I would like to give a friend of mine, Bob O’Brien, some time as a guest author. As I have mentioned before, this sport has graced me with the opportunity of meeting and befriending many interesting people from all backgrounds. Here are his thoughts:
Senior Mountain Biker – A Generational Perspective
Senior Mountain Biker, look out, here I come! Mountain Biking is oftentimes viewed as the sole province of younger riders, those far below retirement age. Nothing could be further from the truth. Senior Bikers, those over 60 years old, are not the frail elderly of yesteryear. We grew up playing organized sports in school and participating in after class pickup games on playing fields, streets or anyplace available. Finding fellow enthusiasts was never an issue. We all played until it was dark.
As time progressed, we joined gyms, played in senior leagues and stayed active. Although we may have left the roughest contact sports behind, our fierce competitive spirit remained.
For me, I took up road biking on a whim when I turned 65 to stay in shape and maintain cardiac fitness. A few years later I upped the ante and began mountain biking in the oxygen-rich woods. Now, as a 76-year-old, I’m biking the black diamond trails and local sand beaches several days a week.
Locally
Here on Long Island (NY) I belong to a vibrant 500-member biking group so there are always others to join in group rides no matter the time, location or weather conditions. The common denominator that characterizes our biking group is that we all love to ride.
On any given day I’d say that my riding companions range in age from the mid-40s to late 60s. The are few other riders over 70 but I’m sure that will change in the years ahead. I’m a pretty good mountain biker (for my age) yet long gone are the days when I can consistently ride at the front of the pack. So even though my average speed inevitably declines as I age, I’ve become much better at handling other stuff like ledge drops, jumps and log rollovers. Riding skinny planks still makes me anxious but I am practicing and getting better.
On Long Island we have over 200 miles of dirt trails that are very well maintained by a local dues paying organization dedicated to improving mountain biking throughout the Island. Besides paying member dues many of us contribute our time for trail building and seasonal cleanups.
Typically, rides are scheduled within our Facebook group and, depending on the venue, may be anywhere between 10 and 25 or more miles long. There’s nothing better for mind and body than being in the deep woods on a bike.
Tread With Care
Being a senior mountain biker means taking reasonable precautions such as elbow and knee pads along with the mandatory helmet and protective eyewear. Another condition I impose on myself is never giving less than a 100% effort on every single ride I’m on. That way, even if I fall behind, I know that I’m working to my maximum and so do my companions.
While biking the more technical trails I’ve noticed that although my reflexes may have slowed, my awareness of the trail’s unique twists, turns, climbs and descents is as sharp as ever. I proved to myself countless times that advancing age is not the detriment it was a generation ago. All things being equal, with a competitive, can-do attitude coupled with a prudent appraisal of individual capabilities I’m convinced that the senior mountain biker can continue to defy expectations and confidently shatter all the prejudicial age-related stereotypes.
The key question I nevertheless ask myself from time to time is whether I’m in the process of aging out of a sport that’s often described in writings as an inherently dangerous activity. My response is an emphatic hell no. As long as I stay healthy and fit, I’ll be mountain biking well into my 80s.
Lastly, my advice to seniors who are contemplating mountain biking is to give it a try. There are plenty of beginner-level trails for a senior mountain biker who is just starting out. Moreover, I’d highly recommend taking some hands-on skills development classes, which have been exceptionally helpful to me and others for learning proper biking techniques and safe riding practices.
Final Thought: Don’t let the fear of advancing age deprive you of all the wonderful benefits mountain biking has to offer. You owe it to yourself to at least further explore this calorie burning fountain of youth.
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