Rusty rims: Is this the road to retirement?
Many of us grew up with a fixed image of what retirement looks like – slippers, Lazy Boys, knitting, walking frames, and a generally slow pace of life.
But that image is changing – as shown on the rural roads surrounding Christchurch, especially on a Friday morning.
Cycling clubs for those in their 60s, 70s and even 80s are popping up in Christchurch. Four of them – the Rusty Rims, the Grey Spokes, the Whispering Wheels and the Latte Ladies – are already understood to be nearing or at maximum capacity.
The Cycle Trading company lent
The Press a road bike known as a Cross City Giant to try find the Rusty Rims yesterday.
The Press was tipped off by one of their members that they left from Birchs Rd in Prebbleton at 9am sharp.
The Press arrived at 9.03am. They were already gone. The Press then started searching the Lincoln Prebbleton area and spotted fellow club the Grey Spokes, but none of the Rims.
After searching for an hour and taking a break at Hillyer’s Cottage Cafe in Lincoln, about a dozen neon yellow-clad Rims turned up.
They said their average age is the mid to late-70s, but they knew of one chap in the Whispering Wheels who was 91.
Spokes Canterbury chairman Don Babe said there had been a definitive uptick in older cyclists, especially among former professionals.
‘‘There’s a lot of people that have cycled when they were young and are either rediscovering it or are doing more of it as they get older because it has got big health benefits and a good chance to socialise.
‘‘The physical work has gone down. You don’t get to 60 any more and your body’s such a wreck and you have sit in a chair until you die. A lot of people have used their minds in their career and they want to do something after 65 when they retire.’’
Babe said there had always been older cyclists, but the number had noticeably grown – especially after the invention of e-bikes, which helped those of an advanced age.
The Rims at Hillyer’s cafe said they planned to bike 30 kilometres on Friday, but covered 250km over five days in Napier late last year.
Rims organiser Elizabeth Taylor said that most of the group were members of the Christchurch Over40s Tramping Club but they had been rejected by two established groups within the club because both were already full, so they found something else to do. The irony is that the Rims have now also reached maximum capacity.
Member Jill Lyall reiterated Babe’s observation about the increase in older cyclists on the roads.
‘‘There are a lot of people now over 60, over 70 who are doing it. I think there is more awareness of health benefits through exercise both for your mind and for your body.’’
The group told The Press crashes happened now and again, but none were serious. Member Liz Dart said she broke her rib last year in a crash and had to have 11 stitches put across her chin after another.