I like the quote “The Road is a good listener “ I am 70 and last year rode 555 kilometers one week to complete The Ohio to Erie Trail. A daily ride is like meditation- it clears out the cobwebs and helps you enjoy life. Thanks Leonard.
Very true. I am fifty one and grew up on bikes and ice skates. It is amazing I can walk...kidding I also run. I went from BMX to Road and then MTB. All the while playing hockey and a competitive skateboarder. Just got two new bikes and look forward to endless miles of shredding. The joy of cycling is just...that.
When I was in my mid-30s I was a physical wreck. I had gout and a bad back. I couldn't stand upright and was developing arthritis. Someone suggested exercise but I'm too big to jog. So I bought a bike. The transformation took several years. The gout and arthritis disappeared and very rapidly my back improved. As I continued and joined a bike club (I most definitely am not a joiner as a rule) we started increasing our mileage and then feet of climbing. Finally I did 3 years of 10,000 miles and was really going great. Then one day on a group ride a first generation carbon fiber fork started clicking and I bent over to see what was happening and the IRD fork exploded and I wasn't in a position to protect myself. The front of my helmet and forehead hit the road from 24 inches above the road and knocked me out for over 5 minutes. When the ambulance got me to the hospital I was talking normally so like all professionals they released me after getting my insurance information. Well, I had a class 3 concussion and while I knew something was wrong, I no longer had any short term memories so I couldn't even remember to find help. The local neurologists were incompetent and might have been suffering from dementia themselves. I was having a form of seizures that left no memory of them occurring. This led to multiple car accidents luckily without injuries to others and so many bike crashes that I gave up cycling and sold or gave away all my bikes etc. A good friend, an NCIS agent, took me to a club Xmas party and during dinner his wife, a nurse saw me having a discreet seizure. My friend jumped through a million hoops to eventually find me a competent neurologist who over the course of a year worked out a treatment plan that finally brought me back among the living. Now I have to take pills with some disagreeable side effects for the remainder of my life. And my friend who had by then retired with medical problems of his own, forced me to start riding again. This was intensely scary because at this point I could get lost a block from my home. But the brain is a wonderful thing and slowly switched functions to other parts of the brain and I only had to relearn routes and directions. I even accomplished an engineering job to discover that part of my brain was unaffected. At 12 years since the accident my life has returned more or less to normal and otherwise, at 77, my health couldn't be better. I hope that you can forgive me if I brag about every mile of distance and every foot of climbing I accomplish because it is my proof that I am back again.
56 and in the best shape of my life. 3 years ago 400 miles in a year, 2 years ago 2000, last year 4200 and this year am hoping to average 100 miles per week. The real reason I ride is my mental health, the physical health is a bonus. Riding makes me happier, calmer and makes me sleep like a baby! Anxiety and stress melts in my first 10 minutes on the bike. I hate rest days.
Dude, im not at your age yet or racking up those big miles and my physicl shape isnt great...... but i completely agree about reason to ride and the fitness being a bonus -i get the training side of things, but for me its all about being outside on the bike and clearing my head - ride for fun, but ride strong!
@@elvingtonred hey elvingtonred, you are so right dude, im no roadie...45Kms through the muddy woods and along the trails today, up and down hills - loved it - even with a puncture i was still smiling pushing the bike home :)
Another good topic. At 66yo, "Why do I ride?" A: "All of the above, of course!" I pay attention to the metrics, but they are my waypoints, not my destination; the trick is not to get obsessed with them in an of themselves. "I don't ride to add years to my life [although it should], but to add life to my years."
Please be careful and wear helmets. I celebrated my 60th birthday, in 2014, with a century ride. One week later I was run over from behind by a cage driver that just didn't give a damn and left me for dead in the road. Even though I was wearing a helmet, I was knocked unconscious for 12 hours. I had eight broken bones including the transverse processes being snapped off of 3 vertebrae and a broken shoulder blade. A stenosis in my neck paralyzed my right arm and so I had surgery to fuse 3 of the vertebrae. I still ride, but only on dedicated trails. Good luck to all of you who ride.
That was a heck of a crash. I hope it has little long-term effects. I got hit broadside by a Chevy Trailblazer, but I don't remember a thing. I got a concussion and broken ankle with scars everywhere. Let's stop doing that... but keep riding. Good health to you.
Nicely said! 61 (24 in my head!) , been riding all my life, slow, still rubbish at hills but OH the JOY of pottering along country lanes on a 3 speed roadster and stopping for a flask of hot chocolate somewhere with a view - the best hours of the week in the fresh air EVER :)
Leonard, this is a great video. I started in 1972, will be 77 next month and have gone from 145 lbs. in 1972 and am 148 now. I ride for fun, commute, cake and coffee. Your influence on the biking world is bigger than you may think. Thanks.
Thanks Leonard, I'm 51, 6 yrs removed from a triple bypass and been riding steadily now for 1.5 yrs. You just inspired me to get on my bike this morning!
@@jollygoodvelo Thanks, just a short one before work this AM. I feel that your presentations fill a key niche in the cycling world. There is so little out there for the beginning/intermediate inspired rider. My only goal is to get off heart meds through fitness, not hunting KOMs. Please keep up the good work!!!
I'm 71, last year I rode 5000+ miles. Want to get back to touring but health keeps me close to home. It doesn't matter how many miles you ride, its not competition you do it because it makes you feel good. "I'm old and slow but im not dead yet"
That was a good pep talk. A week and a half of brutal cold here in Texas has stopped me but the thaw has begun! This old guy (62) will be on the bike again tomorrow I think! Keep it up brother!
Another Texan here (Plano) and waiting until things are warmer - no winter kit, yet. Who cares why one rides? Exercise, exploring, fun - does it matter? Keep the pedals spinning! Another great vid, Leonard! See you on the roads (when it warms a bit).
At 63 I ride for fun and fitness. Being naturally competitive I always push myself when I ride 4-6 times a week. I've noticed my heart rate and fitness getting better the more days I ride, not the miles. Better to do 20 miles 5 times a week than 100 miles on the weekend. It is the best medicine for the mind and the body. Never do I start out only to feel bad and go home. Once on the road the energy gets me feeling great and the ride just flows. Like your videos, always nice to watch to get me out the door on cold gray days.
Have arthritis in my knee's was nearly bed ridden at 52 over weight so i got a mountain bike first ride 5km got off the bike nearly died with sore ass numb hands and bushed after a few weeks riding a couple of days a week did 5 km felt fresh as a daisy now i do up to 30 km a ride lost 15 kg in weight and can walk a lot better really helped my arthritis at 54 and feeling a lot fitter as you said hard at the start but start slow work your way up good luck give it a try and stay fit.
"No matter how long or how fast. Just ride." I would add - be considerate and polite. The cyclist is not just about themselves but the appreciation of the physical effort and the world that goes on around them. Give out to the driver that doesn't give you room, but appreciate the pedestrian that has to step into the road. [Edit]: Oh and don't run red lights. Just don't.
All so true Leonard. I'm only 66 with no plan on stopping. The only time I get into race mode is if I think the cafe will close before I get there. Vey nice listening to your analogy again. Theres one more thing. Cyclists will very often offer help or advice if you're looking like you need it. Think how many motorists would stop to help you if your car broke down.
Being 53 and a cartoonist / illustrator i recon i never lost the inner child. It helps seeing the funny thing in ordinairy life. I even think i cycle as a child, lol. As long as possible, and as fast as possible. Life is good and short, enjoy every day. Lost to many people last few years...
Just bragging. I had my 76th birthday in 2020 and rode over 12000 kilometers. The important thing however everyone is get out there and enjoy yourselves.
I'm 50 and also started to ride again mainly for health reasons. I'm 3 years in & I'll probably fall at my wife's hands for buying a bike every year. This month I've added a classic single speed to the stable with my garage built road & gravel bikes. I started watching your channel, among a couple others, while recovering from a structural cardiac repair surgery. Keep up the great work Leonard!!
@leonardmlee. Thank You for your video. At 57 Years old, I really enjoy cycling. It was intimidating when I got back into it at 55 years old, But when I did my first 30 kilometer ride, I felt GREAT. Thank you for your videos and insight.
You are completely right the minumm gain in cycling is {Doing something is always better than doing nothing} Please accept my full respect you been always a great motivation tool 😍😍😍
Just turned 50 and getting back into cycling for the first time in MANY years... and having a ball. I ride a hybrid, and I really don't care that it's slower than a road bike... if it makes going fast harder, then I'm getting more exercise!
I'm so glad you also mentioned commuting. For me it's THE solution to keep cycling while having little time for sports. I have to get to my work anyway, and doing that by bike instead of by car hardly takes extra time. I'm 56 by now, and last year I built myself a semi-classic randonneur. It fits my age.... I call it the E-bike beater; guess why ;) And thinking about rain: I think I really get wet only about 10 times a year, riding every day. I look at it as a game (or a challenge if you like), not as an argument for not taking the bike. Have fun cycling you all!!!
Thanks for the inspiration. I am 68 soon to be 69 and love it more every day and find it easier each day to go out. I feel as if I am cheating myself if I miss out. Must take the rarer”recovery day”. 150 miles per week and it gets easier, I get fitter and the meditation and peace of mind aspect is priceless. I just track my basic numbers as I am not trying to impress anybody. It has changed my life since I got,serious about it about 5 years ago. Thanks for your frequent upbeat commentaries.
I just turned 60 and I found biking again about 6 or 7 years ago. Every year I am biking more rides and more miles. Last year I did 138 rides and 3800 miles in Wisconsin where I bike from April to the end of October. I hate not biking for 5 months during the winter. I hit the treadmill 4-5 times a week during this time. Biking has become such a passion for me. I am always thinking about it,and I love how I feel when I bike a lot. I usually go 5-6 times a week and usually do 30 mile rides. I have even done a few bike vacations which are a blast. Hopefully in the next month when the weather improves and the snow melts I'll be able to get the bike out for another great season of biking. I can't wait.
If I ever get back from a ride feeling better than when I left the house - that would be every time! I'm 58 and have friends in their 70s who can ride circles around me. I hope I will still be out there 20 years from now.
I'm a couple of weeks away from hitting 52. Cycling has gotten me through cancer. Cycling saved my sanity during the pandemic. Between everything being closed, and the desire to see something other than the walls within my house, I would hop on my bike and ride until sunset after work. I ended up racking up 4000+ miles in 2020. I even managed to go on a multi-day bike tour. I felt that was the safest way to vacation during a pandemic.
Wow, those hedgerows come right up to the edge of the asphalt. I retired last year at 55 and happily spend more time bicycling now. I am not a competitive person, so the figures mean nothing to me, and I don't keep score. I ride for fun and exercise. But I can relate to feeling good after a ride - serotonin and endorphins! My rides are about 9 miles every other day (weather permitting) on a single speed converted from an old ten-speed. And I have an excellent linear park to ride on. I'm not a doctor, and I don't have any government studies to back this up, but it is my understanding that getting run over can be deleterious. Besides the biking I do some push-ups, pull-ups and maintain a healthful diet. Stay safe friends.
I have been riding a road bike for the last 3 years, used to ride to work daily, but decided to enjoy the best cycle paths in the world more intensly.(Holland). Had heart bypass surgery about 8 months ago, was back on my bike 6 weeks after surgery, and am pushing my milage up again, feeling better than before my operation. I do keep a keen eye on my heart rate, but so far my cardiologist is happy as Larry with me!
I am 53 started way back in 2003 but through work didn`t do that much mileage, 2009 bike upgrade, slightly more mileage 2012 became self employed quit the job and because my job involved constant driving my hatred of driving can only be described as pathological. I moved to a place where everywhere I go can be done on a bike. Although occasionally I do have to use a car from time to time, there is just no fun driving in a city, but luckily for me only on very rare occasions. Health benefits are pretty amazing and psychological welfare is hand in hand with psychical. Once bike fit which if your starting from scratch is worth chasing, the less driving you do the less anxious you become same with walking everywhere. This has also led to me pannier touring and that is an absolute joy. Cycling is green, you do not have to M.O.T a bike, no road tax and when the price of petrol goes up it just does not affect the weekly mileage as it is never in the budget. Keep to your limits, your confidence will gradually build but most of all enjoy the time spent on your bike. It is like a 2nd childhood
Been cycling all my life and just had my 60th birthday, still riding fast with my 35-45 year old friends. Road, Gravel, MTB and a wardrobe full of Lycra. Got rid of the second car three years ago. Call me obsessive if you want, but if you enjoy it why not keep doing it. Its true that it doesn't get easier you just get faster, what they don't tell you is...then you get older and get slower...but it's always enjoyable!
Don't worry about the numbers just enjoy yourselves. The numbers can help as a guide to improvement. If you're not enjoying it just rein it back a bit. Just enjoy it 😉
64 in a couple of months. Just been laid off work and don't see great job prospects at my age. No 1 objective to get fit and enjoy life for a while. Just got an old Ricardo bike made in Adelaide South Australia in the 80s - was very cheap. Was in bad condition but got it fixed up at the local bike shop and now it is just stunning. Red with yellow "Ricardo" decals. Bike shop owner told me it was a real beauty and to hang on to it! Having so much fun riding it and feeling great. Just taking it easy but gives me enormous pleasure to be out in the fresh air enjoying the scenery on my beautiful vintage treadley😊🚴🚴
54 here. Out riding my hardtail MTB with smooth tires today when someone about half me age got on the path just in front of me. He was on a road bike, but I thought I'd see if I could keep up. After following for some time, he seemed to get tired. I passed and never looked back. We aren't typically stronger when older, but over the years, we might find out optimal bike fit, best cadence, gear choice etc. and still be a strong rider.
I have cycled more miles than most have diven, Raced, and holidayed on a bike. Stopped at about 60 years old. Had a hart attack. then busted my knee snow skiing. I am now 64, have a mountain bike fixed to a Wahoo indoor trainer. I ride very slowly now, like realy slow to keep my hart not too stressed. Yet i still love it. ( No rain, wind, hail, bugs, birds, drain covers, cars, fums, dust, noise, rabbits, dogs, horses, cold frozen fingers, ) and what is best of all ! when i am done, i dont have to ride that last ten miles up the hill to get home.
I'm 57, rode 11.5 miles today. Hope to retire within the next 2 years and hope to do this everyday. When I was younger, rode less but further, usually 30 miles, once maybe twice a week, now ride more, maybe 4 to 5 days a week but not as far, maybe 10 to 15 miles. It's all good.
50 in six months time, glad I've never been too responsible, life is for living not just existing. Try to stay fit, be positive, be kind to others and have as much fun as you can along the way. It's all about attitude :-)
I’ve always tried to keep fit from football and long distance running in my younger days been riding now for 22 years riding to work and riding 3 or 4 times a week killing myself some days good some very tiring trying to go faster and faster fallen off a few times been knocked over by a car but I wouldn’t change anything I love my cycling I’m 52 now and recommend cycling to anyone just have to be careful always be alert when on the roads
Never been a runner or particularly fit... Ended last year riding season with 40 miles before work each day weather permitting at 56. Plan to start that again soon, though covid and winter has not been kind to my waistline!
Hi Leonard, another old timer here just turned 57 rode as a junior back in the mid / late 70's, life intervened and really got back into cycling 3-4 years ago last year I clocked 7500miles and lost 3 stone already at 1800 miles for 2021 not been out of garage yet and racing in group B on zwift ( getting battered though!) your an inspiration along with Katie Kookaburra kept it up fella !,! Dave the "hippo"
Sage advice as always. One of my cycling chums wants to do his 1st century this Saturday. He heard about my century, so he's fired up to ride one, so I'm heading out again to ride with him. He's 53 and I'm 61. We will carry the flag for the 50+ folks this weekend. Ride on.
@@jollygoodvelo It was a good ride, we discovered a cool bike trail near LA. My friend wasn't quite as fit as needed for a century, the last 20 miles, he was hanging on for dear life, but he finished the ride in he saddle and bagged his 1st century.🚲👍🏿
I'm 54 and just returning to cycling after many years off the bike. I find your videos inspirational. Also I can see you are local to me and watching the videos gives me some great route ideas as I start to get fitter. thanks M
At 52 bought a DJ bike after 10 years climbing executive ladder with "no" success in sight, I do the thing I loved before going bike to cycling and never felt satisfying every hill I climb or hops and jumps the promotion I have was my health, now I'm excited to bunny hop road cracks and riding 10 kilometers a day everyday for 40 minutes so satisfying and brings a smile when I got home.
Great pearls of wisdom - keep at it - I have now persuaded my wife onto a road bike which is keeping us both sane during lockdown. Just go easy on the coffee and cake stops - the calorie equation can quickly go wrong if you feel you feel that riding allows you extra goodies! Very social in retirement, out of lockdown 2 or 3 group rides a week gives you purpose and reward.
Without exercise I'd be depressed in two weeks.. after 3-4 days without I can notice body and mind needing its daily dose of endorfine and adrenaline. That much weirdo; I love special weather cycling the most! Like now it is -5C and snow storm; I am going for 45-55km ride! Fun fun fun!!! (Until too much snow to cycle, but 2-3 hours time to that level)
Great timing on this video. Thank you. I finally got to ride outside this weekend, and I was hugely disappointed to have to cut my ride short. It was about -15C outside when I started the ride, and I had forgotten how much harder it is to ride in the cold. Still - 25km out in the real world! I'm taking it as a success and looking forward to getting back out there now that the cold snap is (hopefully) over and we're back to reasonable temperatures.
Thank you for this. I needed to hear it. Cycling and exercise in general sometimes seems like progress only happens for other people. I love my bicycle. I live in a place where not a whole lot of people ride. The only ones that seem to be out on bicycles are people collecting bottles and cans for the recycle. I don’t let that stop me, but sometimes I feel very conspicuous!
Just found this excellent video as it popped up in my feed. Never a truer word spoken! I've also found over the years that you don't meet many miserable cyclists, even in the rain! So many positive comments here as well, makes a change from the usual stuff I see/read on RUclips. Keep up the good work leonardmlee, and you've just got another subscriber.
Age 52, rediscovered cycling after some 25 years of not cycling. Glad to be back. Not concerned about my speed but working on increasing my endurance so I can do my first century in the next year. I I used to run but stopped as I wrenched my knees. Cycling is far easier on the knees for sure.
Now 54, have been active since left the the forces in 1992 and have transitioned to cycling from running marathons to cycling and triathlons. I’m the typical Mr Average not fast not slow but can cycle a long way. Do road do MTB and have a blast, my VO2 max is good body fat at 11%, feel great and plan to be riding for a long long time
Well six sad sacks gave this a thumbs down. Why ? Positive stuff, from end to end. As Leonard says it's about what you personally can get from riding a bike. The obvious fitness benefits for are one thing but just as important are the mental and psychological benefits. Had a crap day or week? A swift hour on the bike will get it all into perspective or at least take the edge off things. In my early 40's, thanks to a very good friend I got back on a bike for the first time since I was about 14 and have had a whale of a time for the past 27 years.
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your cycling. I’m convinced if I magically cured word hunger and world peace someone, somewhere would give that a thumbs down.
One of the things I love about cycling is that even at 60, I can still be very active and acquit myself honourably in ways that would simply be impossible in most other sports. Most of all, though, I love riding through the countryside and the company of my club mates, as well as being muuuch fitter than I was 10 years ago. It really is FUN, and win-win-win!!!!
I love your channel. I am 57 years old and just standard riding a road bike 2 months ago, I am consistntly riding 40 miles and I am completely addicted to cycling. My strava is set to private because I am not competing with anyone. My mental health is improving by the day.
Great video. I'm coming up on my 75th birthday soon. Only been cycling for about 9 years now. I see my speeds and times slowing some because of age, I guess, but I still enjoy my rides. They are a great tonic for whatever ails ya. Thanks again for the inspirational video.
I turned 60 years young last year and I feel I’m riding the best I have for years. I’m more than capable of keeping up with the young 50 year olds! The benefit of semi-retirement is I’m riding more often and clocked up 10,000km last year. I always feel better after a ride and although I know rest days are important I feel worse for not riding. Riding for fun and fitness with a bit of adventure thrown in keeps me sane
love this video, it's right on, why I started riding a racing bike myself. I can thank you Leonard for that. So thank you so much for being an inspiration to me.❤
I commuted on a bike for years but at the age of 68 I had clogged coronary arteries and had 2 stents put in. My cardiologist advised me to do some exercise so I began riding more vigorously. I really enjoyed it and started doing bike tours, which are tremendous fun; I remember riding along the Croatian coast and shouting "Oh wow" at the sight of the ocean and hills. I'm 76 now and riding has been great for me. I'll do it until my legs don't work anymore.
I love my mountain bike and get on it whenever I can. I'm relatively in good shape as I've always walked instead of using the car. I'm 50 in June this year.
Great video, I'm 45, I mountain bike, cyclo cross, and road, I also Donner kebab, chilli sauce, no salad.... don't feel guilty, it's perfectly normal... No guilt needed
@@jollygoodvelo it's all about the crispy meat and the chilli sauce, a botched pitta is a sacrilege... I swear by the Fareham market carpark kebab gent, he's a legend... 😂🙏🤦
Hi, came across this video while browsing. I'm 61, have cycled intermittently for years but always wanted to cycle tour as I did in my 20's. So, having retired and moved to a new area of the country with loads of quiet backroads, I took last March's locked as a reason to start. 1500miles in the last year, Up to longer cycling 35 miles with hills , I definitely feel better and hope to double my milage this year. I bought a custom new steel touring bike in November and I'm itching to get away for longer rides and over-nighters, when we can. Further to your video, though I plan on komoot, record to Strava with my Wahoo, I've have deliberately not focussed on numbers. This has been liberating and means I focus on the pleasure and enjoyment of cycling (though I know I'm getting stronger, particularly on hills). Many love their power meters, cadence sensors and Strava segments and my best to them. But I agree its possible to grow to love cycling in an older age group with or without these aspects. Oh and my wife who hates cycling uphill has bought an ebike and now cycles with me, which is great. Great video and best wishes by the way.
My son gave me a John Lewis gift card for my 60th birthday. I bought a Garmin Venu SQ. Fantastic. I can go out on any of my bikes, even the Raleigh 20, and it logs my trip and HR automatically. Garmin Connect has a link to Under Armour MyFitnessPal food diary. Can't recommend this more. (No financial ties to Garmin or Under Armour) LOL
Yep the my fitness Pal app is fantastic! Actually logging what I eat makes me more conscious of what I do put in the tank! I too have it linked to Garmin connect. I use a fenix 235 smart watch.
Great video, Leonard. I started cycling last summer when I was just a lad of 53. My motto - over 50, overweight and over the bars saw me through to the end of the year. I can’t do anything about the first one but with continuing practice I can do something about the other two. This years goals are non-numerical. Of course, I have Strava and Garmin crunching numbers for every ride, and I sometimes race against myself, but the biggest victories have been noticing certain hills becoming more manageable compared to when I had just started. But most importantly, I’m having great fun just being out there.
Awesome video. I might add that e-bikes make it possible to ride for distance, fun or commuting and you have fun no matter why you're riding. As I was approaching 50 I was still riding but hills were becoming more challenging. I live on top of a steep hill so I would come home exhausted from riding and have to walk up the last few blocks. I hated having to admit defeat by walking my bike that last stretch. I converted my mtb with a mid-drive and now I ride without thought of time distance or terrain & get as much (or little) exercise as I want (or am up to). Living in a big city, for local errands (under 5 miles away), my bike is always faster than the car now.
Leonard what a great informative video especially for people just starting out. I am 73, just bought a new Trek Domane, last bike was 15 years old and decided it was about time for a upgrade. Cycle 3 times a week up to 100 kays a ride depending on the terrain. Everything you say about starting out is spot on, the first few rides are going to be not as enjoyable as you might have liked because the body has not been conditioned for the effort but as you say persevere and you will start to understand what us cyclists see in this wonderfull way of keeping the body in shape. Met a spritely 85 year old and asked how he managed to be so fit and agile for his age and his answer was stay away from bloody doctors. One thing I would say try and combine your new found resolve to get fit with a good diet, equally important if not more so than exercise. You are what you eat.
At 57, I still expect to be within 10% of my 27 capacity. I got on the bike to race... won the last cat 1-2 race at 45. I stopped at age 31 thinking - I was old. When I saw the winner of Leadville 100 was 44, I got back on the bike, and won the last race of the season with guys half my age... never imagined. Moral - you are more able than you think. EAT smart... goes a long way.
😂 Alfred Hitchcock meets cycling! 😂 I started triathlons at 52 and now at 61 I’m better than I was back then. I’m one of the crazy “do it for fun” people. Guys, if it ain’t fun then do something that is and just be consistent. If you’re a former top level athlete then it’s even more important to stay active. Also, get your hormones checked meaning your testosterone and thyroid levels. You might be surprised especially if you’re a former high performance athlete. Great video with great energy 😂
9 years ago at the age of 58 I decided to compete in an Ironman distance race. I was a runner didn't own a bicycle and wasn't swimming. I bought a cheap road bike, joined a pool and started training. Less than 2 years later I completed an Ironman distance race (140.6 miles) to celebrate turning 60 years old. At almost 68 am still at planning to do at least 5 triathlons this year (covid permitting.)
thanked the driver and rode off. Now i'm 74 and make ragular trips varying between 35 and 65 k. Iread recently that racing is the best way to det rid of brown fat + it increases alertness .
@@jollygoodvelo haha, meant with the utmost respect. I'm almost 40, so what I'm saying is I hope I remain fit an active enough to be riding like you into my 50s too. Highly inspiring to watch your riding adventures. Cheers!
If I can be used as a humble example, I've been riding since the early 70's. I'm 69. My knees are still in good shape, probably from the long term, low impact of riding a bike all these years. I say, stay with it. The benefits of cycling all these years have paid off.
@@paulbradford6475 thanks for sharing, and I know if I was mainly running, for example, my knees wouldn't last so well as they tend to suffer from the heavy impact. And that is exactly why cycling is the best option for longevity in my mind. Thank you
I’m 68 and 3/4’s and just about to buy a hard tail mountain bike. My old bike is around 15 years old and with cantilever breaks and no suspension so I thought sod it’ I think I deserve to spend a few hundred quid (actually nearer a thousand) on a new bike ready for trips to the Peak District when lockdown allows. I’ve been out on my bike today in spectacular late winter sunshine and there’s nothing like it. My dad was a touring and racing cyclist in the thirties and he was still cycling up to a week before he died at 92. Must be in the genes. Good to see so many of the older generation still cycling and also to see the massive increase in the sport in the last few years.
Impossible to get out on a decent ride in the uk at the moment due to absolutely abominable weather. It's either freezing cold and icy or chucking it down with a gale force wind and this weekend isn't looking any better. I've only managed 2 Sunday rides in 2021 so far. I can't remember having a start to a year this bad in Donkeys years. You would think the law if averages dictates that it's got to improve soon but this is the uk anything is possible.
Hi, interesting little talk there, reminded me when I retired 6 years ago aged 55 and decided to take up proper cycling. All I’d done was cycle 3 miles to work so it was a bit of a challenge to get my body in shape. I remember all the aches & pains you described, the shock of wearing Lycra for the first time and also getting used to a road bike. I still enjoy it now and try and get out every other day for a ride, still battle with my weight but I do enjoy food😋
Leonard from the comments, you made a great motivational vlog again. For all you "youngsters", I am 76, ride 12,000 km a year and love hills. If I don't ride I don't feel good. I ride because I can.
Awesome video. I've started at 40. Unfit and overweight. 6 years later still going strong and probably as fit as I've ever been relative to my age and certainly with more stamina then when I was a teenager. So I hope by mid-70's I'll be going strong just like some of the folk who commented here. You are all doing awesomely great!
I started to street ride at about age 45 and I'm over 60 now. With the same group of girls. We got better and better every year until about five years ago, so say age 55, when we started to drop off a bit. Fewer long rides. Not quite daring to go for the 50-mile round trip for Sunday breakfast anymore. We don't seem to sign up for centuries anymore. Notice we struggle a little more. The good news is we've learned about our bodies in that time. How to eat. How do drink enough water. How to ride a wheel so we can go that long distance. That skill took a lot of seasons. But the joy of taking a bike to breakfast on a weekend or just tooling around an area before heading to work has made an enormous quality of life difference for all of us. (We were at about 8 of us at our peak and now down to 4.) For the last four winters we started to walk state parks so that we could continue to move even in winter. (Walking is painful for me but this year it's gotten easier. Just like biking too took a few seasons before it got less painful.) We started as casual acquaintances that met at a Y spin class and now are the best of friends. We know the value of movement. Of talking. Of being outside. It's been a long arch. An arch I suspect now is on the downslide but it doesn't matter. We do fewer 50-mile rides and more 20-mile rides. Biking is a gift. But if you can find a pal that goes about your pace, or a group that kinda splits according to ability but don't mind waiting for the rest to catch up, that's the best. I can say the best days of my life the past 15 years has been on a bicycle. It slows you down. You appreciate nature and the things around you. You notice seasons. Hills. Slight inclines you don't feel in a car. Houses in your neighborhood. Slices in the road that when you pass there, feel cool on your skin and then returns to normal temps. Potholes. Danger spots where people ignore stop lines. It's all good. You get good at predicting that stuff. You understand your limits. You support a ''bonking'' friend. Bicycling is amazing. But it takes time and patience and practice. Don't push too hard when you start. And find a buddy if you can.
my commitment now at 51 is to myself. my goals are much more mental than physical. I practice cycling like the sportr qie of this 7 years I’ve been doing.
Full of sound advice Leonard. I cycle because I enjoy it. I am not fast: more of a plodder. But my plodding gets me out of the house, gets me down roads I have not travelled before. I see things I couldn't from the settee. I test myself on familiar routes and (sometimes) see improvements. I have a laugh. I shake my head at the antics of some other road users. I return home tired. I sleep and rise willing to do it all again.
72 currently prevented from riding outdoors (only trainer at the moment) because of the covid virus, in Spain. Using trainer for 45 mins usually 5 times a week, doing about 20k each time. Just to keep the heart and lungs ticking over. Haven't raced since last year but hope to again, maybe this year. Thanks for your vlog always entertaining and informative.
Thanks so much Leonard. This pep talk was perfectly timed for me. I had started to get far too focussed on the numbers, and disappointed by the lack of obvious weight loss. Thanks to you, I am reminded to relax, enjoy the rides and let things happen naturally.
I´m 53 and started cycling 3 years ago when I suffered from knee pain. I was a typical sedentary over weight middle aged man. After 3 months of cycling the pain was gone. I can get some comments on my obsession for cycling but I don´t care. I like the bit where Leonard describes that the fitness may come without you noticing. Last year was a breaking point for me as I was able to increase my FTP and average speed radically. The thing is that you can become a really, really strong cyclist even if you start cycling late in life.
as a recent 50 year old, its also ok to still have ambition and drive to improve. very often when folk don't improve, its because their approach may not be optimum. fun and exercise for health are great. competition and finding the next levels are great too. this applies at any age. keep up the good work Leonard.
I'm 78 and guilty of watching too much television! I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and don't feel like riding my three expensive bikes in those conditions. Although I also have an expensive stationary bike facing the television I usually wait until the last month of winter before training. Since being on the Atkins diet for the last 25 years I have found that it's much easier to lose weight and stay in shape by dieting than exercising. I have never been able to lose weight through exercise. The old saying that "no amount of exercise can make up for a bad diet" is certainly true for me. I can pretty well sit and watch t.v. all winter, keep my weight off, and be a much better rider come spring than exercising all winter and not losing weight. When you get to be 78 you tend to find easier ways of doing things! All the best and keep up the great work!
I always cycled, for fun, holidays and commuting to work. I retired, I got a heart attack - close to death. Slow recovery, then as soon as I could I took the bicycle out. I remember the first ramp: a highway bridge .... I tried to keep the HR at 130. I used to climb Dolomite passes. Last year I rode 5000 km, I climbed my first post-heart-attack pass. I feel great about it.
Well today I had a ride I do a lot - 24 miles, just under 2000ft ascent, and for the first time in 3 years on ANY ride, there wasn't a single top 3 PB achievement. Yes, it was cold and windy. Yes, I had tired legs. Yes, I was cycling with a mate. But it still felt like a retrograde step. So... weighed my saddle and seatpost - over 800grms. Ordered Thomson seatpost, Scribe wheels and a 105 groupset (but that was from a mate - so cheap). I may have 2 kids at uni costing me a nice bike a month in accommodation costs, but I'm going to find a bit of money for my own needs. Well not needs, but wants.
Shoulder’s in a sling with AC joint separation. Took my eyes off the road just starting to sprint and crashed. At 53, only started cycling during covid, now sidelined for 2 months, maybe more. Don’t get complacent in your cycling. Wear a helmet and high vis clothing. Stay safe out there.
Crashing as you get older is to be avoided at all costs. It takes way longer to recover. Even small crashes can knock you out for weeks. Do not take the risks you may have taken when younger and bounced back way faster.
I like the quote “The Road is a good listener “
I am 70 and last year rode 555 kilometers one week to complete The Ohio to Erie Trail.
A daily ride is like meditation- it clears out the cobwebs and helps you enjoy life.
Thanks Leonard.
I definitely understand the meditation bit
Paul Mullins nearly 72 ride daily over 1025 cons.days 42000 miles. Good medicine for aging.
@@Mosely2007 That is an incredible record and especially with the weather you have Blue.😁
I would like to ride the GAP trail this summer hopefully.
rock n roll Paul.....!!
I can't give up what saved my life. 60 years old and still rolling. 😁
You don’t give up cycling when you get old, you get old when you give up cycling!!🤗🤗
Very true. I am fifty one and grew up on bikes and ice skates. It is amazing I can walk...kidding I also run. I went from BMX to Road and then MTB. All the while playing hockey and a competitive skateboarder. Just got two new bikes and look forward to endless miles of shredding. The joy of cycling is just...that.
When I was in my mid-30s I was a physical wreck. I had gout and a bad back. I couldn't stand upright and was developing arthritis. Someone suggested exercise but I'm too big to jog. So I bought a bike. The transformation took several years. The gout and arthritis disappeared and very rapidly my back improved. As I continued and joined a bike club (I most definitely am not a joiner as a rule) we started increasing our mileage and then feet of climbing. Finally I did 3 years of 10,000 miles and was really going great. Then one day on a group ride a first generation carbon fiber fork started clicking and I bent over to see what was happening and the IRD fork exploded and I wasn't in a position to protect myself. The front of my helmet and forehead hit the road from 24 inches above the road and knocked me out for over 5 minutes. When the ambulance got me to the hospital I was talking normally so like all professionals they released me after getting my insurance information. Well, I had a class 3 concussion and while I knew something was wrong, I no longer had any short term memories so I couldn't even remember to find help. The local neurologists were incompetent and might have been suffering from dementia themselves. I was having a form of seizures that left no memory of them occurring. This led to multiple car accidents luckily without injuries to others and so many bike crashes that I gave up cycling and sold or gave away all my bikes etc. A good friend, an NCIS agent, took me to a club Xmas party and during dinner his wife, a nurse saw me having a discreet seizure. My friend jumped through a million hoops to eventually find me a competent neurologist who over the course of a year worked out a treatment plan that finally brought me back among the living. Now I have to take pills with some disagreeable side effects for the remainder of my life. And my friend who had by then retired with medical problems of his own, forced me to start riding again. This was intensely scary because at this point I could get lost a block from my home. But the brain is a wonderful thing and slowly switched functions to other parts of the brain and I only had to relearn routes and directions. I even accomplished an engineering job to discover that part of my brain was unaffected. At 12 years since the accident my life has returned more or less to normal and otherwise, at 77, my health couldn't be better. I hope that you can forgive me if I brag about every mile of distance and every foot of climbing I accomplish because it is my proof that I am back again.
56 and in the best shape of my life. 3 years ago 400 miles in a year, 2 years ago 2000, last year 4200 and this year am hoping to average 100 miles per week. The real reason I ride is my mental health, the physical health is a bonus. Riding makes me happier, calmer and makes me sleep like a baby! Anxiety and stress melts in my first 10 minutes on the bike. I hate rest days.
Dude, im not at your age yet or racking up those big miles and my physicl shape isnt great...... but i completely agree about reason to ride and the fitness being a bonus -i get the training side of things, but for me its all about being outside on the bike and clearing my head - ride for fun, but ride strong!
That's great. I'm 54 and do about 2k miles a year. Just need to retire so I can split my time 50:50 between cycling and sailing!
It's not all about miles you roadies, it's what you do in those miles so get off road!!!
@@elvingtonred hey elvingtonred, you are so right dude, im no roadie...45Kms through the muddy woods and along the trails today, up and down hills - loved it - even with a puncture i was still smiling pushing the bike home :)
@@elvingtonred well I just bought a gravel bike! (albeit a carbon one with road geometry...baby steps)
Another good topic. At 66yo, "Why do I ride?" A: "All of the above, of course!" I pay attention to the metrics, but they are my waypoints, not my destination; the trick is not to get obsessed with them in an of themselves. "I don't ride to add years to my life [although it should], but to add life to my years."
Please be careful and wear helmets. I celebrated my 60th birthday, in 2014, with a century ride. One week later I was run over from behind by a cage driver that just didn't give a damn and left me for dead in the road. Even though I was wearing a helmet, I was knocked unconscious for 12 hours. I had eight broken bones including the transverse processes being snapped off of 3 vertebrae and a broken shoulder blade. A stenosis in my neck paralyzed my right arm and so I had surgery to fuse 3 of the vertebrae. I still ride, but only on dedicated trails. Good luck to all of you who ride.
That was a heck of a crash. I hope it has little long-term effects. I got hit broadside by a Chevy Trailblazer, but I don't remember a thing. I got a concussion and broken ankle with scars everywhere.
Let's stop doing that... but keep riding.
Good health to you.
Nicely said! 61 (24 in my head!) , been riding all my life, slow, still rubbish at hills but OH the JOY of pottering along country lanes on a 3 speed roadster and stopping for a flask of hot chocolate somewhere with a view - the best hours of the week in the fresh air EVER :)
Leonard, this is a great video.
I started in 1972, will be 77 next month and have gone from 145 lbs. in 1972 and am 148 now. I ride for fun, commute, cake and coffee.
Your influence on the biking world is bigger than you may think.
Thanks.
Thanks Leonard, I'm 51, 6 yrs removed from a triple bypass and been riding steadily now for 1.5 yrs. You just inspired me to get on my bike this morning!
Enjoy your ride.
@@jollygoodvelo Thanks, just a short one before work this AM. I feel that your presentations fill a key niche in the cycling world. There is so little out there for the beginning/intermediate inspired rider. My only goal is to get off heart meds through fitness, not hunting KOMs. Please keep up the good work!!!
@@dougduchateau443 I certainly will, Doug. Good luck with the meds.
I'm 57!
And ride 40 km every morning
Best Regards from Brasil man!
Exactly! Enjoy being on the bike and don’t worry about numbers
Total positivity from Leonard...couldnt agree more....get out there, have fun, enjoy yourself....ride on!!
I'm 71, last year I rode 5000+ miles. Want to get back to touring but health keeps me close to home. It doesn't matter how many miles you ride, its not competition you do it because it makes you feel good. "I'm old and slow but im not dead yet"
That was a good pep talk. A week and a half of brutal cold here in Texas has stopped me but the thaw has begun! This old guy (62) will be on the bike again tomorrow I think! Keep it up brother!
I understand the weather is pretty bad over there at the moment. Stay safe.
Another Texan here (Plano) and waiting until things are warmer - no winter kit, yet.
Who cares why one rides? Exercise, exploring, fun - does it matter?
Keep the pedals spinning!
Another great vid, Leonard! See you on the roads (when it warms a bit).
Hey, our daughter and her family live in Prosper! She and her husband are runners, now waiting for better weather. Good luck!
San Antonio is my wife’s favorite place to run! (Rock n Roll). We make a weekend of it. Take care!
Thank you for the mid-winter inspiration! Can’t wait to get out on the bike when the snow is gone!
At 63 I ride for fun and fitness. Being naturally competitive I always push myself when I ride 4-6 times a week. I've noticed my heart rate and fitness getting better the more days I ride, not the miles. Better to do 20 miles 5 times a week than 100 miles on the weekend. It is the best medicine for the mind and the body. Never do I start out only to feel bad and go home. Once on the road the energy gets me feeling great and the ride just flows. Like your videos, always nice to watch to get me out the door on cold gray days.
Have arthritis in my knee's was nearly bed ridden at 52 over weight so i got a mountain bike first ride 5km got off the bike nearly died with sore ass numb hands and bushed after a few weeks riding a couple of days a week did 5 km felt fresh as a daisy now i do up to 30 km a ride lost 15 kg in weight and can walk a lot better really helped my arthritis at 54 and feeling a lot fitter as you said hard at the start but start slow work your way up good luck give it a try and stay fit.
So great that the pain eases. Keep it up!
As long as we're all on this side of the dirt we're doing GREAT! Everybody keep it going!
Absolutely
"No matter how long or how fast. Just ride." I would add - be considerate and polite. The cyclist is not just about themselves but the appreciation of the physical effort and the world that goes on around them. Give out to the driver that doesn't give you room, but appreciate the pedestrian that has to step into the road.
[Edit]: Oh and don't run red lights. Just don't.
All so true Leonard. I'm only 66 with no plan on stopping. The only time I get into race mode is if I think the cafe will close before I get there.
Vey nice listening to your analogy again.
Theres one more thing. Cyclists will very often offer help or advice if you're looking like you need it. Think how many motorists would stop to help you if your car broke down.
Being 53 and a cartoonist / illustrator i recon i never lost the inner child. It helps seeing the funny thing in ordinairy life. I even think i cycle as a child, lol. As long as possible, and as fast as possible. Life is good and short, enjoy every day. Lost to many people last few years...
What only 50. I am 76 and ride 15km every day during lockdown. Hope to increase to 30km after.
although I have ridden regularly for a long time
Well, 76 is over 50. Well done.
Just bragging. I had my 76th birthday in 2020 and rode over 12000 kilometers. The important thing however everyone is get out there and enjoy yourselves.
@@nigelmorris too righr
The first 70 are the hardest.
Nice one and gives hope and inspiration to us youngsters. I'm 60!
I'm 50 and also started to ride again mainly for health reasons. I'm 3 years in & I'll probably fall at my wife's hands for buying a bike every year. This month I've added a classic single speed to the stable with my garage built road & gravel bikes. I started watching your channel, among a couple others, while recovering from a structural cardiac repair surgery. Keep up the great work Leonard!!
Just don’t tell your wife about the bikes! Problem solved!
@leonardmlee. Thank You for your video. At 57 Years old, I really enjoy cycling. It was intimidating when I got back into it at 55 years old, But when I did my first 30 kilometer ride, I felt GREAT. Thank you for your videos and insight.
Glad to help, Kenneth.
You are completely right the minumm gain in cycling is {Doing something is always better than doing nothing}
Please accept my full respect you been always a great motivation tool 😍😍😍
Just turned 50 and getting back into cycling for the first time in MANY years... and having a ball. I ride a hybrid, and I really don't care that it's slower than a road bike... if it makes going fast harder, then I'm getting more exercise!
I really enjoy your videos. After 10 years off, they have inspired me to return to cycling. I’m 55 days from 80. Keep it going. Thanks.
I'm so glad you also mentioned commuting. For me it's THE solution to keep cycling while having little time for sports. I have to get to my work anyway, and doing that by bike instead of by car hardly takes extra time.
I'm 56 by now, and last year I built myself a semi-classic randonneur. It fits my age.... I call it the E-bike beater; guess why ;)
And thinking about rain: I think I really get wet only about 10 times a year, riding every day. I look at it as a game (or a challenge if you like), not as an argument for not taking the bike.
Have fun cycling you all!!!
I am 60 years old and still biking.
Pedal on!
Me too. Coast when you can, pedal when you must. But keep riding.
Thanks for the inspiration. I am 68 soon to be 69 and love it more every day and find it easier each day to go out. I feel as if I am cheating myself if I miss out. Must take the rarer”recovery day”. 150 miles per week and it gets easier, I get fitter and the meditation and peace of mind aspect is priceless. I just track my basic numbers as I am not trying to impress anybody. It has changed my life since I got,serious about it about 5 years ago. Thanks for your frequent upbeat commentaries.
I just turned 60 and I found biking again about 6 or 7 years ago. Every year I am biking more rides and more miles. Last year I did 138 rides and 3800 miles in Wisconsin where I bike from April to the end of October. I hate not biking for 5 months during the winter. I hit the treadmill 4-5 times a week during this time. Biking has become such a passion for me. I am always thinking about it,and I love how I feel when I bike a lot. I usually go 5-6 times a week and usually do 30 mile rides. I have even done a few bike vacations which are a blast. Hopefully in the next month when the weather improves and the snow melts I'll be able to get the bike out for another great season of biking. I can't wait.
If I ever get back from a ride feeling better than when I left the house - that would be every time! I'm 58 and have friends in their 70s who can ride circles around me. I hope I will still be out there 20 years from now.
I'm a couple of weeks away from hitting 52. Cycling has gotten me through cancer. Cycling saved my sanity during the pandemic. Between everything being closed, and the desire to see something other than the walls within my house, I would hop on my bike and ride until sunset after work. I ended up racking up 4000+ miles in 2020. I even managed to go on a multi-day bike tour. I felt that was the safest way to vacation during a pandemic.
Thanks for the encouragement - you can beat an egg but you can’t beat a ride 😉
Wow, those hedgerows come right up to the edge of the asphalt.
I retired last year at 55 and happily spend more time bicycling now. I am not a competitive person, so the figures mean nothing to me, and I don't keep score. I ride for fun and exercise. But I can relate to feeling good after a ride - serotonin and endorphins! My rides are about 9 miles every other day (weather permitting) on a single speed converted from an old ten-speed. And I have an excellent linear park to ride on. I'm not a doctor, and I don't have any government studies to back this up, but it is my understanding that getting run over can be deleterious. Besides the biking I do some push-ups, pull-ups and maintain a healthful diet. Stay safe friends.
I have been riding a road bike for the last 3 years, used to ride to work daily, but decided to enjoy the best cycle paths in the world more intensly.(Holland). Had heart bypass surgery about 8 months ago, was back on my bike 6 weeks after surgery, and am pushing my milage up again, feeling better than before my operation. I do keep a keen eye on my heart rate, but so far my cardiologist is happy as Larry with me!
I am 53 started way back in 2003 but through work didn`t do that much mileage, 2009 bike upgrade, slightly more mileage 2012 became self employed quit the job and because my job involved constant driving my hatred of driving can only be described as pathological. I moved to a place where everywhere I go can be done on a bike. Although occasionally I do have to use a car from time to time, there is just no fun driving in a city, but luckily for me only on very rare occasions. Health benefits are pretty amazing and psychological welfare is hand in hand with psychical. Once bike fit which if your starting from scratch is worth chasing, the less driving you do the less anxious you become same with walking everywhere. This has also led to me pannier touring and that is an absolute joy. Cycling is green, you do not have to M.O.T a bike, no road tax and when the price of petrol goes up it just does not affect the weekly mileage as it is never in the budget. Keep to your limits, your confidence will gradually build but most of all enjoy the time spent on your bike. It is like a 2nd childhood
Been cycling all my life and just had my 60th birthday, still riding fast with my 35-45 year old friends. Road, Gravel, MTB and a wardrobe full of Lycra. Got rid of the second car three years ago. Call me obsessive if you want, but if you enjoy it why not keep doing it.
Its true that it doesn't get easier you just get faster, what they don't tell you is...then you get older and get slower...but it's always enjoyable!
Don't worry about the numbers just enjoy yourselves. The numbers can help as a guide to improvement. If you're not enjoying it just rein it back a bit. Just enjoy it 😉
Great insights into the life behind bars.
You are only 1 bike ride away from being in a happy mood
64 in a couple of months. Just been laid off work and don't see great job prospects at my age. No 1 objective to get fit and enjoy life for a while. Just got an old Ricardo bike made in Adelaide South Australia in the 80s - was very cheap. Was in bad condition but got it fixed up at the local bike shop and now it is just stunning. Red with yellow "Ricardo" decals. Bike shop owner told me it was a real beauty and to hang on to it! Having so much fun riding it and feeling great. Just taking it easy but gives me enormous pleasure to be out in the fresh air enjoying the scenery on my beautiful vintage treadley😊🚴🚴
Great story, Joanne. Vintage bikes are the best.
54 here. Out riding my hardtail MTB with smooth tires today when someone about half me age got on the path just in front of me. He was on a road bike, but I thought I'd see if I could keep up. After following for some time, he seemed to get tired. I passed and never looked back.
We aren't typically stronger when older, but over the years, we might find out optimal bike fit, best cadence, gear choice etc. and still be a strong rider.
I have cycled more miles than most have diven, Raced, and holidayed on a bike. Stopped at about 60 years old. Had a hart attack. then busted my knee snow skiing. I am now 64, have a mountain bike fixed to a Wahoo indoor trainer. I ride very slowly now, like realy slow to keep my hart not too stressed. Yet i still love it. ( No rain, wind, hail, bugs, birds, drain covers, cars, fums, dust, noise, rabbits, dogs, horses, cold frozen fingers, ) and what is best of all ! when i am done, i dont have to ride that last ten miles up the hill to get home.
I'm 57, rode 11.5 miles today. Hope to retire within the next 2 years and hope to do this everyday. When I was younger, rode less but further, usually 30 miles, once maybe twice a week, now ride more, maybe 4 to 5 days a week but not as far, maybe 10 to 15 miles. It's all good.
50 in six months time, glad I've never been too responsible, life is for living not just existing. Try to stay fit, be positive, be kind to others and have as much fun as you can along the way. It's all about attitude :-)
Indeed. Attitude is half the battle
Just nice to see some cycling in warm, sunny weather! At least there are signs that spring is on its way.
Fingers crossed, Andy. Looks like it’s almost here. Another couple of weeks....
I’ve always tried to keep fit from football and long distance running in my younger days been riding now for 22 years riding to work and riding 3 or 4 times a week killing myself some days good some very tiring trying to go faster and faster fallen off a few times been knocked over by a car but I wouldn’t change anything I love my cycling I’m 52 now and recommend cycling to anyone just have to be careful always be alert when on the roads
Never been a runner or particularly fit... Ended last year riding season with 40 miles before work each day weather permitting at 56. Plan to start that again soon, though covid and winter has not been kind to my waistline!
Hi Leonard, another old timer here just turned 57 rode as a junior back in the mid / late 70's, life intervened and really got back into cycling 3-4 years ago last year I clocked 7500miles and lost 3 stone already at 1800 miles for 2021 not been out of garage yet and racing in group B on zwift ( getting battered though!)
your an inspiration along with Katie Kookaburra kept it up fella !,!
Dave the "hippo"
Leonard, you're an inspiration! I'm turning 50 next year and I hope I still have many years of cycling under my wheel, just like you 🤗
I’m sure you’ll be riding for years!!
Sage advice as always. One of my cycling chums wants to do his 1st century this Saturday. He heard about my century, so he's fired up to ride one, so I'm heading out again to ride with him. He's 53 and I'm 61. We will carry the flag for the 50+ folks this weekend. Ride on.
Enjoy your ride
@@jollygoodvelo It was a good ride, we discovered a cool bike trail near LA. My friend wasn't quite as fit as needed for a century, the last 20 miles, he was hanging on for dear life, but he finished the ride in he saddle and bagged his 1st century.🚲👍🏿
I'm 54 and just returning to cycling after many years off the bike. I find your videos inspirational. Also I can see you are local to me and watching the videos gives me some great route ideas as I start to get fitter. thanks M
50, ride ave of 120km per week. perfect mode of transport to improve health and appreciate surrounds
At 52 bought a DJ bike after 10 years climbing executive ladder with "no" success in sight, I do the thing I loved before going bike to cycling and never felt satisfying every hill I climb or hops and jumps the promotion I have was my health, now I'm excited to bunny hop road cracks and riding 10 kilometers a day everyday for 40 minutes so satisfying and brings a smile when I got home.
Great pearls of wisdom - keep at it - I have now persuaded my wife onto a road bike which is keeping us both sane during lockdown. Just go easy on the coffee and cake stops - the calorie equation can quickly go wrong if you feel you feel that riding allows you extra goodies! Very social in retirement, out of lockdown 2 or 3 group rides a week gives you purpose and reward.
Without exercise I'd be depressed in two weeks.. after 3-4 days without I can notice body and mind needing its daily dose of endorfine and adrenaline. That much weirdo; I love special weather cycling the most! Like now it is -5C and snow storm; I am going for 45-55km ride! Fun fun fun!!! (Until too much snow to cycle, but 2-3 hours time to that level)
Great timing on this video. Thank you. I finally got to ride outside this weekend, and I was hugely disappointed to have to cut my ride short. It was about -15C outside when I started the ride, and I had forgotten how much harder it is to ride in the cold. Still - 25km out in the real world! I'm taking it as a success and looking forward to getting back out there now that the cold snap is (hopefully) over and we're back to reasonable temperatures.
Thank you for this. I needed to hear it. Cycling and exercise in general sometimes seems like progress only happens for other people. I love my bicycle. I live in a place where not a whole lot of people ride. The only ones that seem to be out on bicycles are people collecting bottles and cans for the recycle. I don’t let that stop me, but sometimes I feel very conspicuous!
Just found this excellent video as it popped up in my feed. Never a truer word spoken! I've also found over the years that you don't meet many miserable cyclists, even in the rain! So many positive comments here as well, makes a change from the usual stuff I see/read on RUclips. Keep up the good work leonardmlee, and you've just got another subscriber.
Thanks Pat, I appreciate the sub.
Age 52, rediscovered cycling after some 25 years of not cycling. Glad to be back.
Not concerned about my speed but working on increasing my endurance so I can do my first century in the next year. I I used to run but stopped as I wrenched my knees. Cycling is far easier on the knees for sure.
I'm getting close to 40 so this is inspiring. I'm already impressed with how much fitter I have become in the last few years. 🚴🚴🚴🚵🚵🏁🏁🏁😁.
Now 54, have been active since left the the forces in 1992 and have transitioned to cycling from running marathons to cycling and triathlons. I’m the typical Mr Average not fast not slow but can cycle a long way. Do road do MTB and have a blast, my VO2 max is good body fat at 11%, feel great and plan to be riding for a long long time
Well six sad sacks gave this a thumbs down. Why ? Positive stuff, from end to end. As Leonard says it's about what you personally can get from riding a bike. The obvious fitness benefits for are one thing but just as important are the mental and psychological benefits.
Had a crap day or week? A swift hour on the bike will get it all into perspective or at least take the edge off things.
In my early 40's, thanks to a very good friend I got back on a bike for the first time since I was about 14 and have had a whale of a time for the past 27 years.
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your cycling. I’m convinced if I magically cured word hunger and world peace someone, somewhere would give that a thumbs down.
One of the things I love about cycling is that even at 60, I can still be very active and acquit myself honourably in ways that would simply be impossible in most other sports. Most of all, though, I love riding through the countryside and the company of my club mates, as well as being muuuch fitter than I was 10 years ago. It really is FUN, and win-win-win!!!!
I love your channel. I am 57 years old and just standard riding a road bike 2 months ago, I am consistntly riding 40 miles and I am completely addicted to cycling. My strava is set to private because I am not competing with anyone. My mental health is improving by the day.
Great video. I'm coming up on my 75th birthday soon. Only been cycling for about 9 years now. I see my speeds and times slowing some because of age, I guess, but I still enjoy my rides. They are a great tonic for whatever ails ya. Thanks again for the inspirational video.
I turned 60 years young last year and I feel I’m riding the best I have for years. I’m more than capable of keeping up with the young 50 year olds! The benefit of semi-retirement is I’m riding more often and clocked up 10,000km last year. I always feel better after a ride and although I know rest days are important I feel worse for not riding. Riding for fun and fitness with a bit of adventure thrown in keeps me sane
Great mix
love this video, it's right on, why I started riding a racing bike myself. I can thank you Leonard for that. So thank you so much for being an inspiration to me.❤
Tusind tak, Jens.
I commuted on a bike for years but at the age of 68 I had clogged coronary arteries and had 2 stents put in. My cardiologist advised me to do some exercise so I began riding more vigorously. I really enjoyed it and started doing bike tours, which are tremendous fun; I remember riding along the Croatian coast and shouting "Oh wow" at the sight of the ocean and hills. I'm 76 now and riding has been great for me. I'll do it until my legs don't work anymore.
I love my mountain bike and get on it whenever I can. I'm relatively in good shape as I've always walked instead of using the car. I'm 50 in June this year.
Great video, I'm 45, I mountain bike, cyclo cross, and road, I also Donner kebab, chilli sauce, no salad.... don't feel guilty, it's perfectly normal... No guilt needed
I love doner kebabs. Haven’t had one in ages, though.
@@jollygoodvelo it's all about the crispy meat and the chilli sauce, a botched pitta is a sacrilege...
I swear by the Fareham market carpark kebab gent, he's a legend... 😂🙏🤦
"Donner kebab"......Energy source of Kings, makes those difficult climbs easy peasy.
Hi, came across this video while browsing. I'm 61, have cycled intermittently for years but always wanted to cycle tour as I did in my 20's. So, having retired and moved to a new area of the country with loads of quiet backroads, I took last March's locked as a reason to start. 1500miles in the last year, Up to longer cycling 35 miles with hills , I definitely feel better and hope to double my milage this year. I bought a custom new steel touring bike in November and I'm itching to get away for longer rides and over-nighters, when we can. Further to your video, though I plan on komoot, record to Strava with my Wahoo, I've have deliberately not focussed on numbers. This has been liberating and means I focus on the pleasure and enjoyment of cycling (though I know I'm getting stronger, particularly on hills). Many love their power meters, cadence sensors and Strava segments and my best to them. But I agree its possible to grow to love cycling in an older age group with or without these aspects. Oh and my wife who hates cycling uphill has bought an ebike and now cycles with me, which is great. Great video and best wishes by the way.
My son gave me a John Lewis gift card for my 60th birthday. I bought a Garmin Venu SQ.
Fantastic. I can go out on any of my bikes, even the Raleigh 20, and it logs my trip and HR automatically.
Garmin Connect has a link to Under Armour MyFitnessPal food diary. Can't recommend this more.
(No financial ties to Garmin or Under Armour) LOL
Yep the my fitness Pal app is fantastic!
Actually logging what I eat makes me more conscious of what I do put in the tank! I too have it linked to Garmin connect. I use a fenix 235 smart watch.
Great video, Leonard. I started cycling last summer when I was just a lad of 53. My motto - over 50, overweight and over the bars saw me through to the end of the year. I can’t do anything about the first one but with continuing practice I can do something about the other two. This years goals are non-numerical. Of course, I have Strava and Garmin crunching numbers for every ride, and I sometimes race against myself, but the biggest victories have been noticing certain hills becoming more manageable compared to when I had just started. But most importantly, I’m having great fun just being out there.
Awesome video. I might add that e-bikes make it possible to ride for distance, fun or commuting and you have fun no matter why you're riding. As I was approaching 50 I was still riding but hills were becoming more challenging. I live on top of a steep hill so I would come home exhausted from riding and have to walk up the last few blocks. I hated having to admit defeat by walking my bike that last stretch. I converted my mtb with a mid-drive and now I ride without thought of time distance or terrain & get as much (or little) exercise as I want (or am up to). Living in a big city, for local errands (under 5 miles away), my bike is always faster than the car now.
Leonard what a great informative video especially for people just starting out.
I am 73, just bought a new Trek Domane, last bike was 15 years old and decided it was about time for a upgrade. Cycle 3 times a week up to 100 kays a ride depending on the terrain. Everything you say about starting out is spot on, the first few rides are going to be not as enjoyable as you might have liked because the body has not been conditioned for the effort but as you say persevere and you will start to understand what us cyclists see in this wonderfull way of keeping the body in shape.
Met a spritely 85 year old and asked how he managed to be so fit and agile for his age and his answer was stay away from bloody doctors.
One thing I would say try and combine your new found resolve to get fit with a good diet, equally important if not more so than exercise. You are what you eat.
There is a device to test your feeling, called the smilemometer. Take a selfie before and after the ride, and compare the width of your mouth.
At 57, I still expect to be within 10% of my 27 capacity. I got on the bike to race... won the last cat 1-2 race at 45. I stopped at age 31 thinking - I was old. When I saw the winner of Leadville 100 was 44, I got back on the bike, and won the last race of the season with guys half my age... never imagined. Moral - you are more able than you think. EAT smart... goes a long way.
😂 Alfred Hitchcock meets cycling! 😂
I started triathlons at 52 and now at 61 I’m better than I was back then. I’m one of the crazy “do it for fun” people. Guys, if it ain’t fun then do something that is and just be consistent. If you’re a former top level athlete then it’s even more important to stay active. Also, get your hormones checked meaning your testosterone and thyroid levels. You might be surprised especially if you’re a former high performance athlete. Great video with great energy 😂
9 years ago at the age of 58 I decided to compete in an Ironman distance race. I was a runner didn't own a bicycle and wasn't swimming. I bought a cheap road bike, joined a pool and started training. Less than 2 years later I completed an Ironman distance race (140.6 miles) to celebrate turning 60 years old. At almost 68 am still at planning to do at least 5 triathlons this year (covid permitting.)
Well done. That is one hell of an achievement
I'm 51 years old and definitely enjoying cycling..Stationary bike was my form of exercise before.
thanked the driver and rode off. Now i'm 74 and make ragular trips varying between 35 and 65 k.
Iread recently that racing is the best way to det rid of brown fat + it increases alertness .
I really dig your channel man. I hope to still be riding strong at that age too. It seems to be the best way to keep fit in a low impact way. Cheers!
At that age??? Makes me feel old!!!!
@@jollygoodvelo haha, meant with the utmost respect. I'm almost 40, so what I'm saying is I hope I remain fit an active enough to be riding like you into my 50s too. Highly inspiring to watch your riding adventures. Cheers!
@@stormrider1119 I hoped that is what you meant! If you continue cycling there should be no reason why you won’t.
If I can be used as a humble example, I've been riding since the early 70's. I'm 69. My knees are still in good shape, probably from the long term, low impact of riding a bike all these years. I say, stay with it. The benefits of cycling all these years have paid off.
@@paulbradford6475 thanks for sharing, and I know if I was mainly running, for example, my knees wouldn't last so well as they tend to suffer from the heavy impact. And that is exactly why cycling is the best option for longevity in my mind. Thank you
I’m 68 and 3/4’s and just about to buy a hard tail mountain bike. My old bike is around 15 years old and with cantilever breaks and no suspension so I thought sod it’ I think I deserve to spend a few hundred quid (actually nearer a thousand) on a new bike ready for trips to the Peak District when lockdown allows. I’ve been out on my bike today in spectacular late winter sunshine and there’s nothing like it. My dad was a touring and racing cyclist in the thirties and he was still cycling up to a week before he died at 92. Must be in the genes.
Good to see so many of the older generation still cycling and also to see the massive increase in the sport in the last few years.
Enjoy your new bike when you get it.
@@jollygoodvelo thanks mate!
Impossible to get out on a decent ride in the uk at the moment due to absolutely abominable weather. It's either freezing cold and icy or chucking it down with a gale force wind and this weekend isn't looking any better. I've only managed 2 Sunday rides in 2021 so far. I can't remember having a start to a year this bad in Donkeys years. You would think the law if averages dictates that it's got to improve soon but this is the uk anything is possible.
Hi, interesting little talk there, reminded me when I retired 6 years ago aged 55 and decided to take up proper cycling. All I’d done was cycle 3 miles to work so it was a bit of a challenge to get my body in shape. I remember all the aches & pains you described, the shock of wearing Lycra for the first time and also getting used to a road bike. I still enjoy it now and try and get out every other day for a ride, still battle with my weight but I do enjoy food😋
Leonard from the comments, you made a great motivational vlog again. For all you "youngsters", I am 76, ride 12,000 km a year and love hills. If I don't ride I don't feel good. I ride because I can.
What better reason does anyone need?
Awesome video. I've started at 40. Unfit and overweight. 6 years later still going strong and probably as fit as I've ever been relative to my age and certainly with more stamina then when I was a teenager. So I hope by mid-70's I'll be going strong just like some of the folk who commented here. You are all doing awesomely great!
I started to street ride at about age 45 and I'm over 60 now. With the same group of girls. We got better and better every year until about five years ago, so say age 55, when we started to drop off a bit. Fewer long rides. Not quite daring to go for the 50-mile round trip for Sunday breakfast anymore. We don't seem to sign up for centuries anymore. Notice we struggle a little more. The good news is we've learned about our bodies in that time. How to eat. How do drink enough water. How to ride a wheel so we can go that long distance. That skill took a lot of seasons. But the joy of taking a bike to breakfast on a weekend or just tooling around an area before heading to work has made an enormous quality of life difference for all of us. (We were at about 8 of us at our peak and now down to 4.) For the last four winters we started to walk state parks so that we could continue to move even in winter. (Walking is painful for me but this year it's gotten easier. Just like biking too took a few seasons before it got less painful.) We started as casual acquaintances that met at a Y spin class and now are the best of friends. We know the value of movement. Of talking. Of being outside. It's been a long arch. An arch I suspect now is on the downslide but it doesn't matter. We do fewer 50-mile rides and more 20-mile rides. Biking is a gift. But if you can find a pal that goes about your pace, or a group that kinda splits according to ability but don't mind waiting for the rest to catch up, that's the best. I can say the best days of my life the past 15 years has been on a bicycle. It slows you down. You appreciate nature and the things around you. You notice seasons. Hills. Slight inclines you don't feel in a car. Houses in your neighborhood. Slices in the road that when you pass there, feel cool on your skin and then returns to normal temps. Potholes. Danger spots where people ignore stop lines. It's all good. You get good at predicting that stuff. You understand your limits. You support a ''bonking'' friend. Bicycling is amazing. But it takes time and patience and practice. Don't push too hard when you start. And find a buddy if you can.
my commitment now at 51 is to myself. my goals are much more mental than physical. I practice cycling like the sportr qie of this 7 years I’ve been doing.
Full of sound advice Leonard. I cycle because I enjoy it. I am not fast: more of a plodder. But my plodding gets me out of the house, gets me down roads I have not travelled before. I see things I couldn't from the settee. I test myself on familiar routes and (sometimes) see improvements. I have a laugh. I shake my head at the antics of some other road users. I return home tired. I sleep and rise willing to do it all again.
Sounds ideal.
What a great positive video. Thanks for posting, it's really motivated me.
72 currently prevented from riding outdoors (only trainer at the moment) because of the covid virus, in Spain. Using trainer for 45 mins usually 5 times a week, doing about 20k each time. Just to keep the heart and lungs ticking over. Haven't raced since last year but hope to again, maybe this year. Thanks for your vlog always entertaining and informative.
Thanks so much Leonard. This pep talk was perfectly timed for me. I had started to get far too focussed on the numbers, and disappointed by the lack of obvious weight loss. Thanks to you, I am reminded to relax, enjoy the rides and let things happen naturally.
I´m 53 and started cycling 3 years ago when I suffered from knee pain. I was a typical sedentary over weight middle aged man. After 3 months of cycling the pain was gone. I can get some comments on my obsession for cycling but I don´t care. I like the bit where Leonard describes that the fitness may come without you noticing. Last year was a breaking point for me as I was able to increase my FTP and average speed radically. The thing is that you can become a really, really strong cyclist even if you start cycling late in life.
Bike fit sessions at your local shop can help with aches and pains too.
I`m 61 .Took up cycling again last October.It`s getting easier.I simply go on how I feel in body and soul as I go along.Grow with the road!
as a recent 50 year old, its also ok to still have ambition and drive to improve. very often when folk don't improve, its because their approach may not be optimum. fun and exercise for health are great. competition and finding the next levels are great too. this applies at any age. keep up the good work Leonard.
I'm 78 and guilty of watching too much television! I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and don't feel like riding my three expensive bikes in those conditions. Although I also have an expensive stationary bike facing the television I usually wait until the last month of winter before training. Since being on the Atkins diet for the last 25 years I have found that it's much easier to lose weight and stay in shape by dieting than exercising. I have never been able to lose weight through exercise. The old saying that "no amount of exercise can make up for a bad diet" is certainly true for me. I can pretty well sit and watch t.v. all winter, keep my weight off, and be a much better rider come spring than exercising all winter and not losing weight. When you get to be 78 you tend to find easier ways of doing things! All the best and keep up the great work!
I always cycled, for fun, holidays and commuting to work. I retired, I got a heart attack - close to death. Slow recovery, then as soon as I could I took the bicycle out. I remember the first ramp: a highway bridge .... I tried to keep the HR at 130. I used to climb Dolomite passes.
Last year I rode 5000 km, I climbed my first post-heart-attack pass. I feel great about it.
Well today I had a ride I do a lot - 24 miles, just under 2000ft ascent, and for the first time in 3 years on ANY ride, there wasn't a single top 3 PB achievement. Yes, it was cold and windy. Yes, I had tired legs. Yes, I was cycling with a mate. But it still felt like a retrograde step. So... weighed my saddle and seatpost - over 800grms. Ordered Thomson seatpost, Scribe wheels and a 105 groupset (but that was from a mate - so cheap). I may have 2 kids at uni costing me a nice bike a month in accommodation costs, but I'm going to find a bit of money for my own needs. Well not needs, but wants.
Shoulder’s in a sling with AC joint separation. Took my eyes off the road just starting to sprint and crashed. At 53, only started cycling during covid, now sidelined for 2 months, maybe more. Don’t get complacent in your cycling. Wear a helmet and high vis clothing. Stay safe out there.
Crashing as you get older is to be avoided at all costs. It takes way longer to recover. Even small crashes can knock you out for weeks. Do not take the risks you may have taken when younger and bounced back way faster.