This is a topic I had in BNA that was well used and was continuing even coming up 6 years since it began. This is about feeling old and slow on the bicycle due to getting old personally or after an injury, operations or some other medical event that one has to endure, getting back on the bike and doing the best you can under the circumstances.
This topic has nothing to do with old worn out bicycles but old worn out cyclists lol.
What prompted me to start this topic originally is back in 2020, still during Covid times but I just not long had a left hip replacement, when I was ok to get back on the bike, I met up with a couple of blokes from an old BUG I was involved in during the early 2000’s but halfway into the ride I had to bail as my lack of fitness was dragging me down and I was also holding them back so I said my goodbyes and rode home with the tail between my legs.
I had just turned 60 back then, felt like 80 but I do keep riding and by myself usually as that way I don’t have anyone else on my mind except how I’m doing. 66yrs old now and older and just as decrepit lol.
I don’t have an E-bike, only a touring bike and MTB so as long as I don’t go too slow that I fall off, I’m trying not to succumb to an E-bike just yet.
So anyone else here have an Old & Decrepit story they wish to share, put it down under this post. I thought I’d bring it over here if it’s ok for members to talk about any ongoing issues.
Turned 51 this year. I’ve never been fast, never raced, don’t really do group rides that often. I’ve given up on ever being fast, just gonna concentrate on enjoying riding I think. Definitely have a lot more aches and pains than I used to but nothing serious. My main goal is to be fit enough to be able to do a 100km ride with no notice, like wake up and go “righto, doing 100km today”. Did that a week or so back with no problems, so I guess I’m doing okay.
That said, I did have a decent stack last week on my commute when a random fibre optic cable got tangled in my front wheel, so I’m still pretty sore from that. I’m generally the most cautious rider around so don’t usually get injured unless it’s someone else’s fault…
Being able to go fast is overrated IMO. Pro racing is just a marketing tool for the manufacturers to sell more overpriced cycling equipment. That takes away one of the best benefits of bikes, which is their frugality.
I’m 58 and like you I’m focussed on being more capable, rather than fast. It has been at least 6 years since I’ve even had a computer on my bike.
69 next month and I have plenty of aches/pain in my lower back that has me walking like a cripple at times but stubbornness is key for me. Although the chronic pain coupled with sleep issues has me on the back foot for 90% of my days. I’m frustrated with not things but hey, life wasn’t meant to be easy someone said!
I’ve got enough maintenance to do around the house and on the vehicles without neglecting suspension forks as well. Like most people seem to.
If that fork had been a rigid, then little change. But now that person has an ugly, heavy, rigid fork anyway.
Another:
These aren’t images I pulled off the internet. They are photos I took. Rust stanchins are pretty common on average peoples’ bikes. I also see it a bit on MCs.
As for nice to ride. You don’t miss what you don’t know about.
However, as you know, I did lash out and spend ~$3K on a modern bike to find I still prefer the cheap one on gravel. The expensive one gets over more stuff at the MTB park without stopping. But I wouldn’t say it’s overall better. Just different. And the steep gravel climb I got up the other day was on the old one. As interesting and educational owning the modern bike as been. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have bought it. I would have built up another secondhand bike.
Your problem now and forever will be that you can’t go back. So that means more expensive maintenance due to more expense parts. Your next bike also needs to be just as nice too. Even if it isn’t as expensive. No more rim brakes and mechanical groupos. No more cheap tubed tyres and wheels. I almost feel sorry for you,…almost.
I would think that as we get a lot older, we’re not as likely to be hard on gear eg; bike as we would’ve been in our 20s to mid 40’s, not likely to be doing massive jumps etc so buying top end might be ok for those who compete seriously but not for those who fitness is the primary goal.
I would like to buy the latest Vivente adventure touring bicycles or ATBs but at over $7K now, I would never justify that expense due to the fact that I don’t think I’ll ever tour on the bike like I had hoped to, the one I have does everything asked of it and probably more. Even with the derailleur style drive train, touring bikes are often over $ 3,500 to start plus extras.
The Trek Marlin 7 is a pretty tough bike and unless I smash into a tree, I don’t think I’m likely to break it.
Just coming up to 69. Been away grey nomading for a few monts and really paying for it. Not too bad on flat stuff, but point me at a rise and out the back
Yeah the Marlin will probably be fine for anything with some accessories. Probably your last bike. My Kona Unit X will almost certainly be my last new bike. I know that sounds depressing, but it’s just the reality of getting older.
Stick your bike out in the weather and don’t look after it and yep your forks may rust.
I enjoy riding my bikes and appreciate quality so I actually care for and maintain them. They live in our garage on wall mounted racks. That is not happening to any bike I own.
However to extend that analogy further, why are you riding a chain driven bike with gears and pneumatic tyres. Think of the challenge and lack of maintenance a Penny Farthing offers.
Free yourself of these modern gimmicks and return to your roots. Your enjoyment will be enhanced by the simplicity and purity of your cycling experience
Or I could take it even futher and start bare-foot cross country running in winter, in my undies. Back to my roots…
Why do I need to extend it further? I have everything I value and it’s all really cheap. Just like a basic car - like say a Suzuki Swift - has everything one needs and doesn’t cost the earth to own or run. I can appreciate Ferraris, Ducatis and expensive bikes of all kinds. It’s just better if someone else owns them. I’m the same with car colours. I love the Mazda candy apple red they have. But I would never own one. White is my car colour preference for various pragmatic reasons.
As a pragmatic person I only ride what I really need. I even tried flats again for a bit, but that was a step too far back for me. So I’m content to ride the more expensive clipless setup. But good suspension forks are expensive. And I don’t think they provide enough value to me to offset the extra cost, or maintenance. They suit people who like to go fast.
I hope you continue to enjoy your Ferrari and get some value out of it. But unfortunately hedonic adaptation means you won’t appreciate it as much in the future. Your other bikes even less, other than appreciating the different experiences they provide.
Buying the Kona was a mistake for me. But bikes depreciate too much to reverse the decision. So I’ll keep it for now.
Bicycles are the interest I most enjoy. I could have spent a lot more. What I have is a good balance for me. It does what I want well. You are a long time in the grave so I will spend a moderate sum on what I enjoy whilst I am still able to enjoy it.
Turns out you were right about disc brakes they are very good. Effective and reliable all of the time at stopping the bike. The di2 and tubeless are also very effective. Yep, I wont be going back but I don’t regret it.
Dunno what I will run when I upgrade the gravello. It may be a Chinese groupo. They are not quite there yet from what I read but are getting pretty close. Just a few reliability issues.
Chinertown is saving me alot of money. A great resource for what works and what doesn’t. Most of it is very reasonably priced anyway if you compare it to shop bought stuff.
That’s both of us. We just enjoy them in different ways. I can see your point of view to an extent because I used to have aspirations about better bikes once. But for whatever reason, I enjoy the bang for buck side of it more. The money I spent on the Kona was from an inheritance as an experiment to see if modern equipment was empirically better. But all it has really done is confirmed that I’m not an aspirational rider anymore in equipment or speed.
I took your advice and have been using AliExpress for lots of parts. Below is a rusty Giant I found on the verge at the time of the council bulk rubbish. I used about $100 of Chinese bits and other bits I had or scrounged to do it up. A bit small for me, but my wife is trying to start a family daycare. This should help.
and I have plenty of aches/pain in my lower back that has me walking like a cripple at times but stubbornness is key for me. Although the chronic pain coupled with sleep issues has me on the back foot for 90% of my days. I’m frustrated with not things but hey, life wasn’t meant to be easy someone said! 
