Tom Manly: Keeping up at 75

Cathy Davies has ridden more than 500,000 miles around the world over almost six decades. She recently turned 70 and, despite being blind in one eye from glaucoma, bought a new Honda Gold Wing. She and her fiancé, whom she met through the Iron Butt Association, are planning more international rides. Cathy has no intention of slowing down. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

Is one motorcycle enough? Not for most of us. There's something addictive about motorcycles – we need another, then maybe another. Forget the idea of a "forever bike."  Some new bike will always catch our eye. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

Tom Manly spent his career as a commercial airline pilot. Now retired and approaching 75, Tom's passion is motorcycles. He owns 11 bikes – including a three Ducatis, two BMWs, a Triumph, KTM, and a new Harley-Davidson Super Glide. Tom keeps up with the latest in motorcycles, gear, and navigation devices.  Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

Long distance motorcycle rides offer rewards and challenges. I recently returned from a 5,100-mile round trip ride from Dallas to Quebec with two friends. We witnessed some beautiful sights in the 14 states we visited—and ran into torrential rain. Long rides let us experience the highs and lows of motorcycling and create lasting memories. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

Bill Richardson rides a motorcycle at age 94 and has no plans to stop. He got his license three years ago and taught himself to ride by watching YouTube videos. He's normally a cautious rider, but once got his Honda Rebel 500 up to 98 mph. When he turns 100, he plans to crank it up to 100 mph. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

Motorcycle racing is a dangerous, demanding sport that usually attracts young riders. Elizabeth Waltman, surprisingly, took it up at age 66 after decades of street riding. Now 70, she teaches others how to ride on the track. Track skills make a person a better street rider, Elizabeth says. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

One of the best places to ride in Texas is Big Bend. It's an expansive area in the southwestern U.S. that features mountains, deserts and canyons carved by the Rio Grande River. Big Bend National Park serves as the centerpiece, stretching for 1,250 square miles. A recent visit revealed the area's rugged beauty and timeless appeal. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

Some motorcyclists love the camaraderie of a group ride. But others prefer the flexibility and solitude of solo riding. John Butrus is so passionate about riding alone that he formed a Facebook group called Solo Motorcyclist, and it's attracted 44,000 members around the world. John discusses the appeal—and some of the drawbacks—of riding solo. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

There's no better way to see the country than on a motorcycle. The only problem:  with so many wonderful sites to see, how do we make time for them all? Obviously, we can't. As we age, we're faced with prioritizing our bucket list and enjoying the rides we can take. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].

In this episode of RITS, Ed continues to ponder the risks and rewards of riding following the motorcycle death of his friend Tom Moffat. He raises valid concerns about the safety of riding and offers the views of prominent motorcyclists on the subject. Among them is Mark Barnes, author of Why We Ride and host of the MOA podcast The Ride Inside. Riding Into The Sunset is brought to you by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and hosted by journalist & author Ed Housewright. Reach us by email at [email protected].