[Closed] trying to hold on to our youth?

We're off to a rock city in a few weeks for a gig. It's 20 yrs since I've been, I know it will be littered with young UBS. I intend to show them how to do it or how it was done at least.

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I am defiantly not down with the kids and would not want to be.
But at 39 I am slightly over weight with rapidly failing knees and elbows.

Only two years ago I was the fittest,strongest I had ever been running 7 miles every other day, lifting weights and eating healthily, then the joints started to give me gyp.

And I have only recently realised I am actually knocking on a bit, and I am probably closer to the end of my life than the beginning.

Doesn't help that many of the people who I knew who where in their prime when I was a youth are starting to die off.

Fitter at 46 than ever before since my 20:s but it won't last forever...

Saw NMA at The Ritz last week, spent it down the front just like i did 20+ yrs ago.
Still had a good time, met some old friends and collected some new bruises 🙂
Sure it was rougher back then though 😉

Oops, I'm 47 🙂

You having a mid-life episode ton? What with all that the other night about pegging out and being satisfied with what you've achieved

stavro....I reckon I am mate, angry, annoyed, narked at the slightest thing..... 😆

[i]Fitter at 46 than ever before since my 20:s but it won't last forever...

[/i]

older than you, but same sentiment 🙂

[i]Fitter at 46 than ever before since my 20:s but it won't last forever...[/i]

Was just about to say the same thing. Still getting fitter every year although I've felt I lost the edge a bit on speed this year. Can still ride forever though.

[i]dont drink too much, don't eat a unhealthy diet, get plenty of exercise, don't smoke, get plenty of rest, get botox, use moisturiser, wear trendy clobber, follow the fashions, fb, twitter, whatever...........what a complete pain in the bum.[/i]

That sounds awful. Sod that. I'd rather enjoy myself.

samuri.....I do non of the above obviously.

one of the downsides about being fit in your 20's is that this is just managing the decline
Still plenty of good friends have shuffled off this mortal coil at far too young an age - one we have ridden with TON 😥

You have kids you are proud of and a grand child to be proud of

That said you do live in Yorkshire so i can see why you are unhappy 😉

This is the middle bit of one of my favorite jokes. Bloke goes into the doctors and says,
'Doc, I want to live for ever.'
'OK' says the man,[quote=ton ]don't drink too much, don't eat a unhealthy diet, get plenty of exercise, don't smoke, get plenty of rest, get botox, use moisturiser, wear trendy clobber, follow the fashions, fb, twitter
'And that'll make me live forever'
'No, but it will bloody well feel like it!'
Rachel.

Oh look, the STW Chrome extension started to work!

I'm 33, I feel better than I did when I was 23, way better than I did when I was 13 and I'm putting in the effort to make sure the way I'm feeling now continues. I drink less, eat better, exercise more, moisturise now and then and make myself presentable. Everyone thinks I'm 5-6 years younger than I am.

All my mates are doing the opposite but say they don't care. They're getting stressed, fatter and grumpier as the years go on, they're letting them selves go. It's horrible to see. Oh, They all have families too, I don't.

Holding onto youth is working for me 😀

Age is an attitude. Actually, for me, life is attitude 🙂 . As a passionate person, my sine-wave of life has it's up's and down's. I didn't know how to handle them when I was younger.

For sure, I employ much more energy management now, in my 51st year, than I did 20/30+ years ago. I also realise that 1993 wasn't that long ago and 2033 is also similarly close. However, I wouldn't swap anything for the experience and wisdom I have gained, that far outweighs the arrogance and naivety of my youth.

I do still love to dance to repetitive beats, car alarms and air raid sirens, with all of the associated recreational assistance, just a few times a year now, rather than a week/month! 8)

FWIW, one of my favourite lines:
"Death is not the end! It is the beginning!"

Training alot more focussed with clear goals set, but that's probably the gift of growing older and wiser, rather than being in my 20s and racing/riding everything and everywhere till it all went pop and stopped.

That said you do live in Yorkshire so i can see why you are unhappy

that's fighting talk, that is.

B-I-L has just had a wrestle with cancer. We think he's on the mend but only time will tell. my age - 48.

F*** that, I DO want to live forever

Tried to hang on to my youth for quite a while, but realised it was never going to work

Bl**dy toy boys - never again!

I'm 55 on Sunday. The next big birthday is 60 and that, frankly, doesn't bear thinking about. Excuse me then for trying to stay as fit as possible, whilst still enjoying myself.
Alcohol? 6-7 units/week.
Smoking - never have.
Overweight, OK - just slightly.
Moisturiser - every day since my 20's.

I'm probably as fit now as I was in my late 20's. If that means I can keep riding and otherwise enjoying myself in the outdoors, for the next 10-15 years, then I don't mind taking care of my body a bit.

Age: 42
Overweight: a bit, yes
Alcohol? now and then
Moisturiser: hell no
Smoke: never

I drink too much coffee and eat too much cakes and chocolate, but i ride my bike as much as i possible and run when i can. I don't have too many grey hairs or wrinkles so i think i must be doing something right.

grey hairs (or complete lack of) are hereditary, nowt you can do about that

wrinkles? Dracula had the right idea there 😉

Life is inevitable....

Booze..yep
Smoke...yep
Eat unhealthy..yep
Etc etc etc etc...

Enjoy life...yep

Die 'too young'...probably

Age is an attitude

I probably imbibe in a little too much Jack Daniels now and again, probably eat a little too much of some foods, I know I can't keep up the pace I once did and sure can't keep up with the young riders. I am a poster child for the saying "the older I get, the faster I [u]was[/u]"-----

but what the hell----I turned 71 today and went for a 27 mile MTB ride.

Grey hairs - check
Getting injuries on a regular basis - check
Ignoring fashion and wearing the same stuff as 10 years ago - check
Yeah getting old, but still riding, occasionally racing, just re-started climbing,
So yes- maybe holding on to youth, but only the bits that matter to me now.

If being a grumpy old **** does it for you then go for it.

Who wants to be orange-tanned skinny **** that treads on egg-shells to keep everybody else happy but themselves...except for the cast of TOWIE...

Keep it real tha noz 😉

but what the hell----I turned 71 today and went for a 27 mile MTB ride.

And that is how I intend to be. Nice one Busydog!

ton - Member
why do we do it?

dont drink too much, don't eat a unhealthy diet, get plenty of exercise, don't smoke, get plenty of rest, get botox, use moisturiser, wear trendy clobber, follow the fashions, fb, twitter, whatever...........what a complete pain in the bum.

grumpy old act my age man from now on.

but what the hell----I turned 71 today and went for a 27 mile MTB ride.

Wow! Great to hear - I can't ride for 27 miles off road (aged 33).

And good for you Count Zero. 🙂

I'm 31, not as 'complete' fitness wise as I was at 22, although lighter and more toned (thankyou 'that' lifestyle) but better technically, possibly down to rediscovering my cojones.

Do I drink? Yup.
Do I smoke? Less than I used to, but more than I'd like.
Do I still partay hard? Hell yeah
Do I listen to new music? Yup

To steal a line from a book: 'I'm going to live forever, or die in the attempt'

This is something that I've been inwardly pondering recently. I'm 34, have reasonably responsible job. I'm would like to be a bit fitter but a young family and work life dictate how much me time I have.

However, I wouldn't swap anything for the experience and wisdom I have gained, that far outweighs the arrogance and naivety of my youth.

This, for me is the best description so far. There is no substitute for growing older and growing as a person. Now if I found a way to go back in time and give myself a shake.....

Problem is, for most people, hanging on to their youth means wearing what was fashionable in 1988. Adidas Samba for example. Old people wear what they did generations ago, beige slacks and the just look old.

toy boys??!!

I always say there is one thing you can't change and that's the age you are . It's how you deal with it . 58 Tuesday . 2009 got advised to never ride off road again . Since then I've spent 5 months in Whistler , rode some sweet trails in Colorado , scared myself on the Porcupine Rim trail in Moab rode unreal Slickrock and so much high quality high consequence stuff . Made the decision 10 years having a blast or 20 years wrapped up in cotton wool . Funny thing is I've also got Osteoporosis and in 2 years my bone density numbers rocketed ?? Work that one out.

iainc - Member
Fitter at 46 than ever before since my 20:s but it won't last forever...

Mostly it's in your genes; my Mum is 83 and as fit as a butcher's dog - she cycles on her Specialized hybrid, leads a Ramblers' group, goes to the gym every week, sings in three different choirs and is seldom in when I phone - in fact she is constantly turning down dinner invitations from elderly retired colonels and such like. I'm 57 and also doing OK so I hope I've got her fitness gene.

I'm in no way down with the kids, although I do like to hear fresh new music, and I believe that it's important to keep fashion conscious men in their place by displaying my natural and easy sartorial superiority..

The healthy living thing I embraced when my kids were born, as at 35 years old, with a liver that would have made George Best recoil in horror, I felt that I owed my offspring a father..

47 on Sunday, celebrating with 2hrs Brass monkeys 8O. Aerobically fitter than in my thirties, lots more biking and racing, yoga and a lot less booze - mind you last time I had a scrap at work it was with some 23 year old with a strong flight incentive and I could barely walk for a week afterwards :D. CBA dressing like a youngster any more, listen to BBC6 so borderline OAP musically (though I still turn it off when the Beatles and Doors come on) and don't try and keep up with the kids when out drinking with work so a score draw

49 here. Been riding and racing bikes since my teens and don't appear to have slowed down significantly. Playing footie with my son has my hips hurting for days afterwards. I'm not sure if that means I shouldn't do it or I should do it more often to train the parts that cycling doesn't reach?

@kilo, I'll be at the Brass Monkeys too. 4 hours for me. Singlespeed.

The healthy living thing I embraced when my kids were born, as at 35 years old, with a liver that would have made George Best recoil in horror, I felt that I owed my offspring a father..

I do think this bit is pretty vital..... Too much vino last few weeks taking its toll 😳

my favorite

.

You've just gotta keep going at it haven't you??? 😀
Just do what you want and hack along testing your fitness and improve where you can, listen to what ever you like and watch whatever you like, essentially do what ever you like.

We are in a very fortunate position, we've got the money and time to do whatever we feel like, be it young in feel or old, relish the days you have and just enjoy it.

I seriously don't understand the "I'm getting old" mentality, sorry. 😕

I decides last month that as I approach 50 in February that I would like to lose some weight and be more competitive next season in time trials .Started on Oct 22nd at 15st 10 today I am 14st 11 so in a month my BNI is nearly down to non fat bastard level .At 6ft 4 I want huge in the first place but would like to get to 14st 2 which is a 10% drop .Maybe then the kidz wont kick my ass quite as much next year!!

I'm 45, and I try to keep fit and healthy, because I like the way it feels. I'm happier in my 40s than I was in my 30s and 20s. I had to give up running because of constant injuries but took up mountain biking when I was 39. I still go to a lot of rock concerts and find that the audiences have plenty of people my age.
No need to curl up and give up because of a few grey hairs!

It is a sad but unavoidable fact that the older you get, the more uncool your taste in music becomes. Nobody knows why this happens, but it is unavoidable.

You will know when this has happened, as one of your parents will suddenly pipe up that they quite like whatever it is that you happen to be listening to 😀

NB - this happened to me recently, although I suspect that my mother is simply being perverse in liking Aerosmith and Nick Cave.

@Ton - spoken like a true gumpy old tyke, don;t worry it's part of our heritage and we should embrace becoming the awkward ****er that drove us mad when we were young. Without us their youth would just be easy and fun.

As my dad turned 90 in October, and is fitter than many 30 year olds I know, I am hoping it's all genetic!

Just turned 51 with two under 7 sevens.
Still ride hard,road and mtb, run frequently (knees are giving up when road running).
Just started climbing again and tried my hand at surfing this year.
Went to a gig last week, three more lined up before christmas, music is as important as sport.
Its all in the mind, you can give up and "be old" or carry on living and have fun.
My hair is getting longer and I'm just off my racing weight when i was in my twenties.
Going to cane a bottle or two with friends tonight as well……live it!
(I am, apparently, getting grumpier though).

That Fast Show sketch was fantastic. Funniest thing I've seen in a long time! 😀

I'm not trying to hold into my youth I'm making sure I get the most out of my life now and in the future.

50, took up riding in my mid 40's when my 60 year old neighbour would kick my butt on xc rides. Gutted to shave soent the last year doing very little since busting my knee skiing (co incidently had been skiing the technically best off piste I have ever done in 35 years) and itching to get back riding properly next year. The sports I do have changed a bit as I've got older, have enjoyed 15 years of competitive sailing a sport where older competitors can be just as successful as younger ones (depending on boats of course). I've never had great aerobic fitness but was fitter at 48 than 30 (but much less so than in my 20's when I was playing quite high level sport).

I enjoy my food and wine, a few pints of bitter. I don't smoke. I try and do something active every few days, even if that's just 30 min brisk walk.

If I can I'd like to be working part time by 55 and spend rest of time skiing, biking and sailing. That's not holding onto my youth but enjoying life in a a way which would not have been possible in my 20's given other responsibilities.

I did a 25m TT back in Sept, I'm 33. My minute man was up the road and I slowly slowly dragged him in, I went past and made a gap and ploughed on into the headwind. Later on he caught me back and we had a bit of cat and mouse till I eventually went past and left him.

I finished, got off my bike and was nearly sick while haunched over the bars, he came in not to far behind and thanked me for getting him a PB, he never drafted but I think the impetus of the chase made a difference, he thanked me again as it was his birthday and he'd got the only present he wanted, I congratulated him on going under the hour and said happy birthday 'how old are you today by the way?' '70!'

One of the nicest fellers I'd ever met on a course.....

There's only one way to stop getting old.

I'm 34 and pretty much always get asked for ID at supermarkets etc. I could easily pass for early20's so must be doing something right 😉

53 on monday,fatter but fitter than i ever have been,around 25 miles tomorrow,20 thursday night and looking for a 40 mile route for sunday.
Hip replacement is working fine,26r working fine,wish i had started this sport years ago.

42yr old, with the knees of a 60yr old, face of a 50yr old, body of a 30yr old and mind of a 20yr old 😉

It is a sad but unavoidable fact that the older you get, the more uncool your taste in music becomes. Nobody knows why this happens, but it is unavoidable.

mightymule - Member
It is a sad but unavoidable fact that the older you get, the more uncool your taste in music becomes. Nobody knows why this happens, but it is unavoidable...

I'm lucky enough to have a daughter who points this out to stop me embarrassing myself by listening to music I like.

There's no point in worrying about age. You're going to be a day older and closer to death tomorrow. Enjoy today.

There's no point in worrying about age. You're going to be a day older and closer to death tomorrow. Enjoy today.

Here here 🙂

It's not about holding on,it's about having fun as it slips away.

[i]Happy Birthday Druidh[/i] 😉

bollocks, define uncool

err, well Aerosmith and Nick Cave have always been the epitome of uncool along with internet forums, office jobs, ponytails on men, sports cars and role playing games..

I think that just about covers it.. HTH

43, overweight, drink too much, smoke, eat like a horse! One that lives off pasties.

I'm also a realist. The idea that anyone my age is going to end up having a nice, comfortable retirement, like the ones our parents are presently enjoying - weekends away, nice car, regular foreign holidays, jaunts out for lunch, rounds of golf - is frankly ludicrous! One or two might, I suppose. The rest of us are going to be working til we drop, or living a subsistence level existence of borderline poverty.

So why the hell anyone would sacrifice enjoying themselves now, for spinning it out for more years of misery the other end is beyond me!

why do we do it?
dont drink too much, don't eat a unhealthy diet, get plenty of exercise, don't smoke, get plenty of rest, get botox, use moisturiser, wear trendy clobber, follow the fashions, fb, twitter, whatever...........what a complete pain in the bum.

As opposed to hangovers, hacking up green, feeling bloated, knackered, missing out on amusing/interesting stuff and looking sartorially good (admittedly not the same as following fashion)? I do it because it makes me feel good!

We have the potential to be a long time old. I'd rather leave it till as late as possible before I start.

I've been pretty much in a constant midlife crisis from the age of 40 (seven years then) but it's inspired me to carry on doing all the stuff that I could have chucked (mainly sports wise) and new stuff to challenge myself (doing a MA for example - full time as well).

btw American Beauty was one of my favourite films when I was trapped in a job that was grinding me down - best mid life movie ever?

oh - I was waaay fitter in my early twenties than I am now - and I could do everything on the back of inhuman quantities of beer, fags, pies and chips. Nowadays I have to wind it in loads to maintain anything like a sensible level of fitness.