I Go Cycling Because I Like It — Not Because I’m Good At I
I’ve been riding for more than five decades.
I’m not fast. I don’t win races. And I’ve never once stood on a podium.
I’m 70 years old with 155,000+ road miles behind me — and I still get passed by teenagers in mismatched jerseys and retirees who look like they just rolled out of a Tour de France commercial.
And you know what? I don’t care.
I ride because I like it — not because I’m good at it.
I Don’t Need a Finish Line
I’ve never needed a medal to justify a ride.
Two wheels. A stretch of Texas road. A headwind I didn’t ask for.
That’s enough.
Some of my most meaningful rides weren’t epic tours or long mileage days. One of them was a simple spring morning here in West Texas. I was carrying a lot — mentally and emotionally. The kind of weight that doesn’t show up on a scale but still presses down on you.
So I did what I’ve done for most of my life.
I got on the bike.
No metrics. No apps. No goal pace. Just movement.
Somewhere between mile 8 and mile 12, the noise in my head quieted down. The road didn’t solve my problems. It just reminded me I was still moving forward.
That’s enough sometimes.
I’m Not Fast. I’m Consistent.
I’ve ridden through desert heat. I’ve fought headwinds that felt personal. I’ve climbed hills that made me question my life choices.
And I’ve been passed by:
- Kids on fixies
- Silver-haired legends
- A guy pulling a dog in a trailer
There was a time I cared about that.
Then I realized something important:
Speed is temporary.
Consistency builds a life.
I don’t ride to impress anyone. I ride because it keeps me steady.
At 70, steady is powerful.
My Daughter Understands
My daughter is 42 and runs ultra-distances in Albuquerque — high elevation, real terrain, real grit.
We swap endurance stories like some families swap holiday recipes.
She tells me about long trail runs. I tell her about hot, windy Plains miles outside Lubbock. We compare hydration strategies, talk about gear, and laugh at people who think we’re “suffering.”
But here’s the truth:
It’s not suffering. It’s freedom.
I Ride Because I’m Still Here
Years ago, at 275 pounds, a doctor told me I wouldn’t make it to 40 if I didn’t change.
That conversation never left me.
I’m 70 now.
And every time I swing a leg over the saddle, I remember that warning.
The rhythm of the pedals. The wind in my face. The solitude of an open road.
It reminds me I’m alive — not surviving. Alive.
To Riders Over 60
You don’t need to be fast. You don’t need to look like a catalog model. You don’t need the newest carbon frame.
You just need the desire to ride.
- Five miles counts.
- Fifty miles counts.
- A slow spin around the neighborhood counts.
Your ride is valid. Your ride matters. And your joy matters more than your average speed ever will.
Final Word
I’m not out here trying to be great.
I’m out here because cycling still makes me feel like the best version of myself.
I go cycling because I like it.
And at this stage of life, that’s more than enough.
I’ve ridden 155,000+ road miles. Drivers are more distracted now than ever. If you ride on public roads, you need to know what’s behind you before it’s on top of you.
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Take-A-Look Cycling Mirror
See it on Amazon →
Lightweight. Mounts to your glasses or helmet. Gives constant rear visibility without turning your head. -
Garmin Varia Rearview Radar
See it on Amazon →
Alerts you to approaching vehicles before you hear them. It’s the closest thing cyclists have to eyes in the back of their head.
In this era of distracted drivers, this combination gives riders the safest setup I’ve found. After all these miles, I don’t leave home without both.
The radar alerts you up to 150 feet as a vehicle approaches you, giving you the position as it gets closer. The mirror lets you keep an eye on the car. That is safe riding.
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Related Reading:
👉 Cycling Over 60: The Advice I Wish Someone Had Given Me
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