05-03-2014, 01:22 AM
Family history, medical issues, anything can tell you when you are going to quit
There weren't any commercial mini bikes for me to ride as a kid other than Briggs and Stratton jobbies. When we were kids we built our own.
I got my first street bike in 1965. So, in a few weeks I will have been street riding for 49 years. Have not been without a bike since, and often many at one time. I also raced Motocross for 10 years.
I turn 64 in a couple of weeks, have a few discs in my back that don't like me shoveling, or lifting heavy things, my memory isn't what it used to be, my hearing isn't what it used to be although I hear the tinnitus very well, 24/7, my reflexes aren't what they used to be. My head swivels about 1/2 of what it did when I was young. I wear bifocals, I've had knee and shoulder surgery. So far my internal organs are treating me fairly. Thanks to meds my cholesterol is good and my blood pressure is good. I'm about 20 pounds over weight, but in the plus column I have never drank, nor smoked. I eat fairly health...it runs in spurts. I get tired sometimes of oatmeal, salads and baked chicken breasts and broccoli.
Most anyone (and I say most because there are a few really healthy strong old people) will tell you, you will deteriorate as you get older, You are not nearly as resilient at 40 as you were at 30, not at 50 as you were at 40, not at 60 as you were at 50 and so on.
Heredity comes into play as you get closer to the end. Cancers take an awful lot of otherwise healthy people, often far too young. No one in my family has lived past the age of 79. So in essence I figure that is pretty much my ceiling as well.
I hope to be able to ride until I am 70. That's my goal. 6 years to go. If I am healthy enough and have enough of my facilities, strength and wherewithal to continue riding I will certainly do so. 75 would be awesome. That would give me 60 years in the saddle (on the street). But I know, a day will come when I have to make the decision to stop.
A friend of mine, 66 years old, avid rider, owns 3 Goldwings went for a ride one Saturday not too long ago. When he returned home from his ride, he turned off the key, took off his helmet and said "That's it". He was done riding. He has since sold all the Wings and all his gear. I asked him if he had a close call or something, which caused him to quit and he said no, he just knew he was done. How about a smaller lighter bike, or a scooter I asked. Nope...done! He had had some medical issues lately and I think they were wearing on him.
Regret the day I have to make that decision.
There weren't any commercial mini bikes for me to ride as a kid other than Briggs and Stratton jobbies. When we were kids we built our own.
I got my first street bike in 1965. So, in a few weeks I will have been street riding for 49 years. Have not been without a bike since, and often many at one time. I also raced Motocross for 10 years.
I turn 64 in a couple of weeks, have a few discs in my back that don't like me shoveling, or lifting heavy things, my memory isn't what it used to be, my hearing isn't what it used to be although I hear the tinnitus very well, 24/7, my reflexes aren't what they used to be. My head swivels about 1/2 of what it did when I was young. I wear bifocals, I've had knee and shoulder surgery. So far my internal organs are treating me fairly. Thanks to meds my cholesterol is good and my blood pressure is good. I'm about 20 pounds over weight, but in the plus column I have never drank, nor smoked. I eat fairly health...it runs in spurts. I get tired sometimes of oatmeal, salads and baked chicken breasts and broccoli.
Most anyone (and I say most because there are a few really healthy strong old people) will tell you, you will deteriorate as you get older, You are not nearly as resilient at 40 as you were at 30, not at 50 as you were at 40, not at 60 as you were at 50 and so on.
Heredity comes into play as you get closer to the end. Cancers take an awful lot of otherwise healthy people, often far too young. No one in my family has lived past the age of 79. So in essence I figure that is pretty much my ceiling as well.
I hope to be able to ride until I am 70. That's my goal. 6 years to go. If I am healthy enough and have enough of my facilities, strength and wherewithal to continue riding I will certainly do so. 75 would be awesome. That would give me 60 years in the saddle (on the street). But I know, a day will come when I have to make the decision to stop.
A friend of mine, 66 years old, avid rider, owns 3 Goldwings went for a ride one Saturday not too long ago. When he returned home from his ride, he turned off the key, took off his helmet and said "That's it". He was done riding. He has since sold all the Wings and all his gear. I asked him if he had a close call or something, which caused him to quit and he said no, he just knew he was done. How about a smaller lighter bike, or a scooter I asked. Nope...done! He had had some medical issues lately and I think they were wearing on him.
Regret the day I have to make that decision.