You’re never too old to be excited about a new bike!

  

Old bike; old body

I broke down and did it. I bought an ebike. After promising myself I would wait until I was an old man of 75 before making such a purchase, I decided I was an old enough man at 71 that I could use the motivation, if not the assist, provided by these popular new-ish modes of transportation.

A few things convinced me. I’ve rented ebikes on the last three boat/bike trips I’ve taken, making the tours actually feel recreational rather than arduous. I found that last summer, I was struggling to do longer bike rides and uphills were a growing challenge. But perhaps what really helped me make up my mind was a comment made by a fellow rider. When I asked how he liked his ebike, he replied, “It makes me feel like I have the energy of a 12 year old again!” Just how many things will do THAT for you?

This will be the fourth new bike I’ve had in my 65+ years of biking. As I remember…

Coast King 1960

My first new bike was a 26” red, single speed, coaster-braking Coast King, purchased from the local Coast to Coast Hardware store around 1960. The bike cost $29. This bike lasted through my high school years. It was the bike that could be ridden quite easily with no hands - as a small group of us boys loved to do - as well as tackle the “rolly-polly” hills in my grandmother’s town. 

Oh, I have my sister to thank for my learning to ride a bike at all. I resisted practicing until Becky, three years younger than me, started to ride. I could not, of course, let a little girl learn to ride before I could!

Schwinn 1977

My second new bike I bought just out of college, having ridden a used 3-speed during my undergrad years. I splurged (making an amazing professional salary of about $8000 as a beginning teacher) on a large framed orange Schwinn Le Tour in 1977. The $165 was a steep price, but the 25” frame and 10 speeds lasted me 20 years. It took me on the first of my many week-long bike rides, traveled with me to Saudi Arabia, and supported a child seat behind the saddle that carried both my kids when they were small. 

Cannondale 1998

My third purchase was a blue large frame, 21 speed Cannondale H300 CAD road bike in 1998 - the bicycle I have been riding for the past 25 years. I think I paid about $500 for it ($20 a year - not bad.) It’s taken me on multiple week and multi-week bike trips, including two in Europe, being disassembled and boxed to take as airline baggage. Except for the frame, I think I have replaced about every part on it over the years. 

Gazelle 2024

My new bike is the one pictured above, purchased from a local bike shop for about what I paid for my first new car in 1976.* It’s a blue “type 1” ebike with a 70 mile range, upright riding position, and a large step-through frame. Gazelle bikes get good reviews, and as ebikes go, it is fairly light at 50 pounds. I will also be purchasing a new bike rack for the car hitch that will carry this thing. Picking it up sometime this week once it is assembled. Our strange Minnesota weather is looking good for a weekend break-in ride.

The experts say that money will make you happy if you use it purchase experiences rather than things. I agree with that. So far my bike purchases have allowed me to have experiences that I would not otherwise have had without them. Hoping my new bike results in the same.

* I once heard a statement that if you pay for a cheaply made product, the happiest you will be will be the day you purchase it. If you buy quality, the saddest you will be will be the day you purchase it and get happier thereafter.

Hoping the love of biking will be multi-genersational 

See also

The lure of the ebike

Two kinds of bikers

Bike Northwoods

10 photos from the Czech Republic bike trip

Allora! Hiking and biking in Italy

Cycling the backroads of SE Asia

Riding the Katy Trail

Biking Holland

 Some Lessons Learned from Bicycling:

1. It's usually uphill and against the wind. (Murphy's Law of Bicycling)

2. Most big hills that look impossible are usually a series of small hills that are possible.

3. I've never met a hill I couldn't walk up.

4. It's better to shift to a lower gear than to stop all together.

5. Sometimes it's nice to be able to have equipment to blame things on.

6. You really can't make your own weather.

7. Coasting feels good, but you don't get much exercise doing it.

8. A beer at the end of a long day of riding tastes better than a beer when just sitting around (or at breakfast, I'm guessing).

9. Don't drink at lunch time and expect to enjoy the afternoon.

10. Bike helmets are a sure sign that natural selection is still a force of nature.

11. The five minutes putting air in your tires at the beginning of the day is time well spent.

12. There will always be others who are faster and riders who are slower.

13. Watching as old people zip by you should be encouraging, not discouraging.

14. Too often we quit because our spirit fails, not our legs or lungs.

15. Spouses (or entire families) who dress alike should not expect the rest of us to consider them normal human beings.

16. Too much padding between you and a bike seat is impossible.

17. Before you wear Spandex in public, look at your backside in the mirror. Please.

18. The happiest people are the ones who consider life a ride, not a race.

19. The more expensive the gear, the higher the expectations.

20. The 500 calories burnt exercising do not compensate for the 2000 calories from beer drunk celebrating your accomplishment.

21. Everyone can look buxom on a bicycle - guys included.

22. You always feel the headwind, but never the tailwind. But it's there.

23. Most forms of travel involve some degree of discomfort. But keep moving anyway.

24. Cows always have the right of way.

25. You will eventually dry out even after the biggest downpour.

Comments

[Stephen Downes]

All great tips! As another grey-haired cyclist, I would add: don't forget to refuel on the ride; the place where you run out of energy will be the most convenient.

I've also noticed that when I have an issue with the bike (spokes, tires, whatever) it's always at the furthest point on my planned route.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Stephen,

Great to hear from you. Been a while, but then I stepped away from both tech and education 5 years ago.

I love your additional tips and observations. Life lessons are the best.

Take care and happy biking,

Doug