Retirees what is your typical day

barnstar2077

Cycling hasn't been good for my joints, a broken ankle from a driver not looking where they were going, and a smashed knee from me not looking where I was going! :  )

Nine months off work for both incidents combined, and metal in both legs.  On the plus side, the head surgeon seemed quite pleased to have a repeat customer! :  ) 

Bostonerimus1

Beddie said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

Bianchiintenso said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

Ganga said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

sgx2000 said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

8:00 am telecon with folks who employ me to do some some contract engineering.
Then 25 mile bike ride to a cafe (coffee, beef-jalepeno and horseradish cream sandwich, raspberry square) and 25 miles back home. Listened to "The Rest is History" podcasts on Martin Luther.
Afternoon spent re seeding bare spots on the lawn and sat down and drank two beers while I admired my work.

Apart from the bike rides & contract work
It sounds marvelous 

I will charge 1hr for the telecon and I think I said two sentences. Enjoying the bike ride or not depends on how much you like cycling. It's a great low impact way to keep fit so ideal for older folks as it's easy on the joints.

But i always find it hard on my bum 

Yes that's a common complaint which can be fixed with the right cycling shorts/pad, saddle and a bike fit. Also the more you ride your bike the more you will get use to it and the aches and pains lessen.

I ride twice a week to get in between 60-100 miles total, 25 years ago had a bike fit and it became apparent straightway that my knees were doing to much work, (seat 1cm too low and 2cm too far back) straight after the fit I could feel the benefit , the power was coming from my thighs and the knee pain disappeared for good, also had a seat fit where they sit you on a gel pad to mark sit bones, the comfort difference was immediate , I've done lots of sports in my time and cycling as far and away the most expensive (too many bikes!!)  but also the most enjoyable. Recently bought an e-gravel bike, just to get off the roads and onto rough bridleways in the hills and surprisingly when getting back on the lightweight road bike it's even easier to ride

I'd recommend cycling as a sport for older people because it is low impact and also it can be a great way to meet people and make new friends. You often strike up conversations with other cyclists and you will have a local club with rides for riders of all abilities. But you don't need to think of cycling as a sport as it can just be a part of your day and save you money on bus fares and running the car if you use a bike to do the shopping etc.

I try to get out every other day for a long ride and my holidays are usually designed around a bike tour. I will book hotels with my phone a couple of days ahead, one concession I make for age is I don't camp anymore.

The problem with using your bike for errands or shopping trips is having to lock it somewhere. It will be stolen soon enough, even with the best locks. I only cycle for leisure, go out and come back again!

I suppose it depends on the level of bike theft where you live. I can get away with a cable lock and on my LEJOG that's what I used in conjunction with two Apple AirTags. I also have a compact U (D) lock and a loud motion sensitive alarm that I use sometimes.

Bostonerimus1

barnstar2077 said:

Cycling hasn't been good for my joints, a broken ankle from a driver not looking where they were going, and a smashed knee from me not looking where I was going! :  )

Nine months off work for both incidents combined, and metal in both legs.  On the plus side, the head surgeon seemed quite pleased to have a repeat customer! :  ) 

On one tour I came a cropper going over a railway crossing in the rain. I jumped up and continued riding for another 2 days and only on the 3rd day after did my ribs start to hurt so much that I couldn't ride. I'd either cracked or bruised some ribs. I rented a car and drove home and it took about a month for me to get back to normal. So you have to weigh the acute medical issues with the long term positives in overall fitness and well being.

Albermarle

barnstar2077 said:

Cycling hasn't been good for my joints, a broken ankle from a driver not looking where they were going, and a smashed knee from me not looking where I was going! :  )

Nine months off work for both incidents combined, and metal in both legs.  On the plus side, the head surgeon seemed quite pleased to have a repeat customer! :  ) 

Like many I dug my old bike out during the first lockdown. Plenty of oil and a couple of new inner tubes later, and I was away ( well locally anyway) Carried on during the Summers of 21 and 22, but after a couple of near misses, I did not go out at all on it last year. Family responsibilities mean it would be disaster even if I was just laid up for a couple of months with a broken leg or whatever, so I have sort of decided the risk vs reward is probably not worth it.

Bostonerimus1

Albermarle said:

barnstar2077 said:

Cycling hasn't been good for my joints, a broken ankle from a driver not looking where they were going, and a smashed knee from me not looking where I was going! :  )

Nine months off work for both incidents combined, and metal in both legs.  On the plus side, the head surgeon seemed quite pleased to have a repeat customer! :  ) 

Like many I dug my old bike out during the first lockdown. Plenty of oil and a couple of new inner tubes later, and I was away ( well locally anyway) Carried on during the Summers of 21 and 22, but after a couple of near misses, I did not go out at all on it last year. Family responsibilities mean it would be disaster even if I was just laid up for a couple of months with a broken leg or whatever, so I have sort of decided the risk vs reward is probably not worth it.

That happens a lot. Cycling is a good hobby in retirement for those that enjoy it because it helps with fitness, fills time with fun, can help in making new friends and can be useful just as transportation. There are other hobbies and I definitely feel that being passionate about some activity is a big help after you lose the focus that work provides.

SouthCoastBoy

I enjoy both cycling and running, running more as I find it more challenging, also I run quite a few half marathons so need to train quite hard to get the times I want, my big issue is hamstring injuries, as I get older they seem to be more regular. My main activity is golf, once retired I would expect to be down the golf club 5 times a week in the summer mths, either practicing or actually playing 18 holes.

zagubov

MallyGirl said:

westv said:

Sorry if I missed it but what does TED stand for? 

originally technology, entertainment and design but these days it is just short talks on youtube about all sorts of topics

They started off as conferences and the first one was 1984 where they introduced compact discs to the public.

Somebody

zagubov said:

MallyGirl said:

westv said:

Sorry if I missed it but what does TED stand for? 

originally technology, entertainment and design but these days it is just short talks on youtube about all sorts of topics

They started off as conferences and the first one was 1984 where they introduced compact discs to the public.

I thought Dire Straits did that with Brothers in Arms?

Beddie

Somebody said:

zagubov said:

MallyGirl said:

westv said:

Sorry if I missed it but what does TED stand for? 

originally technology, entertainment and design but these days it is just short talks on youtube about all sorts of topics

They started off as conferences and the first one was 1984 where they introduced compact discs to the public.

I thought Dire Straits did that with Brothers in Arms?

No, that was later.

I think that was the first album to sell over one million copies on CD though.

Nebulous2

Beddie said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

Bianchiintenso said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

Ganga said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

sgx2000 said:

Bostonerimus1 said:

8:00 am telecon with folks who employ me to do some some contract engineering.
Then 25 mile bike ride to a cafe (coffee, beef-jalepeno and horseradish cream sandwich, raspberry square) and 25 miles back home. Listened to "The Rest is History" podcasts on Martin Luther.
Afternoon spent re seeding bare spots on the lawn and sat down and drank two beers while I admired my work.

Apart from the bike rides & contract work
It sounds marvelous 

I will charge 1hr for the telecon and I think I said two sentences. Enjoying the bike ride or not depends on how much you like cycling. It's a great low impact way to keep fit so ideal for older folks as it's easy on the joints.

But i always find it hard on my bum 

Yes that's a common complaint which can be fixed with the right cycling shorts/pad, saddle and a bike fit. Also the more you ride your bike the more you will get use to it and the aches and pains lessen.

I ride twice a week to get in between 60-100 miles total, 25 years ago had a bike fit and it became apparent straightway that my knees were doing to much work, (seat 1cm too low and 2cm too far back) straight after the fit I could feel the benefit , the power was coming from my thighs and the knee pain disappeared for good, also had a seat fit where they sit you on a gel pad to mark sit bones, the comfort difference was immediate , I've done lots of sports in my time and cycling as far and away the most expensive (too many bikes!!)  but also the most enjoyable. Recently bought an e-gravel bike, just to get off the roads and onto rough bridleways in the hills and surprisingly when getting back on the lightweight road bike it's even easier to ride

I'd recommend cycling as a sport for older people because it is low impact and also it can be a great way to meet people and make new friends. You often strike up conversations with other cyclists and you will have a local club with rides for riders of all abilities. But you don't need to think of cycling as a sport as it can just be a part of your day and save you money on bus fares and running the car if you use a bike to do the shopping etc.

I try to get out every other day for a long ride and my holidays are usually designed around a bike tour. I will book hotels with my phone a couple of days ahead, one concession I make for age is I don't camp anymore.

The problem with using your bike for errands or shopping trips is having to lock it somewhere. It will be stolen soon enough, even with the best locks. I only cycle for leisure, go out and come back again!

The trick is to have several bikes. People on cycling forums talk about a 'pub bike.' Something which is mechanically sound, but doesn't look much. Sometimes with hand painting or stickers on it. I had a short cycle commute every day for about 10 years and used a modest bike with two locks a D lock and a cable. 

I don't think my best bike has ever been locked, but then it is never left alone in public.