Cyclist celebrates 80-year mark with 80-mile ride
By Jesse Phelps

People on their bicycles have become a common sight around the Ojai Valley. Periodically, one can even see road riders attempting to conquer the pass over Highway 150 or the bike trail all the way to Ventura. But rarely, if ever, does one see an octogenarian making such a ride.

Well, as his associates know, architect Marvin Beck is no ordinary octogenarian. On his 80th birthday, Beck took the occasion to gather his riding partners together for an 80-mile ride, all the way to the end of the bike trail and beyond. The group, which started bigger but ended with five dedicated riders crossing the finish line, went from Beck's East End abode to Ventura, then up the coast to Summerland, then back again to Ojai.

The riders left at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning and were back by 2 p.m. to enjoy festivities organized by Beck's wife, Barbara.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Beck's passion for cycling is that it didn't develop until he was 67 years old. "For my 67th birthday, I bought myself a bike. That's when I started to ride," said Beck, after crossing the finish line to applause from the gathered throng. "And I find that after a ride, I just feel so invigorated."

He said that the group varies but usually they meet at Starbucks in Carpinteria and ride to Ojai from there. "I kind of fall behind a little bit now. I never used to but now I fall behind," said a humble Beck.

His fellow riders, however, hardly notice. Rick Loy remembers when he first met Beck. "We were at Starbucks and I saw this old guy come up and say, 'Hey how you doing? Come join us for a ride.' And so I thought, 'Oh well, we'll have to slow our ride way down.' He just kept up, he was strong. He stayed right on our wheel the whole time. Absolutely amazing. So I have a new hero."

For her part, Barbara is impressed with her husband's ability to keep going strong, saying he provides a source of constant inspiration.

Barbara said the couple lived for many years in Los Angeles before moving to Ojai about three years ago. Her "very closest friends - her husband was a practicing physician and she was on every board in L.A." moved to Ojai first. "I really thought that maybe they were certifiable," she said. But every time she'd bring it up, Barbara says, Marvin would change the subject." Until, that is, they visited those friends in Ojai. "He sat down on their porch and ... said 'I just want to sit in this chair for the rest of my life.'"

As it turns out, Beck is now equally at home on a bicycle chair.
On this day, he arrived home to a banquet and festive scene with live music and a great variety of shady spots to enjoy the rest of the day. Beck gave credit to his wife for the enthusiastic welcome. "Barbara does a wonderful job," he said. "When it comes to a party, nobody beats Barbara."

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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