Mountain biking the Bookcliffs area near Fruita, CO.
“I’m just glad to be out here instead of sitting at home on the couch eating ice cream and watching TV.” This is what a 60+ year old told me on the Left Loop at the Tsali bike trail in Western North Carolina. Made sense to me. So we all have a choice as we age. Work to stay active and in good health or develop an inactive lifestyle that leads to poor health. What if you could find an activity that is more fun than a video game on steroids, smell the fresh air, see nature in all its natural beauty while getting the best cardio exercise any gym could ever offer? At age 65 I discovered mountain biking and immediately became hooked.
Slickrock trailhead in Moab.
My wife, Bonnie and I were driving back from an extended snow ski vacation out west and the thought occurred to me that I really needed to find a new exercise activity since I had given up jogging due to knee cartilage problems. A friend who had started mountain biking some years earlier had previously recommended it as a great sport. So my wife and I discussed the pros and cons and decided to buy entry level bikes and give it a try.
I had ridden bikes as a kid – living in a rural area, the bike was my main mode of transportation to a friend’s house or to the ball field. So in my mind bikes were for kids and besides, those guys I saw on the side of the street on bicycles in sissy tight pants, Chinese fireworks shirts, and Star Wars helmets definitely did not seem to fit my style. But we got the bikes and helmets anyway – thats all I could stomach in the beginning.
We rode the paved trail at the Flatwoods Park in Tampa, FL as a starter. Bonnie wanted to stay with the paved and hardpacked surface trails, but I wanted to try the singletrack trails to see what it was like. As it turned out my first experience on a true mountain bike trail was at Panther Town Valley near Cashiers, North Carolina. We were visiting the area with some friends and I had brought our bikes along for the trip. So a friend and I bought a trail map at the local outdoor store, drove to the trailhead and headed out like any pro biker would. I remember going downhill leaving the trailhead, going faster and faster, the adrenaline rushing and thinking “man oh man this is really a lot of fun!” We proceeded to get totally lost on the trail (no markings), ended up going in a big circle and amazingly found ourselves back at the trailhead start. But the big story was I was totally hooked on mountain biking after this.
Lock 4 trail in Tennessee.
So 2 years later and lots of bike trail rides I can recommend to any senior looking for a great sport give mountain biking a try. You can choose your own pace and trail difficulty and advance at your own leisure.
25 Comments
Jun 23, 2011
Jun 24, 2011
Jun 4, 2017
Jun 23, 2011
Thanks for sharing!
Jun 24, 2011
Jun 23, 2011
Jun 4, 2017
Jun 22, 2011
Jun 24, 2011
If you are ever in Southern California I would be happy to ride with you.
Steve Grove
Aug 15, 2013
Jun 24, 2011
Jun 27, 2011
Jun 22, 2011
Apr 5, 2014
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Jun 24, 2011
Jun 13, 2014
One thing I have noticed about mountain bikers, they seem to be the most understanding bunch of people. We all like our bikes, no matter how fancy or spartan, and no one really cares. As long as you're out there and having fun, that's all that matters.
Jun 27, 2011
Apr 5, 2014
Jun 27, 2011
Jun 25, 2011
Jun 24, 2011
Apr 5, 2014
Jun 24, 2011
I will be 65 next week and have been riding for at least 20 yrs. Coming from So. California I always had many trails to choose from. It always amazed me why with all this open land so few ever take advantage of it.
Mountain Biking is something you can do well on into your seventies and maybe more, who knows. It does not strain the knees, or hurt the back and you can burn 1000 calories in an hour or more ride with some climbing. It is never boring, always great scenery, and you are always moving either up or down. Plus all the kool equipment is just icing on the cake.
I am now in Henderson Nevada and the trails here go on for miles and it's all for free.
Enjoy life everyday do something you love. Go for a ride.
May 4, 2016