Amazing that a fifty year old could ride his bike up Mount Diablo!

EPOJoe · #1 02-21-2020, 11:13 PM

Just to give you folks that are getting up there in years a bit of inspiration- This incredible fellow was actually able to ride up Mount Diablo at the ripe old age of fifty! Fascinating that when this video was made a few years ago (OK, a lot of years ago) apparently this guy was considered ancient at fifty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J49s...&index=70&t=0s

Now this is what I aspire to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZPP...&index=30&t=0s

prototoast · #2 02-21-2020, 11:21 PM

These days it's rare to see anyone under 50 riding on Diablo.

Steve in SLO · #3 02-21-2020, 11:28 PM

I don’t even remember 50.
I barely remember yesterday.

joosttx · #4 02-22-2020, 02:06 AM

Funny, I was sharing stories today with a riding buddy. I remember one of my Dad's hard-drinking, hard-partying friends who told his wife he wanted to ride 50 miles on his 50th birthday. On that birthday she drove him and his bike out 50 mile from their home and drove back home to prepare a surprise party. He did it and at the party started to drink lots of vodkas before he collapsed of dehydration and was carted off in an ambulance to a hospital. For my buddy's 50th he rode Tam 5X's, then flew to Arizona where he did a double on Mt Lemon, then flew to Moab and from the town rode to the Whole enchilada and rode that and did two other crazy rides which symbolized his 50th birthday.

93KgBike · #5 02-22-2020, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prototoast

These days it's rare to see anyone under 50 riding on Diablo.

lol

that is so true of every Bay Area climb. hard to get rides in working 110 hours min. a week in your 20s-30s.

LouDeeter · #6 02-22-2020, 07:02 AM

I don't get it. Diablo is a tough climb, but there are plenty of older guys who can still climb tough ascents. I was 40 pounds heavier than now and 59 when I climbed L'Alpe d'Huez. It isn't as steep or as long as Diablo, but a rough go at it nonetheless. I'm now almost 70 and I think I could do it again. Now, I would want to do it with a 26x28 gear, but that's another matter.

jamesdak · #7 02-22-2020, 07:04 AM

I don't get the big deal....

weisan · #8 02-22-2020, 07:21 AM

Yeah anyone can do it...fast or slow.

I did it a few years ago while visiting Oakland.
Here's my own little video

Spaghetti Legs · #9 02-22-2020, 08:11 AM

My guess is he did it on a 42 chainring. You only see us 50+ folks using those anymore.

Matthew · #10 02-22-2020, 09:13 AM

For those not getting it I'm guessing the OP is infusing a little sarcasm in his post.

Cornfed · #11 02-22-2020, 09:28 AM

Former owner of my LBS ...

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/03...-slowing-down/

Note the note that he rides his age up Diablo every year, meaning he rode it 87 times the year of this article. And besides the year he got both knees replaced, he hasn't missed a Death Ride in forever.

Respect.

Steve in SLO · #12 02-22-2020, 09:47 AM

Looks like 1980s-90s when the prevailing thought was 50s=rocking chair, so this may have actually inspired a few to tamp out their Marlboro, put down their Olympia, finish their Wonderbread/mayo/Velveeta sandwich and walk to the corner store for another 6 pack.
He looks like he was a guy who was very familiar with media attention and probably know someone who needed a story.
i personally love the team car touch.

EPOJoe · #13 02-22-2020, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew

For those not getting it I'm guessing the OP is infusing a little sarcasm in his post.

Yeah, I thought that was clear.

Just thought it was interesting how the perception of age has changed since this video was made back in what appears to be the 1980's. His comments about how everyone was warning him that he'd have a heart attack trying this at fifty were particularly interesting. As was illustrated in the second video posted on the original post, I know plenty of eighty-something's that climb Diablo on a regular basis.

Matthew · #14 02-22-2020, 10:50 AM

Two of my regular riding partners are 69 and 72. They can hang with most of our local groups here. Maybe our A groups aren't as fast as others but it's impressive none the less. The 69 year old and her riding buddies go to Europe every other year and do many of the big climbs from the grand tours. I turn 53 in May and they are an inspiration to me.

warren128 · #15 02-22-2020, 11:28 AM

I've never ridden up Mt. Diablo but my friend keeps bugging me to try it one of these days.

(I just turned 62 yesterday.)

In the OP's video, Yazolino rode to the top in under 1 hour. What is a typical length of time to ride to the top without stopping for someone in average riding shape? I'm just curious. Thanks.