Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

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uart
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Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby uart » Thu Jul 26, 2018 2:18 pm

I was just out riding this morning on the Fernleigh track (Newcastle) and it was really surprising to see just how many riders that looked well into their 60s or 70s.

Not sure if this a recent surge in popularity, but I do seem to notice quite a lot of cyclists well over 50 yo these days. Particularly where there is good safe cycling infrastructure like shared paths, I see a surprising number of cyclists well into their 60s and 70s.

As someone approaching that age range myself, I think it's great. I'm certain that it must give good health outcomes and save a lot of money for the health system.

Has anyone else noticed what a large proportion of cyclist that this age group makes up these days.
Last edited by uart on Thu Jul 26, 2018 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

fat and old
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby fat and old » Thu Jul 26, 2018 2:27 pm

See heaps on the paths around Melbourne in large packs. Also along Pt Nepean Rd on the Lower Peninsula...say Mornington to Sorrento. We call them the Old Man Pelotons....as they whiz past at twice my speed. Quite a few, really noticeable in winter as all the soft mamils and tri heads are scared of the cold and winds and stay home or start after midday :lol:

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby human909 » Thu Jul 26, 2018 2:43 pm

The retired need something to do during their many idle years. :lol: Cycling is a great activity, but for the typical Australian you need the local access to infrastructure. The road is hardly a friendly place for the young and fit let alone those older and less agile.

My mother took up regular cycling once she retired as a concious decision to stay active. It certainly helped having a great network of shared paths on her doorstep. Once I finally convinced her to treat and replace her bike from the 80s she also realised that gears are great! She can tackle moderately steep hills and also rides to the local shops every now and again.

Keep building the infrastructure and you'll see plenty more cyclists of all ages about.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Arbuckle23 » Thu Jul 26, 2018 2:55 pm

I took up cycling as a serious hobby when I was 59.
Did my first Around the Bay (210km) when I was 60.
Stating racing this year and loving it. 61 now.

And don't call me elderly :P :x :lol:

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Ivanerrol » Thu Jul 26, 2018 3:12 pm

Due to circumstances, childhood friends have got together for the first time in years. All now retired and heading into their seventies.
I was surprised to find out that 3 out of 5 friends were back on the bikes. A fourth will be joining soon by order of his doctor - not allowed to run but recommended to cycling.

fat and old
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby fat and old » Thu Jul 26, 2018 3:20 pm

human909 wrote: The road is hardly a friendly place for the young and fit let alone those older and less agile.
As I pointed out, there are heaps of them down here in retirement haven. All on the road, no issues. Actually heaps of even older cyclists along the beachfront path/track too. By that I mean 70's + You need to realise that cycling down here is as or more common than inner Melbourne, and that the locals are used to it. Also, the older slower folk get a degree of respect that their younger, faster brethren don't.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby bychosis » Thu Jul 26, 2018 3:39 pm

I'd say that of the majority of cyclists I see on my commute along the share path along Warners Bay to Speers Pt are of the retiree age bracket. The younger ones on the share path seem to be parents with children, but after school or during holiday times. The 'young guns' are probably out smashing themselves in the bush or racking up the kms at pace on the roads before going for a latte.
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Newcastle Dave » Thu Jul 26, 2018 4:08 pm

bychosis wrote:...... or racking up the kms at pace on the roads before going for a latte.
Surely you know serious roadies drink espressos or macchiatos only ?

RobertL
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby RobertL » Thu Jul 26, 2018 4:30 pm

Remember, too, that people of that age probably used bicycles as transportation when they were younger. They certainly grew up in households where their parents would have used bicycles as transportation.

So going back to using a bike for "normal" riding, as well as a bit of exercise, is not something new to them.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Jmuzz » Thu Jul 26, 2018 4:33 pm

It's a great activity if the paths are in the area.

E-bikes becoming more affordable help a lot too because even bad knees/heart/lungs can keep up with the group's.
The folding e-bikes open up access to more paths because they are easy to take on the train plus easy step thru frames.

The e-bike "revolution" will probably keep a lot of aging people out of mobility scooters and reduce reliance on driving.
Even the established cycling countries haven't seen the e-bike impact yet.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby fat and old » Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:26 pm

RobertL wrote:Remember, too, that people of that age probably used bicycles as transportation when they were younger. They certainly grew up in households where their parents would have used bicycles as transportation.

So going back to using a bike for "normal" riding, as well as a bit of exercise, is not something new to them.
My uncle was one of them. Raced track before marriage, commuted by bike for many years to the same workplace from the same house (45 years or something at the same place). Stopped then started again post retirement at almost 70. Kept at it until falling off became a common thing ( late 80’s). Died a few years later. Good riddance to the prick.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby bychosis » Thu Jul 26, 2018 8:21 pm

Newcastle Dave wrote:
bychosis wrote:...... or racking up the kms at pace on the roads before going for a latte.
Surely you know serious roadies drink espressos or macchiatos only ?
Being neither serious roadie nor coffee drinker I had no idea!
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby opik_bidin » Thu Jul 26, 2018 8:44 pm

As I chatted to a friend who was in his 60's, he talked about how australian kids used to cycle everywhere, at least to and from school. He told the story on how they go to adventures, got lost with no map and then try tracing back their home as a game (GPS and smartphone wasn't in their hands at that time), and all the fun times

then came MHL, which dropped cycling participation and cut a generation from cycling,

But now, as they're retired, needed to do something, and in Sydney hear and see the cycling promotion and how bike friendly the situation are, more and more of his friends are cycling back, and he also plans to do some rides around the area

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uart
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby uart » Thu Jul 26, 2018 9:02 pm

It's definitely a low impact form of exercise on the old joints, especially compared to sports that involve running.

Also it's something that you can do at your own pace, and get the fresh air and to see the sights which is so much better than indoor stuff at a gym.

So I can see why it's a popular pass time for many older riders.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby mikesbytes » Thu Jul 26, 2018 9:26 pm

Newcastle Dave wrote:
bychosis wrote:...... or racking up the kms at pace on the roads before going for a latte.
Surely you know serious roadies drink espressos or macchiatos only ?
Agree

Accessibility to a save pleasant environment is the key [yeh I know I'm preaching to the converted]
If the R-1 rule is broken, what happens to N+1?

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby RobertL » Fri Jul 27, 2018 10:33 am

fat and old wrote:
RobertL wrote:Remember, too, that people of that age probably used bicycles as transportation when they were younger. They certainly grew up in households where their parents would have used bicycles as transportation.

So going back to using a bike for "normal" riding, as well as a bit of exercise, is not something new to them.
My uncle was one of them. Raced track before marriage, commuted by bike for many years to the same workplace from the same house (45 years or something at the same place). Stopped then started again post retirement at almost 70. Kept at it until falling off became a common thing ( late 80’s). Died a few years later. Good riddance to the prick.
That escalated quickly :shock: :shock: :shock:

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Scintilla » Fri Jul 27, 2018 11:17 am

I know we are talking about actually riding the bike for fitness, but this video highlights the much wider benefits of socialisation, activation of memory, and access to the community that comes from even riding as a passenger. This program is being introduced in Australia in old age services now as well.


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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby gorilla monsoon » Fri Jul 27, 2018 11:59 am

We exhibited dogs for decades and walked a solid 5km at least four days a week.
a few years after we stopped, the strawberry kisses pointed-out that we were becoming "generously proportioned" and should either go back to walking or buy bicycles.
I was a cycle hater but preferred the idea to walking. Bought K-Mart MTB's, loved the riding, destroyed the POS MTB and bought a real bike.
Really enjoy the exercise factor but also the speed. I am a car nut but can't go fast in a car anymore but can go flat knacker on a bike.
And yeah, don't call me elderly. Sixty-three is the new 35.
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Thoglette » Fri Jul 27, 2018 12:30 pm

gorilla monsoon wrote:And yeah, don't call me elderly. Sixty-three is the new 35.
A while back on a family picnic, I watched an old gentleman carefully getting off his rather nice, if vintage, bike before slowly making his way to the tap, where I was, to fill his bidon. On noticing his audax top I struck up a conversation. He recollected that he had loved the long rides, but commented that he wasn't really up to them any more, now that he was "past eighty". Today, he told me, he was "just doing a gentle hundred" instead.
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Arbuckle23 » Fri Jul 27, 2018 12:31 pm

gorilla monsoon wrote: Sixty-three is the new 35.
Yup. My brain stills thinks I'm 25. The body does remind it when things get too hard though :D

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Scintilla » Fri Jul 27, 2018 12:58 pm

Thoglette wrote:
gorilla monsoon wrote:And yeah, don't call me elderly. Sixty-three is the new 35.
A while back on a family picnic, I watched an old gentleman carefully getting off his rather nice, if vintage, bike before slowly making his way to the tap, where I was, to fill his bidon. On noticing his audax top I struck up a conversation. He recollected that he had loved the long rides, but commented that he wasn't really up to them any more, now that he was "past eighty". Today, he told me, he was "just doing a gentle hundred" instead.
I had a call from a friend of mine from the 1980s who I have not seen since about 1990. He is now 80, and was an Audax rider in the 80s. He told me that he is on-track to complete his 30,000 kms of riding for this year, which will make it the 30th year of this annual distance :shock:

Yes that IS 30,000 kilometres!

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Daus » Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:28 pm

I didn't think I was elderly only mid 60's, now that I am retired and longer commute to work I ride with a mixed group of people around my age not really for the excercise but the joy of cycling and social interaction.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Jmuzz » Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:36 pm

opik_bidin wrote:As I chatted to a friend who was in his 60's, he talked about how australian kids used to cycle everywhere, at least to and from school. He told the story on how they go to adventures, got lost with no map and then try tracing back their home as a game (GPS and smartphone wasn't in their hands at that time), and all the fun times

then came MHL, which dropped cycling participation and cut a generation from cycling,
I grew up with the beginning of MHL and my group of friends used the bikes every day. I saw the full bike racks dwindle to empty and now not even there at old schools.
In my experience I couldn't say MHL had any impact at all on the declining popularity.

I think it was more about the "bubble wrap" generation setting in, which helmets are a symptom of but not the cause. More kids weren't allowed to hang with us free on the streets and bush, had to be at a house or shops or somewhere with a parent.

I remember we also got banned from taking our bikes on the train to school. I don't remember if it was because they claimed our train passes didn't cover the bike and we had to buy a ticket, or if it had something to do with misbehavior such as launching bikes down the station stairs (bmx were tanks in those days).
Also the school went anti bike due to community complaints while in uniform. I think they may have banned riding in the school shirt/jacket at one point and would patrol outside the school to get us in trouble.

Nintendo and the other consoles and computers also became mainstream in that era and that had a huge impact on outside activity.
That's the start of the couch potato problems in society.

The town I went to primary school in really hasn't become any busier and being a smallish detached town traffic is still about the same and people still know who most people are with that small town feel.
But the bikes to school still died, it's no less safe, but bubble wrap society now needs to drop their kids within 20m of the gates and escort them safely inside while raging at all the other parents (my classmates who used to ride to same school) in their way.

We were never bothered by the helmets, didn't have dork helmets there were plenty of cooler helmets, the right styles and stickers or paint were a coolness benefit.

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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby Thoglette » Fri Jul 27, 2018 6:31 pm

Jmuzz wrote: I remember we also got banned from taking our bikes on the train to school....
Also the school went anti bike due to community complaints while in uniform...
Bubble wrap was part of it (originally "stranger danger") but most of this was blatant anti-bike attitude.

Of which MHL was a part. If not by the original (misguided) proponents then certainly by those eagerly enabling its roll out.
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Re: Popularity of cycling with the elderly (and moderately elderly).

Postby uart » Fri Jul 27, 2018 9:28 pm

Thoglette wrote: Bubble wrap was part of it (originally "stranger danger") but most of this was blatant anti-bike attitude.
Of which MHL was a part. If not by the original (misguided) proponents then certainly by those eagerly enabling its roll out.
Yes MHL was only a part of the problem, and it didn't instantaneously change things either. But over time I believe it did contribute to the increase in perceived danger and reduction in popularity of the bike for general transport.

It's interesting to look at some of the old NFSA archives to see how different things were in the past. :)

I know this one has been posted here recently.



I also happened on this even older one while searching for the above.

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