The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Quick Take: You can do everything right and still watch a dream ride unravel. The work isn’t wasted. Change the goal, keep the miles, move forward. Last Updated: November 1, 2025 When the Big Ride Falls Apart You train hard. You log the miles, study the route, check the gear, and show up ready. Whether it’s a multi-day tour or a one-day event, you feel stronger than ever. You’re not just prepared—you’re excited. And then… it all falls apart. I know that feeling. I spent more than a year preparing for a San Diego-to-Las Cruces tour—over 6,000 miles of training rides. Thirty-four miles into day one, a rag blew off the road and straight into my rear derailleur. In seconds it snapped the mech, twisted the chain, and broke multiple spokes. The bike was done—unrideable. I stood on the shoulder staring at a dream that just evaporated because of a gust of wind. The first wave is disbelief. Then anger. Then the silence where you wonder if you wasted all that time. But the...

Last Updated: November 1, 2025 Night cycling can be peaceful, cooler, and surprisingly practical—if you set up for visibility and predictability. I ride plenty of pre-dawn and post-sunset miles myself, and the rules below are what actually keep you safe. Quick Take: For senior cyclists, safe night riding = bright lights (front ≥700 lumens + steady rear), reflective coverage that moves as you pedal, clear-lens glasses, layered clothing for temps, familiar routes, and predictable riding with legal signals. Tell someone your route and carry a charged phone + mini repair kit. Lights: Your Primary Safety System Front light: minimum 700 lumens for unlit roads; 1000+ lumens makes rough surfaces and potholes far easier to read. Angle it slightly down to avoid blinding others. Rear light: a steady (not only flashing) rear light is easier to track for drivers. Daytime-visible models are a plus at dusk. Side visibility: reflective ankle bands, spok...

Quick fixes that keep you rolling. Last updated: November 7, 2025 Quick Answer: You don’t need a mechanic for every squeak or skip. With a few basic tools, these five simple fixes will solve most common ride stoppers and save you time and money. Disclosure: I may earn a small commission from links on this page at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 5 Bike Repairs You Can Do Without a Shop Visit These are the fixes I actually perform on the roadside or in my garage. They’re simple, repeatable, and don’t require a full workbench. Learn them once and you’ll ride calmer, farther, and cheaper. 1) Fix a Flat Tire (Tube or Tubeless) Carry the basics: two tire levers , a spare tube , a patch kit , and either a mini pump or CO₂ inflator . Tube setup: pop off one bead with levers, remove tube, check the tire for thorns/wire, install new tube with a little air, re-seat bead, inflate. Tubeless: spin t...

Last updated: November 10, 2025 Readers’ all-time favorites — stories, tips, safety, and gear. Top 10 Most Read Posts on The Old Guy Bicycle Blog Quick Take: Based on StatCounter entry traffic. No homepage, no duplicates — just the posts readers keep coming back to. Bookmark this page. I refresh it whenever the leaderboard changes. Cycling for Seniors: Smart Tips for Riders Over 60 Practical, low-risk ways to ride more, hurt less, and actually enjoy it after 60. Should a 70-Year-Old Ride a Bike? Straight talk on safety, fitness, and how to keep cycling into your seventies. The Feeling I Get When I Ride My Bike on Rainy Days Why some wet rides become core memories — and how to do them safer. How Riding a Bicycle 100 Miles a Week Changed My Health ...

Quick Answer: Long rides aren’t about escaping boredom—they’re about finding space to think. The rhythm, the solitude, the sound of the tires—cycling gives your mind room to breathe, reflect, and reset. What Cyclists Really Think About on Long Rides People ask me sometimes, “What do you think about out there?”—usually with a curious look, as if pedaling for hours must feel like watching paint dry. But it’s not like that at all. The longer the ride, the more my mind opens up. The road doesn’t bore me—it speaks to me. It quiets the noise of everyday life and lets the thoughts that matter most rise to the surface. The Warm-Up Thoughts At first, it’s all about the basics: breathing, cadence, terrain, and weather. How do the legs feel today? What’s the wind up to? Those are the mental check-ins every cyclist knows well. But once the rhythm sets in, those practical thoughts fade into the background. The road becomes a moving meditation. The Journey Back Through Time That’s when m...

 Cycling Gear I Recommend: Real picks from 150,000+ miles of riding. I choose gear for safety, comfort, and durability—not hype. If you buy through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Safety & Visibility Helmet: Giro Fixture MIPS II — reliable fit and protection. See options Rear Radar: Garmin Varia — game-changer in traffic. Check availability Lights: High-lumen front + daytime-flash rear. Front lights | Rear lights Reflective Ankle Bands: Cheap, light, very visible. My go-to style Comfort & Contact Points Bib Shorts: #1 comfort upgrade for long rides. Men | Women Ergonomic Saddle: Pick shape that matches your sit bones. Popular choices Suspension Seatpost: Smooths rough chip-seal. Solid options Gloves: Gel padding + proper fit to prevent numbness. Shop gloves Data, Training & Navigation ...

Quick Take: Age isn’t the stop sign. With steady miles, a dash of intensity, and honest recovery, cyclists are pushing strong into their 80s and 90s. Last Updated: November 4, 2025 Age Is No Limit: How Cyclists Are Defying Time and Pedaling Into Their 90s Let’s cut the fluff. Yes, VO 2 max drifts down over time. Recovery takes longer. Muscle doesn’t hang around for free. But cyclists who keep showing up—riding often, sprinkling in smart intensity, and actually recovering—are staying shockingly strong well past 70. A growing number are still turning pedals in their 80s and even 90s. Not unicorns—just consistent riders who refuse to hand the keys to the calendar. What the Evidence (and Real Riders) Actually Show Use it, don’t lose it: Aerobic capacity and strength decline mostly when you stop training. Keep riding and you preserve a surprising amount of top-end. Immune & independence benefits: Regular cycling is linked with more robust immune markers ...