Is 50 to old, I hope not!

[blackcountryman]

My first post,
I thought it might have been a mid life crisis, or so the wife accused me of, hitting 50 years, but last spring i dusted the cobwebs off my raleigh mirage and started riding the towpaths of the blackcountry. finding them handy for a flat circular route to build up to reasonable mileage. This culminated in riding to my mates caravan in cleobury some 50 miles round trip. So now my ambitions have risen and wish to try a ride to Snowdon in the summer, but what is the best route, When my father rode it 40 years ago he did the A5 all the way to Betws Coed Is it still a realistic route these days I wonder, not seen from a bike before.it seems a little unclear from what i can find I know i can get to llangollen by towpath but that seems way off track.

 

[HLaB]

Definitely not, I've came across some really fit 50 year olds. Welcome to the forum btw. I don't know about the A5 but good luck.

 

[Ben M]

50? pah! you're a spring chicken compared to some of the coffin dodgers on this forum

 

[wafflycat]

Good god, 50 too old? Shall I go out and shoot myself now, as I reached that great age this month? What a *horrible* attitude to have to consider 50 too old! Bah! Hell's teeth man, if this fat fifty year old can do a century, pretty much anyone can! Take it slowly - gradually increase mileage, keep hydrated & fed when cycling, and most of all *enjoy* you cycling. Heck I know of 70 year-olds who can do centuries and more!

 

[mossy]

You are never too old.
I am 53 returned last year.
Just go and do it as the ad says and enjoy.
Join with the local club once you are happy with your rides as I found it helps to have like mined friends.
Some of the guys in the local club run are 70 plus years young and are very fit indeed.
Good luck

 

[Mortiroloboy]

BCM, Welcome, Happy New Year etc etc, there are plenty of half centarians on here, myself included (I'll be 51 in February) I think I'm probably more active on the bike than I ever was in my 'youth'. Fifty miles is just a normal club run these days.

 

[gavintc]

I bought my first road bike at age 47, joined a club a few months later and after 4 yrs of pushing (and pulling) on pedals I regard myself as a keen improver. I want to race this year and this is my new 'objective'. So, you are never too old. Age is just a number. You will be surprised at what your body will do if just let it - and don't use age as an excuse or reason. Get out there, remember you have experience on your side.

 

[yello]

Nah, 50's too old. Better pack it in... and give me your bike just so you're not tempted to do anything so silly again.

 

[mr_hippo]

50? pah! you're a spring chicken compared to some of the coffin dodgers on this forum

Are you referring to me, young Ben? Old & Living Legend? Yes but 'coffin dodger'? No!
I've just turned 30 (for the second time!), I'm out nearly every day in the heat and humidity of Bangkok and still enjoying it! As wafflycat says "Take it slowly - gradually increase mileage, keep hydrated & fed when cycling, and most of all *enjoy* your cycling." I log my miles on two sites and have been known to moan when I drop down in the ramkings but Mrs Hippo tells me that I should cycle for 'pleasure not measure' - I do both!

 

[jimboalee]

50

Welcome to the club.

Did my first, second and third Audax 300km in 2008.

I'm one of the youngest on the Solihull CC 'D' ride.

 

[ColinJ]

A 77 year old rider did a 200 km audax into the Yorkshire Dales and back in 2006 and then discovered that he'd got a broken hand from a fall earlier in the week! No, 50 isn't too old .

PS Unless you've got a very dicky heart, in which case - it might well be...

PPS I'm 53 soon and I intend to do multiple hilly rides this year of 100 miles or more, culminating in tackling all 156 miles of the West Yorkshire Cycle Route in one day. 50 is when everything starts to get interesting! (And about 3 years before everything starts wearing out.)

 

[colly]

I'd second all the comments on here. 50 is no age even if you are just starting to ride. I got into cycling when I was in my mid 40's. 57 now and still going strong.
You have already done a 50 mile round trip so you obviously have the desire and determination.

I will be with Colinj on the West Yorks Cycle Route too.

Not sure where you live but the A5 ???? Must be a better route away from the traffic that's safer and quieter .

 

[a_n_t]

Fifty miles is just a normal club run these days.

not quite 50 but no spring chicken at 37 and I consider 50 miles "a quick blast"!!

 

[Yanto]

As you quite rightly say you can get as far as Llangollen by canal towpath. From there its all road, via Corwen. Its a decent roadwith no dual carriageway or anything like that. Quite hilly, so practice them before hand. Good luck with it

 

[snakehips]

50 ?
Just get out there and ride , you young boy!