I think some of you are missing the point.

You don't eat cupcakes.
You don't eat ice cream.
Nobody gives a shit how cool your kit is, or who made your bike, or how bling your wheels are.
You don't deserve a special race just because you're old, or because you have a job, or because you only have one gear.
There are no secrets and there are no shortcuts.
There's only one reason you go off the back, and that is because you are not good enough.
So either you ride or you don't.
It really is that simple.