Cycling Over 50

Fifty is just a number, right? But for some reason we seem to find certain age groups and put our own definitions to what can and can’t be done when it comes to sports and exercise. We all know father time is unescapable, but it doesn’t have to stop us from feeling good having fun and getting in better shape.  

I really think that ZiZZO cycling might be the best form of fun and exercise after 50 or any age group for that matter.  

Coming from a racing background in the late 80s as a teen I still remember those “glory days”. No, I didn’t win any big races but at 5 ft 10 145 lbs., I could climb the mountains and ride long distances for days. It was good to be young. I could power down a whole large pepperoni pizza, soda, chips, candy and all forms of garbage like food and not gain a pound.  

At age 21 I was done with racing and let myself go. The bike collected dust as I collected fat. It took a while but by 30 I was in the 210 lb. range. By age 43 I had hit 285 lbs. I looked at that old racing bike from 1988 that cost $3000 back then and decided I needed to do something.  

Maybe that bike was “outdated” with its downtube shifters and steel frame but I needed to hop on a saddle. Doing 15-20 miles wasn’t too bad until I hit the hills. I remembered dancing on those pedals many moons ago but now I was pulling over stopping to gasp for air. My body was sore but it was a good sore.  

It has been a rollercoaster ride mainly due to changing my eating and drinking habits. My goal was to get to 200 lbs. by my 50th birthday and a year ago it was achieved.  

Maybe I'm not as fast anymore but I love ZiZZO gravel, and road biking. It really is a no brainer that cycling is a great form of exercise; but it's also a great way to see nature and visit places from a different perspective! With a proper fitting bike and clothes that provide extra comfort you can ride as little or as far as your body will take you.  

I've tried jogging and playing soccer with friends and my joints always hurt after. Cycling is such a low impact form of exercise that I have never hurt in those places even when I was at my heaviest weight.  

The other part of cycling after fifty is the social aspect. Cycling can have its prickly kind of people but don’t give up if you think that’s how all of them are. Group rides with local clubs can introduce you to like-minded riders with similar abilities so search them out.  Most people are very welcoming to new riders you just have to weed out the ones that might seem a little unfriendly.  

So, get out there and give ZiZZO bikes a go! All rides count whether it’s a stroll around the block or a hundred mile organized “century” event. Cycling has no age limitations and I for one am so happy that cycling came back into my life after a 20-year long layoff. Happy pedaling!