50 Years of Riding a Bicycle – Video

Feb 1, 2018
by keith musil  
Views: 12,619    Faves: 131    Comments: 3


bigquotes50 years of riding a bicycle – how can that not be cool?Mike Bishop


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Member since Feb 1, 2018
1 articles

97 Comments
  • 114 0
 So I'm 50 and have been riding bikes and in love with them since I was about 3. Now, I ride pretty much like the dude in this video. Last summer on a solo ride I struck up a conversation with a guy at the trailhead that was obviously a bit older than me. I was thinking 60-ish. I asked him "if you don't mind may I ask your age". I was curious and wondering how many years I have left in this awesome sport. He says " you probably won't believe me". I ask why's that and he says cuz no-one ever does. He then tells me he's 76 years old!. I say no way!, and he starts pulling out his wallet to show me his ID. I say no worries. I believe you. He then asks if he can tag along on my ride and I say of course. He totally kept up with me and even bettered me on some climbs. The guy was in amazing shape. So he set the bar for me....I'm planning on riding until I'm AT LEAST 76!
  • 40 0
 I'm 53 now, with 54 coming in May. I had always ridden a bike since a young age, even commuting on one for years, but then stopped riding after getting hurt a few times while Mountain Biking. I broke a hand going over the bars, fell down an embankment when I couldn't unclip from my pedals, stuff like that. Anyway, awesome story. In July of 2015, I weighed 235lbs and was in a size 38 waist pant. I'm 6' tall. I thought to my self, "Well, i'm not gonna buy bigger pants." and started riding my bike again. I only had a full suspension mountain bike, but started riding it on local paths and taking it out to the woods as well. I'm now @ 193lbs and have been at this weight for 2 years. I commute every day on a bike and even bought a tandem for me and the wife. Life is good. I plan to ride for the rest of my life, or until I can't...
  • 27 14
 Make it 100 now, thanks to the miracle of the e-bike. Praise the innovation.
  • 12 0
 I raced the Chequamegon fat tire festival in the early 90's, I was 22. At registration there was a guy that was standing in front of me. I only noticed him because he was wearing tights and was bouncing around and moving a lot. Totally fit. Like I only wish I was that defined. When he signed in, the lady taking in his paperwork stood up at announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have the oldest competitor today, 76 years young!" Yeah, he smoked all of us. Even our age group national track champion. The guy finished around 200th out of 1200. It was pretty cool knowing there's hope for me in 30 years.
  • 5 0
 Great to hear this stories gents! Hope i`ll ride untill you do !
  • 6 0
 No one is too old to start a healthy lifestyle. Sister Madonna Buder of Spokane, Washington, started running at age 52. At 87 years old now, she has done more Ironman than most men or women half her age.

youtu.be/0DZZPC4rmxE
  • 1 0
 @DH-Angel: Thanks! Smile
  • 2 0
 Does anyone else want one of those t-shirts that say "the best trails are illegal!" (True by the way)
  • 39 5
 Right on. 43 now and plan to ride until my body won't let me. Then, it's on to an e-bike, wait, no. Never an e-bike.
  • 27 10
 41 now with bad knees, a back fusion, and 6 broken ribs from a recent auto accident. So I've been watching some videos lately as I'm laid up and have come to discover emtb's are not properly understood by many. It's NOT like riding a motorcycle at all, it's like riding your mountain bike with stronger legs...I don't see the problem. It could short rides into epics and unrideable terrain rideable. I see an emtb in my distant future... Flame on!!
  • 11 0
 Also 43. Moved from the prairies to be closer to the mountains about 10 years ago. I only feel like I am getting faster and stronger. Once ran into a couple who were well into their 60's. They started a long climb and I left about a minute later, thinking I would catch up to them in no time. Never saw them again. I was impressed and very happy to learn that I may be able to ride another 20 - 30 years.
  • 9 3
 Ahhh I'll get on the ebike, way cooler than a scooter.
  • 10 3
 @Duderz7: Just don't ride them on mulit-use trails and nobody will care!
  • 4 0
 @rjohnson450: I agree, multi use foothill trails could cause problems. I'm thinking more along Backcountry exploration
  • 4 3
 @rjohnson450: you know, I thought more about this. Trail access is spoiled by people, it doesn't matter what they're riding. People just need to be educated. An e bike is not going to be spinning wheels and tearing up trails anymore than someone with poor form and strong legs. My bro in law does 50 plus mile rides like it's nothing on multi use trails. Does that mean I couldn't join him on an emtb, because I couldn't keep up otherwise, does that mean he shouldn't be allowed on lower foothill trails because he's too strong? Emtb's are not motorcycles, they are bicycles that assist the rider's pedaling effort. Should we also not allow electric shifting on multi use trails...they have electric motors too?
  • 4 0
 @Duderz7: for seasoned riders entering the higher ages I feel for them. However, I know several people who have "chipped" them, basically turning them into lightweight motorcycles.
I believe they have their purpose, commuting, fire road exploration, and OHV trails. Unfortunantly the demographic that has swayed towards these bikes in the US are individuals who have previously been too lazy to get into shape to ride a pedal bike, resulting in hikers and equestrians having a difficult time distinguishing between and ebike and a traditional bike. Thus, when the lack-of-etiquette ebiker quietly comes ripping past other riders, hikers, and equestrians, all bikes get the blame. Rather than limiting ebike use in several areas, land managers are threatening to remove bikes all together. How is that cool?
  • 2 0
 @Duderz7: And unless there are underling injuries, self-assisted pedaling is still physically possible. I know several riders over the age of 80 that will kick my ass on the climbs, they just chill going down now.
  • 3 2
 @Duderz7: you don't have to delude yourself or anyone to want to ride a emtb. Listen you sound like you could really benefit from it with all your injuries. It's just not a mountain bike, and it's a cycle with a motor....
  • 6 0
 @rjohnson450: it all comes down to education and how people act out on the trails emtb or not. If you treat other trail users like crap your gonna spoil it for us all
  • 15 0
 Spot on! Seen it first hand. Bikes are a fountain of youth that benefit a person both physically and mentally. Riding a bike especially off road is one of the best things you can do for yourself I believe.
  • 13 0
 I can so identify with this guy. I just turned 55 and my passion for riding is just as high as it was when I was in my 30's, just like his passion. We're lucky because our passion gives our body strength, endurance and maybe even flexibility. Most people our age say "gotta go to the gym" and keeping their body healthy is drudgery. For people like us, we just go out and have fun with our friends and have a blast (most of the time) and it has this really great long term side effect of keeping us healthy and hopefully young at heart. It really doesn't get any better than that. There's not an over abundance of people my age who ride, much less push the envelope (sometimes too far with consequences) and want to emulate what we see on these pages. Most of the guys I'm fortunate to ride with are much younger than me, and some are past professional racers and competitors who push me to be better when most guys my age are sitting around on the couch working on building their gut. Damn I love riding my bike!
  • 12 0
 Turned 44 today and was feeling down as father time does what father time do. Saw this video and am amped for the next 20 + years. Been on a bike since training wheels and never want to stop. I often joke around and say, "steal my car, no biggie. Steal my bike and we got a problem."
  • 12 0
 I was so stoked to see this video. I just turned 49 and been riding since I can remember. I raced BMX in the early 80's, then Freestyle and picked my first Mountain Bike in the 90's in college. Took some time off to ride motorcycles here and there but bikes were never too far away. I commend Pinkbike for posting this video, but also think coverage of older riders should come up more often. On the trails, the age average is much higher than what you see on the average edit and I know that with the prices of good bikes, the industry should cater to people over 40, 50 and 60 because they are the ones that have the money to pay for these things. I hope this becomes a habit, not an exception.
  • 13 0
 I'm going to be 63 in April, I ride better than I ever have and cannot imagine not riding ! It's part of me.
  • 12 0
 There's a special 'mono-agism' that IMO is unique to MTB, where the lines are blurred between 10 and 70+ year olds.
  • 8 0
 I retired. At 58 a couple seasons ago. With the time I have now I can rest and sleep much better and ride more. I have gotten a lot stronger since. While I am not me at 23 strong and I know from experience that injuries are not gonna heal as well now I see no stopping anytime soon. One bit of advice I’d give, get a trainer to assess your weaknesses and muscular imbalances and hit the gym. That has done wonders for me. I love this guy's attitude. So refreshing to hear a person happy with his station in life. And his business philosophy is so healthy too. Remarkable.
  • 7 0
 That was one of the more inspiring videos I've seen on here.

I'm 44 and I ride with guys all the way from late 20's to mid 50's. Once you're out on the trails together, age don't mean much as long as you have similar tastes for trails and similar stamina and fitness. I have had my ass handed to me by guys in their 50's both on climbs and descending super steep technical Laguna stuff. I enjoy getting humbled as it just gives me hope to keep riding at a pretty high level for another decade or two.

Just a few weeks ago, I followed right behind a 53 y/o when he went for a big gap jump that I knew I could do but hadn't done it yet. It was very inspiring. I think I was more stoked for him than he was for himself.

Mountain biking is an amazing sport and we are all lucky to be a part of it during this period of such massive technological improvements that allow us to keep on progressing.
  • 6 0
 Get busy living,, or get busy dieing.. Your choice. If you continue to do the things you did when you were young, You will never grow old... I ride with kids half my age.. I can keep up with all of them.. Rock on mtn. bike geezers !
  • 4 0
 shawshank redemption.
  • 3 0
 @unleash: props for you sir... I'm busted.. ha ha
  • 4 0
 @unleash: A common phrase in motorcycle land:
"I refuse to tip toe through life, only to arrive safely at death."

49 in a few months and the proud owner of a Jeffsy 27. Hope to ride it for the next 10 years and then get something new. Smile
  • 3 0
 @Poulsbojohnny: A good saying indeed.
  • 5 0
 Right on. Known bishop for awhile now and he’s
Always had a real passion for riding and has
Also sold me my 1st SUP’s. Mike u are a class
Act and keep shredding. My knees are getting better
So I gotta get up there and ride with you
  • 5 0
 Way to rip Mike! Everyone needs to remember it always looks different on film too! This guy is shredding some of the toughest terrain in SoCal and only making it look easy. He puts it on the line too. Yes, everyone in their own mind can shred, which is what is keeping the addiction alive and well! Happy trails Mike! "See ya on the mountain....eh kid??"
  • 4 0
 Kinda weird seeing local trails on a vid. Great job Mike. There's a reason everyone loiters in the shop.
  • 5 0
 Love this post. I have two friends, one early and one late 70's, and they ride at a very good skill level. They also ski, hike, etc, all the time. No moss growing under their feet. I'm in my early 60's and ride as much as I can, as well as do other activities. My one knee is done but can ride no problem. When I can't ride anymore, then it will be time to replace it.
We are grace with some very good technical trails, although not quite like Whistler or Moab! Fat biking is taking off here, and even though it will be a high of -14C today, there's a fat bike ride planned. It's endless where we can ride/explore. So much fun!
I know people in there 30's that are old! Use it or loose it I say! You will have all the time in the world to rest when you are 6ft (1.8m) under.
  • 5 0
 53 and still riding strong every single day since I was a kid, all year long, fat bikes in the winter. Still feel like a kid, the key is to never stop moving and ride everyday
  • 4 0
 I'll be 56 next month, been riding off and on for a long time. I did the quad/motorcycle thing for a while,those injuries hurt!! I'm planning on doing a least one big road trip a year till I can't. I rode Pisgah last year and plan on going again soon, that was a blast. The Whole Enchilade is on my short list and several other destinations. The experience of riding in the woods with old friends is hard to beat. Life is short, don't wait for shit to happen, just do it.
  • 5 0
 I can relate to this video, I am 56 right now and mountain bike 2 to 3 times a week and do some local DH racing. I plan on mountain biking and surfing until they put me 6 feet under groundSmile
  • 7 0
 47 this year bout to start my first season of enduro racing! Hoping for many years to come!
  • 4 0
 47 as well. Last year was my first year racing in the Ca Enduro series. A good number of riders in the 40-49 and 50+ classes, cool to see. Get after it and have fun!
  • 4 0
 I do a whistler trip annually and one of the participants is in his 80's so not only can you ride forever, you can ride anything!

The funny part is he doesn't like to ride with us because he says "i'll just slow you down", but whenever you see him from the chair he's mid-pack of a bunch of 20-somethings ripping down the hill!
  • 3 0
 Thanks for the inspiration! If I’m ever in Northern California I will definitely look you up. I’m 55 and have been riding for 30 years. Health issues almost took me out but I’m still out there riding. Just purchased a new Santa Cruz Hightower LT per advise from my cardiologist and absolutely love it!
  • 2 0
 ...he's way down in SoCal though, but come on up to the State of Jeff anyways--you're always welcome, but Idaho has some pretty epic riding too!
  • 3 0
 Did you get a prescription for that? You could claim it as DME!
  • 3 0
 Just turned 51 in November. I ride 2-3 times a week. I'm blessed to live in Arizona, where I can ride 12 months of the year. I'm planning on riding until the day I check out! Age is just a number and all the money in the world can't buy your health. Make sure you live your life to the fullest every day!!!
  • 3 0
 20 years ago, when I was 41, I got invited on a backcountry ski trip in Murren, Switzerland. We climbed with snowshoes or skinned skis for about 8km uphill to ski a great bowl. It was a Swiss Ski club and at least 10 of them were over 80 and the leader of the group was 95! Gave me hope in spite of some injuries. I'm mtn. biking whenever I can! (can't ski anymore--knees)
Carpe Diem!!
  • 4 0
 Live to ride, ride to live! As long as I can throw a leg over a TT, grip the bars and pedal, I'm there! I'm trying to get my 60+ dad back onto a bike this year, should be fun!
  • 3 0
 Great video and nice riding Mike. I will be 48 this year with a new titanium disc in my neck (just to save on the weight, there was no carbon model yet). Would be riding now, but the snow is too nice and the skis want their turn.
  • 2 0
 Great video, im 51 currently waitng to have my right shoulder tendons re attatched. Possibly with what they call a 'graft jacket', where they put in pieces of leather. Hopefully fully fit around next November, then back on the bikes, more features on over 50's would be great too PB.
  • 2 0
 @b4uwereborn
I had arthroscopic surgery on my left shoulder in my late 20s (nearly 49 now). Recovery was painful, and long suffering. However, my left shoulder is now my strong shoulder and my right the weaker of the two. Don't rush recovery, it just makes things worse. Take the time to do it right and enjoy long term health!
  • 2 0
 @Poulsbojohnny: Hi mate, thanks for the advice. Not really heard of anyone else who's had what i'm gonna' have, yeah won't be rushing anything. too much at stake for me not to be 100% committed in rehab etc,
  • 3 0
 For what it's worth, In the last 3 years I've had knee and ankle surgeries. Tore a few ligaments and tendons being a good samaritan. All in all I missed very little ride time as I had the surgeries in winter. Doctors told me to get back on the bike asap and I'm certain it helped with rehab. I just took it easy on the downhills and wore braces. I also detached a bicep tendon helping someone move....they say no good deed goes unpunished. True I guess in my case. Recovery for that was actually harder but I still rode within weeks of surgery. Guess what I'm trying to say is, don't let it discourage you and get back on the bike as soon as u can, even if it's just a cruise around the neighborhood.
  • 3 0
 @draggcj: My main tendon is torn, there's an exterior tendon torn, and my long bicep tendon is out of its groove. They're gonna cut that out, cos' they say I won't need it. When I said about being back in the gym training biceps, they said it would be fine cos' my shoulder muscles would pull my bicep back into place.
Sounds like you've had a few more injuries than me, glad you're still riding. Just hope my age and the years of wear and tare don't go against me, but i'll be training hard when ready. I still cycle an 11 mile round trip to work 4 days a week on my full rigid hybrid, so my fitness is really good. Thanks again;
  • 3 0
 Hell yeah, my plan is to retire and live this guy's lifestyle. It's awesome running into older people on bikes, specially if they're faster than me--it give me piece of mind that I'll be able to bike as long as I'm able to.
  • 5 0
 HUCKING AND SHREDDING TOWARDS 54 and just built myself a new KONA Supreme Operator for 2018
  • 4 0
 54 and still hitting some serious trails here in Athens Greece. Never stop riding Mike Bishop
  • 4 0
 Great video! More content like this about real people doing the best they can amongst all the other things we need to do.
  • 5 0
 what a life .. I'm at 17 years on a bike, just 33 to go Big Grin
  • 4 0
 My goal is to beat Robert Marchand's record in 44 years!

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38510439
  • 3 0
 42 and just broke my ankle and shredded some ligaments on my last ride, last week. All I can think about a day after surgery is riding again. It consumes you.
  • 2 0
 @jason475: Sorry to hear that man. Depending how bad your fracture was recovery can be a long, slow, and painful process. I'm still recovering from a severe ankle fracture sustained 2yrs ago. It wasn't until about 6-8 months ago that I was able to start walking somewhat normally again, albeit with a cane. Keep moving your toes/foot as much as painlessly possible until the cast comes off, then the fun starts! Don't push yourself too hard once physio starts, but give it all you can and eventually things will improve.
  • 3 0
 Great story, and very inspiring. Thanks for the edit guys, hats off to your lifestyle!
  • 3 0
 I'm 52, mountain biking no matter your skill level, is the absolute best thing going.
  • 4 0
 true that... I'm always asked by coworkers, non-biking friends, etc. if I golf. When I say no they usually ask "well what do you do for fun". I answer mtn. biking and snowboarding. I then usually hear "isn't that stuff for kids?". I then answer, isn't golf for old men? LOL Keep those pedals turning!
  • 2 0
 Non of us can stop the sun from rising and another day from coming so "on-on" Motion is the lotion!

Keep them pedals turning
  • 2 0
 Great little video. I always smile when I see the vids of really young kids coming up and/or older guys still enjoying the ride.
  • 3 0
 I think this guy rides better than me. Much respect!
  • 3 0
 Man I needed this video right now!
  • 2 0
 56 and still charging. Just got a new DH bike too. My health would prolly suffer if I stopped riding.
  • 2 0
 Does anyone know what Jamie xx track is at the end on this f’ing awesome vid?? This guy is an absolute captain!!!
  • 3 0
 Fantastic! Happy trails,Mike!
  • 3 0
 "...not waitin' till you're dead to start living." !!!
  • 3 0
 Look for to meet a new friends....dogwood.
  • 4 0
 'Ain't dead yet.
  • 3 0
 Nice job Mike. Your passion is infectious, and thanks for the stoke.
  • 2 0
 I’m 49 and my wife still says I love my MTBike more then her. I won’t comment about her comment.
  • 2 0
 what is the closing credit song please. I saw the artists but can't find the song
  • 2 0
 found it Jaimie xx - Gosh
  • 2 0
 This is one of the most inspirational and soulful story, can't thank enough.
  • 3 0
 Awesome
  • 1 0
 found it Jaimie xx - Gosh
  • 3 0
 Shred till ur dead
  • 3 0
 FUCK YEAH!!!
  • 3 0
 yea bishop!!!
  • 3 0
 Inspiration!
  • 2 0
 Dude is rad!!! For real he is an inspiration.
  • 2 0
 where do i get the all the best trails are illegal shirt?
  • 2 0
 f*ck yeah, Mike! Enjoy those trails for me, please. Smile
  • 3 0
 hero!
  • 3 0
 Shred til yer dead!
  • 2 0
 Great video. Can we swap lives please Smile
You were shredding well too.
  • 2 0
 hell ya!
  • 2 0
 Big up!
  • 1 0
 I'm 55 and had no idea there were so many old bastards still riding!!
  • 1 0
 Maybe we should start a support group??







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