Sometimes (mostly) I think I will be a n00b forever....

[Widge]

Don't get me wrong....I have been a cycling enthusiast all my life (off and on),
When I was a child, my only and best relief from a dysfunctional and abusive family was to jump on my single speed adolescent sized Elswick Hopper and ride.ride and ride. Great happiness. At the age of 12 I would ride main roads from Gosport to Chichester and back without my parents knowing (or caring) where I'd been all day. I would spend the day exploring cutsie villages, roman ruins and sweetshops without a care in the world.

In my early 20's I moved and started work in Devon. Holy cr@p... a single speed bike ain't never going to cut it here! I live on the edge of Dartmoor and everywhere is SERIOUSLY 'UP'. So eventually I invested in a new-fangled dual sus MTB. Everywhere was still seriously up - but twiddleable. In the last couple of years I have taken to my first 'pukka' road bike.....but with a triple crankset and 11-30 cassette and now; pushing 60 years old,,,I am finally reliving my childhood freedom.
But.....I am so SLOW!! The mahoosive hills didn't dissappear the moment I got 24 gears and a carbon fork.

But I just LOVE to cycle. Pub-to-pub keeps me sane and happy. I have all the gear.....but my average speed is still only about 9-10 mph over a 30 mile jaunt? (Eeerm.... most of this seems to be seriously 'up-hill' though)

I feel very happy everytime I ride...but am clearly useless. Do you think I should just call it a day and go back to watching day-time TV? I'm asking this question seriously though - because I am pushing 60 yrs old and don't seem to be able to do any of the mileages or average speeds that everyone else here does? Is there a time when you you just have to accept that you are old and knackered-or are there strategies/philosophy/wisdom that can help us overcome our perceived weakness?

Please advise?

Best

widge

 

[roadrash]

why give up if your enjoying what your doing,

 

[MiK1138]

No Bleddy way should you give up, go out ride your bike to where you like at a speed that suits, whats the rush? where your going aint going anywhere.

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

@Widge do you really care what other people think or are doing. I hope I am riding when I get to your age, and enjoying the great countryside that England has to offer. Don't worry about the speed or the mileage just carry on doing what you enjoy.

You are a long time dead and hopefully that is still far away.

 

[arch684]

Why worry about speed,just ride your bike and enjoy it.I will soon be 65 and i also live in a hilly area but there is no way i giving up cycling it keeps me sane and fit.Anyway daytime tv is shoot

 

[Racing roadkill]

Don't get me wrong....I have been a cycling enthusiast all my life (off and on),
When I was a child, my only and best relief from a dysfunctional and abusive family was to jump on my single speed adolescent sized Elswick Hopper and ride.ride and ride. Great happiness. At the age of 12 I would ride main roads from Gosport to Chichester and back without my parents knowing (or caring) where I'd been all day. I would spend the day exploring cutsie villages, roman ruins and sweetshops without a care in the world.

In my early 20's I moved and started work in Devon. Holy cr@p... a single speed bike ain't never going to cut it here! I live on the edge of Dartmoor and everywhere is SERIOUSLY 'UP'. So eventually I invested in a new-fangled dual sus MTB. Everywhere was still seriously up - but twiddleable. In the last couple of years I have taken to my first 'pukka' road bike.....but with a triple crankset and 11-30 cassette and now; pushing 60 years old,,,I am finally reliving my childhood freedom.
But.....I am so SLOW!! The mahoosive hills didn't dissappear the moment I got 24 gears and a carbon fork.

But I just LOVE to cycle. Pub-to-pub keeps me sane and happy. I have all the gear.....but my average speed is still only about 9-10 mph over a 30 mile jaunt? (Eeerm.... most of this seems to be seriously 'up-hill' though)

I feel very happy everytime I ride...but am clearly useless. Do you think I should just call it a day and go back to watching day-time TV? I'm asking this question seriously though - because I am pushing 60 yrs old and don't seem to be able to do any of the mileages or average speeds that everyone else here does? Is there a time when you you just have to accept that you are old and knackered-or are there strategies/philosophy/wisdom that can help us overcome our perceived weakness?

Please advise?

Best

widge

Keep riding, don't worry about speeds or distances, if you enjoy pub to pub, taking photos, cafe's etc, at a leisurely pace, then keep doing that

 

[Col5632]

As others have said if you enjoy it then why give that up, speed aint everything

 

[HertzvanRental]

Is there a time when you have to accept that you're old and knackered? Probably!
But, man, you are way, way off that! Just carry on, carrying on!

 

[Pikey]

DONT GIVE IT UP!

I'm sure you are enjoying yourself at least six million times more than those which are out chasing strava segments and higher average speeds.

 

[raleighnut]

30 miles ain't exactly crap, and averaging 10 mph over 30 miles is pretty good too. Keep at it.

 

[aberal]

You're still going a squillion times faster than a sofa surfer. So why worry?

That being said, speed tends to be a strength/weight ratio thing. Shed some lbs, get a lighter bike, or lighten your existing bike, carry on cycling and the speed will naturally increase. It really will. It's as simple as that.

 

[50000tears]

I have ridden in Devon and you cannot turn any corner it seems without being confronted with yet another 15%+ gradient. You are doing fine just riding those hills. Definitely stick with it. Never a need to stop if you enjoy it.

 

[Dayvo]

Fresh air, exercise, freedom, fun, lovely part of the country, good health and time to do what you really enjoy doing. Why would you want to stop doing that?

Keep going: age is just a number, attitude is far more important.

 

[derrick]

Don't give up just look for pubs a bit further afield, don't worry about speed. just chill.

 

[Hip Priest]

If you enjoy it, just keep on keeping on.

Great post btw.