Cycling for Life: Staying Active, Inspired, and Strong at Any Age
After more than 50 years and over 155,000 miles on a bicycle, I’ve learned one truth:
Cycling after 60 and now 70 isn’t about chasing youth — it’s about refusing to surrender it.
For five decades, the bicycle has been my health plan, my therapist, my weight-loss tool, and my lifeline during the hardest years of my life. It has carried me through retirement, stress, grief, boredom, and the fear of getting old and fragile. It has rebuilt my lungs, strengthened my heart, and cleared my mind more times than I can count.
That’s why I write this blog: to help older riders stay active, inspired, healthy, and on the road — without gimmicks, ego, or excuses.
The One Non-Negotiable: A Quality Bicycle Helmet
If you take nothing else from this post, take this: a good bicycle helmet is non-negotiable. I don’t care how experienced you are, how careful you think you ride, or how many miles you’ve logged. One bad fall can change everything — especially as we get older.
These are the helmets I trust for myself and recommend to other riders:
- Premium Pick – Giro Helios Spherical Helmet: Lightweight, well-ventilated, and built with advanced impact technology. This is the “treat your head like it matters” option I recommend for serious road and long-distance riders.
👉 Check current price of the Giro Helios Spherical Helmet - Budget-Friendly Favorite – Giro Fixture MIPS II Helmet: A fantastic everyday helmet for casual rides, gravel, and fitness riding. Comfortable, good coverage, and an easy upgrade from older, worn-out lids.
👉 See Giro Fixture MIPS II options on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I use myself or trust for real-world riding.
Cycling After 60: The Hard Truth
Getting older doesn’t magically make cycling easier. Joints get stiff. Recovery slows down. Motivation disappears some days. And it’s easy to wonder whether we’re still capable of the miles we used to ride.
But here’s the part nobody tells seniors:
Age isn’t the barrier — inactivity is.
If you’re moving, you’re winning.
Start Small — But Start Now
You don’t have to ride like you did at 30. You just have to ride.
- If you’re new to cycling: Ride around the block today. Tomorrow, ride a little farther. Consistency beats hero rides every time.
- If you’re returning after time off: Two or three short rides a week is a great place to start. Let your body remember what it feels like to move again.
- If you’re experienced: Train with purpose. That could be distance, elevation, intervals, or preparing for a multi-day tour.
The enemy isn’t age or ability.
The enemy is waiting for “perfect conditions.”
Pain Is Information, Not Defeat
Stiff knees don’t automatically mean you’re finished. A sore back doesn’t mean you’re fragile. A little post-ride fatigue doesn’t mean the bike is “too much for you now.” Older cyclists succeed because we adapt, not because we’re lucky.
Here’s what has kept me riding into my 70s:
- Getting a proper bike fit so my position matches my body — not the other way around.
- Building in stretching and basic strength work to support my knees, hips, and back.
- Using physical therapy when something doesn’t feel right instead of trying to “tough it out.”
- Respecting rest days and sleep instead of treating them like weakness.
Ignoring pain gets you hurt. Listening to it keeps you riding.
The One Rule I Won’t Break: Helmet Every Ride
When we’re younger, it’s easy to feel invincible. A crash is “no big deal.” We bounce. We heal fast. We joke about road rash.
That changes as we get older. Bones are more fragile. Recovery is slower. A head injury at 70 can be life-changing in a way we don’t walk away from.
That’s why I have one rule I don’t break — ever:
If I’m on the bike, I’m wearing a helmet. No exceptions. No short cuts. No “it’s just a quick ride.”
Helmets don’t make you weak or scared. They make you smart. And if you’re still riding after 60, that’s a privilege worth protecting.
Upgrade Your Helmet When You Upgrade Your Goals
If your helmet is more than a few years old, has visible damage, or predates modern safety tech, it’s time to retire it. Your brain is worth more than saving a few dollars.
- Giro Helios Spherical (Road / Distance Riders): Ideal for long days in the saddle, hot climates, and riders who want top-tier impact protection and ventilation.
👉 View the Giro Helios Spherical Helmet on Amazon - Giro Fixture MIPS II (Everyday & Trail Riders): Great for fitness rides, casual pavement loops, and light gravel. Solid coverage and value for the price.
👉 Shop Giro Fixture MIPS II helmets on Amazon
You don’t need the most expensive helmet on the planet — but you do need a modern, properly fitting one. Pick the level that matches your riding, and wear it every single ride.
Change Your Ride — Change Your Mind
When motivation fades, variety saves you. Even as a long-distance rider, I’ve had stretches where the bike felt like a chore. What brought me back wasn’t willpower — it was changing how I rode.
- Choosing new routes instead of the same loop every time.
- Mixing in short, moderate-intensity rides on busy days instead of skipping entirely.
- Adding the occasional gravel road or bike path just to feel something different under the tires.
- Planning longer tours or destination rides to give the training miles a clear purpose.
Cycling shouldn’t feel like a job. It should feel like freedom.
Count the Wins That Actually Matter
At our age, I don’t care much about Strava trophies or segment crowns. What I care about is staying on the road, staying independent, and staying healthy for my family.
Real wins look like this:
- Finishing a ride pain-free when you weren’t sure you could.
- Climbing a hill you used to walk — even if you’re slower than last year.
- Feeling your stress melt away halfway through a quiet solo ride.
- Choosing the bike instead of the couch on a tired day.
Progress isn’t measured in watts. It’s measured in pride.
You Belong Here
I’ve met riders in their 70s and 80s finishing century events. I’ve watched beginners in their 60s fall in love with their very first road bike. And I’ve seen the fear in new riders who whisper, “Am I too old for this?”
The answer is no.
You are not too old. You are too alive.
If you want to ride, you’re a cyclist. End of discussion.
Want Weekly Proof You’re Not Alone?
If you like honest talk from a real cyclist — not a brand, not an influencer, just a 70-year-old rider who still loves long miles — subscribe below.
I share weekly posts about:
- Senior cycling performance, comfort, and endurance.
- Weight loss and health changes driven by consistent riding.
- Touring stories from the road — good and bad.
- Gear that actually works for older riders, including safety essentials like helmets.
- Straight talk about staying active into your 60s, 70s, and beyond.
If you’re ready to keep pedaling into the next chapter of your life, you’re in the right place.
Let’s ride it out together.
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