The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

When the World Sleeps, I Ride Sometimes, life gets in the way of our plans—and as a cyclist, I’ve learned to adapt. On busy days when I can’t fit in a daytime ride, I turn to the night. There’s something magical about cycling under the stars, especially on a long, quiet country road. The cool air, the moonlight, the solitude—it’s almost meditative. But as peaceful as it is, night cycling comes with real risks . Visibility drops. Hazards are harder to spot. And let’s face it—drivers don’t always expect to see a cyclist at 10 p.m. That’s why I’ve developed a personal checklist of night cycling safety tips that keep me safe, seen, and still able to enjoy the ride. 1. Be Seen or Don’t Ride Visibility is everything when you’re biking after dark. I light myself up like a Christmas tree—because if a driver can’t see me, nothing else matters. Here’s my go-to setup: A powerful white headlight A bright red taillight Reflective spoke covers ( like these ) Reflecti...

  When it comes to touring cyclists who have covered the most miles ever, there are a few names that come to mind. However, one cyclist stands out above the rest - Heinz Stücke. Heinz Stücke, born in Germany in 1940, started his cycling journey in 1962 at the age of 22. He set out on his first tour from his hometown of Hövelhof, Germany, with the intention of cycling through Europe. He pedaled through France, Spain, and Portugal, and eventually reached Morocco. He continued his journey through Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and soon found himself cycling around the world. Stücke's cycling adventure didn't stop there, as he continued to tour for over 50 years, covering a staggering 648,000 kilometers (or approximately 403,000 miles) in total. This distance is equivalent to cycling around the equator over 16 times, or making more than 15 trips from New York to Los Angeles. Stücke's journey took him through over 200 countries, and he was always eager to learn about differe...