Milestones - past, present and future

From time to time, I've posted about the ageing process; mostly in relation to that highly personal decision of when to stop riding motorcycles. In reality, that's really a subset of what you plan to do post-retirement.  A couple of days ago, it suddenly hit me that this week, I will have been retired for 18 years; apart from a short spell of consultancy back to my old company.  That time has passed in the blink of an eye. It's probably not wise to set plans in stone as there are so many factors which can derail them.  However, having loose plans with some contingencies makes good sense.

Surprise 60th birthday party with my cherished riding mates

The decision to retire at 60 in 2008 is certainly one I haven't regretted although there were more than a few worries at the time with respect to whether it was a sound decision.  I loved the work but with ownership changes, there were clearly better ways to enjoy life.  Although financial considerations were naturally part of the decision, the major concerns revolved around the transition from a demanding career to a more leisurely lifestyle, despite having some broad plans of how to spend that time.  Jennie had her own worries, having retired some time beforehand.  Her concerns mainly centered around me hanging around the house with bugger-all to do, disrupting her personal routines!

I needn't have worried and ditto for Jennie.  The first 12 months were a mix of consulting back to my old company and getting our holiday home fit to live in permanently.  Harmony reigned in the household and still does.  Much of this is down to us having both common interests where we do stuff together, plus personal interests where we can do stuff on our own.

Moving permanently to the Coromandel Peninsula opened up the chance to build strong relationships with the local community and we both volunteered as tutors for Senior Net, an organisation which assists seniors to develop computer skills for everyday living needs.  We did this for the best part of 5 years.  Motorcycling hadn't been neglected during this time but with the twisty nature of Coromandel roads, coupled with age; there was always a plan to move to lower, lighter bikes than my Honda Blackbird.  Several bikes were test-ridden but the one which captured my soul was the Triumph Street Triple.  Choosing a particular bike is a highly personal decision but it's fair to say that the Triple was the best overall bike I've owned in 58 years of riding.

About to head off on the 2010 1000miles/1600 km in under 24 hours Rusty Nuts ride 

It was on the Street Triple that the next part of the "ageing safely" strategy was put into place by joining the Institute of Advanced Motorists to learn advanced riding skills based on UK police roadcraft. That's covered elsewhere in the blog but learning something new and being stretched is a wonderful way of staying both mentally and physically fit.  It also gave the opportunity to repay the IAM mentoring team for all their time and care by eventually becoming a mentor and Examiner with them.  Making new, lifelong friends during that time is also something which has had a massive impact on wellbeing.  I finally retired from IAM in 2021 after 11 years and retired altogether from riding in 2022/3. It was quite an easy decision as we had other established interests to keep life interesting. 

Long arm of the law - Sgt Steve Butler-Jones, another IAM mate

Travel is something we both enjoy and wherever we've travelled, most people we've met have been hospitable, caring human beings who just want to be comfortable and enjoy life. It's just politicians and dare I say it... some so-called religious groups who screw it up for everyone. 

Sweltering in 30 degrees along the Great Wall

Ballooning at dawn on the Serengeti

Mountain biking has been a lot of fun, although readers of this blog will know that it hasn't entirely been plain sailing in the quest to stay fit.  A more conservative approach to choosing safer off-road trails should ensure continued future enjoyment without the pain!  

The Medlock trail, Coromandel

Driving our classic MGB GT is also a lot of fun and was a brilliant suggestion by Jennie to keep an interest in things automotive.  Sea fishing is also something we both enjoy and it has to be admitted that Jennie normally has bragging rights over me!

A still day on the Firth of Thames among the commercial mussel farms

This has been a slightly whimsical post but on reflection, having a plan prior to retirement to keep the brain and ticking over and to keep healthy seems to have worked out fairly well for the last 18 years.  Certainly no regrets about retiring earlier than originally planned to enjoy the really important things in life and to avoid saying the "If only....." phrase.   Jennie is also really busy in her role as president of the local museum.  It's run by volunteers so I spend a bit of time helping out with maintenance and restoring old photos.  Good to put something back into the community

At the end of next year, we'll both be celebrating our 80th birthdays and there are no plans to slack off as long as the bodies stand up ok!  Retirement eventually comes to us all - maybe a bit of food for thought about how to get the most out of it?

Still involved with automotive stuff 

Growing older disgracefully

Out in the Coromandel bush

Back in December 2024, I made a post about a lack of talent on my part leading to a serious injury. I was ejected from my e-mountain bike on a local trail, snapping my femur and having to be rescued.  That story is HERE . In a more recent similar vein, Steve Hoswell, fellow moto-blogger from across the pond in Sydney; had a major accident on his bike.  His harrowing and inspirational story is HERE .  There was a lot of light-hearted banter about our accidents but underneath it all; it could have been so much worse.

The common thread is that ordinary activities can easily lead to adverse consequences and those consequences can take a serious amount of time to recover from. They also have a significant impact on those around us.  However, events like this can also lead to positive outcomes during and after recovery - better health and fitness in both Steve's and my instances, not to mention intangible mental benefits.

Rehab exercise, enforced by my wife

My recovery led to some unforeseen circumstances. Sharing them may be of benefit to others, not just umm.... mature folk like me.

After surgery, I was contacted by the senior nurse in charge of the fracture clinic at our major regional base hospital, some 160 km away from where we live.  Kerry and I hit it off straight away with an amusing discussion as to why a 77 year old would choose mountain biking as a pastime. She was super-helpful, talking about rehab options for the older person and also mentioned a condition called osteoporosis - something I'd heard of but knew nothing about.  It's a medical condition in which bones become brittle and fragile, typically as a result of hormonal changes or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.  Older people are particularly susceptible to the condition.  It's normally associated with females, yet 1in 3 males can end up with it.  Kerry then offered me the opportunity for an osteoporosis test at a closer provincial hospital.  This consisted of a series of low-powered X-rays taking less than half an hour, so I thought "Why not?"  

At the end of the tests, I was shocked to find that I did indeed have a degree of osteoporosis which may well have contributed to the broken femur.  Prior to the accident, I always thought I was in good nick, especially for my age. Kerry then outlined treatment options which were surprisingly straightforward, including an exercise regime to strengthen bones and muscles. After discussing it with my GP, medication was started, followed by 3 sessions a week at our local gym.  The exercises started last June and have continued since then because they're both enjoyable and good for me.  A recent blood test has shown that the treatment is working, I feel great and can look forward to the years ahead.

There has been one recent development though, which came from left field. Osteoporosis NZ, responsible for promoting bone health asked me whether I'd talk about my story as an aid to others who might find themselves in similar circumstances.  The following narrative is the draft I wrote for them.  It was well-received and I think it will appear in their publications before long.  Also, they recently arranged for me to be interviewed by a journalist from a national media and lifestyle magazine.  The article will be published any time now.  Let's hope that it will spark a bit of interest about osteoporosis and encourage people to get checked at an appropriate time.

A Surprise Diagnosis – Living With Osteoporosis

By Geoff James

I'm a 78‑year‑old retired professional engineer living on the Coromandel Peninsula. I've always been active, sailing competitively and riding motorcycles for nearly 60 years. Despite my wife's periodic claims that living with me is like living with a five‑year‑old, I thought I showed a modicum of common sense by retiring from riding about four years ago. Older bodies don't respond too well to accidents, and fate makes no distinction about fault, so quitting while ahead made sense.

My wife suggested we buy a classic car to enjoy together, which we duly did, and to keep fit I purchased an e‑mountain bike to explore the Coromandel’s off‑road trails. When someone has to give up a lifelong passion, it’s important to have a fallback interest to keep both mind and body in good shape. Mountain biking has been a lot of fun, and I even lost over 12 kg in the process. Not bad at all. Unfortunately, a notable error in judgment was still to come.

Late in 2024, Karma decided to intervene. I had recently recovered from knee‑replacement surgery after years of sporting abuse and had only been back on the bike for a couple of weeks. One late‑afternoon ride saw me tackling a challenging trail near home. A combination of loose clay “marbles” and a previously undiagnosed lack of rider talent proved my undoing. I was ejected from the bike and landed in an undignified heap.

I knew I was in serious trouble from the way my right leg flopped about, not to mention the excruciating pain. It was obvious I’d broken my femur. I always carry a phone, so my first action was to call my wife. I wasn’t expecting tea and sympathy, but the telling‑off I received firmly put me in my place as an old idiot who should know better. She then called an ambulance, and with the help of several locals — including my GP and one of his medical team — I was moved off the trail and taken to Waikato Hospital. The rapid support and care from everyone involved was humbling, and I later tracked down each person to thank them.

When questioned by the hospital team about the cause of the accident, their tone was much the same as my wife’s, although far more diplomatic. After surgery to pin my femur and beginning rehabilitation, I was contacted by the Waikato Fracture Liaison Service. Given my age and the nature of the injury, I was offered a bone‑density scan. The scan confirmed osteoporosis — quite a shock, given how active and fit I thought I was.

However, the support, care, and clear information from the Fracture Liaison Service and my GP removed any fear of the unknown. After discussing options, I began weekly Fosamax tablets. They’ve been easy to manage — a glass of water and staying upright for half an hour afterwards — and I now attend the local gym three times a week for strength and cardio work. It has become an enjoyable and effective routine.

A recent blood test shows the treatment is working, and I can look to the future with optimism. I’m back cycling with no ill effects, although I’ve been banned by my wife — on pain of death — from riding on challenging goat tracks. I can live with flat gravel and road riding.

Some reflections

In the past, I’ve clearly minimised the disparity between my mental and physical age, despite the occasional family comment to this effect. This event has reminded me that taking everyday precautions is long overdue. Avoiding or modifying certain activities is now properly — well, mostly — thought through. No more climbing on the roof, and ladder work is now a matter of negotiation with my wife. Taking personal responsibility for maintaining health and fitness appropriate to my age has become a priority.

Had I not had the accident, my osteoporosis would have remained undiagnosed. My situation isn’t unique — many older New Zealanders discover osteoporosis only after a fracture. Earlier access to bone‑density scans could prevent similar cases and reduce long‑term healthcare costs.

I’m deeply grateful to everyone in the health service who supported me. Without them, the osteoporosis would have gone unnoticed, and a future incident could have had far more serious consequences. A massive thank‑you to all involved.

Back on the bike

Small Victories

The content of this post might not seem much to most people but a series of small wins has made the world of difference to me. Having had both knees replaced due to accumulated sporting injuries and then snapping my femur in a mountain bike accident late last year has meant that for nearly 2 years, normal activities have been somewhat curtailed, not to mention varying levels of pain which is pretty wearing.  Although I generally have a positive outlook on life, physical restrictions also take their mental toll.

Today was a big step in the right direction with the first ride on my mountain bike since the accident. (HERE). That ride could have happened several weeks ago but psychologically, I kept putting it off as memories of the accident and rehab was still a bit raw and a mental block.  Time to put my big boy pants on today and get out there.

More nervous than I look!

It was only a 10 km ride, mainly on tar seal with just a bit of level gravel thrown in but the impact (perhaps a poor choice of word) was both confidence inspiring and wonderful.  The femur still niggled a bit but with a pre-ride warm up and taking it fairly easy on the ride, most of the pain had actually disappeared by the finish.  A sore butt and aching wrists due to ergonomic differences between the MTB and static bike aren't really relevant.  Heart rate was ok too on the hills although they weren't substantial gradients.  These should get even better.  Someone who is not me in our household has issued a dire warning about not riding gnarly off-road trails again.  This is on pain of death so good behaviour would be the safest bet.

Ride data - not too bad for a 77 year old geezer

Most people hate strange noises which they can't track down, particularly when it applies to their method of transport.  For over a week, we've had a buzzing sound in the MGB.  It only happened over a very narrow rev range and we couldn't agree where it was emanating from.  It was driving me nuts so I went for a drive with the express intent to track it down.  Anybody following would have wondered what the heck was going on with lots of body movement and head swivelling trying to pinpoint the noise.  It didn't seem to happen at the rev range whilst the car was stationary which made things more difficult.  The photo below was taken at one of the stopping points where this anomaly was discovered. It's actually quite a scenic spot where there is a working vintage gold ore crusher. (Details HERE)

Two vintage bits of machinery - one 100+ years old and the other made in 1972

It wasn't until nearly the end of the drive when the source of the buzzing noise finally revealed itself.  It was coming from the right hand fresh air vent on the dashboard.  The movable centre where the air direction can be changed vibrated against the outer casing at certain revs - some sort of harmonics.  Why it suddenly chose to start doing it is a mystery.

The solution was surprisingly simple.  I found a flat piece of clear plastic packaging medium in our recycle bin and cut a piece to slip between the movable component and outer frame.  The mild interference fit still allows adjustment and it's an invisible repair.  The photo below shows a tiny sliver of the plastic shim as it is being pushed into position at the left hand end of the right vent.

Another small victory!

The supply of potable fresh water around the world seems to be an increasing problem.  It's not only through drought but crumbling infrastructure (old piping or inadequate size) is impacting on the development of housing and commerce throughout the world.  The house which we now live in was built in the 60's as a holiday home on the edge of Coromandel harbour away from reticulated water supply in the village.  The only water source was rainwater collected in tanks.  Eventually, reticulated water was laid on our road but a permanent below ground connection to established properties was a major and expensive exercise because of the steep topography and vegetation.  We've occasionally run a hose to the reticulated water connector at the roadside after long, dry periods or lots of visitors but in the main, tank water collected from the roof has been just fine.

The problem is that with the house being old, filtration was pretty crude, particularly from a biological perspective. We've never got sick but maybe we were just plain lucky. Local tradesmen like plumbers are pretty good at their job but are a nightmare in getting them to turn up when they promise and good communications are rare. Because of this, we sat on our thumbs and did nothing, despite it being on our important task list.  Then lady luck shone on us with a flyer dropped in our letter box.  It was from a small specialist company dealing with rainwater systems who operated out of the Bay of Plenty and Waiheke Island - not a million miles from us (WEBSITE HERE).  To cut the story short, we met the owner, liked what we saw and he's just finished stage 1 of our upgrade.  New filter systems on the storage tank infeeds, biological and particulate filters on the feed to the house plus cleaning and sterilising the storage tanks. Some additional upgrades yet to come.  All completed in a day and a half with a very high standard of workmanship and quality components.  It's probably fair to say that he's cost competitive against local plumbers too because of his specialist knowledge.  I'd call that another victory!

An extremely tidy filtration system 

Storage tank with 2 stage particulate inlet filtration

Going back to the potable water problems in many parts of the world, I'm surprised that the relevant authorities don't encourage greater use of rainwater.  Ok, our storage tanks are old fashioned but new designs are relatively unobtrusive and can even be built into the walls of structures, just like a neighbour's house.  Food for thought?

To sum up, a series of small wins with good outcomes are definitely able to give a real mental lift! 

When things turn to custard

Long-term readers of this blog will remember several posts (the first being in November 2011) about the older motorcycle rider and upskilling to prolong one's riding in safety. It generated a lot of productive discussion and even ended up as a chapter topic in one of US motorcycling guru David Hough's motorcycle safety books.

As a brief reminder, I joined the NZ branch of the UK Institute of Advanced Motorists, learning Police Roadcraft and progressing from raw recruit to Examiner before retiring from riding at 75 years of age in 2022. The benefit was massive and still is, not only in terms of riding and driving skills but also interpersonal aspects of life and much more besides.

The question of when to stop riding altogether became a regular discussion topic and the answer very much depends on individual circumstances. My retirement took 2 distinct steps.  As an IAM Examiner/mentor, I'd regularly cover 500 km days from our rural home and as I got older and several years of doing it in all weathers, I retired from official duties and just did social riding in our area which is a rider's paradise.  The final step followed the inevitable acceptance that old bodies don't bounce too well in an accident, irrespective of who was at fault. Sooner or later, there was a good chance of a serious "off" occurring.

My last ever motorcycle ride

The decision to stop wasn't particularly traumatic, perhaps surprisingly as it had been a passion for not far short of 60 years.  That was down to a deliberate act on my part to have some decent fall-back interests to replace the void left by riding bikes.  Where we live had some bearing on this.  A runabout for sea fishing was purchased as it was something that Jennie and I could enjoy together, particularly as we can launch within a couple of minutes of home.  It was Jennie's suggestion that we bought a classic car as the classics scene is particularly active in our area and the roads are a perfect fit.  After a rocky start when we couldn't agree what to buy, our 1972 MGB GT has worked out perfectly.  Serendipity actually, as it also happens to be the year we married!  The Coromandel Peninsula also has great bike trails so an e-mountain bike was purchased for a bit of fun and as a nod to staying fit.  So there we are - plenty of fall-back activities to replace motorcycling or whatever your long-term passion has been.

The Giant Talon e+1 MTB

Over the last 12 months, I've had both knees replaced, the last one only a few weeks ago.  That's down to sport when I was younger but cycling has been good for them, as well as being part of rehab.  Also great for cardio health and as an extra bonus, I've lost over 12 kg in the 2 1/2 years of ownership.  Visited some great out of the way places too.  What could possibly go wrong?

Less than 2 weeks ago, I continued my rehab with a decent off-road ride involving altitude changes through farmland and forest.  Riding on an uphill part of the trail, the clay surface had turned to marbles as we haven't had rain for some time. Without warning, the bike developed wheelspin, snapped sideways on the pronounced trail camber and spat me off.  I knew I was in serious trouble as my leg just flopped about and the pain was off the scale.  I didn't know then but I'd broken my femur just below the ball.  I always carry a phone and made the call to Jennie for help.  After giving me an earful, she got onto the ambulance service who accurately located me with an app which they emailed.  Fortunately, I was less than 1km into the trail at that stage. A couple of passers-by were able to offer initial assistance, then Jennie turned up, followed by my local doctor and one of his practice nurses who had been notified by the ambulance service.  The local ambulance wasn't available and one from the next town was an hour away so some happy juice was administered to help with the pain, especially major muscle spasms.  Interestingly, ketamine didn't make me run off at the mouth or any other unfortunate side effects, but it certainly dulled the pain.

A number of other locals turned up to help and as it wasn't possible to get the ambulance to the crash site, a local fishing charter operator carefully drove his Toyota Hilux utility up the narrow trail.  More happy juice and I was lifted onto the back of the Hilux - something I never wish to experience again!  Transferred to the ambulance which then drove 160 km to Waikato Hospital, which had all the required resources.  To shorten the story, I was operated on to reattach the ball, being sent home a few days ago to begin painful rehab. 

Looking like Frankenstein's Monster in hospital

Relieved to be home

Some of the bruising between knee and thigh - plenty more coming out:

Just a tad tender

With the festive season upon us and lots of outdoor activities in the warmer months, there's plenty of incentive to put the effort in to getting fit again.  Getting in and out of the MG is likely to be a stumbling block for a while.  Less so for our daily drivers.  Robust negotiations with Mrs J have been concluded (and by probable default, our daughter).  Mountain bike ownership will continue to be permitted as long as I stick to sealed roads or level gravel trails which aren't goat tracks.  As there are no level gravel trails within 50 km of home, Jennie has me neatly cornered.  Our sons have wisely not taken sides, at least publicly. They don't want to antagonise their mother but I suspect that privately, they might entertain the thought that slightly risky pastimes when reaching the same age as their father is what life is all about.  I don't intend to fan those particular flames.

I'd like to acknowledge the local Coromandel residents who appeared as if from nowhere to rescue me.  I feel pretty emotional about that and am working on a plan to recognise their wonderful assistance.  Community care is alive and well!  All countries on Earth appear to have challenges with their health services and NZ is no different.  However, the ambulance staff and hospital team from orderlies to surgeons couldn't be faulted in the care which they gave to me - delivered with grace and good humour too.

Just to round things off, there are a couple of noteworthy thoughts to take away.  Firstly, knowing when to stop doing risky things isn't a bad outcome. In my case, age dictates that pastimes involving potential injury is going to have consequences.  I don't have any difficulty in cutting challenging off-road trails out of my future.  Secondly, have a fall-back plan for when something which has been a lifelong passion has to be flagged away.  I've still got a few fall-backs which makes life well worth looking forward to.  I hope that you have too.  My over-riding plan is never to have to say "If only....."

Every good wish for a magnificent 2025!