SIXTY THE NEW FORTY?

I might have turned dizzy with my mountain biking exploits but I also do realise that I am no spring chicken any more. I am not experiencing some kind of negative weekend warrior syndrome nor facing some sort of a past-midlife crisis. It's just that at this stage of my life, I have found for myself something that I love to do which seems to suit my preference as well as my lifestyle. I did have my share of injuries for doing what I do -- twice to be specific -- that required the administering of some stitches ( for a wound on my lower right palm) and the use of a sling (for a fractured left humerus) which I sustained during two of my bike outings, but those injuries were caused not by some blind daredevil enthusiasm on my part but more by my own ignorance and lack of skill.

Many among us still view cycling as a sport or activity suitable only for the young; or at least, for those who are still in their prime. Hence, we seldom see seniors cycling on our roads or around our neighborhood or anywhere else.  It's a moot point, however. As a result of such a view, we find books and other forms of literature written specially focusing or discussing on the subject of senior cycling. One such book is 'Cycling Past Fifty'  by Joe Friel which provides us with some insight and guidelines into the topic.

The view that cycling is only suitable for the young may have been induced by the nature of the activity itself. On public roadways, a cyclist could get involved in an accident which could prove fatal or cause them serious injuries. Or, one could simply fall off  their bike or crash and suffer fractures or other forms of injury. All this has tended to create the impression that cycling is a demanding and dangerous activity suitable only for the young and strong. On the road, a cyclist pedaling along with traffic or weaving through it can appear so susceptible and so exposed to harm or danger that it's only sensible for anyone past their prime or above a certain age to avoid it. Moreover, this is a country not known for its cyclist-friendly attitude nor outlook.

I am not aware of the actual statistics although I believe there have not really been too many cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways compared to motorists and other road users. I suspect there have been more motorists and pedestrians killed or injured per kilometer of road compared to cyclists. But then, the number of cyclists in this country is relatively small compared to the number of motorists or other road users and I am uncertain  whether it really is more dangerous for one to cycle than to drive or walk. Now that I have got myself quite deeply immersed into cycling and enjoying and loving what I do, I am not too keen to find out what the exact situation really is although I cycle almost daily for my workouts and doing so on public roadways which could also land me into some sort of accident or injury. Since there are ways and means for me to avoid or at least reduce such harm from endangering my life and limb, the best option would be for me to educate myself as much as I can before such harm befalls me.

But for now, I see the benefits to be gained from cycling enormous compared to some other forms of physical activities that I have previously performed and still, sometimes, do. The fact is I have never felt fitter in my life than the way I now feel; yes! even at this age. The proof is that there have always been younger cyclists - and plenty of them - who were always behind me in every jamboree that I participated in each time I arrived the finishing line although for me, such rides would always be a case of riding against myself - my will, my stamina and my determination - and not against anyone else; and that does not include those who failed to bring the rides to their full end. All this has been due to my cycling. A century ride today does not give me the jitters nor create in me the anxiety just like it once did the first time I participated in a forty-five kilometer mountain bike jamboree. Today, I would look at such an option with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm knowing that I could do it, more so if such an option and its arrangement strike an agreeable chord with me.

I do not need more proof to support my contention such as the status of my resting heart rate or the number of beats that my heart drops per minute during workouts to indicate the current state of my fitness and health . Sure, my maximum heart rate is based on my age, but then I believe, like age itself, that rate is just numbers. As they say, you can still have the heart of a forty-year old if you choose to live and adopt the right lifestyle and cycling is one of the ways for you to achieve that. With cycling and the right lifestyle, you can reverse the biological clock. I have no doubt that cycling has done me a lot of good and I believe that today's sixty can be the new forty.

Allah willing, I look forward to being fifty or less when I touch seventy. How about you?