Wednesday, November 12, 2008

My new idol

So this guy came riding up to us on the trail Saturday afternoon. Three of us were stopped at an intersection and considering our options when he rolled up on a new Gary Fisher 29er singlespeed and stopped to check out our Pugsleys.

He was no spring chicken, and was surely carrying quite a few more pounds than he had in his prime. For a few minutes, we talked about bikes, which trailhead we had started from that day, etc. He was doing a 14- or 15-mile loop. Just out cruising and enjoying the snowy woods.

Then he went his way and we went ours. But I'm sure he made a bigger impression on us than we did on him.

He said he's 72 years old.

That guy's The Man.

8 comments:

WheelDancer said...

I want to be that guy when I grow up. Well, assuming I ever do...

Tim said...

Let's become that guy without growing up!

pedalGR said...

I took a photo of this guy at the Iceman Cometh Challenge last weekend. It's a 28 mile mtn bike race with 2500 racers in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan.

I don't know how old he is, but he's my new hero.

My new hero.

The Donut Guy said...

How damn cool is that?

EscortRacer said...

Nice Find! I might not be 72 but I am packing the pounds and love my Rigid SS 29er! ;p

lemmiwinks said...

I hope I'm still riding at that age and beyond.

Anonymous said...

I think that guy was us when he was our age - looking up to sexo and septagenarians who handed him his ass on a platter on rides.
There is a 76 year old in my area who has no problem riding with me. He warned me about a "young guy" on a black bike who kicks everybody's butt. I finally ran into "young guy" and found out he was 65. We had a 40 kph+ paceline going for a good ten miles before he showed me what a weenie wannabe I was.

Groover said...

That's so inspiring. I'd be just happy to be able to ride my bike at age 70+, full stop.

But what's with all the white stuff on that tyre??? Brrr.