Comments on: The Aging Rider

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:01:20 +0000

KathyH: Glad I could help you back into the riding world.

I definitely think aging is a state of mind, at least a big part of it. Family, friends, and even ourselves, we contribute to the idea that we should stop doing one thing or another.

Keep riding. Hard to get old on a motorcycle or scooter!

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:58:10 +0000

GeorgeF: Thank you for your compliment on the post.

I hope I can ride until the end whatever and whenever that will be. Riding fits nicely into my life right now. I only see problems if my dreams grow larger than life — say I want to ride round the world or something…

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:53:03 +0000

Tuscan Foodie: thanks!

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:52:16 +0000

Rogier: It’s a great video. First saw it on the Selvedge Yard site. It reflects the kind of experience I can only dream about. For now.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:49:58 +0000

RichardM: Thank you for the kind words about the post and for sharing your experiences. Often I find what people write in comments helpful as I wrestle with my own thoughts about life and riding.

So far I haven't felt a strong desire to make up for lost time but I can sense it out there not too far away...

I hope I can assume some healthier behaviors but find I'm still in the "I can start tomorrow" mode.

Hope things continue to go well for you.

By: Kathy H, Delray Beach FL

Kathy H, Delray Beach FL — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:19:23 +0000

Steve, I have read your blog for about six months. It helped me get back into motorcycles after a three-year break.
Your aging post presents one of the dilemas of aging: if we don’t think we’re old, are we? My eldest son once told me he has a lot of friends who are quite young, but who act as if they are senior citizens. “On the other hand, you are pretty old and you act pretty young.”
I want to keep feeling pretty young, because I know once I start thinking I’m old I will be! And so far I’ve been able to pull it off – probably thanks to good genes.
But that little niggling thought that keeps playing in the background: what will I do when I find out I’m 68?

By: George Ferreira

George Ferreira — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:19:30 +0000

A great post Steve. I plan on riding until the end, whatever that may be. I’m not obsessing about my age or even think much about it, turned 50 last January and all of a sudden I’m going for 51, what worries me is that time flies by and we never know what will stop us from riding. It could be tomorrow or it could be when I’m 75, no one knows. Last year I made a resolution that I wouldn’t leave for next year what I could do this year. From 25 to 50 I postponed too many things because of family, home, job, now I plan my life with a different attitude.

By: Tuscan foodie in America

Tuscan foodie in America — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:23:10 +0000

Wonderful writing. I mean it.

By: Rogier

Rogier — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:18:11 +0000

Check out this short movie 🙂
http://www.itsbetterinthewind.com/2011film

By: RichardM

RichardM — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:36:47 +0000

A very thought provoking post. I have been thinking similar thoughts but have never been able to put them down on paper. My father just passed away and the arithmetic was one of my first thoughts. I discovered the joys of riding late in life and, like Dar mentioned, feel that I need to make up for lost time but given where I live, that'll never happen.

After dealing with cancer a few years ago and struggling with diabetes now, trying to exercise enough to "get healthy" has almost become an obsession.

BTW, that last photo is wonderful.

Richard