She’s In The Middle Of Her Life

 Perhaps you have come to the sudden end of a trail or street and had to make a U-turn. Or you had to dodge some obstacle you couldn’t have seen—or a driver made a turn they didn’t signal and you couldn’t have anticipated.

Most times, you’ll make the stop or turn without incident, if with a few “choice words.” But there comes a time for most cyclists when such a split-second reaction leaves them off-balance, or even causes a tumble, no matter the cyclist’s skill level or age.

The last word of the previous sentence might have prompted the reaction of Sue Scheibel’s doctor after falling from a U-turn she admits she took “too fast” on her bike.

Said doctor suggested that if she wanted to continue cycling, she should do it indoors. “I’ve seen some really terrible injuries from bike accidents,” he admonished her.

She concedes that her doctor might’ve been trying to “protect” her but couldn’t help but wonder whether his advice was motivated by age-ism. (She is 80.) Although she doesn’t say as much, I couldn’t help but think that a dollop of sexism was ladled onto his prognosis: Another doctor, female, said it would be healthier to continue riding as long as she understood her limitations.

For some people, her question would beg—or answer—the question of whether someone is “too old” to ride a bike or engage in other physical activity.  She posed that question online, and most respondents, who included medical professionals, said that she could continue as long as she’s capable and takes necessary safety precautions.

Were I part of that conversation thread, I’d’ve seconded that opinion and added that as long as she’s in the middle of her life, she should enjoy cycling and any other activity she likes.

Oh, and I’d remind her of the premise behind this blog’s title:  As long as you don’t know when your life will end, you’re in the middle of it.

Riding In Her Mortal Dress

An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hand and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress

Those lines, from the second stanza of William Butler Yeats' Sailing to Byzantium, will never be found on the door of any plastic surgeon's office.  But for me, they have become an inspiration, if not outright instruction.

They are among the reasons I continue to call this blog "Midlife Cycling" at a time when many would argue that I am no longer in mid-life.  To them, I say that as long as I don't know when my life will end, I am in the middle of it.

Such an outlook provides an answer to another question.  If it doesn't, then perhaps Martha Stewart does.

Truth be told, I never paid a lot of attention to her because, in the days before saving episodes of TV shows for future viewing was possible, let alone convenient, she always aired at times when I couldn't watch them.  Also, I always sensed that I would never be able to replicate some of the things she showed because I didn't have a big enough living space or enough money, or I didn't just happen to have the ingredients on hand.

But now I look to her to solve a riddle.  Actually, it's one that never really exercised my mind before, but someone brought it up in a tweet:

So, this "seafoodpedia" thinks Ms. Stewart will "set an example" by giving up cycling.  Why?  I suspect that "seafoodpedia" is trying to rationalize his or her own laziness or indolence--or is simply upset that Martha is riding faster or better than he or she is--or riding at all.  For all I know, "seafoodpedia" might just be someone who hates bicycles or cyclists.

So, how old does "seafoodpedia" think is "too old to bike safely."  Well, apparently he/she would say 77--Ms. Stewart's current age--or younger.

While I might be practicing a form of denial in calling myself "middle aged", I think it will keep me from believing I'm "too old" to ride a bike--or do many other things.  With every pedal stroke, I can clap my hand and sing, louder, for every tatter in my mortal dress.

So can Martha Stewart--though, I must say, her "tattered dress" looks pretty darned good!