Joyce Riffer is a medical publications manager, native Chicagoan, world-traveler, and these days, this 54-year-old can add ‘passionate biker’ to her accomplishments. Joyce cruises the Illinois bike trails logging up to 30 miles or more on a typical Saturday. So far this year, Joyce has biked 1,054 miles. If the weather cooperates, she hopes to log 200 more miles by year’s end.

Turning a Lifelong Hobby into a Major Life Passion

Joyce with husband John

Joyce has always liked biking, but became passionate about distance cycling after her husband urged her to join the Evanston (Illinois) Bike Club with him. “I knew if I wanted to see John on weekends, I should consider his suggestion. And besides, the more time I spent biking, I realized that I was enjoying it more than going to classes at the gym. I was becoming passionate about biking.” In her late 40’s she joined the bike club where she met new friends, built up her endurance and researched and bought a nice road bike. Joyce finds motivation from club members in their 70s and 80s who are stronger and faster cyclists than she is. And biking as exercise is more forgiving on joints than other aerobic exercises. “I hope to keep cycling in the years ahead – into my 70s and 80s. Being on rides with the club has taken me to places I would never have explored on my own, and it has motivated me to keep riding.”

Biking Provides a Sense of Well-being

Joyce says biking gives her, “a sense of health and well-being,” and the fact that she shares this passion with her husband is “a wonderful bonus.”

We asked Joyce to share her thoughts on biking and fitness with us:

When did you take up biking? I got my first 2-wheel bike at age 6 and have been riding ever since. About 5 years ago, my husband and I joined the Evanston Bike Club, and we began riding longer distances as we discovered new places to ride. We both found riding in a group to be very enjoyable and challenging—weather permitting, we spend most weekends on group rides. I have built up my endurance and speed as a result of riding with the club.

How many races/distance events have you done?  I have not done any races—my riding is purely for pleasure rather than competition. I have been on about a dozen longer distance rides (about 50 miles or more) over the past couple of years.    

What cities has your biking taken you to?  Or places off the beaten path….. Most of my rides have been local, but some of my out of town cycling trips have included San Francisco, Napa Valley, Portland, ME, the Kal-Haven Trail near South Haven, MI, and the Indiana Dunes. There are a lot of great bike paths and routes in the Chicago area—my favorites include a ride from Evanston to the Middlefork Savannah in Lake Forest and a ride along the Fox River starting in Elgin.

How many hours a week do you bike? How many miles in a typical ride? I generally ride about 10-15 hours a week, depending on the time of year. A typical ride is about 35-40 miles—sometimes longer.  During the winter months, I ride occasionally if the temperature is above 40 degrees or so. Those rides are typically shorter—as long as there is no snow or ice and the wind isn’t too brutal, riding in the Chicago area during winter can be really fun! 

What are the benefits you feel biking and exercise have added to your life? Biking has given me a sense of accomplishment—I never thought I could ride more than 20 miles in a day, let alone 100. It also helps free my mind—when I am riding on an open road, I am not thinking about work deadlines and projects. It’s a much needed diversion after a demanding work week. In general, exercise gives me a feeling of well being.

Has biking increased your circle of friends?  I have made many new friends as a result of riding with the Evanston Bike Club—it’s a supportive group, and I look forward to seeing them on my weekly rides.  Five years ago, I would never have imagined being in a bike club—but I have found that being in a club has enabled me to meet a diverse group of people who I enjoy being with. We also get together socially outside of club rides, such as going to hear jazz at local clubs.

Who or what inspires you? I am inspired by members of our club in their 70s and 80s who continue to ride on a regular basis. They are able to maintain the group’s pace and ride long distances. Some continue to log several thousand miles each year.

You stay so young and healthy-looking; do you have any advice for women over 50 in terms of diet, routines, etc.? I don’t spend much time focusing on my age—my advice is to find an activity you really enjoy that motivates and challenges you. I try to eat a healthy diet, i.e., lots of fruits and vegetables. And as John often reminds me, the trick is to “eat less and exercise more.” 

What kind of bike do you own? I have a Cannondale road bike that I purchased in 2005. When I first started riding with the club, I had a hybrid bike, which was fine for rides up and down the lakefront. However, I found that when riding with the club, I often could not keep up with the group when riding longer distances and decided that I needed a lighter bike with better components. Having a lighter weight road bike has made a big difference in my ability to maintain a decent pace and to keep up with others on group rides.  

Are there other sports you like to do? What do you do in the winter? I have participated in aerobics and strength training classes for several years at local health clubs—I also try to go to the fitness center at work during my lunch break. I especially like step classes, even though they are hard to find these days. While I occasionally use exercise machines, I prefer a group setting for exercise.  I try to do some form of exercise at least 30 minutes a day—sometimes my exercise is limited to my 1½ mile walk to and from the train station.  Overall, I have found that exercise has helped me build flexibility and strength, which make a huge difference on longer bike rides.

–Mary Pat Byrne (If you have an idea for an inspiring story, please send the details to MPB@JustANumber.com)