Adrenalin, old age, broken bits etc etc

[Yorick]

I'm worried that the day I stop exercising it will be the day I turn old. Hence I am resisting the Eeb and continue to pound up hills in on the South Downs Way as a cathartic process. I know I cannot get my heart rate up to anything like where it used to be - but that is because I am 63.
Arthritic knee plus so many joints that I have damaged cycling, motorcycling, sailing, windsurfing etc. I used to be able to dust myself off , say ouch and then get on with it. These days falling over hurts - not only that, it takes longer to get back up. Cuts and grazes don't heal in days - but months ( I still have bramble scars on my forearms from July!). And as for anything skeletal - it becomes years ( I partially separated my AC joint 18 months ago and still don't have full arm movement back).

That said - the more I move my knee the better it is, arthritis in my hands causes spasms occasionally. It can be interesting on the bike.

The problem is that mentally I still think I am late 20s , still enjoy the adrenaline rush and want to push myself harder. But the fear of damaging myself and putting my life on hold to be stitched together/ recuperate/ mend etc is always in the back of my mind.

But the thing that truly pisses me off is that I get cold really easily. So much so, that I am beginning to think I have become a girl. After a lifetime of sweating like a racehorse - (so much so that I used to avoid hotter climates / holidays etc) now my feet go numb on a pushbike under 8 degrees, it is hard to get legs warmed up, esp after the cake and coffee stop. And to top that all , I have developed Reynaulds - so my fingers go white (esp when pressured) - and getting the blood flowing again can take an hour or so.

Growing old is a bitch - but it is better than not growing old!
AFAIK I don't smell of piss - yet

Since getting my eeb my cardio fitness is the best it’s ever been because I can’t do the grinding out hills instead I do the spinning like mad with less load and HR stays as high as it did without the eeb. I can’t build the strength though as I can’t lean on it as much but it is so much better than four years ago.
Reading all the above has helped loads, plus a day of being sulky is enough I’ve still got loads of mtb riding just being careful

Next time you visit, we can go out on matching GasGas bikez

[Yorick]

I’m 67 and definitely unfit now.

I’ll be perfectly happy honest and put my hand up that it’s all my fault. Since I retired a couple of years ago I’ve just done nothing to keep fit. I’m not happy slouching on the couch all day but it’s becoming a habit.

Unfortunately my OH has got arthritis and it’s hard to get motivation by yourself.

I'm lazy. But having a dog keeps me fit.

[crust]

This on steeper techy stuff I've never really been happy with. The instruction was great and the techniques opened up what could be a whole world of riding and the adrenalin that comes with it. But, I've arthritis in my left knee which is ok for normal life and ok for most of the mtb riding I do. I'm lucky that's about all that's wrong and fitness wise I'm pretty good too. However opening up this new stuff which is steep and has drops my knee said no, first it starts hurting and I know at that point I have to stop or it fails altogether and I have weeks of pain.
So the grown up part of my brain says no worries at your age you've got loads of positives just rein it in a bit. The much larger part of my brain is really pissed off about this as in the past it's been me that stops me doing things. I know it sounds trivial as it's not limiting me in any aspects of life and writing it down it seems even more pathetic but anyone else gone through this moment of realisation as I'm struggling to just man up and accept it !

Where to start on this one? One I'm pondering a lot at moment as you can imagine given the summer I've had and the outcomes. I'll have to come back to it when I've got more time.

For those that don't know, I broke my collarbone in the early summer, it didn't heal very well and then I destroyed my hip in August necessitating a new hip.

Meanwhile in the garage is a really nice - I've only ridden it twice - Trek full suspension mountainbike and a 500 KTM enduro bike, again only ridden twice (my garage was broken into and my bikes stolen in the beginning of the summer).

Surgeon was ok with me going back to mountain biking in the New Year but raised his eyebrows at the motorbike trail riding (didn't say no but isn't sure it would be my wisest idea).

So Couchy I'm with you on the whole facing up to reining things in thoughts, I'm 63, got metal in my knee, elbow, a metal shoulder and now a metal hip but in my head there's still a lot I want to do and even more I don't want to give up - there's that unfinished ebike ride in Derbyshire for one.

Be sensible or carry on dicking about......

[weeksy]

Surgeon was ok with me going back to mountain biking in the New Year but raised his eyebrows at the motorbike trail riding (didn't say no but isn't sure it would be my wisest idea).

The only take away from this, is that he's never see you ride

[Wossname]

Apparently Clint Eastwood (92) has a favourite saying - "Don't let the old man in". I understand that... I know lots of people in their 50s and 60s who seem to feel that their useful/enjoyable lives are over, and it's very much a self-fulfilling prophecy. Crack on, do what you can and want to, and listen to Clint.

Me? 72, recovered from a heart attack 18 months ago thanks to a 48mm stent, not as physically fit as I'd like but so what. Oh yes, and a dodgy knee, thanks to a cow who didn't appreciate my efforts to birth her son 34 years ago. It'll need an op, but not yet. As long as I can still enjoy eating, sleeping, riding my bike, I'm happy. Mrs W - I need her too....

I understand that bit too - being on your own can make it more difficult.

[Asian Boss]

Waiting for the darkling earth to rise up and crush us to its harsh bosom.

We all are. It is the way of things. The days of our kind are numbered. The one god comes to drive out the many gods. The spirits of wood and stream grow silent.

It's a lonely way, the way of the necromancer. To know too much; lacrimae mundi - the tears of the world.

Look now! What do you see?

[Horse]

Reading all the above has helped loads, plus a day of being sulky is enough I’ve still got loads of mtb riding just being careful

Oh great. Get us all to fess up how decrepit we all are to cheer yourself up, now you're going to bugger off on your bike all happy again!

[Couchy]

Reading all the above has helped loads, plus a day of being sulky is enough I’ve still got loads of mtb riding just being careful

Oh great. Get us all to fess up how decrepit we all are to cheer yourself up, now you're going to bugger off on your bike all happy again!

Wasn’t my intention . If this thread has shown anything it’s how much we love a good moan and to talk about our ailments which in itself is a sign of how old we’ve got. What it’s also shown is we still try and do what we always did whether it’s right or wrong

[Count Steer]

Reading all the above has helped loads, plus a day of being sulky is enough I’ve still got loads of mtb riding just being careful

Oh great. Get us all to fess up how decrepit we all are to cheer yourself up, now you're going to bugger off on your bike all happy again!

Wasn’t my intention . If this thread has shown anything it’s how much we love a good moan and to talk about our ailments which in itself is a sign of how old we’ve got. What it’s also shown is we still try and do what we always did whether it’s right or wrong

The next stage is comparing medications.

(It seems to be a top trumps sort of thing. My dad used to delight in actually showing people his multitude of pills. Half of which were to counteract the side effects of the other half. Still, he made it to 96 so chances are one of them did him some good. ).

This thread has made me feel less old.

[Horse]

Oh great. Get us all to fess up how decrepit we all are to cheer yourself up, now you're going to bugger off on your bike all happy again!

Wasn’t my intention . If this thread has shown anything it’s how much we love a good moan and to talk about our ailments which in itself is a sign of how old we’ve got. What it’s also shown is we still try and do what we always did whether it’s right or wrong

The next stage is comparing medications.

(It seems to be a top trumps sort of thing.

This thread has made me feel less old.

The next stage:

[Croaky wavery voice]
"I'm 64, you know"

[Count Steer]

The next stage is comparing medications.

(It seems to be a top trumps sort of thing.

This thread has made me feel less old.

The next stage:

[Croaky wavery voice]
"I'm 64, you know"

Not to mention opening all conversations with:

'I/we used to...'
'When I was...
'Back in the day...'
'It wasn't like that when...'
'When I had a...'
'Why does everyone...'
'Before.....'

+ liberally peppering 'these days' through all comments. ie 'People/kids these days...' or 'Bikes these days...etc'

So, 'Bikes these days are....., back in the day, before the....when I was.....and had a....we used to.... Why does everyone.....? It wasn't like that when I.... I'm 64 you know, I take these blue ones, they're 65 milligrams, what's that in ounces?.'

[Taipan]

One thing I would say about having surgery (knee/hip replacement) is don't leave it too long before getting it done. I did and being out of alignment has damaged my back. I'm hoping it's not permanent and will go away as my alignment returns? But it is something to bear in mind as you approach the need for surgery. Oh and remember, pride comes before a fall, or several thereof - literally!

[Skub]

Waiting for the darkling earth to rise up and crush us to its harsh bosom.

We all are. It is the way of things. The days of our kind are numbered. The one god comes to drive out the many gods. The spirits of wood and stream grow silent.

It's a lonely way, the way of the necromancer. To know too much; lacrimae mundi - the tears of the world.

Look now! What do you see?

Aye,yer ballix.

[Bigyin]

When i retired from plod at 51 i was 17 stone 6 and fairly out of shape. Within 6 months i was just under 15 stone as i had stopped eating shit food while sitting around in cars for hours waiting for someone to throw down the stairs etc etc.

I was walking 3 miles every couple of days while recovering from shoulder surgery as i couldnt cycle or do any other fitness for a couple of months.

I used to run miles in my yoof so the fact my right knee is completely fooked from a couple of MTB accidents pver the last couple of decades and 2 surgeries which have left me no cartilage means cycling is now my chosen option. I enjoy going to the gym and try and get in 3 times a week for some weights as well as banging up and down the pool for a few lengths. I am now 55 and my weight hovers around 15 stone 4 - 6. I dont eat as much as i used to and my alcohol consumption has reduced as well so i feel better in myself for it.

I am aware that with the damage i have done to both my shoulders and my knees its a matter of time that i can keep doing weights etc and can already hear my knee clicking when i cycle but no pain so crack on while i can

[weeksy]

[Noggin]

Apparently Clint Eastwood (92) has a favourite saying - "Don't let the old man in". I understand that... I know lots of people in their 50s and 60s who seem to feel that their useful/enjoyable lives are over, and it's very much a self-fulfilling prophecy. Crack on, do what you can and want to, and listen to Clint.

What Clint said! I was amazed and horrified at the number of people (mainly guys, which I thought was weird) that would say - "I'm old now I"m 50. Can't do all that stuff anymore" WTF?? I don't understand that mentality

But then, I didn't start 'living' life in a good way until I was 32, so I have a fair bit of catching up to do (+ missing out on the last 5 years!! ). I ain't gonna consider myself old ever!!

One thing I would say about having surgery (knee/hip replacement) is don't leave it too long before getting it done. I did and being out of alignment has damaged my back. I'm hoping it's not permanent and will go away as my alignment returns? But it is something to bear in mind as you approach the need for surgery. Oh and remember, pride comes before a fall, or several thereof - literally!

100% - my BDad left having his first knee done until he was almost 70. He died a couple or 3 years later. He did often say he'd wished he's known how much difference it would have made as he'd have had it done 10 years before and then the other one and not been in pain for the next ten years!!

[Pirahna]

One thing I would say about having surgery (knee/hip replacement) is don't leave it too long before getting it done. I did and being out of alignment has damaged my back. I'm hoping it's not permanent and will go away as my alignment returns? But it is something to bear in mind as you approach the need for surgery. Oh and remember, pride comes before a fall, or several thereof - literally!

100% - my BDad left having his first knee done until he was almost 70. He died a couple or 3 years later. He did often say he'd wished he's known how much difference it would have made as he'd have had it done 10 years before and then the other one and not been in pain for the next ten years!!

Taipan has 3 years left to live!!

[Noggin]

One thing I would say about having surgery (knee/hip replacement) is don't leave it too long before getting it done. I did and being out of alignment has damaged my back. I'm hoping it's not permanent and will go away as my alignment returns? But it is something to bear in mind as you approach the need for surgery. Oh and remember, pride comes before a fall, or several thereof - literally!

100% - my BDad left having his first knee done until he was almost 70. He died a couple or 3 years later. He did often say he'd wished he's known how much difference it would have made as he'd have had it done 10 years before and then the other one and not been in pain for the next ten years!!

Taipan has 3 years left to live!!

Nah, he'll live at least another ten!! LOL He's had both knees done - lives longer!!

[Tricky]

My favourite thing in the world is running, but I've had to accept that I'm not as fast as I was, I can't run as far and I can't run as much, I reckon I've got ten years left at it if I'm lucky (I'll be sixty then). I'll be devastated when I can't do it anymore.

You just have to adapt I suppose, I run less so I don't get injuries and I'm grateful for what I can do. When I can't run I'll walk and when I can't walk I'll buy a motorised scooter and go out on that. I'm hoping to be one of those fit old men right into my eighties, and I'll be out doing my daily five mile walk when a brain aneurism switches my lights off instantly and I don't feel a thing.

Personally I don't do reckless stuff anymore because I'm more delicate now, so I doubt I'll do any kind of competitive dangerous sports like MX or MTBs because a fuck up and serious injury at my age could ruin the rest of the life I have, so I'll stick to running, sensible cycling, etc, stuff that is less likely to cripple me.

This is sort of where I am at the moment- I turned 60 last year and did what I am pretty sure will have been my last ever half marathon ( or any competitive run of any distance ) end of last year . I struggled and was a good 10 mins down on previous ones, it made me realise that unfortunately, my running days are over as one hip and the other knee just make anything over a couple of miles too hard now- a few old injuries and 5-10 years fairly regular running ( I only started in 2013 ) have taken their toll.
I too suffer from a bit of arthritis and it's caught up with me in the last year so it's a little bit of pedaling, sit-ups/press-ups and cross-training to try and keep the flab and muscle wastage at bay for me from now on

[weeksy]

I did my first Enduro race and my first DH race this year. I'm 51 now.

I intend to continue doing more races into 2023 and hopefully beyond.

I guess i'm lucky in the context i've not reached the 60 bracket some of you have and hence i'm still a bit more in the game.. but it's harder than it used to be.

randr-photo-9251163-4000px-by-gareth-dalley by Steve Weeks, on Flickr