Cycling

My two son-in-laws got me into cycling two years ago. When I started, I never felt so old, fat and out of shape as I looked around at all the young guys in their fancy riding uniforms. Then, I met Joel and Neil, and it all changed. Joel is 72 years old and Neil is 80, and they both ride with the best of the young guns. As I understand, Neil qualified for the US senior cycling team when he was 79. Joel completes several “centuries” (100 miles) a year and is one of the most in shape guys I have met.

Next time you wonder which sport is the most physical and demanding, well, it’s cycling. The condition you have to be in to do a century tops all sports because its usually a 6-7 hour ride. When you see the Tour de France and think, “that looks easy,” remember those guys ride a century every day for the 20 something days the Tour lasts. The last time I did a moderately long ride, it took me 3 days to recover.

So, I say to myself, it’s never too late to start, but the real challenge is just starting. Isn’t that how it is for most changes in our lives that we know we need to make? It’s the starting that counts and the journey, not the destination. KT

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