Riders of a certain age

[Nails]

Rather than hijack viewtopic.php?p=92869#p92869, I'm starting a new thread. It's for those of us who are older and wiser. (Let's see.)

As this age thing happens, share some words of wisdom. What's the specific problem? How do you cope?

For me, the biggest problem is that I get tired quicker, which makes me do stupid things like turn around wide (off the road and into soft sand), get clumsy with the kickstand, miss map turns, &etc. This is the kind of thing that first makes me want to shorten the riding day. It's mostly brain fatigue. Getting serious about earplugs helps a lot. Packing a sleeping bag that's warm enough does too.

I've got my seat, backrest, other ergos, and riding gear sorted, so I don't really have much ache/pain limitation -- despite having arthritis basically everywhere.

Related: like most riders, I get that smell-the-barn syndrome, where I don't want to stop if I can make it home that night. This accounts for all my high-mileage days; and it's generally positive-feedback stupid.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Nails, I'm there with you as far as doing stupid things as I tire out. Fortunately my dear wife keeps me from high miles riding as she has a limit of about 200-250 miles. I'm not complaining cause it saves me from a sore butt, but it places limits on 2 wheels travel at least till I'm retired!

[Dan66]

Not as much stamina for sure , but I find my reactions in some areas aren’t as good, but on the plus side , I recognise my limits and have the wisdom not to push my luck.
Also , with experience, comes the ability to see potential situations unfolding before they happen.
So it’s not all bad.
Oh , and the knees and shoulders get a little creaky

[SgtSlag]

My wife and I trade positions on the bike, every two hours. After two hours on the back, neither one of us can sit back there much longer. We stop and walk around, every two hours, to stretch our legs, backs, etc. We drink water, and often eat a small snack on our 2-hour breaks, as well. After a break, we are good to go another 2-hours. We stop for lunch, typically some sort of sit-down situation; even if it is a fast-food joint, we sit down and relax for an hour. We do the same at supper time, if we are riding past that time of day. We knock off before sundown, usually. Neither of us likes to ride after dark, too dangerous to risk hitting a deer, raccoon, or an opossum.

We began hauling our bike to destination sites. Once we reach our base camp (usually an air bnb, less money, more comfortable than a hotel, and far more relaxing, too!), we drop the bike, and ride out on day trips from there. We've gotten into riding cloverleaf tours that we glean from a touring magazine. By trailering the bike to our base camp site, we are fresher for the rides, and we are less stressed as we can road-trip in more relaxed comfort, inside our Cherokee. This approach helps us see more in the same amount of vacation time: riding takes longer to go the distance than driving, so more time riding, less time getting there/coming home. It's a really nice trade-off, for us. Cheers!

[Nails]

I'm there with you as far as doing stupid things as I tire out. Fortunately my dear wife keeps me from high miles riding as she has a limit of about 200-250 miles. I'm not complaining cause it saves me from a sore butt, but it places limits on 2 wheels travel at least till I'm retired!

To state the obvious, not having to come home for work is a pretty big retirement perk.

My butt used to start negotiating terms of surrender after just a couple hundred miles. In desperation, I bought an AirHawk while still 1700 miles from home. The next day I rode straight through four tanks of gas. That and a perfectly placed backrest make all the difference for me. My last trip was 5K miles -- I got tired but not sore.

with experience, comes the ability to see potential situations unfolding before they happen.

Bikes definitely instill situational awareness, but sometimes with a steep learning expense. Honestly, this is part of the reason I ride in the first place. Cages always are boring. And I don't need no stinkin' radio.

We began hauling our bike to destination sites.

Yeah, a superslab slog through boring country totally sucks, but that's true for me whether riding or driving. I just tried Amtrak, but it was a sucky slog, too. And I absolutely hate airports. Apparently all we can do is embrace the suck, and I guess I'll just ride it. But if there isn't a sweet ride on the other end, there really isn't any point at all.

But when the daytime temps are ridiculously hot, it's hard to beat zooming through a clear night in open country. Even on a damn freeway. The air is luke cool, so much the better with lightning bugs -- plenty enough reason to have a bike.

I guess this thread is making it harder for me to whine about getting old. But I am looking into a lighter one, because after the cognitive impairments from getting tired, I'm also getting weaker.

[VoyKimmer]

I use to love riding at night. When I rode 1200 plus miles in one day going to Kanab the best part of the ride was at night time after dark but since my bad accident hitting the deer I am now deathly afraid of riding at night. I think I get PTSD riding at night now. I start shaking in a panic and just can’t continue. I even kind of get like that on country roads during the day. That’s why I prefer super slab when going distance now.

[Nails]

Having a deer take you out could sure modify an attitude about night riding.

I once saw, out of the corner of my eye, a deer crossing its front legs like a barrel racer. It was maybe two feet away, just after jumping up the slope off the side of the road. No time to react or even over-react. That was enough attitude adjustment for me. I wouldn't feel comfortable without wide shoulders with big open curves -- basically the kind of road I'd hate driving any other time.