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As a counter to the Regret thread have you experienced a complete curve ball after middle age ? There I was at 52 plodding on quietly as a postie of 25 years seemingly set to stay until State Pension beckoned . Then out of nowhere I started to get health issues which turned out to be two crushed vertebrae in my spine . I was sent for a Dexa scan , I had no idea what one was , my GP explained they wanted to check my bone density but in his words " You'd be the last person to have Osteoporosis being outside all the time and all the walking you do " How wrong he was !
The Specialist when I asked about MTBing ( didn't ask about work) said I should never ride a bike off road again instead take up jogging especially on hard surfaces 🤔 I felt like digging a hole and jumping in it 😞never felt so low .My GP also an MTBer said he was just covering himself and just take it steady
When I eventually returned to work I really struggled especially lifting pouches of mail . It was around the time Royal Mail were considering phasing out bikes on delivery in their brave new world 🙄 It was made abundantly clear some of the more senior staff members wouldn't / couldn't be accommodated in the new vision . Our office was asked for 4 volunteers for redundancy, 8 of us put our hands up ! Management said if the other 4 didn't want to be there they would find the money and let them go !
That was 2009 following years of medication my bone density has improved to almost normal levels ( I sometimes question the original result ) I'm now retired , I had more odd jobs in those last year's than I ever had before , I've carried on riding off road even working as a chalet maid in Whistler at 53 ! and with hindsight the health issues were literally the kick up the backside I needed 👍 especially listening to some of my ex workmates I definitely wouldn't have fitted in .
So anybody else been in a similar situation or are some of you going through one now ? My dad passed away in 2007 he would have definitely tried to persuade me to stay and see it out until I had a pat on the head and a carriage clock 🙄
Juston the bone desity thing - I'll bet you were badly vit d deficient! An active lifestyle means you need more
Personally I have developed loads of minor health issues some of which are lifechanging ( I cannot walk more than 8 miles or so) and some are not solved yet but very minor
Yeah Weeksy but I find you can't trust that so I go anyway just in case 😁
TJ 💪💪💪💪
Been on a few protests and got arrested a couple of times, wish I'd done it ages ago. Changes your attitudes to lots of things and also your view of whether or not things can change.
I’ve carried on riding off road even working as a chalet maid in Whistler at 53 !
too good. Not sure I would have the energy for that any more
Just approaching 59 & been working at the same place for over 25yrs, gone down to 4 days a week & booked a 9wk holiday next yr without asking the office so one of 3 things could happen:-
I manage to get made redundant, get them to give me the time off unpaid or I leave & don't return. I both hoping for and scared at the same time if I end up being forced to change jobs.
I'm 52 and having lived in Japan and partied Brighton in the 90s as well as travelled to India and South America I thought I was past being surprised by people.
This year I went to a comic con with my son.
I'll be going back next year,
I transferred to HMRC at 51. I was surprised to find it was even more ****ed up than other departments I'd worked in!
Deciding against going for promotion last year has been surprisingly beneficial because I was unaware of some variances in pensions which are rank based (police) and instead of having to work until I complete 30 years (aged 58) I will now retire on my 55th birthday which is in just 8 months time 🙂
What's even better is once I add up the additional pension that I'll be drawing during that extra 3 years it more than makes up for the additional pension I would be entitled to had I been promoted.
My wife was injured out of teaching with a moderate brain injury about 10 years ago. She was sea sick for the first 6 months and barely out of bed.
She slowly improved and ran a successful dog walking business.
But her green political career has taken off. She is mayor of our small town. She is also central beds first green councillor! That comes with an allowance so the dog walking is going. In the last few months she has been interviewed on radio 4, local tv and radio
Got ptsd in my 50’s that was not factored in my plans. Now at 56 and a bit I’ve had enough of civil service life, one more year and I hope to bin it.
MCTD, I could’ve warned you 😉 (you’re more the revenues side?)
without hopefully sounding like a big headed tosser, which anyone on here who has met me, will testify to.
i am amazed and suprised that in my late 50's i can still get out and enjoy riding my bike day in and day out.
to the state, that this year will hopefully be my biggest mileage ever in 40 years riding.
and this has been done with a list of illness and injury a yard long.
riddled with osteoarthritis, fused right ankle, new hip, 2 almost fused wrists, acl surgery to left knee, 5 years in permanent AF. open heart surgery to perform medical ablation and removal of left atrial appendage. back in AF now.
full time climbing frame, and play fighting partner for 2 grandkids under 4.
i remember laying on the gurney prior to going in for heart surgery, thinking that A, my life may be over. B. my cycling life was deffo over.
how wrong i was.
roll on my 60's.
<p style="text-align: left;">You lot make my story sound dull 👍👍👍</p>
You lot make turning 50 sound genuinely exciting! (Seven months and counting…)
Needed reading glasses once >50.
That's a PITA.
There aren't as many public conveniences now as when I was younger and didn't need them. I now have a fairly good mental map of where the nearest place is that you can empty your bladder.
Needed reading glasses once >50.
That’s a PITA.
I think you're wearing them incorrectly.
Ton 💪👊
Brain surgery at 49 meant I had to give up martial arts, at 50 though fit as **** through gym/running and cycling.
My only shock is that that I'm surprisingly happy. I know it's a cliche, but 50 is like a new lease of life.
Waking up without having needed to get up for a pee. That’s an ace surprise
TBH I was getting up but found with practice that I don’t need to,isn’t this just a bad habit/routine you get into.
50 in a couple of months.
I’ve gone from being very fit for my age to I guess average or slightly less
2 knackered hips. testosterone that is low and currently being investigated. 2 years ago didn’t need glasses now need to wear them nearly all the time. Discussions about whether I should be on statins or not. And I could swear I am shrinking!
But then some days I feel very normal and feel absolutely fine ! I now take great enjoyment watching my son growing up to be a very talented good athlete and I can almost cope with the fact I feel like an old man in comparison as I support his development
54. Can't say that it is much different to 44 other than I'm busier with DIY and building jobs in the garden now that the kids are a bit older, so I have even less time to ride my bike! Torn meniscus in my right knee is a PITA, but other than that everything is peachy.
Could do without the whole "pissing in instalments" thing though :-/
Only downside, once I hit 50 I was definitely middle-aged.
58 now and still get PR's - once 56 you hit the next age-bracket on Strava, another set of targets/fellow-oldies to aim at.
Don't yet need glasses and still exactly the same weight I was at 25.
52. A couple of minor ailments but with mates on statins, having prostate issues or just generally not doing anything at all I’m very lucky. Business sale due within the next 5 weeks (2nd time lucky) so just need to sort out a new career 😬😵💫.
Also one to suddenly realise ailments and mucho short sightedness after 50.
For me I think I’ve realised I’m at the top of my work based competence and Mrs K - 7 years younger - secured a great job last year which should have career longevity for her. In January I’ll either be redundant or on the final 3 years of “working hard for my pension” so at either point I’ll step back at work and bike racing and defer to supporting my wife and children with their needs and goals only.
Yeah, having kept myself fit and healthy for the last 25-30 years, with daily commutes, mtbing, swimming all that, not drinking much booze, mostly eating salads, never smoking... to find I've got atrial fibrillation and that's why my stamina is completely ****ed, that was a nice surprise at 56. Handful of pills every day. Can't enjoy MTBing much cos its too much of a strain.
Trying to get the same enjoyment out of one a them electric things... I thought it would be the answer, but it's not really. I used to like climbing hills un der my own power... Anyway yeah.. Prostate pills that ruin other fun things too. But what can ya do eh? Age is just a number. LoLZ
Any more cheery threads gonna turn up this week??
59 here. I was generally fairly healthy until last year when I had an accident requiring surgery, then a run of other health issues. Amongst it all I was diagnosed with prostate cancer but it's a low grade (1) and volume and considered relatively low risk so I'm on 'active surveillance' for now. No symptoms.
Despite that, I feel mostly OK. Lots of age related niggles but I lift weights 3 times a week and hike and mountain bike regularly. I make old man noises when I stand up and sit down and have the odd day when I have zero energy and CBA to do anything. I'm retired though, so when that happens I roll with it and have a chill day.
Been to the gym today, cut the grass, done the laundry and stacked a builders bag of firewood. I'm doing a load of strimming in our paddock at the mo then I'll be cooking tea for when Mrs Bloke gets home from work.
You've got to keep moving. Use it or lose it. If you doss around too much, that's when stuff stops working properly.
My 50's have been better than 40's. Lots of bike accidents in 40's from commuting - one needing shoulder surgery, one set of broken ribs, another broken spine and ribs, dodgy surgery 'elsewhere' then needing another surgery, and two more surgical interventions - was years of recovery, fixed, then broken again.
50's have meant I'm back into cycle commuting, managed two 8-9 hour days on the bike recently (this was not possible for a number of years after breaking my spine), fitness is up, weight coming down.
On Testosterone replacement due to dodgy surgery (above), but have been on that for 10 years now.
No bad accident's in 50's other than a big scar on my arm from going through a wing mirror when someone turned on me whilst I was filtering - ripped half the wing mirror off, but in doing so, ripped a fair hole in my forearm. Bike was fine, thank god - a very expensive 'vintage' road bike - just bounced.
Spent lots of our 40's looking after FIL and MIL. Sadly they aren't with us now, but that's freed up constant pressures. I no doubt, at some point my folks will need assistance, but not for a few years.
50 and 8 months here..
I guess the big thing for me is remembering not to take anything for granted and to appreciate the little things.
My Brother died 10 years ago at 36, and i think me not processing or dealing with bereavement impacted my 40s - coming to a head when i fell apart a bit during lockdown.
I'm well aware i need to loose weight, but i'm pretty active, and ride about 2,500 miles a year (mostly road) and definitely feel cycling is my happy place - i guess its surprising that i'm still getting PRs on Strava - which is great on roads i've been riding for years!
Pretty happy not being on any medication, not having any regular pain anywhere, etc - particularly when i've got mates the same age on Blood Pressure meds, waiting for joint replacements or struggling with other issues.
After nearly 30 years in London, I took a transfer to US a year ago at 52. Surprised myself to be honest after many years of taking the safe choices. Hasn't been all good, missing close friends and adult children but it has certainly given me a new lease of life!
Just turned 56 🙁
Still last week beat my best time of 2013 for the Verderers trail in the FOD. Having said that, it wasn't like I was very quick in my 40s anyway 🙂
I was expecting at some point in late middle age to receive the keys to 'adulthood' and stop arsing about like a 12 year old. I've come to the conclusion this may have passed me by !
One pleasant surprise I've found is that at 58 I can still ski backcountry telemark, still enjoying big off piste descents while freeing the heel.. Conventional wisdom used to be that anyone over 50 could forget such things but I'm still going strong and enjoy it just as much as riding my bike down big Munros the rest of the year.
At least we are here. Had two mates in last few years kick the bucket very suddenly. Long time cycling club mate, felt a bit 'iffy' climbing the local hill on his way home, coasted back to his house. Blue lighted. Heart attack. Fixed up (stent), released home with another stent due to be fitted, dropped dead a week after the first heart attack.
Another mate, marathon runner. Found out he'd had a pacemaker fitted some years earlier (lost contact until discovered on strava). Still running marathons etc, then one day dropped dead.
I took up mountain biking in my 50s, back in my 40s I thought I was too old to start!
55 on Thursday and just completed 3days of the Haute Route Alps (9-12k ft climbing each day and temps in mid ‘30’sC, 4more stages to go). I’ve been really lucky health wise and this is a real “do it whilst you still can” trip. Extremely hard. 1/4 dropped out already not making the time cut and mostly 30’s/40’s.
I’m on a real do it now vibe at the moment fitness and sport wise. Also having lost a close cousin aged 53yrs (dropped dead with heart attack) was a wake up.
Aged 67, diagnosed with MND about a year ago, 6 months before retirement. Mrs cheese and I had plans for a life of travel, hiking, climbing and riding trails, all up the swanee now. Struggling to walk and type now. However we have connected with Empowered People in Todmorden who are dedicated to getting folks like us out riding by developing equipment and providing massive support so looking forward to hitting the roads on an Ebike plus recumbant trike soon.
However we have connected with Empowered People in Todmorden who are dedicated to getting folks like us out riding by developing equipment and providing massive support so looking forward to hitting the roads on an Ebike plus recumbant trike soon.
Just copying that again so I can like it again 🙂 (except you can't like your own posts - oh well)
Like many above, I’m surprised by still being quite fit and active at 53 - more so than at 43 (when I worked too hard and didn’t exercise enough). Having kids late has probably helped with that - being able to walk up mountains and ride with them is a great motivator for staying active. I’m still quicker than my eldest up hills - but that won’t last for much longer! A thing I should have done earlier is get my eyes checked - having prescription glasses has made my life much better and transformed my riding.
I just turned 30 and the idea of spending my younger years grafting my arse off for a decent pension pot only to physically struggle to do the things I love once I have that free time and money is genuinely terrifying. I feel like I'm having a mid life crisis early trying to do absolutely everything I can now and largely failing to.
Just turned 50 on the weekend. Life’s good with great kids and wife, enjoyable job plenty of holidays. Bit worried about general health as you hear stories of heart attacks etc. Need to get a bit fitter and would like to lose a bit of weight. On some pills for high bp and could do with sorting that by losing some weight and getting fitter hopefully. Need to find more time to get out on the bike.
I think turning 30 was the worst.
I rode my first MTB at 53, ten years ago. I now recognise lots of the staff in A&E.
Sister dying a few years ago was a bit of a surprise. I'd been planning on getting older and grumpier with her alongside as she'd been a good friend all my life. I'm now older than she ever managed.
Personally speaking, fit as a fiddle, ok I notice my running is slowing down just a touch as I approach 55. Only to be expected, there's nothing I want to do that I can't, mustn't grumble. Luckier than a lot of posters, it seems.
Sister dying a few years ago was a bit of a surprise. I’d been planning on getting older and grumpier with her alongside as she’d been a good friend all my life.
Very pertinent. We are the same age for 10 days a year. Now I don't caveat "sister" with youngest or oldest. She would be 55 as well today.
I think turning 30 was the worst.
For me, yes. Being older than my father ever was came hard. Fortunately, I had a one month old baby for distraction.
Biggest surprise after 50? IT. GOES. SO. FAST. Enjoy the ride.
Now I don’t caveat “sister”
You think one of you might be adopted?
Not quite, only one of my sisters now answers her phone. In conversation I would always refer to them as "youngest sister" or "oldest sister" when discussing things they might be up to. Now I do not have too 🙁
The only thing I find about being over 50 is everything hurts more...crashed yesterday at Rosehill bmx pumptrack....that hurt..lol
But then I'm one of those people that if I'm wearing a baseball cap...I still get asked for id buying beer.
Age is just a number...you only get 1 life...live it
I rediscovered Olympic weightlifting in my 50s. 5 or 6 times British champion and represented GBR at world and European championships. Got incredibly fit, but everything hurt ALL THE TIME!
I was 60 last week, a partial knee replacement 12 weeks ago, but back on the (road) bikes and slowly getting the mileage up. Semi-retired at the beginning of August and hoping my health holds out for a few more years yet.
;
Age is just a number…you only get 1 life…live it
I can just picture the signs you have up in your kitchen
Yeah...they read
If you can smell fire ...your dinners ready
Ha ha ha