The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Quick Take: After tens of thousands of miles together, I sometimes wonder what my bicycle would say if it could talk. What would I ask it about the miles we have shared, and what would it want to know about me? These are the five questions I would ask my bike—and the five questions I think it might ask me. Cyclists often say they have a special connection with their bike—that it becomes an extension of their body, their will, and maybe even their spirit. After enough miles together, I think there is some truth to that. But what if that bond went one step further? What if your bicycle could actually talk back? I started wondering what kind of conversation we would have. What would I ask my bike? What would it ask me? After all the miles, tours, breakdowns, good days, bad days, headwinds, climbs, and quiet roads we have shared, I have a feeling we would have plenty to talk about. Here is how I imagine that conversation might go. 5 Questions I'd Ask My Bike 1. "H...

For years, I’ve trained on the road. Nothing beats the feeling of wind on your face and the hum of your tires on the pavement. But when I was training for my San Diego to Phoenix tour last year, winter hit harder than expected — cold, wet, and relentless. I’m not one to back down from a challenge, but there were simply too many days when riding outside wasn’t safe or feasible. My wife had been using our local gym for a while, but I always saw little reason to join her. After all, I’m addicted to cycling — not treadmills and weight machines. Quick Answer Indoor cycling isn’t just a winter substitute for outdoor riders. A simple indoor bike setup can preserve endurance, improve climbing strength through intervals, and keep your fitness from slipping when weather, injury, or mechanical problems stop outdoor rides. I’m not here to sell you “gym stuff.” I’m here to keep you riding. Below are a few indoor cycling tools I’ve personally used...

Last Updated: November 24, 2025 Cyclling’s Bad Rides Suck Factor Guide Quick Answer: Every cyclist has bad rides—but some hit harder than others. I use a blunt 3-level “Suck Factor” rating to describe how far off the rails things went: from tough-but-manageable rides… all the way to the ones that end with a walk home or a rescue truck. Why We Need a “Suck Factor” Scale If you’ve been riding long enough—especially as a 70-year-old senior cyclist—then you already know this truth: not every ride is magical . Some are fine, some are irritating, and a few are so miserable you question every life choice that got you onto two wheels. Instead of pretending every ride is sunshine, I started rating my bad rides using a simple, brutally honest 3-level system. Here’s how I measure how badly a bad ride really sucks. 🚲 Suck Factor 1: The Ride Just… Sucks This is your garden-variety “something’s off today” ride. Nothing catastrophic. Nothing dramatic. You’re jus...

Quick Take: Planning gives structure. Spontaneity gives joy. The best cyclists do both—track miles when it matters and wander when it feels right. Last Updated: November 1, 2025 A cyclist looking at a map—choosing between structure and freedom. Every cyclist has a rhythm. Some riders map every turn. Others roll wherever the wind—or the legs—say go. I’m somewhere in between. When I’m training for an event, I want a handle on mileage and effort. But my favorite days are the ones that just unfold—no fixed destination, just the road and a hunch. That freedom is part of what makes cycling special. The Case for Planning Your Ride Structure works—especially if you’re building endurance or getting ready for a long-distance tour. Planning keeps you honest and makes your progress visible. Hit weekly mileage, tempo, and climbing goals Balance hard days with real recovery Track event readiness with data you trust Explore new areas with fewer wrong turns I’ll often ...

Last updated: October 16, 2025 Pumpkin Spice and Pedals: Embracing Fall Rides Quick Take: Fall might be the best season to ride—cooler temps, golden views, and simple layers. With bright lights, a little extra tire grip, and a pocket snack, autumn rides are pure joy. There’s something magical about cycling in the fall. The blazing heat of summer fades away, the air turns crisp, and the trees begin their slow-motion fireworks show of red, gold, and orange. It’s when the road quiets, your jersey finally breathes, and every mile feels like a deep inhale. Why Fall Rides Hit Different Cooler temps = longer rides. Less sweat, less sunburn, and more comfort in the saddle. Nature is peaking. Leaf tunnels, morning mist, and golden-hour light make even easy miles feel cinematic. Coffee stops are elite. That first hot sip with slightly cold gloves? Perfect. Good headspace. Ideal for long thinking rides, short resets, or the last training block before winter. ...

Last updated: February 3, 2026 Quick Answer: Some days the wind just won’t quit. But after enough miles and conditioning, it stops being the enemy. The key isn’t chasing speed—it’s learning to stay steady when the wind hits from every direction. Cycling in Windy Conditions: What Years of Riding Taught Me Today’s ride was twenty-five miles—my next-to-last before heading to Albuquerque for the Day of the Tread. The weather couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Somewhere between cool and warm, with that strange, swirling kind of Lubbock wind that refuses to pick a direction. North? South? No—just everywhere at once. It was one of those rides where you keep your head down and just pedal. You’re never really getting a tailwind, but you don’t stop to complain either. Every turn, it shifts again. It’s not dramatic—it’s just relentless. A test of patience more than power. Years ago, I used to dread this. I’d look outside, see the trees bending, and think, “Forget it.” But not any...

Why Most Cyclists Quit After 60 — And How I’m Still Riding 150 Miles a Week at 70 Last updated: — Last updated: November 2025 — Expanded with new stories, internal links, and the complete senior cyclist toolkit. Quick Take: Most cyclists don’t quit after 60 because they lose interest. They quit because pain, fear, and slow recovery pile up—and no one shows them how to adapt. I almost quit too. By changing my pacing, putting comfort first, and treating recovery like part of the ride, I still average 150 miles a week at nearly 70 . You don’t need to ride harder. You need to ride different . Still rolling strong at nearly 70—comfort, mindset, and smarter riding keep me in the saddle. I’ve ridden more than 150,000 miles in my lifetime—and I’m still riding 150 miles a week at almost 70 years old. Here’s the truth most cyclists won’t say out loud: almost every rider I used to roll with has already quit. Not because they stopped loving the bike, ...

Foam Rollers for Endurance Athletes: Why Cyclists, Runners, and Triathletes Should Roll (From a 30-Mile Day Legs Feel Like Mine) Last Updated: September 17, 2025 Quick Take: After hard miles, your legs don’t just feel tight—they are. A foam roller boosts circulation, loosens stuck fascia, and helps you move better tomorrow. I pushed a 30-mile ride today and the roller turned “stiff and creaky” into “okay, I can train again.” Endurance sport is a bargain you make with your body: you get the joy of long days, but you owe it recovery. I rode 30 miles today and pushed it. Quads and calves lit up, hips cranky. Ten focused minutes on a foam roller didn’t make me brand-new—but it flipped the next-day script from hobble to ready . If you ride, run, swim, hike, or stack bricks of training, this simple tool belongs in your kit. Why Foam Rolling Helps (Plain English) More blood in, junk out: Light pressure + movement improves local circulation. That helps shuttle nut...

Last Updated: May 8, 2026 Quick Take:  If I had to start over tomorrow, the first cycling gear I’d replace would be my helmet, padded shorts, gloves, hydration setup, lights, and flat repair kit. Fancy gear is optional. Comfort and safety are not. Whether you're just starting out or already have thousands of miles under your tires, one truth becomes clear pretty quickly: the right gear makes a difference. I’ve tested, broken, lost, replaced, and fine-tuned just about every piece of cycling gear imaginable. Some things are nice to have. A few things are absolutely not optional. If you are wondering what cycling gear actually matters most, this is the list I would build first. What Cycling Gear Matters Most? You do not need to spend a fortune to ride comfortably and safely. But you do need the basics dialed in. These are the pieces of cycling gear that make the biggest difference in: Safety Comfort Confidence Ride quality If I had...