I felt the same at 60 and even 70+. Only heavy rain was an off-putter to cycling. I can still do it because the change of attitude to exercise is a recent thing. Hopefully, the nice weather will see it change back again.
I can and have been riding and walking on my own but historically, riding has always been done with other fit older people. This whittled down to just my brother as co-riders fell by the wayside for one reason or another. There would have been 5 or 6 of us riding on Fridays during the good years on some occasions. All off-road riders.
My brother was the last to succumb. We didn’t always get on of course but I do miss his company. Others were with us on and off but my brother and I were constant companions. We rode 3 times a week, adding up to a distance of around 50 -60 miles weather permitting.
I think it is hard to foresee that an attitude to exercise will ever change. I’d have said mine wouldn’t a few months ago but there we are, it has somewhat.
I know we can be proud of fitness and the degree to which we can still do things. With me though, it’s all been a bonus anyway. (Seeking no sympathy) I was expected to die as a child from asthma but didn’t. Also in my early 40’s from cancer that took a few years to beat. When I took up cycling at the age of 52, I’d ride like hell and thank God I’d been allowed the years to do it …and I’m not even a staunch believer.
That’s why I say that if I never exercised again or didn’t make another year (I expect to), I don’t think I’d consider that I’d given up easily or too soon.
Top left: My 8 years older brother and me.
Top right: A Friday ride group (me on the right).
Bottom left: Me looking toward the land I was about to ride.
Bottom right: Bruv nearing the top of a hill.
Good photos mart. Where have those days gone, we thought they would last forever and now they are behind us, but the memories linger on…I think that I can still do some of the things that I used to do… The mind is willing, but the flesh is weak!..
I used to have a website with photos and info about the rides. Here is the banner from it…
It would have to be called the ‘WELL OVER THE HILL OFF-ROAD CYCLING CLUB’ now. :D. The rider (R.I.P.) second from the left in top-right photo was quite well-known to motorcycle speedway fans in his day.
These are terrific photos, Mart! Thanks for sharing those, and am impressed that you maintained a website. What thoroughly enjoyable outings those must have been! Now THAT is an exercise group that I am sure would have been even more fun than going solo.
Thanks Surfermom and OGF. It wasn’t possible to ride up that hill that I’m overlooking. Too stony for tyres to grip apart from it being steep. We were once at the top of it as a group though and I reckoned I could ride down it if not up.
I set off slowly and cautiously with my old work friend not far behind me. All was well until I hit a patch of loose stones and over I went. He hit the same patch and we both tumbled, a mass of arms, legs and bikes. No injuries so it made us laugh.
The others at the top of the hill laughed even louder. Having seen our fate, they didn’t try riding down after us but more sensibly got off and walked their bikes down. Thinking about it still makes me smile.
Yikes, Mart! Our bodies are sure a lot more forgiving when we are younger!
I loathe that feeling as I become older of timidity because I feel so much more vulnerable than I used to - but I obey that voice, nonetheless.
It is warming up so I am off for a sunny trail run later - hopefully no loose gravel in sight! There is something about the added victory of exercising in January and February. Think that will earn me an extra cookie?
Well done Surfer, that’s the spirit…
It’s always a tense moment when going out for the first run in a pair of new running shoes…
Minus 4 here this morning so I took it steady as well. Although with a heavy and crunchy frost, grip wasn’t a problem for most of the way and the usually muddy lane was like running on tarmac it was so hard…
It was OK being out. Not many cars on the road but a good few people walking, running and cycling. No problem with shoes on the bike of course. It can be tyreing (or tireing) though.
I had to reconsider not bothering about exercise when I experienced something that I hadn’t been troubled with for years. I heard a wheeze and got a feeling of tightness in the chest when exhaling. Signs of asthma coming back.
I’m not going out so have gone back to the indoor exercises that I did during the first lockdown. Fast stepping up and down a stepping-stool, changing the leading leg every 30 seconds. Doing this for five minutes few times a day. This makes the heart and lungs work a bit. My calf muscles hurt for the first couple of days but Heck!, I could handle it. They are fairly painless now.
It was either this or go back to using the Ventolin inhaler.
Sounds good to me! I am sure you are getting a lot of benefits that you don’t even realize.
I do something akin to this on a wide aerobics bench. The steps are coordinated with arm exercises employing three-pound weights. It’s as good of an indoor workout as I have come up with that doesn’t require machines.
Happy to say that on top of the usual dog walk I did almost an hour of Yoga! First time for a couple of months at least. Boy was I stiff. I can’t believe what lockdown does to your flexibility. I’m always amazed at the magic of yoga in unlocking energy and fitness in a few moves without even getting out of breath!
I am so terribly sorry, SF. What does this mean and what is the plan to get you up and moving again?
Hello, Mike and welcome! It sounds like you have a good plan going there - and even better, some wise and reliable expertise! My understanding is that deadlifts are one of the best exercises for overall strength training. Are you working to build reps, weight or sustain your efforts?
Looking forward to hearing about your training. OFF is loaded with people who exercise or otherwise strive to sustain their health. We have runners, yoga enthusiasts, swimmers, cyclists, and weight and cardio participants. You will like it here!
New to this site but I like to do my bit in keeping active by doing own workout push-ups, dips running on spot and stretches few times a week also like to cycle, sometimes hard to self motivate but once get going I fine
The mind is willing, but the flesh is weak!..
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It wasn’t possible to ride up that hill that I’m overlooking. Too stony for tyres to grip apart from it being steep. We were once at the top of it as a group though and I reckoned I could ride down it if not up.
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