Re: Geezer talk: Mountain Biking Isn't A Sport For Guys In Their 60s. Or Is It?

[Guest guest]

Bravo! I'm 58 and while I don't mountain bike, I approach my physical

activities with the same enthusiasm. There are far too many people

that are " middle age " who sit and do crossword puzzles instead of

aggressively pursuing challenging physical activities, simply because

we have been brainwashed into believing that we are over the hill.

Why is it, that on days like yesterday, when I did a nice set of 8

reps with 360 pounds on the Hammer decline press machine, that I feel

like the twentysomethings in the gym are convinced that 6 of the 8

plates were really filled with air and not steel?

BTW I'm a scrawny 5'9 " and 170 pounds with mostly grey hair.

Cheers

Mench

Hollywood Hills, California, USA,

>

> I came across this article in our local paper and some of you old

folks might enjoy this.

>

> Doc

>

> Ralph Giarnella MD

> Southington Ct USA

>

> courant.com/features/outdoors/hc-mountainbiking.artdec20,0,3975163.story

>

>

> Mountain Biking Isn't A Sport For Guys In Their 60s. Or Is It?

>

>

>

> The Hartford Courant

>

> December 20, 2008

>

>

> Mike Cappiello says mountain biking saved his life, or at least his

health.

>

> The 56-year-old said he had an epiphany in his mid-30s. Powerboating

was his hobby at the time, and he realized that meant he spent a lot

of time sitting and drinking beer. Right about when he noticed his

expanding waistline, he discovered mountain biking.

>

> Cappiello, of Vernon, has mountain-biked three to four times a week

for the last 20 years and is in significantly better shape. He is

among hundreds who bike through the state's 126 parks and forests,

which offer hundreds of miles of trails.

>

> Mountain biking has grown in popularity in the last few decades.

There are now more than 3,000 members of the New England Mountain Bike

Association and 32,000 members of the international organization.

>

> Going " off road " on specially designed bikes that include knobby

tires, front and rear shock absorbers and low-range gears are what

these self-described " adrenaline junkies " love. The goal is to find

the most challenging course through the woods that will include jumps,

drops, and water crossings. Cappiello rides a " hard-tail " bike, which

means it has no rear suspension and gives a bone-jarring ride.

>

> Like most sports, mountain biking has its own language and

attitudes. When discussing a recent ride, Cappiello and his two riding

buddies, Mark VanOstrand of Hebron and Al Tinti of Glastonbury, acted

and sounded like twentysomething skateboarders. Both of the other men

are in their 60s.

>

> " The niner rolled through the rock garden but had trouble hucking

the small drop. It cornered like it was on a rail, but maintaining

traction on the steeps was difficult, " VanOstrand said.

>

> For Cappiello, mountain biking is an obsession. He says that if he

does not ride at least three times a week, he goes crazy. In the

summer, the three elder statesmen of mountain biking try to hit the

trails every day of the week.

>

> " I can sum mountain biking up in one word, " says Cappiello. " Life. "

>

> Copyright © 2008, The Hartford Courant

>

[Guest guest]

I went on a 70 mile charity road ride with my mother in Bellingham WA

to celebrate her 70th birthday. I think that too many people are

still caught up in the though process that we need to slow down and

become less active as we age. I think it's great that more and more

people keep exercising. I am 36 and an avid mountain biker. I plan to

keep riding until I can no longer move.

Casey Gallagher CSCS

Mukilteo, WA USA

> >

> > I came across this article in our local paper and some of you old

> folks might enjoy this.

> >

> > Doc

> >

> > Ralph Giarnella MD

> > Southington Ct USA

> >

> > courant.com/features/outdoors/hc-

mountainbiking.artdec20,0,3975163.story

> >

> >

> > Mountain Biking Isn't A Sport For Guys In Their 60s. Or Is It?

> >

> >

> >

> > The Hartford Courant

> >

> > December 20, 2008

> >

> >

> > Mike Cappiello says mountain biking saved his life, or at least

his

> health.

> >

> > The 56-year-old said he had an epiphany in his mid-30s.

Powerboating

> was his hobby at the time, and he realized that meant he spent a lot

> of time sitting and drinking beer. Right about when he noticed his

> expanding waistline, he discovered mountain biking.

> >

> > Cappiello, of Vernon, has mountain-biked three to four times a

week

> for the last 20 years and is in significantly better shape. He is

> among hundreds who bike through the state's 126 parks and forests,

> which offer hundreds of miles of trails.

> >

> > Mountain biking has grown in popularity in the last few decades.

> There are now more than 3,000 members of the New England Mountain

Bike

> Association and 32,000 members of the international organization.

> >

> > Going " off road " on specially designed bikes that include knobby

> tires, front and rear shock absorbers and low-range gears are what

> these self-described " adrenaline junkies " love. The goal is to find

> the most challenging course through the woods that will include

jumps,

> drops, and water crossings. Cappiello rides a " hard-tail " bike,

which

> means it has no rear suspension and gives a bone-jarring ride.

> >

> > Like most sports, mountain biking has its own language and

> attitudes. When discussing a recent ride, Cappiello and his two

riding

> buddies, Mark VanOstrand of Hebron and Al Tinti of Glastonbury,

acted

> and sounded like twentysomething skateboarders. Both of the other

men

> are in their 60s.

> >

> > " The niner rolled through the rock garden but had trouble hucking

> the small drop. It cornered like it was on a rail, but maintaining

> traction on the steeps was difficult, " VanOstrand said.

> >

> > For Cappiello, mountain biking is an obsession. He says that if he

> does not ride at least three times a week, he goes crazy. In the

> summer, the three elder statesmen of mountain biking try to hit the

> trails every day of the week.

> >

> > " I can sum mountain biking up in one word, " says

Cappiello. " Life. "

> >

> > Copyright © 2008, The Hartford Courant

> >

>