[Andy2302]

Remember your first rides? How tired & wobbly you were? I could hardly walk after my first 6 mile ride. That may sound really bad but I'm old with coronary issues. We all have some sort of issues, right?
Well that was late last fall. Almost daily rides this spring have made a big difference. Last week I chased a big tom turkey around the neighborhood like a kid on the bike with ease. Today I mowed the entire yard without stopping for the first time in years. I feel stronger after each ride and the mowing proved it to me.

Do you notice your strength & stamina improving ~ say something.

[Hazy]

Originally Posted by Andy2302

Remember your first rides? How tired & wobbly you were? I could hardly walk after my first 6 mile ride. That may sound really bad but I'm old with coronary issues. We all have some sort of issues, right?
Well that was late last fall. Almost daily rides this spring have made a big difference. Last week I chased a big tom turkey around the neighborhood like a kid on the bike with ease. Today I mowed the entire yard without stopping for the first time in years. I feel stronger after each ride and the mowing proved it to me.

Do you notice your strength & stamina improving ~ say something.

Good for you Andy!!
My son being born has been the best thing to happen to me for countless reasons. 1 being that me wanting to play an active roll ( physically, spiritually, emotionally ) in his life meant I needed to get myself going again. Cycling has enabled me to be the active Dad my son needs.

Same as you, my first 3 mile ride 2 years ago kicked my butt. Now I have the energy to play with my son after a 50 mile ride. And let me tell you, he plays hard too!

[rola643]

I would say that is a huge accomplishment being able to knock the yard out like that! I have become a FIRM believer in the fact that as we age we should strive to to stay active and flexible! I have decided once you sit down in that rocking chair to retire life is over, it will be VERY difficult to get back up and be active again. Even if it's just walking the dog around the block! GET UP and get moving. You have proven that!!!

I remember my first 5 mile ride in the neighborhood with my wife and thought I had really done something! My legs felt tree stumps and it was all I could do to walk up stairs and get a shower! I was a horrible smoker on the verge of 3 packs a day and sat in my recliner weezing! My lovely bride said I had to make a life change or I was going to die and that didn''t sound like an option I was willing to accept!

Cycling has truly saved my life! It has also led to many other life changes in exercise, eating habits as well.

My stamina has greatly increased since I started to ride.

[Andy2302]

Apparently we all have our reasons to ride. Strength & stamina is at the core. Couch potatoes don't understand the rush a good ride can provide. Have you tried to talk cycling to a couch potatoe? "I watch the Tour de France when it's on."
Cycling to me is not a spectator sport. It's about you and me, not them. I respect Pro cyclists but riding is for me.

[Poolie]

Last year when I had finally built up my distance to the 40-50 mile range, I would come in the house, lay down on the floor in the living room and take a nap. The ride would wear me out that bad. Now, a year later and a couple thousand miles under my belt I can go out and ride 60 miles in the morning, come home and cut the grass.

[wild]

Well at 67-1/2 I don't ride as fast and far as I did when I was 66-1/2 but I still like being on the bike. I have a hart con. I am in A-fib and have Crohna's disease, But I don't let that controle my life, I ride, I have a 40 mile ride comeing up. And I do some exersize with 10# weights on days I don't ride. When I started not so many years ago I would only do 2 miles and the wife would 10 miles, the wife still does 10 but I can go farther

[Andy2302]

I'm 66 and 23 months past quadruple bypass. Riding has made me feel like 45 again. I hope to break 20 miles this summer.
The improvement raises my confidence and attitude. The world would be a better place if more folks rode.

[SixtyPlus]

Though I have not built up to much over 15 miles per ride, you guys are giving me a lot of inspiration to set a loftier goal and to get out and ride!! Between work and a first grand baby, I have not been riding this year. But, my work life ended this week and I am looking forward to being retired and a lot of riding starting soon!

[robkyle]

Good for all of you for going out there and taking control of your health and your lives. You have to make the time to ride, make the committment. Otherwise there is always something else that needs to be done, some chore to do. But in the end, the time on the bike may be the single best thing you could do for yourself.

[omnivox42]

I started running to get back into shape. At 29 I am already on blood pressure meds, not cool. Feeling sloth like and slow has not helped my self esteem either. Over time work has started to be more of a challenge due to lack of motivation. Well running started to KILL my shins and ankles and I didn't feel the results I wanted to.

SO, I got back on a bike. Now, I am not riding 40 miles or more a day yet, but I feel worlds different with my 5 mile morning ride. Each day I push further and push harder aiming for more speed.

My legs turn into jello by the time that I get off of the bike, but in a good way. I like the burn, I like the adrenaline, and I love the way I feel afterwards.