ADVICE FOR OLDER RIDERS • PART 2
Welcome back to our discussion about advice for older riders. We hope these features help aging riders recognize, understand and overcome the unique challenges they face when they climb in the saddle.
A few readers raised complaints when we didn’t cover everything in the previous post. We know that some readers will read this article and voice the same objection…even though they didn’t read the first post. Sorry folks…we can’t please all the people, all the time. If we put everything into a single post we’d get complaints that the article was too long. We’re doing our best to bring quality content to our readers in the most enjoyable, readable manner possible. For those who have taken the time to send compliments our way we THANK YOU for your kind regards. We appreciate it more than you can imagine.
Let’s get on with it…
What’s Going Wrong Here?
In Part 1 of this discussion of advice for older riders we discussed a few naturally occurring conditions that arise as part of the aging process. Today we’re going to talk about a couple more: Decreased Bone Density -and- Increased Wound Recovery Time. In short…we break easier and heal slower.
Our bodies have a natural mechanism for replacing old bone material and rebuilding it with new. After age 50 or so, we start losing bone faster than our bodies can replace it. This naturally occurring phenomenon is more prevalent in women than in men. Women can lose up to 20% of their bone density within 7 years following menopause.
Furthermore, simple wound healing is compromised as we get older. Our bodies have left that stage of life where growth of new bone and muscle tissue was always occurring. This is compounded by certain chronic, age-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease which impair the body’s ability to heal wounds quickly and efficiently.
Gear Up
The best advice for older riders to address this age-related vulnerability is to wear appropriate protective riding gear. I’ve stated this before; here on Roadcraft USA and also in my book, Road Work: Images and Insights of a Modern Day Explorer…
“I have probably ridden 150,000 miles in my life with a silly novelty helmet or no helmet at all. These days I’ve become an ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) type of guy. I won’t go around the corner without suiting up. I don’t care where you land on this issue. I care that it remains a matter of personal choice and not government mandate.”
I have two complete armored riding suits…one for very warm weather riding; another for the remaining seasons. I have two different modular full coverage helmets that I choose from. Fully-armored gloves are worn regardless of the weather and armored riding boots are always on my feet. I thank God I never seriously injured myself in my foolish early years. These days I respect the vulnerability that comes with my age and take every precaution I can to mitigate the damage if an unfortunate incident occurs.
See The World Differently
As stated in the previous post: “Vision deteriorates over time, starting at around age 40 in most people. Serious vision conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration will surface between 50 and 60 years of age and nearly every person over the age of 70 will experience some form of cataracts.” This loss of vision occurs at such a slow rate, over such a long period of time, that we hardly notice it happening. Some advice for older riders: New eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions every year or two keep us seeing adequately. Amber-colored goggles & eyeglass lenses or visors can help enhance visibility on darker, cloudy days. Many older riders will forego riding completely during the darker, night time hours.
If your ophthalmologist tells you that you are a candidate for cataract surgery, GO FOR IT! It is truly life-changing. I had both my eyes done three years ago. I went from being legally blind without eyeglasses to having 20:20 vision…overnight! You really have no idea how weak your eyesight has gotten over time until it is fixed overnight. I can read street signs a hundred yards away. I can see at night as well as if it were the middle of the day. The surgery is routine and painless. You’ll be fully recovered in less than 24 hours. Don’t even think twice. Do it!
Downsize Your Bike
And Up Level The Fun
Many older riders will tell you that they have transitioned to smaller, lighter machines as their years added up. I am one of those riders and I offer it, first hand, as great advice for older riders. I rode nothing but big American V-Twins for nearly 25 years; including three different Harley-Davidson ElectraGlide touring bikes. A few years back I started to develop a degenerative condition in my lower right leg which severely impacted my ability to do things like push the 900 pound behemoth out of parking spots. I was faced with one of two choices. Give up riding or ride something smaller. Giving up riding was out of the question for me after nearly four decades on two wheels. I joined the ranks of sport-touring riders with a fine European performance machine.
I’ll be the first to admit that the change took a little getting used to. There are still times that I miss the sheer comfort of my old “Grandpa Glide”. Long interstate burns were a piece of cake on those big bikes. Putting down 750+ miles per day is child’s play on those rolling sofas. But…
It’s A Whole New Game Now
Once you’ve ridden…and I mean really ridden…a high performance sport touring machine you’ll never want to get back in the saddle of a big touring bike again. Carving up the curves in the mountains (my happy place) is a whole different experience. Piloting a well-designed, race-inspired, motorcycle into the twisties at lean angles that most touring riders will never see (except when they put their bikes onto the kickstand) is a thrill that you’ll never want to go without again.
Properly equipped these smaller sport touring machines make fine touring bikes. You can read about the modifications I made to my BMW that turned it into a righteous touring vehicle. What I can’t put into words is the exhilarating feeling you get when you twist the throttle on a lightweight, high performance, sport touring bike and power out of the turns on a twisty, curvy road. These are the kind of roads that God had in mind when he invented the motorcycle. And these are the kind of bikes that he meant for us to be riding them on!
During my last trip to Nova Scotia (which was on my last ElectraGlide, by the way) I met a rider who had ridden there all the way from Arizona. He was 78 years old and was riding a Gold Wing! He’s my personal hero. I’d love to think that I still have another ten good years of motorcycling ahead of me. If I do it will certainly be spent in the saddle of a high performance sport touring bike; not a big touring machine. If downsizing makes sense to you, by all means do it. You’ll never regret it. You may just rediscover what it was that made you fall in love with two-wheeling to begin with. I know I did.
There’s Safety In Numbers
I ride 95% of my miles alone. It’s just the way I like to roll. I like to go where I want, when I want and at my pace. I’ve never been one for group rides where you have to adhere to someone else’s itinerary and compromise your own desires. As a travel photographer I like to stop often for photo opportunities. Sometimes I’ll spend an extra day or two in a single location just to capture an elusive photographic image. This is not to be taken as good advice for older riders in general though.
As I’ve gotten older, I’m starting to recognize the vulnerability that this preference exposes me to. There truly is safety in numbers and if you find yourself lacking in the confidence needed to overcome problems and hardships that you may encounter on the road then, by all means, consider riding with a group of like-minded riders. Nothing instills a sense of security and well being like knowing you’re with a group of brothers and sisters that have “got your back”.
Faster Is Not Always Better
When I was younger I would routinely hammer out 700-800 mile days on “the big roads” just to reach a specific destination. I certainly understand some rider’s necessity to do so…what with family and work obligations calling them home in far too short a time. Some of us older riders don’t have those constraints on our lives any longer and we should make the most of that privilege.
I live on Long Island, NY about 40 miles outside New York City. There is no way on or off this island without traversing a few major thoroughfares. Once I leave the concrete jungle behind me, however, I choose to ride nothing but The Roads Less Traveled these days. This is such a big, beautiful country that we live in and you owe it to yourself to see as much of it as you possibly can. At a leisurely pace. On two wheels.
One day we’re all going to take our last motorcycle ride. I try not to think about that day. For now I’m just focusing on enjoying every mile that I’m blessed with. To quote a legendary motorcycle adventurer, the late Neil Peart:
“Even if I could not accept compromise,
I would have to accept limitations”
Advancing age brings us new challenges, new wisdom and exciting new experiences. Make the most of your days while you can. We hope these articles will help you on your rides.
What other suggestions can you offer as advice for older riders? Let us know in the comments below. If you have any specific questions you would like answered, please feel free to contact us directly via email. Be sure to subscribe to Roadcraft USA to stay up to date when new features hit the blog.
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Excellent article with solid advice that is spoken from years of experience. I’m an old guy – love my American pigs but as I get older (67 now) – I’m starting to face the dilemma of a Euro-Sport/Touring or sticking with my pigs.
Do what’s right for you, Pappy. Anything that keeps you in the saddle longer is a good thing.
Re safety in numbers as we get older: If you can find others who share your exact riding preferences, you can ride together without compromise. That’s what Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA) is all about at Ridemsta.com. Our national and regional rallies feature the Find Riding Partners program to pair riders who have similar preferences. Check it out at https://flybyweek.com/ridingpartners.html and join us at some of our 17 regional rallies in 2023.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Norm. Yes, organizations like MSTA help riders connect with like-minded riders to pursue this passion of ours; safely…and in good company!
Great advice and thought provoking. I know one day I’ll have to put up the helmet but with me retiring at 62-1/2 in three days I hope I have a long road ahead! My 2022 Heritage and my 2016 R1200 RT are both waiting and able to get on with the adventure!
Congratulations on your retirement, Rick! Ride safe and ride on.
Thank you for an honest “review” of riding till we drop. I’m almost 60 and ride a HD Ultra-Limited. Love the bike and never even thought of downsizing in weight………..yet. I too have to get thru the concrete jungle of NYC to find the real twisties. Long Island has a few decent rides but, not enough. January will be my “planning” month for future trips
January is a great month for planning, Joseph. I hope you’re never “forced” to give up your Ultra as I was. But if the day comes, know that it will just bring new experiences to you. Ride safe!
Excellent article & very well written as it speaks of a time that will come to all of us – as the song says – there’ll come a time when you say hello to good-bye & although in the song its about death here its about the death of one’s passion whether it be downsizing or having to stop altogether – as happy as we all were at 16 to get a license that gave us so much freedom we will be that sad when that freedom is taken away due to old age – I still love riding but have slowed down alittle, stayed in shape, go by the motto of ATGATT & stop more often – I love riding the back roads of America which allows me to eat & stay at many a Mom & Pop place – its a slower pace & the people you meet & greet are so real – love the backroads of America & love riding in my old age.
I disagree with your “painless” cataract surgery statement!
For both my eyes, I felt every single cut and poke … their so-called freezing did not work on my eyes!
neither did they even care that I was in pain!!
and my so-called 20:20 vision now requires me to wear 4 different pairs of glasses.
I am so sorry to hear this, Elizabeth. I had the procedure done by laser so there was no “cut and poke” sensation experienced whatsoever. I had both eyes done over three years ago and have maintained 20:20 vision since. Of course I still have to wear corrective lenses for reading, but my regular vision is as good as when I was 50 years younger. Thanks for reading and commenting.