The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Last Updated: April 2026 Quick Take: At 19 years old, one brutal college bike race made me swear I would never ride a bike again. Decades later, cycling became one of the best parts of my life. Sometimes the thing that humbles you early becomes the thing that saves you later. As a kid, my bike was my freedom. I loved the independence, the ability to explore the neighborhood, and the feeling of wind in my face as I pedaled hard toward some imaginary finish line. A bicycle was not exercise back then. It was transportation, adventure, escape, and imagination all rolled into one. But like a lot of kids, my interests changed as I got older. Basketball became my world. I played through junior high, high school, and even earned a basketball scholarship to a small junior college. But after just one semester, I decided to give up the scholarship and the grind of competitive basketball. I still loved the game, but I did not feel the pull of chasing it as a career. So I shift...

Last Updated: April 19, 2026 Quick Take: Years ago, strangers laughed at me while I was overweight and riding a bicycle trying to improve my life. Recently, at that same stoplight, a young woman rolled down her window and asked if I was single because she thought I’d be perfect for her mom. The real lesson is not about insults or compliments. It is about focusing on what is best for you and refusing to let strangers shape your future. The other day I pulled up to a stop sign on a training ride near Texas Tech campus here in Lubbock. A young woman in a car beside me rolled down her window and asked: “Are you single? You’d be perfect for my mom.” I had to laugh. She looked to be around 20 years old, and at age 70, I’m thinking I’d probably be more perfect for her grandmother. Still, it was funny, unexpected, and kind. But what really hit me was not the compliment. It was the memory of something that happened years earlier in th...

🚲 Quick Take: You’ve got the right-of-way. The car has a stop sign. But one thing has changed—and it’s making intersections more dangerous than ever for cyclists. One of the most dangerous places for a cyclist to encounter a car is at an intersection. And I’m not just talking about big, busy intersections with traffic lights. In fact, I’ve come to believe those are actually safer. At least you know who has the green, who’s turning, and where to expect trouble. But those smaller intersections—especially the ones where you have the right-of-way and the car is stopped at a stop sign —they’re tricky. I’ve had far too many close calls in those exact situations. A few years ago, there was one thing I always relied on: eye contact . I’d approach an intersection and glance straight through the driver’s window. If the driver turned their head and made eye contact with me, I’d feel a little better. It wasn’t a guarantee, but at least I knew they saw me. Of course, I still rode...