“Aren’t you too old to be riding a bike?”
I heard that in my 30’s. In a bike shop, no less.
And who, exactly, was questioning my fitness to mount a saddle, or my emotional maturity (depending on how you read the question)? The father of the shop’s owner, a racer with whom I sometimes rode. He was only three years younger than me. He didn’t seem to think I was “too old.” Nor did our other riding and training buddies, some of whom were even younger.
(If they could see me now…)
To my knowledge, there is no law, body of knowledge or fount of wisdom not tinged with societal expectations that says a person can’t ride a bike past a certain age. Of course, some people hang up their wheels when they reach some age or another, not because of the years, but of the pains and illnesses, they’ve accumulated. In fact, I acquired Vera, my Miss Mercian mixte, from someone whose medical conditions precluded further adventures with her.
Some people grow angry and bitter in such circumstances. Others feel resigned. But I suspect that most remember the good times on two wheels.
In that latter category is Cambridge, England native Clifford Craske, a 97-year-old retired architectural technician. He rode many, many miles with Town and County Cycle Club, now known as the Cambridge Cycle Club. In addition to completing long tours, he won the local Lime Kiln Hill climb challenge and several sprint championships.
His wife passed away last year. Confined to a wheelchair, he still reminisced about his days in the saddle—and about his Claud Butler. His 67-year-old daughter, Alice Craske, realized how much that bike meant to him and arranged to have it restored. Now it will be displayed in the Cambridge care home where he lives.
From the photos, it looks lovely, with its dark green paint and brown handlebar wrap. (Very British!) “Seeing Clifford reunited with his bicycle was such a touching moment,” said care home manager Razvan Stanbeca. “Clifford’s face said it all…there was hardly a dry eye in the house.”
I don’t know what has Clifford Craske between rather than astride two wheels. Whatever it is, he isn’t “too old” to ride—or love—his bike.
