Who wants to live forever?

A picture of an old man with a bike

Source: © Getty Images

How many of us will be healthy enough to ride off into the golden sunset of a long retirement?

There’s no denying it – we’re all getting older. Every day that goes by is another step. But a step closer to what? Hopefully, a long and healthy old age. I turned 40 last year, and my more youthful colleagues are only too happy to remind me that old age and decay are approaching. I can take their ribbing in good spirit (who had the best 10km time last October, may I ask?) – but a recent episode of lower back pain (around the sacroiliac joint, for those of a medical bent) made more of an impression than a birthday ending in a zero. Is this the beginning of the end of my active life of cycling, squash and running?