Sue Karbach doesn’t know anyone her age who rides a bike, although she has ridden with a couple of ladies in their early to mid-seventies. Sue turned 80 last year and wishes more women her age would ride a bike. As a member of the P.V. Bike Chicks an all women’s cycling club for nearly 5 years she regularly participates in group rides. When asked why she thinks more women her age don’t ride a bike she said, “I think they are afraid of the younger gals and how far they go. I don’t think that people closer to my age realize that they don’t have to do the entire route, they can ride as long as they like and turn back when they want to.” She enjoys “the camaraderie and meeting new people,” most and added, “they’re very friendly.”
Sue explained that some friends her age can’t stand up straight due to being stooped over. One couple plays tennis another enjoys walking, but for the most part her friends enjoy sedentary activities like playing Bridge. Ms. Karbach doesn’t identify as an 80 year old woman. She is not in denial it’s just that unlike so many adults her age she chooses to remain physically active and her favorite activity is riding a bike. When she tells friend’s that she loves riding her bike she says they, “give me a strange look then ask if I’m telling the truth, they think I’m a little weird.”
Sue Karbach was tall for her age. She began cycling at age 4 ½ on a pink 24” girls bicycle without training wheels, they didn’t have training wheels in those days. Her dad and grandfather would take turns running along behind pushing as they hung on to the seat then they would let go, she was riding within a week. Her second bike (26″) came just two years later.
Outdoor activities have always been part of Sue Karbach’s life which included volleyball, skiing and kayak surfing. Through the years her bike riding has remained a constant. Her family remained supportive in all she did. Her husband passed away a few years ago and so she began dating. Her longest ride to date was about five years ago when she was in Arizona cycling on a couples group ride. She rode 84 miles quite by accident – she laughingly said, “I missed a left turn some place and got lost!” Due to having recent back surgery her focus these days is entirely on cycling, building herself back up cautiously with each ride ranging from 15 to 20 miles, the number of rides per week wisely depends on how she feels.
When asked why she focuses on cycling over her other interests and what it is about riding a bike she enjoys most Sue replied, “I can go as far as I want or as little as I want, I think it’s the fresh air, scenery and the people.” She enjoys both destination riding and hill climbing, among her favorite rides are round trips from Malaga Cove to San Pedro as well as north bound from Palos Verdes to Manhattan Beach and back. She also enjoyed a cycling adventure on the east coast with a friend.
Retired now, her most recent occupation was teaching Interior Design at Harbor College, also teaching Home Economics in Bellflower, California for grades 7 to 12, also enjoying reading in her spare time.
What would you tell women who have an interest in cycling but don’t know where to start? “I’d say give me a call, I’ll ride with you for a day or two and maybe you would get someone else to ride with you also.”
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