Conference noted::bicycle

    I started when I was, ahem, 35.  Started because I needed some exercise
    and something to do to get me away from this (and the other) tube.
    
    I would estimate that most of the riders are "older" than you. 
    Racers are a minority, anyway.
    
    ed

    	I started last summer (age 39) when one of my friends 
    	(age 46) got into cycling. Rather interesting too,
    	because I remember his wife telling me around Xmas
    	of 1984 that she would like to see Bill get into some
    	kind of exercise program. Well, he sure did. BTW, this
    	is the fella I mentioned in a previous note that crashed
    	a week ago today. He's itching to get back on the bike.
    
    	I started biking partly to ride with him, and partly because
    	I knew at my weight (245 lbs) that I could not continue to
    	run and keep my knees. On a bike you can travel so much
    	further and it's much easier on the body (ie, no pounding).
    	I'm also committed to a century on or before August 11,
    	and Bill and I are supposed to ride up to Poland Springs,
    	Maine in September.
    
    	A recent article in Bicycling told the story of a couple in
    	their 60s biking around the world. I imagine that I'll stick
    	with it, because I've enjoyed it so much already.
    
    	Scott

	I got back into riding at age 30 after doing a total of about
	ten miles in the previous ten years.  I had signed up for
	a slow-paced bicycle tour of Nantucket Island in the spring
	of 1986 and wanted to do a little bicycling beforehand to 
	prepare.

	Next thing you know I had bought a new bike, joined the
	Nashoba Valey Pedalers and started going on short rides
	every weekend!  By the time September came around I tried
	the Flattest Century in the East (Tiverton, RI) and survived!

	The friendship of people I've met in the NVP will keep me 
	in bicycling for a long time.

				-John Wasser

    
    	re .0	I'm surprised that you're surprised.  Bicycling is one
    of the few activities that can be anywhere from extremely strenuous
    to relaxing, a lot of other sports have much larger jumps between
    exertion levels.  It is fairly easy to move up the fitness scale as a
    result of this.  I restarted four years ago after a 20 + year
    "rest", Kathy Norton was running the dec bike club then and she
    provided *A LOT* of what it took to get and keep me going.  I think its
    possible to continue physical development, mostly endurance, but some
    speed and power, for several years, even in ones 40's.  The biggest
    health benefits are probably cardio vascular, my waking heart rate is
    frequently in the 30s now, high 40s when sitting at work (liar, its 54
    right now, just checked it), anyway 40 lbs ago it was mostly around
    80 bpm.
    
    	Reg
    
    

When I first moved to Colorado, I met a guy who was an excellent tennis
    player.  He was 35 at the time and only played doubles because "He
    was getting too old for singles!"   That same year, I watched my
    first Pikes Peak Marathon.  Of the 600 round trip finishers (~28
    miles and 16,000 feet of elevation change), I would estimate that
    over 50% were over 35!   Isn't it interesting that some people are
    old at 21 and others are young at 70!  By the way, Rudy Falls, the
    founder of the Pikes Peak Marathon (who came from New England) did
    the ascent last year.  I believe he is now around 87.  His wife
    hasn't done the marathon since 1983 when she was something like
    80.....wimp!
    
    Congratulations on your recent efforts and successes.  Next week
    I am riding across Colorado with a group of 12 DECies.  There is
    one person who is in her 20's; the rest are in the over-30; o.k.
    some are over 40.  Many of the riders (there are 2000) will be in
    the 60+ category.
    
    Age is a state of mind.  Sounds like fun in 1991!  Good luck!
    
    Gary
    
    

    Thanks, I needed that!  Your replies have definitely made my day.
    
    It's amazing how narrow minded some people can be.  My father in
    law really thinks I'm being silly with all the bicycling and my
    goals.  He thinks 32 is too old to attempt anything physical.
    
    Gee, if I'm over the hill, I wonder what that makes HIM......
    
    Regards,
    Denis

    I appear to be decade behind most of you. I started riding about
    4 years ago, at age 41. After talking about buying a new bike and
    doing some serious riding, for a few years, I finally went out and
    bought a  1982 leftover Trek 515 in the spring of 1983. Now bike
    riding is an important part of my life. 
    
    I've really enjoyed the rides with DEC bike club people and I hope
    to be able to ride on many of them this year. If you're on one the
    rides I'll be easy to recognize - I'm the one with the curly gray
    hair.
    
    Dick

I've gotten into a variety a sports since I turned 30 (I'm now 35).  First it
was XC skiing, then kayaking (to get an upper body workout) and running to
help my skiing.  Then kayaking turned into whitewater slalom racing, which led
to biking to improve my overall fitness.  This led to triathlons, and in 1984 
I worked the New York City Marathon with my dad.  I was hooked (he'd planned 
it that way).  I ran my first marathon in 1986, at age 34, at New York, of 
course (dad was quite pleased!)  In the meantime, I retired from kayaking (it 
was too life-threatening)  and took up flat water canoe racing and canoe 
triathlons.  Then I saw the Western States 100 trail run on TV and said 
"that's for me" (but then again, isn't everything?)  So I'm running a trail 
marathon in the fall, and planning on a 70m marathon canoe race next spring as 
well as a 24hr bike race.  Not to mention XC ski marathons this winter.  My 
ultimate goals are to do Western States 100 and a RAAM qualifier (500-600m) by 
the time I'm forty!

I don't know about anyone else, but MY life began at 30!  And it keeps getting 
better all the time.  Don't let anyone tell you that you're too old.  Like you 
said Denis, if you're over the hill at 35, what does that make your 
father-in-law?  Dead, I'd say!

Kevin

    RE .8
    
    Kevin, I've only met you once, but I would have guessed you to be
    in your mid to late twenties.  Whatever you're doing, it agrees
    with you!
    
    It's funny what you mentioned about "life begins at thirty", because
    that's exactly what I said two years ago.  And it's true!
         
    Hope it's a nice weekend.  I want to crank out some serious miles!
    
    Regards,
    Denis    
         

    	RE: 356.6
    
    	All kidding aside, it is very unfortunate that an otherwise
    	(I assume) sane person would state that someone it too old
    	to do something they want to do.
    
    	As I probably already mentioned, I didn't learn to scuba dive
    	until i was 38. I started riding seriously (no jokes, please)
    	when I was 39.
    
    	I just hate it when someone assumes that s/he is disqualified
    	from anything simply on the basis of age.
    
    	The only thing my age disqualifies me from being is anything
    	younger than an adult. Otherwise, the sky's the limit.
    
    	Scott

    Life begins at?  Life is a constant beginning.  I'm slightly over
    40, 41, 42,...? (sometimes I forget as age dosen't matter).  This
    spring I spent a week on a seirra club national canoe outing.  Most
    of us had a tough time keeping up with Walter, age 76 and going strong.
    When I maintained part of the Appalachian Trail, some of the hardest
    workers and best hill climbers were over 60.  I have a friend (age
    62) who is currently on a week bike tour.  Talked to her son last
    night and it is reported that she did 75 miles on the first day
    out.  There is hope for all of us.
    
    Cheers
    Marty

    I've hear rumours that the former president of the Nashoba
    Valley Pedalers, Jane Poole (age 60+) is planning a tour
    of China this fall.  Does anyone in Nashoba know more about
    this? 

    Ahhhh yes. Ageing. There's a subject I'm beginning to become familiar
    with.
    I think of ageing as being a two edged sword, so to speak. On the
    one hand, there is the very real passing of time, and the mounting
    number of birthdays we all keep track of.
    On the other hand, there's the attitude of the person. I believe
    if you THINK you're too old,and you think you "can't possibly" do "it" 
    (whatever "it" might be), then you'll NEVER be able to. 
    I am not a great athlete, and although I don't try to limit
    myself....I DO know that I will not be as successful as I fantasize.
    However, the fantasies continue to show up...I want to ride to
    Syracuse.I want to ride cross country. I want to do a double century.
    I want to lose 50 pounds etc etc etc I will try them all. In the
    try will be the satisfaction.
    I'm not old. I'm a bit over 51. I've been riding all my life, on
    or off, but only REALLY riding (read $$EXPENSIVELY$$) for the past
    five years. In that time I've PMCed three times, Syracused once,
    and watched my somewhat disabled wife do the PMC (THAT was my proudest
    moment!). I've taken on the top of Mt. Whateveritis, the top of 
    Massachusetts, and didn't make it, but thouroughly enjoyed the
    experience.                                                     
    One day at a time, they say. That's the way to live.That's the way
    to stay young at heart. Don't live in the past. Keep things in
    perspective, and dream, dream, dream!

    One thing that Jim Fixx said in his first book "The Complete Book
    of Running" and I think it applies to any (semi)serious exercise:
    "It doesn't add more years to your life...It adds more life to your
    years"
    
    At most triathlons the 30-35 or 35-40 age bracket is usually the
    most competitive and often the winner.
    
    I do wonder why we don't have more 20-25 yr olds in this sport?
    Is the price a barrier to serious entry?
    
    Bob
    

    I began riding regularly at age 42.  Before that I didn't have time
    due to the responsibilities of children and a home.  The lure was
    the ability to pace myself and the ability to work riding into the
    fabric of my life.  At present I do most of my food shopping and
    ride to work on my trusty old 3-speed.  As soon as I gather enough 
    sheckles, I expect to purchase something jazzier for longer rides.  
    
    My dad has been riding most of his life and at 74 is more fit than
    many people half his age

    I purchased my first 10-speed about 9 years ago when I was looking
    for a way to combine moderate exercise (I run, too) with the enjoyment
    of the countryside and without the infernal noise and stench of
    motors.  About 5 years ago I gave that bike to a friend and acquired
    a used Raleigh Grand Prix for -- would you believe -- $55.  Excellent
    shape -- the only thing I've changed is the stem -- and I can't
    think of a good enough reason to trade up.
    
    My only complaint is that I can't always find enough time to ride.
    Last week, however, I betook myself and wheels to the Woods
    Hole-Martha's Vineyard ferry and spent 7+ hours covering around
    50 miles of Vineyard roads and trails (Dyke Bridge, too).  So it's
    no great feat at my tender age of 49, so my tush was tender (thanks
    to the rough Edgartown-West Tisbury bike trail), so my knees complained
    at taking the steps two at a time on the return ferry -- so what?
    It was the pinnacle of my vacation.
    
    And during humid summer evenings, while neighbors mumble and crouch 
    next to air conditioners, I drift quietly around the neighborhood,
    enjoying the cool breeze and the beauty of trees, grass, bushes
    and fields.
    
    I'll never give up cycling.
    
    Mac.