Hazard of cycling as we get older

[Joe Davidson]

I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.

Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
injured, has quit for the same reason.

Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

 

[Rich Clark]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

Cyclists don't age. Have you ever seen anyone die of old age while riding a
bike? Didn't think so.

RichC

 

[Perry Sailor]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

What difference does it make? Would you stop riding if you learned it did?
I hope not. Ride until they pry your cold, dead fingers off the handlebars.
Perry
--
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Mohandas Gandhi
http://www.afsc.org/

 

[Blue Gator]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.


Your chance of injury probably increases with age from every other activity
as well. The only way to be completely safe is to stop all activity.
Bicycling helps your body stay strong and fit and it certainly helps you
maintain a good sense of balance. Why should you give up something you
enjoy so much just because you're getting a little older?

BTW, 62 is not old. There is a group of women who regularly ride the forty
mile round trip between their town and ours. The youngest looks about 68,
the oldest about 75.


Arlie C.

 

[Badger_South]

On 26 Jul 2004 15:50:36 -0700, [email protected] (Joe Davidson)
wrote:

>I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
>childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
>week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
>Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
>healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
>increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
>injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
>Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

Important thing is to bike and exercise regularly. This gives you a
feeling of empowerment, and if you push yourself, it leads to
confidence. Even though you might be a bit more at risk, the
confidence will pull you though it.

In addition, it will impell you to do things you might not do. For
instance, I just spent two weeks vacationing at Va Beach with my
brother riding twice a day, every day. We're planning on riding an
event together in Oct. Normally I wouldn't do this, being somewhat of
a homebody, but desire for continued improvement biking was strong. (I
don't have such good places to ride where I live).

I can forsee travelling to other places in Va once I improve some
more, just for the fun and adventure of cycling.

Finally, I have a hip injury and had to be using a cane to walk even
short distances. That has improved so markedly by biking that I
rarely bother to get my cane when we go out.

Good luck, and keep going.

-B

 

[Mark Jones]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>

> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.
I do not know when the injury rate would start to climb
a lot, but after age 60 you will have longer recovery times
if you do get injured. I personally would not want to just
quit having fun just because I was afraid of getting hurt.

 

[Luigi de Guzman]

On 26 Jul 2004 15:50:36 -0700, [email protected] (Joe Davidson)
wrote:

>I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
>childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
>week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
>Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
>healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
>increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
>injured, has quit for the same reason.

Probably true; also probably true of anything.

The rate of injuries and falls among people over 65 does increase,
sure, but that shouldn't stop you from riding a bicycle if you're
still fit and sharp.

My granddad rode a motorcycle until he was 80.

-Luigi

 

[Allen]

That is like asking at what age you should curl up and die?
Or when should you stop having sex?

I hope to bike tilol Im into my 90s
Carefully though
My father is 85 and golfs every day. In winter he curls every day,
of course Im in Canada,


Id be more careful and wear all the protective gear you should,
maybe even consider the knee protectors as I hurt my knees once and
developed temporary Bersytis. obeying and followigng safety procedures.
You wont know if this is good because if it is good nothing will happen....


Allen

 

[Doug Purdy]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.

It won't be long before I'm your age. I was a couch potato up to 5 years ago
and I was aging more than one year per year. Then I took up commuting and
now feel many years younger and far more confident and adventurous.

I used to hear of all the injuries suffered by those who did any exercise of
any kind and think how silly they were. But without experience I could never
even imagine how good one feels with exercise. I wouldn't have believed it
if it could have been possible to tell me.

I've had 3 good falls on road, many more off road. I've bust a collarbone
(too tired & harried,) been on crutches for falling on my hip (drinking &
riding,) and had to sleep on my back for a month (careless on ice & snow.)
None of it can compare to how unbelievably better I feel from riding.

Of course we should be sensible. The article in Bicycling mag on osteo has
me intending to crosstrain. I'm sure I'll do it sooner rather than later.
Although it would help if I could find something as elegantly simple and
naturally appealing as commuting to work.

I'd like to take up windsurfing but there's not enough impact to work
against osteo. Jogging is a bit slow after biking. Weightlifting sounds
tedious. Maybe Karate or Muy Thai?

You should remind your friends that the saying "use it or lose it" keeps
proving itself true. The fastest way to incapacity is to quit.

Of course, maybe your friends have other conditions that make exercise more
dangerous. Perhaps their brains are impacted by early onset Alzheimers and
they are losing their balance along with everything else. The same "use it
or lose it" still seems to apply but maybe the best they can do at this
point is the shopping center shuffle. It might be cruel to rub their noses
in their misfortune.

Doug

 

[Brian]

(snip!)sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

March 2004 Bicycling magazine special report sez cyclists (refers mostly to hardcore racers, but can also be applied to lifelong commuters of all ages) are sweating calcium along with all those other minerals. Osteoporosis is a concern, and loss of bone density makes injuries more likely, esp. as we get older. Good news: regular calcium supplements and a balanced diet that includes calcium rich foods (not just dairy!) can mitigate the risk of bone density loss, and keep you off the injured list...

 

[Alfred Ryder]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

For me, and I am older than you, riding has so many positives that fear of
injury doesn't tilt the balance against it. It is interesting, but useless,
to wonder when I will or should quit.

One thing I have found with age is that I am getting a little slower but my
reflexes are also slowing so the sense of speed is still about the same.
Does that make sense? The net result is that it is as much fun as it ever
was.

 

[psycholist]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

I'm 48, so you've got some years on me ... but I recently got creamed by a
car ... head on. Broken hip, pelvis, ankle, fractured spine, lacerations
.... pretty awful. I remember what the doc said in the emergency room. "If
you weren't in such great shape from all the bike riding, this would have
killed you." Of course, my witty reply "yes, the bike is definately
responsible for my condition." I'm backing riding as much as ever and the
doc is all for it.

Also had a recent cardiac episode (severe electrolyte depletion brought on
by severe stupidity that led to cardiac arythmias). After a long battery of
test, the cardiologist said, "whatever you're doing, don't stop."

I definately get the sense that the pros outweigh the cons ... and I've been
through the cons.

Keep on truckin'

Bob C.

 

[Bernie]

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

>On 26 Jul 2004 15:50:36 -0700, [email protected] (Joe Davidson)
>wrote:
>
>>I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
>>childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
>>week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>>
>>Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
>>healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
>>increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
>>injured, has quit for the same reason.
>>
>
>Probably true; also probably true of anything.
>
>The rate of injuries and falls among people over 65 does increase,
>sure, but that shouldn't stop you from riding a bicycle if you're
>still fit and sharp.
>
Consider this: If you quit riding, you will stop being so fit and
sharp. Plus, you'll miss a lot of fun times and special moments you
can never have in your car.
I'm only 55 and expect to just stay with it... no 'quit biking' agenda
so far. Luckily, aside from scrapes and divots, I've only broken my
glasses.
Keep stylin' !
Bernie

>
>My granddad rode a motorcycle until he was 80.
>
>-Luigi
>

 

[Claire Petersky]

"Joe Davidson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

All my ancedotal evidence:

There's this guy Harry who goes on bike tours. Back in 2004, when he turned
70, he rode from Seattle to Miami (see: http://mikebentley.com/bike/harry/).
He does long tours every year -- he just got back from a trip to the Andes.
My parents have a friend who is in his late 70s who just finished the
Seattle-to-Portland ride (200 miles in two days) this year. And finally, an
older friend of mine, even more ancient and decrepid than RichC, just got
herself a new recumbent tricycle after a recent fall. I guess she wanted to
be closer to the ground when she tipped over next.

As you can see, even when they have fallen recently, they still continue to
pedal, and they're all a lot older than you. I bet you have at least another
15 years of cycling in you, if you want it.


--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

 

[Mike Schwab]

Well, if your friend needs any inspiration, forward this message and
read the link below.

http://www.ragbrai.org/ragbrai-history.html

RAGBRAI's Beginnings & The First Year
August 26-31, 1973
....
Among the many interesting people the ride attracted was Clarence
Pickard of Indianola. This 83-year-old gentleman, who hadn't ridden a
bicycle much in recent years, showed up for that first ride with a used
ladies Schwinn and rode all the way to Davenport, including the 100
degree plus day from Des Moines to Williamsburg, a 110-mile trek.
Pickard's attire for the ride was a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, woolen
long underwear and a silver pith helmet.

RAGBRAI XI
July 24-30, 1983
In the winter of 1982, Clarence Pickard was struck and killed by a car
while walking across a street in Indianola, his hometown. Although he
had only ridden a complete RAGBRAI the first year of the ride and on
just one day the following year, he had become a legend. The 1983 event,
RAGBRAI XI, was named the ' Clarence Pickard Memorial Ride' in his
memory, and the commemorative patch The Register designed that year was
similar to the shape of the helmet he wore.

Joe Davidson wrote:
>
> I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
> childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
> week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
> Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
> healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
> increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
> injured, has quit for the same reason.
>
> Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

 

[William Holiday]

On 26 Jul 2004 15:50:36 -0700, [email protected] (Joe Davidson) wrote:

<I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
<childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
<week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
<
<Recently a friend my age fell and broke his hip. He is now fully
<healed, but has sworn off bicycles saying that the injury rate
<increases sharply as we age. Another friend, who has not been
<injured, has quit for the same reason.
<
<Does anyone know if this is true? Please tell me it is not.

Here's my anecdote. I'm in my late 40s and ride with a couple of guys in there
60s. There both better than me but I've only been at it for 5+ seasons now and
they have a lifetime of riding. One is a cancer survivor, the other takes
bicycling vacations througout North America.

In the fall, no pun intended, of 2002, the tourer did a Colorado tour and on a
descent hit a pot hole and went over the bars, breaking his hip. He went through
some medical procedures and during the therapy phase a numer of specialists told
him he may never do regular things like walking the way he used too. He didn't
quite buy into that theory and when I ran into him in May of 2003 at a metric
century, he was telling me this story and I looked him and asked if he thought
that being a cyclist helped him recover so quickly. He gave me this "are you
kidding" look and said Of course!

 

[whinds]

In article <LngNc.33716$8_6.9192@attbi_s04>, "Blue Gator"
<[email protected]> writes:

>
>Your chance of injury probably increases with age from every other activity
>as well. The only way to be completely safe is to stop all activity.
>Bicycling helps your body stay strong and fit and it certainly helps you
>maintain a good sense of balance. Why should you give up something you
>enjoy so much just because you're getting a little older?
>
>BTW, 62 is not old. There is a group of women who regularly ride the forty
>mile round trip between their town and ours. The youngest looks about 68,
>the oldest about 75.

End of last month 4 Masters and one alternate completed the 2004 Race Across
America from San Diego to Atlantic City, 2958 miles. This race is different
from the TDF. There is no standard stop or rest period. The riders in the
masters team were

Ron Bell 72 years old
Robert Kash 70 years
Lee Mitchell 68 years
Chris Stauffer 69 years
Lew Meyer alternate 69 years

This race is so grueling that only about half of the solo riders completed the
race.

 

[Zoot Katz]

26 Jul 2004 15:50:36 -0700,
<[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Joe Davidson) wrote:

>I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
>childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
>week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.

I've heard it said that cyclists' bodies are generally equivalent to a
person's ten years younger.

You're still twenty years younger, chronologically, than a man I see
riding his single speed bike all over this hilly ville.

I don't heal as quickly now (55) but my bicycle still makes me feel
like a kid, especially when I ride by all those fluffies sitting
slumped in their coffins.

After a fourteen year hiatus, I can't think of any reason I'd
willingly hang up my bike ever again.

Ride to live. Live to ride.
.. . . or something like that.
--
zk

 

[Badger_South]

On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 01:12:15 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email protected]>
wrote:

>26 Jul 2004 15:50:36 -0700,
><[email protected]>,
>[email protected] (Joe Davidson) wrote:
>
>>I am 62 and getting older at the rate of one year per year. Since
>>childhood I have bicycled, both around the block and on 450 mile per
>>week tours. My bicycle is my most important material possession.
>
>I've heard it said that cyclists' bodies are generally equivalent to a
>person's ten years younger.
>
>You're still twenty years younger, chronologically, than a man I see
>riding his single speed bike all over this hilly ville.
>
>I don't heal as quickly now (55) but my bicycle still makes me feel
>like a kid, especially when I ride by all those fluffies sitting
>slumped in their coffins.
>
>After a fourteen year hiatus, I can't think of any reason I'd
>willingly hang up my bike ever again.
>
>Ride to live. Live to ride.
>. . . or something like that.

And here, since I joined this ng I thought you were one of those sassy,
young whippersnappers!

-B

 

[Pbwalther]

I do not think there is any study on the matter. I don't think that injuries
suffered while cycling are reliably reported so to get at the matter, one would
have to get a huge number of cyclists of various ages and follow them keeping
track of the injuries.

Also there could be confounding problems. You might find that older cyclists
suffered fewer injuries per hour the younger cyclists. But that could be
caused by various things: a decrease in risky riding techniques as one get
older, riding slower, perhaps vulnerable people who stop cycling and so on.

I recall reading an article in Bicycling Magazine that said that eventually
one's sense of balance declines with age and that is what finally puts people
off of the bicycle. But I would think until the sense of balance erodes, an
older cyclist would be no more vulnerable to injury then a young cyclist and
maybe less so. By less so, I am talking about Forester's findings that
experienced cyclists have much lower accident rates then inexperienced
cyclists. I would assume that virtually all elderly cyclists are experienced
cyclists. I do not think that many people take up cycling in the 60's, could
be wrong though.