before a century. If anything, this will be

the place

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> to find out where to get a beer or an ice cream cone after an

afternoon

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> riding with the family.

I really do wish you well with your new forum. But personally,
y'know what? I /like/ the diversity of opinions, motivations,
experiences and personalities expressed in good ol' r.b.m.
And there still is plenty of room in r.b.m for over-40 people
who like beer, ice cream cones, gelato, pizza, and just riding
for the heck of it. There's also plenty of room for commuters,
couriers, freeriders, XCers, DHers, CXers, tourists, club

cyclists,

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Streeters, Flatlanders, dirt jumpers, track racers, road racers,
gym rats/bunnies, cruisers, lone wolves, and beginning adult
cyclists. Riders from all those diverse approaches & disciplines
bring a vast wealth of experience, knowledge and stories to share
with, and enrich everybody. And as an over-50 rider who has
'outgrown' speedometers, odometers, etc, I think I'll just stick
around here in r.b.m and enjoy the contributions of so many
different fellow riders.

cheers,
Tom

How can I be a lurker....I am too opinionated. Plus I love a good
argument. You really have just about included everyone in that post
Tom. It is also very well written. It is nice to wish "NY Rides"

well

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with his new group. He seems like a nice guy. Following the well

wish,

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you go on to express a well thought out opinion, kudos to you sir.
Impressive. ;-)

Why do some people have to go on the attack immediately. God help

us

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all if we infer or even hint at the notion that someone over 40 is

not

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as "in shape" as someone who is 20. Or if we say an athlete in his

or

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her 40's is as good as an athlete in his or her 20's. What a

bizarre

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thought. I feel bad for the football players who are considered

old

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men at 34. (And they have to hear it publicly.) Who could ever

believe

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that 40 and 20 are not the same. "How Preposterous!"

I think alot of people are age sensitive or trying to prove a point
about age. I have no idea what that point is, but there must be

one.

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No matter how many people tell me I can be better or even on the

same

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level as my daughter (26)and her friends, I won't believe you. But

as

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they say.."Wisdom is what's left after we've run out of personal
opinions."
I guess I have not attained wisdom yet either...I still have too

many

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personal opinions.
Maggie.

The poster who just signed his/her name "C" summed it up quite simply

and

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accurately, I thought. Sure there's no way a 40 year old should be

able to

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perform at the level of a 20 year old under most normal circumstances

with

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all things being equal. But things aren't equal. There are plenty

of 40

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year olds who, because the kids are grown and gone and their careers

are

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stabilized, etc. have many more free hours to devote to training.

There

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are also some phsiological factors that come into play. There are

studies

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that indicate that it takes years (the usual figure cited is 10

years) of

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training at an activity like cycling before the capillary system

reaches its

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peak capacity. This is why many younger riders lack the stamina of

older

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riders. When I turned 45 I'd been riding and training for about 10

years

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and I was riding rings around almost all the 20-something riders in

our

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club. Getting run over by a car has knocked a bit of that edge off,

but at

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49, I can still hold my own with the 20-somethings on a 50 mile ride.

At

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100 miles, I'll be done, packed up and home feeding the goats before

they

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cross the line. At our club's Fall century, 4 of the first 5

finishers were

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over 40. One was over 50. It was a very hilly course and the first

guys

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were in at around 4:35. There were 2 college racing teams and one

regional

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"pro" team. We didn't see any of those guys at all after about 70

miles.

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This is off the original poster's topic somewhat. But it goes to the

point

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that's been made that people in their 40s can't perform at the level

of

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people in their 20s. That's a load of [censored] and there are very

logical

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lifestyle and physiological reasons why it's a load of [censored].

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

OK...are we just talking about cycling or are we talking about the
lifestyle and physicological reasons in general.... I think young
people are foolish in many of their choices because their body can
recover from their stupidity. As we age, we hopefully gain some wisdom
and realize that if we stay out late three nights in a row dancing we
are not going to make it to the end of the work week. When I was 25, I
could get two hours sleep and function fine at work. At my age, if I
get two hours sleep I will be napping at my desk. OK...maybe you are
all supermen and women. I'm training with my daughter. I am training
hard at the gym. I am working my ass off. Somehow I don't think the
end result for me and the end result for her will be the same with the
same training. Call me a fool, but thats my story and I am sticking to
it.
Maggie.

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

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OK...are we just talking about cycling or are we talking about the
lifestyle and physicological reasons in general.... I think young
people are foolish in many of their choices because their body can
recover from their stupidity. As we age, we hopefully gain some wisdom
and realize that if we stay out late three nights in a row dancing we
are not going to make it to the end of the work week. When I was 25, I
could get two hours sleep and function fine at work. At my age, if I
get two hours sleep I will be napping at my desk. OK...maybe you are
all supermen and women. I'm training with my daughter. I am training
hard at the gym. I am working my ass off. Somehow I don't think the
end result for me and the end result for her will be the same with the
same training. Call me a fool, but thats my story and I am sticking to
it.
Maggie.

Maggie,

This made me laugh thinking about the things I've heard some of the college
racer kids talking about when I've been out training with them.

"When I woke up this morning, it took me ten minutes to figure out what part
of campus I was on before I knew how to get home."

We have this Saturday morning loop in the winter. I've learned to ride in
front of some of these guys because you never know when the previous night's
beer and pizza might make a return visit. Not only that, the aroma of the
previous night's beer and pizza sometimes oozes from their pores and cuts
through the cold morning air. I don't know how they do it. I know I
couldn't. At least when I was their age I had the good sense to just stay
in bed the next morning and enjoy my hangover and my hair-of-the-dog beer or
two. ;-)

The human body is an amazing creation in its capacity to recover from years
of living like that.

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)