Rider51

Thanks to all for the great replies (and sympathy!). The hints on building up to rides, good sleep, avoiding flat rides and spinners is all good. Also just mentally accepting (and preparing) to take it easy and just ride 3-5 big rides when I'm ready in the day, and relaxing the rest of the time, is also great advice. Though like Mr. Peabody, I'm also getting a bit older and intolerant of the crowds at times. For me this "condition" came on rather quickly, as I alluded to in my OP. At 46 I rode everything at SFMM without a problem. At 47 we rode the teacups, three of us, and were spinning insanely fast, and I was okay. The next year I was like a teenager at SFGA. El Toro? No problem! Kinga Ka? Woohoo! Seeing stars on Nitro? I love it! Let's go again! Now, less than five years later, I have to really prep for rides, even easier ones it seems. The new (and theoretically smooth) Wicked Cyclone at SFNE took me probably a half-hour to recover from this year. Maybe it was an hour. And once was enough. Thanks also to Doing it For the Fame, for the other excellent, related thread. Oh, and thank God for waterparks!

Hi everyone. I've been a member here for a while but I'm not sure if I've posted much at all. I tried doing a search for this topic, but couldn't find anything specific. If I'm wrong, the mods can steer me that way, and merge this into that thread. Basically, when I was a boy I went to Disneyland and Magic Mountain (Revolution just opened!) and it was the happiest time of my life. I didn't get to go back for years, many years. So when I did, I couldn't get enough. I became a junkie like everyone else here. I've been to both coasts, and ridden so many rides I've lost count. Familiar story, I'm sure. But now, I'm over 50, and despite the fact I still wish I was 15, I've found in the last 2-3 years I just can't handle rides the way I used to be able to, and I used to be able to handle anything, any ride. But now, the spirit is willing, but the body can't take it. And I'm not just talking about the Vekoma "hang and bang", or really old wooden coasters. I've found that gigacoasters and just other fun rides take their toll. My back seems to hold up okay, but I get somewhat concussed, my brain seems to go one way, my head the other, I even get a little nauseous at times. Anyone else have this problem? Any solutions? I know, everyone gets old, such is life. But I'm hoping others have at least little secrets I don't know. Be that hydration tips, stretching, exercise regimens, sleep regimens, meditation(?), Dramamine(???) or something else, can help me extend my youthful years enough to keep riding these rides just a little longer.