How Could I Become a Superbike Rider at 65

Crazy question right!

We were at a very special ladies 65th birthday party recently and one of our more lunatic friends a keen motorcyclist, and track racer in his earlier years, asked this question in all seriousness, admittedly after the sinking of a few alcoholic beverages.

It made me start thinking, the whole purpose of this website is to encourage people to push their limits and wherever possible follow any dreams they may still have.

My dream isn’t to ride a superbike, although I do love speed,I have been lucky in my life, I have driven fast cars, skied and many, many years ago did a toboggan run.

One thing on my to do list, is to sky dive and get back on the ski slopes. I have been thinking about the possibility of jumping for charity http://bhf.org.uk who have been a great source of help and information.

You’re 64. You’re fitter than you were at 40. You have the dream of leaning a Superbike into a corner, jumping from a plane, or hitting Class IV rapids.

Then you remember: “I have a pacemaker.” Most people think that’s the end of the conversation.

I’m here to tell you it’s just the beginning of a different strategy. If you can afford it and you’re fit enough—do it before it’s too late.

So if there are any readers who would like to join me.

Or (and I really hope there are) any of you, who already do crazy things in your sixties or older, I would love to hear and share your stories.

I am currently researching the realities, this is what I’ve found so far, I will keep you updated.

Here is how to navigate the physical, mental, and “insurance-shaped” hurdles of senior adventure.

---

1. Start with the “Why” (and the “Why Not?”)

Ask yourself why you want this. Is it the thrill? To show the grandkids you’re cooler than their TikTok idols? Or simply to prove that a medical device isn’t a “stop” sign? Whatever the reason, hold onto it. It’s the fuel you’ll need when the paperwork gets boring.

2. The “Pre-Flight” Physical: Science over Superstition

Adventure sports are physically demanding—balance, core strength, and reflexes matter. Before throwing a leg over a 1000cc rocket or a ski lift:

• Get a Full Check: Make sure your body is ready for the G-forces and the heart rate spikes.
• The “Old Pro” Training: Pilates (so I am told) is there any group in Hertfordshire who would take me on?.
• Swimming (which I do sometimes) work wonders for the posture and core strength needed for high-octane sports.
• The Cardiac Data: If you’re fitter than at 40, prove it. Know your Resting Heart Rate and VO2 Max. High-performance engines need data, and so do you.

---

3. The Elephant in the Room: The Insurance “Boss Level”

The biggest hurdle isn’t the mountain; it’s the underwriter’s spreadsheet. Insurance companies see a “60+ with a pacemaker” and want to run. Here is how to win:

• Skip the Comparison Sites: They are built for “average” people. You aren’t average. Go to Medical Travel Specialists or Adventure Brokers.
• The “Specialist Review”: Get a letter from your cardiologist stating you are “Clinically Stable” and “Cleared for High-Intensity Activity.”
• The Exclusion Pivot: If they won’t cover your heart, ask them to cover everything except the heart. You’ll be covered for the broken leg or the lost gear, which is often the bigger statistical risk anyway.

---

🛠️ Where to Call First (The “Non-Standard” Specialists)

If you are in the UK or looking for international coverage, skip the “Big Name” TV insurers and try these:

Company Type	Examples	Why them?
Medical Specialists	Staysure / AllClear	They have built-in algorithms for pacemakers.
Adventure Specialists	Campbell Irvine / Dogtag	They understand that “Extreme” doesn’t always mean “Dangerous.”
Sports Brokers	Manning UK	They provide tailored cover for amateur racing and high-risk sports.

💡 Pro-Tip: The “Medical Exclusion” Pivot

If a company refuses to cover your heart, ask for a “Pre-existing Condition Exclusion.” This means they cover you for broken bones, lost luggage, and air ambulance for non-cardiac issues, but they won’t pay if the pacemaker fails. For many fit 64+ -year-olds, this is the “sweet spot” that allows them to get out there legally and affordably.

4. High-Tech Protection for High-Tech Hearts

We live in the future—use the gear to your advantage.

• Mechanical Protection: If you’re worried about impacts to your device site, invest in a Pacemaker Guard (Vital Beat). It’s a specialized shield that disperses impact energy.
• Airbag Technology: Whether you are skiing or riding a Superbike, Airbag Vests are game-changers. They reduce chest and rib injury risks by over 90%.
• Electronic Aids: Modern bikes have Traction Control; modern parachutes have Automatic Activation Devices. Use every “safety net” the 21st century offers.
• Vital Beat is available in the UK, and it is widely considered the gold standard for active “bionic” athletes. They actually have a dedicated partnership with the UK charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), which makes them very reputable in the British medical and sports community.
  Here is the breakdown of what you’ll need and what it costs to get it to your door in 2026.
  
  💰 Vital Beat UK Pricing & Kits
  The system works as a “Shield + Shirt” combo. The shirt has a precision-placed pocket, and the D3O shield (the “impact-reactive” part) slides inside.
  Item
  Est. Price (Inc. UK Shipping)
  Best For…
  The “Sport” Full Kit
  £185 – £200 (€219)
  Everything. Includes the base shield + an extra “Sport Shield” for high-impact activities like biking or rafting.
  Basic Comfort Kit
  £160 – £170 (€189)
  Everyday protection. Includes one shirt and one D3O shield.
  Extra Shirts
  £85 – £95 (€99)
  Spares for multi-day trips (e.g., a skiing week).

---

5. The “Golden Rule” of Adrenaline

Start Small, Then Go Big. Jumping straight onto a Ducati Panigale or a double-black diamond run on day one? Maybe not.

• Book Advanced Training days.
• Use Private Coaches who understand the mechanics of an older (but fit!) body.
• Build your skill first, horsepower later.

---

🏁 The Bottom Line

Living with a pacemaker or being “over the hill” doesn’t mean you have to stay in the valley. It means you have to be smarter, better equipped, and more persistent than the youngsters.

The goal isn’t just to add years to your life, but life to your years.

If anyone is interested I have an insurance checklist of questions they will ask including what information they will need from your doctor/cardiologist.

Ropho — Purpose, Courage & Still Showing Up

“Search for a hero inside yourself.”

Heather Small sang it years ago, and like many good lyrics, it quietly hangs around in your head until one day it suddenly makes sense.

As I approach 64 and prepare to launch this website and blog, I had a conversation today — one I’ve had more than once recently.

It went something like this:

“Shouldn’t you be slowing down now?”

It wasn’t meant unkindly.
It was said with concern, maybe even affection (maybe?)
But it stopped me in my tracks.

Slowing down… or tuning out?

I tried to explain that what I want to do isn’t about chasing success, money, or proving anything.

I want to build something that gives people over 60:

• a place to think
• a place to talk
• a sounding board
• a sense they’re not alone
• A space where personal, lifestyle, business, confidence, health and purpose can be talked about honestly.
• Where ideas can be shared.
• Where people are reminded that dreaming doesn’t have an expiry date.

The response?

A smile.
A pause.
And then…

“You’re mad.”

That was the fourth time in two weeks I’d been told that.

Instead of putting me off, it convinced me I might be on to something.

When “mad” really means “uncomfortable”

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years:

When people say “you’re mad”, what they often mean is:

That wouldn’t work for me.

I’d be too scared to do that.

I thought life was supposed to get smaller now.

Society quietly teaches us that later life should be about less:

less ambition

less risk

less curiosity

less energy

less contribution

But what if that’s wrong?

What if later life is actually about more, just differently?

More meaning.
More honesty.
More choice.
More freedom to say, “this matters to me.”

The hero isn’t loud or flashy

The hero Heather Small was singing about isn’t wearing a cape.

It’s not about reinvention for the sake of it.
It’s not about hustle culture or grinding until exhaustion.

The hero inside yourself is quieter than that.

It’s the voice that says:

I’m not done yet.

I still care.

I still want to contribute.

I want to use what I’ve learned.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do after 60 is to start something new when the world expects you to stop.

Why Ropho exists

ROPHO isn’t about pretending ageing doesn’t exist.
It’s about engaging with it honestly.

With humour.
With realism.
With kindness.

It’s about pleasure and responsibility.
Dreams and discipline.
Hope and practicality.

And above all, it’s about reminding people — myself included — that:

You don’t age out of purpose.
You age into it.

If this resonates with you…

If you’ve been told to slow down when you feel like you’re only just understanding what matters…
If you’ve been quietly thinking “there’s more I want to do”…
If you’ve been labelled mad for still having ideas…

Welcome.

You’re in the right place.

Final thought

Maybe the real madness isn’t starting something new at 64.

Maybe it’s believing that curiosity, creativity, and contribution have a sell-by date.

So yes — I’ll keep searching for the hero inside myself.

And if this website helps others find theirs too,
then being “mad” seems like a pretty good place to be.

Ropho — Health, Pleasure & Balance in Your Sixties, can you eat healthily in a restaurant, one of the great questions?

One of the greatest pleasures in life, at least for me, is eating out.

Not Michelin-star, dress-code, remortgage-the-house gastronomy.

I’m talking about a good local restaurant or a proper food pub.

Fresh produce, friendly service, and somewhere comfortable, where you can taste the food and still hear the person sitting opposite you.

We’re lucky here in the UK, despite what people say, there are fantastic eateries everywhere.

Whether you love traditional British dishes, a cracking curry, or, like me… Italian.

Beautiful pasta. A decent steak. Real coffee. Warm bread you swear you won’t touch… then touch.

But here’s the challenge:

How do we enjoy eating out without, expanding our waistbands further?

“Just eat a salad!” someone will shout.

Yes, but Mr. Calorie is often hiding in the dressing, the cheese, the creamy sauce poured politely by a smiling waiter.

So the answer isn’t restriction as is often the case it’s all about balance.

---

Preparation (The Healthy Halo Day)

Today I’ve been very good, preparing for tonight like a man entering a marathon:

• Walked an insane number of steps
• Low-fat Greek yoghurt with blueberries for breakfast
• Tuna & cucumber wholemeal sandwich for lunch
• Drank enough water to irrigate a small garden
• Did 45 minutes of resistance training
• Then sat at my laptop for six hours (balance, right?)
• Dog walked. Steps topped up. Feeling righteous.

Healthy body? Check.
Calorie budget? Saved.
Smugness level? High.

Which means…
Perfect evening for an Italian restaurant.

Did we plan ahead? Of course not.
Last-minute booking, quick taxi (raining, no driving excuse!).
We arrive. Found a table. Menus appear.

Then the first difficult question:

“What would you like to drink?”

This is where intentions and real life wrestle against each other.

We’d planned to be sensible.
Maybe a glass of wine each.

But the waiter says they have a special Merlot, hand-picked by the owner.
You know the one, described in poetic detail.
Black cherries. Velvet finish. Oak barrels. Irresistible.

Sharon looks at me.
I look at Sharon.

“This particular Merlot is sold by the bottle.”

Of course it is, It would be rude not to indulge wouldn’t it!

• MyFitnessPal
• Bottle of Merlot: approx. 640 calories.
• Half for me (I promise). 320.
• Today’s calories so far: 897.
• Left: 1475.
• Wine fits.
• So far, so good.

Starter: Yes please.

---

So… can you eat healthily in a restaurant?

Absolutely — if you make small choices that balance enjoyment with awareness.

Some realistic tips (realistic meaning “still fun”):

Starters

• Choose tomato-based soups, prawns, bruschetta, cured meats, olives
• Avoid deep-fried everything unless worth it
• Share starters — more variety, fewer calories

Mains

• Grilled or baked over deep-fried
• Swap chips for salad or half-and-half
• Tomato sauces instead of cream
• Add extra greens — volume without guilt
• Portion too big? Take half home for lunch tomorrow

Dessert

• Share one
• Or skip and enjoy another glass of wine
• Or skip nothing and enjoy your life — your choice

Wine

• Alternate with water
• Slow pace, savour it
• Good wine, oh well more wine

---

Health without punishment

After the meal:

• Short walk aids digestion & blood sugar
• Water before bed
• No guilt, one meal doesn’t ruin everything
• Consistency beats perfection

Health is built over months, not meals.

---

Why this matters to me

Since my pacemaker, I’m conscious of balance,
health, happiness, food, movement, pleasure.

I don’t want to live a life of “No.”
I want a life of “Yes — sensibly.”

Because joy matters.
Connection matters.
Good food with someone you love matters.

---

Final thought

You can eat out, enjoy wine, and stay healthy.
It isn’t about restriction. It’s about awareness, habit & balance.

Not diet. Not punishment.
Just living well but with pleasure.

Don’t forget to email me your stories of eating out healthily.

Body Image in Later Life: Does It Still Matter?

 As we get older, many of us like to say,
“I don’t care what people think anymore”, body image is not important anymore.

We wear what we want, we stop chasing trends,
we tell ourselves we’re comfortable in our own skin.

But is that always true?

Does how we see our bodies, still affect how we see our lives,
or do we judge success by confidence and contentment, or by appearances, comparisons, and expectations we pretend no longer matter?

When Body Image Never Really Left Me

My relationship with body image started very early.

I was born with a sunken chest, pectus excavatum a structural deformity where the breastbone sits inward rather than outward.

From as far back as I can remember, taking my shirt off felt uncomfortable, school PE, swimming,the beach.

Moments that should have been carefree became moments of self-consciousness.

I learned early how powerful body awareness can be, and how long it stays with you.

This is something we don’t talk about enough, body image doesn’t disappear with age, it evolves.

Even in our sixties and beyond, we still live in bodies that change, reflect our health, carry our past, and interact with the world.

The mirror may hold less power than it once did, but it never completely loses it.

Changing Bodies, Changing Priorities

Ageing brings changes we can’t negotiate with,hair thins or greys, skin softens, muscles weaken, posture shifts.
Joints complain more loudly than they used to.

Illness, injury, or surgery can accelerate these changes, sometimes forcing us to confront parts of ourselves we weren’t ready to acknowledge.

Yet ageing also offers something valuable: perspective.

Now in my sixties (although I don’t always act it), I care far less about how my body looks, and far more about what it allows me to do.

Can I move comfortably?
Can I travel?
Can I work, laugh, think clearly, enjoy life?

Wrinkles and scars start to feel less like flaws and more like evidence of survival.

The Social Mirror We Still Live With

Our body image doesn’t exist in isolation.

We live in a culture that worships youth and quietly sidelines ageing bodies.

Advertising still pushes “anti-ageing” as if getting older is a problem to fix rather than a privilege to experience.

But that narrative is slowly shifting.

More older voices are pushing back, more real faces are appearing,more people are saying, this is what ageing actually looks like.

Community matters here, friends, family, peers who reflect acceptance rather than judgement. At any age, we absorb the messages around us.

Health, Identity, and the Ageing Body

In later life, health and body image are tightly connected.

Chronic illness, mobility issues, weight changes, medication, scars, all can reshape how we see ourselves.

For some, this brings grief or frustration. For others, resilience and adaptation.

Sometimes positivity means redefining what healthy looks like.

It’s not perfection, or aesthetics, instead it’s capability, independence and presence.

Relationships Matter More Than We Admit

Partners, family, children, grandchildren and friends,they all influence how we see ourselves.

A kind comment can reinforce confidence, a careless one can reopen old doubts.

Honest conversations about ageing, health, and self-image help bridge generations and remind us that none of us are navigating this alone.

Nurturing a Healthier Body Image After 60

A positive relationship with your body doesn’t mean loving every change, it means respecting the body that carries you.

Some gentle reminders that help:

• Practice self-compassion — notice feelings without judgement
• Focus on function, not flaws — movement, energy, independence
• Choose positive influences — people and media that value real life
• Challenge stereotypes — ageing is not decline by default
• Stay active in your own way — movement builds confidence at any level
• Express yourself — wear what feels right, do what brings you joy

When It Feels Hard

If negative body image starts affecting your wellbeing, talk about it.

Friends.
Partners.
Support groups.
Professionals.

Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’re human.

Embracing the Body That Got You Here

Body image doesn’t expire with youth, It grows, It shifts, and often
it challenges us again.

But later life also offers something younger years rarely do, the chance to choose acceptance over criticism.

If sharing this story helps even one person feel less alone, then it’s worth it.

I’d genuinely love to hear your experiences, especially moments where you’ve learned to accept or even appreciate your body, despite struggles along the way.

Because if a story helps one person, that’s a win.

Navigating Breast Cancer as a Family: How to Be There for Your Wife