The Erotic Highway
Dear MJ63987,
While I understand your frustration, it seems to me that you have been exposed to some good old human mating strategies. From an evolutionary standpoint, the scenario you describe makes total sense.
You see, the younger types are still in the market for a "primary" mate. As such, they signal their availability by smiling and giving off cues - they are, in an evolutionary sense, "available." But please be aware that WOMEN ALWAYS DIRECT TRAFFIC in the initial stages. Your job, should you sign up to do it, is to COMPLETELY IGNORE THEM. Yup, that's right. Don't pay dem bitches no mind! 
I know it's tough, but just ignore them until you show them that you are so desired by women in general that you don't give a rat's behind about some female making goo-goo eyes at you. THEN, their competition gene gets going, and they will redouble their efforts - if they truly are interested. This will then slowly escalate until one of you - in this day and age, either one of you could make a first move - begins to signal an interest in further involvement. But, if you reciprocate before THEY are ready, then you'll get exactly what you are describing - an icy shoulder. This is so that the male shouldn't get any frisky ideas. Oftentimes among chimps and other simians, you'll see this behavior among alpha versus betamales. The female chimps act coquettish, but will only respond to the alpha male. When the beta boys - or the younger, inexperienced males approach, the females chastise them or simply turn away. It's like you have to "earn your mating stripes," and muscles don't really cut it. Now, if they knew that there was a Bentley parked in the garage, that might be a different story. In our society, money signals alpha, for better or for worse.
Now why is it that the 30-40 year olds are much more relaxed about this? Quite simple, my friend. These women have more than likely already scored their "primary" mate, and are either in the market for a new one or possibly interested in "short term mating." This means exactly what it sounds like - nothing serious, just a flirt or possibly some extracurricular activity that may or may not lead to something more permanent. In other words, these women have already done their initial mating dance. They are seasoned primates, cunning chimps if you will, and they know what they want, since they already had a taste of what mated life means.
If you really want to know more about this, I'd suggest an easy read, like David Buss' book "The Evolution of Desire." There, you can see why the 98.2% of DNA we share with our simian cousins plays out in the human arena even today, despite our superior neocortical faculties.
In the meantime...work on your financial assets as much as you do on your muscles and see if it changes the picture... 
the Love Goddess
-- Modified on 7/13/2008 3:29:13 PM