Grandpa Loving the Bike
If I had to search within myself and pinpoint where my love for cycling comes from, I would find it on the DNA strand that came to me courtesy of my Grandpa. There’s no doubt that I got the “Loving the Bike” feeling from him, and I find it very interesting that it took me until now to realize that connection.
My Grandpa, Peter grew up a farmer in the ruralist of rural parts of Saskatchewan. He spent most days on a tractor during the months that were nice enough to be on a bike. I didn’t grow up being extremely close to my Grandpa, but I do remember spending time out there on the farm. Looking back I have a lot of different memories of being out there….but, strangely enough, none of them include a vision my my Grandpa on a bike.
I’m not sure how long his cycling passion goes back, but it wasn’t until just a couple years ago that I found out about his love for the bike. My Grandpa is retired now and living in a community home in Saskatoon. When he first moved in there a few years back, I heard stories of how he would spend a part of every day riding the stationary bike. This was my first notion of his interest in cycling so I dug a little deeper….and was amazed at what I found out.
It turns out that my Grandpa loved cycling so much that when he was still living on the farm, he built himself a contraption to enable him to ride his bike inside during the winter. I wish there was a picture of this “trainer” that he built, and man would I have loved to see him on that thing. But he would ride his bike in the summer, and then take it inside on his homemade trainer during the winter.
Oh….I guess I haven’t mentioned this yet. My Grandpa is currently 98.5 years old. Still holding it together very well, and I can’t help but think that it is partially due to staying active on his bike as he aged. Unfortunately he has now given the bike up, but this picture of him above is from when he was 93 years old. I don’t know about you, but I sure do hope that there are photo opportunities of me when I’m 93 and out there still Loving the Bike.
Dude, that’s impressive. You have every right to brag on your grandpa!
Love this blog, it made me think a lot about the topic and what it means to me. Pamela @Pameloth and I even talked about it while we were riding today.
My love for it comes from a feeling. Those times when everything is working right, your spinning along, the road is smooth the scenery beautiful, the only sound the whir of your gearset. Your body is up off the ground and it feels like flying. Not being a writer I can’t describe it like you guys can but, its magical, it feels for a while like you can go forever, like you wont tire, like gravity doesn’t effect you.
There is much more but that is the first thought that crossed my mind.
Thanks Eric, I think you did a pretty fantastic job at describing why you love the bike. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to use it in our upcoming Look Who’s Loving the Bike feature.
Darryl
Nice story.
My grandfather died last year at 97. Up until 96 and a half years of age, he was still doing 30 min. on the stationary bike.
Whoa….looks like your Grandpa outdid mine by about 3 years. Good to see it. I think you and I should battle it out to see who bikes into the oldest age.
Darryl
I love these pictures! I too believe that the more active we stay the longer it keeps us going. My father-in-law is 84 and plays tennis every morning with his buddies. He’s very fit and alert.
You’ll probably still be doing 1/2 marathons in your 80’s won’t you?
Daryl
Me too! Every year Grandpa Lloyd had all the grandkids out for a weekend of bike races. Being a farmer, he did a little bit of everything, like welding. We’d always work on something from extending out a chopper fork or making a trailer. He had a unicycle, tandem, and one of those super high rides… the ultimate tinkerer. Great memories.
Grandpa Darryl… now that’s gonna make a story.
Yeah, but it better be in a very long time from now that I’m posting about Grandpa Darryl. I can see that you’ve got some of your Grandpa’s DNA strands as well. Cool.
Darryl
Beyond awesome!!! I might have known my Dad would have made it on your post. He is an example for all… staying active throughout life.
Great story about your grandfather. It is amazing how the love for bikes is passed down from generation to generation. There is definitely something in our genetic code that pushes us forward on the bike. Keep up the good work.
I absolutely LOVE this story!! I find it incredible that he was able to bike for so long….wow…93 years old and still biking. I also wish there was a picture of his homemade “trainer”.
Good job Grandpa Peter!
That is an incredible story. Thanks for sharing it.
I come from a family of cyclists Darryl, back in the day it was the only way to get around. Both my parents and all of my Grandparents pedalled.
In fact it was my old man continually baiting me and my brother about how he rode from Birmingham to Sheffield and back on a fixed speed back in the forties that got me and my brother pedalling to Wales back in the 80’s just to shut him up! That was the 113 mile ride I recreated a couple of weeks ago.
Cool to see your Granddad on a bike at his advanced years, as you say it’s probably what’s kept him going. What a guy!
Yeah, I’m still very impressed with your 113 miler….what an accomplishment.
Darryl