How old is too old?

[gerryattrick]

Sitting here feeling sorry for myself. Had a tumble yesterday, out cold for a couple of seconds and ended up with torn knee ligaments. Went to casualty and no serious damage - (thanks crash helmet), but will be off the bike for a while

Anyway no sympathy off my wife, who says at my age (64) I should be riding a Pashley or something similar. Never worried about it till now as road riders seem to go on forever, although I haven't ridden a road bike in nearly three decades.

I know I don't bounce like I used to, and things take a long time to heal, but I took it up late in life and do enjoy a bit of cross country and trail riding (nothing too technical, mainly blue rides, with a few red options to get the adrenalin going). Now I'm retired and can do these things any day of the week I want.

So the question is: Is there a too old for MTB/off-road riding, and who are the oldest people still doing it?

 

[orange71]

Talk to a couple of guys who ride with us in the East Mids every week aged in their mid sixties And they crash often enough. Age is no excuse. Pick yourself up and get back on your bike, you'll be fine

 

[grahame]

When I lived in Harrogate, one of my neighbours was a lifelong road cyclist. We talked about bikes all the time. Then his daughter came for a visit, bringing her new mountainbike with her and went for a short ride with her dad. He tried her bike and loved it.

He bought himself a Trek OCLV hardtail as a birthday present to himself - his 80th birthday! And then pestered me at every opportunity to show him some of the local trails.

 

[Dr S]

MBUK stalwart Derek Purdy is 70+ and still rides several times a week. See him ride past here at least twice a week.

 

[cyfa2809]

There was a program on bbc3 a whil back which put some young people up against some old people. It was a very god watch, the old people were part of a 'old people keep fit resort' And were still very fit at 80'/90's. Do what you love until you die or at leat until you can. No reason to stop unless you physically cant do it. By which it looks you have ages!

 

[suburbanreuben]

When I lived in Harrogate, one of my neighbours was a lifelong road cyclist. We talked about bikes all the time. Then his daughter came for a visit, bringing her new mountainbike with her and went for a short ride with her dad. He tried her bike and loved it.

He bought himself a Trek OCLV hardtail as a birthday present to himself - his 80th birthday! And then pestered me at every opportunity to show him some of the local trails.

So you did, but couldn't keep up?

 

[taylorsummers]

My uncle still races cyclo-cross and he is over 65 now. There are riders into their 70's. So plenty of years left for you.

I also spoke to someone at a x race Sunday and he was still riding time trials and he retired at 65 which was over 10 years ago so he was telling me

 

[Tazio]

Robmac is in his 70's and still gets out there. :roll:

 

[Russell]

I'm guessing that anyone over 30 is probably getting on a bit for proper mountain biking.

Best stick to fireroads and bridleways after that.

 

[Pfennig]

I'm in my early 30s and remember earlier this year the guys in their 60s that Orange71 mentions in the East Midlands group leaving me for dead at times! You'll be fine, as long as you don't do anything silly! But that goes for everyone IMHO