Calculus for an Aging Velophile

By Stan Purdum 

While searching for something else recently, I happened upon the word velophile. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that term before, but after reading the definition — “a slang term for someone with an intense, long-lasting passion for cycling” — and learning that it’s a synonym for “bicycle geek,” I must admit that the twisted phrase “I resemble that remark” fits me.

In fact, road cycling has been a way of life for me for 40 years — literally half my life since I am now 80 years old. In my adult years before I turned 40, I engaged in other outdoor activities, including canoe adventures and backpacking excursions, but once I started cycling, that quickly became my primary recreational pursuit.

But now my age, 80, seems a salient factor as I continue to pursue my cycling passion. For many cyclists I know or have known, the 80s has been the last decade in which they could feasibly keep cycling.

And given that fact, I find there’s a certain calculus that now occurs whenever I’m considering purchasing a new or replacing an existing bike accoutrement. One form of that math, especially if the item under consideration is quite expensive, is “This item costs $xxx (or even $xxxx). Will I have enough demand for it in my remaining riding years to justify the expense?”

In my case, it’s usually not simply a financial calculation. I have sufficient funds to purchase the thing if I really want it, and I’m aware of the counter argument “So what if I don’t get to use it for long. I’ll enjoy having it for as long as I can keep going,” which has some merit.

Some other factors that come into my calculus are:

• How big is the learning curve to get the full benefit of the item? If it’s going to take months to master it, I’m probably going to give it a pass.
  
• Is the purchase likely to cause me to have to replace related items because they are not compatible with the new thing? If so, I’m probably going to give it a pass as well.
  
• Is it primarily useful for multi-day adventures? Currently, some family responsibilities make it difficult for me to get away overnight without making complicated arrangements.
  
• If the item is a bike, do I have room for it in my garage? I recently sold my touring bike and gave away my mountain bike to make room for bikes for my grandchildren, who are an important focus of my life now. (My kids didn’t start having children until their 40s, so though I’m old enough to be a great-grandfather, I only became a grandfather in my 70s.)
  
• Is the item for riding in new territory? Though I’m still riding a few thousand miles a year, it’s mostly in areas where I know the roads, making the GPS in my head sufficient. I don’t have much use for a separate GPS gadget. Even when I’m riding new areas, it’s usually in company with other riders who either know the routes or have a GPS device.
  
• Is the item likely to dramatically increase my riding safety? This makes me more likely to make the purchase. I’m currently looking at the Lezyne Radar React system, which provides radar coverage without needing a GPS unit. 

I will, of course, continue to replace worn out parts and kit, but new bikes, devices and gadgets are going to have to pass my age-weighted calculus review. 

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Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.