When you start to ask and look you find a lot of stories about older riders. It’s good to have them stored away for a rainy day when you’re not feeling well. At least for me.

Just got on the Vespa this evening after a long layoff. Not 100 percent yet but well enough for a little evening ride!

As for riding into your eighties, we have one friend who rides regularly with the scooter club. He is Howard, I believe 83 years old. Howard is small but rides a Silverwing like a pro. When not riding that, he puts in around 100 miles a week on his bicycle. He is a treasure, and a fine friend to the riders in the club.

We had another, Roger, who rode to North Carolina and back on his Burgman 650 a couple of years ago. I believe he was 82 at the time. He was from New Smyrna Beach, 100 miles south of my home in Jacksonville, so he only rode in a few big rides. He rode to within a few months of his passing last year. I liked him a lot.

As for me, I will ride until I physically or mentally can’t do it. Riding and family give me my best moments now. I will always have family, but losing the ability to ride might do me in.

I’ve been an exercising fool for the past 10 months and you are absolutely right — it does trigger a boost in energy and well being. No exercise now though until my breathing improves. Rest and drugs are the order of the week.

If I couldn’t ride anymore, well, that would just suck. But I would survive. Perhaps Scooter in the Sticks would become a work of fiction…

Scottsdale is about 2.5 hours away from where I am. It’s been a couple years since I was down that way. Some beautiful riding in the Laurel Mountains not far from there.

Camping on the ground is even rougher than riding. Bravo to Russ Bees! If I am riding and blogging at age 80 Scooter in the Sticks will be 27 years old. Wow. That’s a lot of posts…

Thanks for sharing the hopeful information RJ. Always good to hear about riders who are still going at your age — or your friend’s age! You guys have to do anything special or different in your riding now?

Power tools still scare me. Use them a lot but they always seem ready to bite.

Thanks for the well wishes!

Machine weight is definitely a consideration. Even ten years ago I would be talking to myself pushing a big BMW or Triumph around. Who wants all that weight?

In case I forget — happy birthday!

And I know there absolutely is life without riding a scooter!

thanks.

Ugh. Still sick.

I love that video.