70+ Year-Old Cyclists: The Real Super-Athletes Nobody Talks About

Last Updated: January 19, 2026

Most people picture “athletes” as 20-something pros with perfect VO₂ max scores and bulletproof knees. But if you ask me who the toughest riders on the road really are, I’ll point to the men and women who are still turning pedals in their seventies and beyond.

I’m a 70-year-old long-distance cyclist with more than 155,000 miles in my legs. I’ve ridden through injuries, bad weather, surgeries, and plenty of people who thought I’d “age out” of cycling years ago.

Quick Take: If you’re still riding a bike at 70+, you’re already performing at a level most people will never reach. Older cyclists train through pain, adapt to aging bodies, and show up week after week. That combination of grit, consistency, and heart makes 70+ riders the real super-athletes nobody talks about.

Why “Super-Athlete” Actually Fits

When you’re 70+, cycling isn’t just “going for a ride.” It’s strength training, cardio, balance work, mental therapy, and stubbornness all rolled into one. The effort it takes for an older rider to keep moving is in a different league than what most younger athletes ever deal with.

1. Our Training Load Is Quietly Ridiculous

Younger riders recover in a day or two. At 70+, every ride is layered on top of:

• Stiff joints that take a while to warm up.
• Old injuries that never completely disappeared.
• Slower recovery, even when we do everything right.
• Real-world responsibilities that don’t care whether we’re tired.

If you’re in your seventies and still riding 3–5 days a week, your body is working harder than most people half your age even realize. The pace might be slower, but the effort level is elite.

2. Our Motivation Comes From a Deeper Place

When I was younger, I chased speed, mileage, and bragging rights. At 70, it’s different. Cycling now means:

• Staying independent long enough to live life on my own terms.
• Keeping my health strong enough to be there for my family.
• Proving to myself that I’m not done just because the calendar says I’m “old.”

You don’t keep riding in your seventies because it’s trendy. You do it because it keeps you alive in every sense of the word.

3. Our Pain Tolerance Was Built Over Decades

By the time you hit 70, you’ve already been through plenty: surgeries, health scares, job stress, aging parents, kids, grandkids, loss, and everything else life throws at you. That life mileage shows up on the bike.

In my case, I’ve dealt with years of knee pain, a knee replacement, and later a return of pain that turned out to be brutal tendinitis. I still found a way back to the bike. Older cyclists don’t push through pain because it’s heroic. We push through because we’ve done it our entire lives.

Why Nobody Talks About 70+ Cyclists

The fitness world worships youth. Ads are full of 25-year-olds sprinting up hills with zero gray hair in sight. Seniors get used to seeing themselves in commercials for medications and retirement plans, not performance.

Meanwhile, real 70- and 80-year-old cyclists are:

• Riding further than many people in their 40s can imagine.
• Keeping blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar in check.
• Staying mentally sharp because they’re out in the world, not parked in front of a TV.

We don’t fit the story most people have in their heads about aging, so they simply don’t see us. But we’re out there—on bike paths, country roads, and group rides—quietly defying expectations every single week.

Gear Up Like a Senior Super-Athlete

If you’re riding into your seventies, comfort and safety aren’t “luxuries”—they’re how you keep doing this for years. Here are some of the upgrades I point fellow seniors toward:

• Premium Helmet: A higher-end helmet with better impact protection and ventilation is worth every penny.
  See a proven premium helmet option
• High-End Bib Shorts: At 70+, saddle comfort can make or break whether you ride tomorrow.
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• Be Seen and See - Probably the greatest cycling invention for safety in this era of distracted drivers. Check out the Garmin Varia Radar
• Suspension Seatpost: A good seatpost helps smooth rough roads and protect aging backs.
  See a suspension seatpost option

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You Don’t Have to Be Fast to Be Elite

At 70+, I don’t need to win races to feel like an athlete. I win every time I:

• Choose the bike instead of the recliner.
• Ride on days when the wind, hills, or joints are arguing with me.
• Finish a ride feeling tired in a good way, not defeated.

Being a super-athlete at this age isn’t about watts or KOMs. It’s about courage and consistency. It’s clipping in when you already know your body will complain—and doing it anyway.

If You’re 70 and Riding, You’re Already in the 1%

Think about how many 70-year-olds you personally know who can ride 20 miles, fix a flat, climb a hill, and still smile at the end of it. Not many. When you keep riding into your seventies, you’re already in a very small, very tough group.

So if you’re an older cyclist, stop acting like you’re “less than” the younger athletes. You’re doing something far more impressive: you’re still in the game.

Want to Ride Stronger and Safer in Your 70s?

If this hits home and you want practical help for riding smarter—not just harder—here are a few of my other posts that might help:

• Should a 70-Year-Old Ride a Bike?
• Cycling for Seniors: Smart, Safe, and Life-Changing Tips for Riders Over 60
• Your First Multi-Day Bicycle Tour: FAQs for New Cyclists

If you’re 70+ and you’re still riding, don’t downplay it. You’re not “just an old guy (or gal) on a bike.” You’re a super-athlete who refuses to age quietly. And the world needs to see more of that.