The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Over the years, I’ve completed many long-distance cycling tours. One ride I’ve always wanted to do is a full cross-country ride. However, completing it all in one trip has never been realistic due to family dynamics. My child has moderate disabilities that require either my wife or me to always be present for his safety. This impacts nearly everything we do, including my cycling ambitions. Long-distance cycling is my passion, which is why I schedule my rides during the summer. Since my wife is a teacher (and I’m retired), she’s available to stay home with our son while I’m on the road. To be fair to her, I keep my rides between 5 to 15 days rather than being away for a month or more. I’ve already completed several cross-state rides, including two crossings of Texas, as well as rides across New Mexico and Georgia. Riding across the entire country has always been on my bucket list, but reality has kept it out of reach—until recently, when I realized I’ve already covered a significant por...

Last Updated: February 2026 Endurance Cycling for Seniors: What a 24-Hour Bicycle Ride Really Does to Your Body I’ve ridden the 24 Hours in the Canyon event several times over the past decade. If you’ve never done a 24-hour bicycle ride, let me clear something up immediately: This is not “a long ride.” It’s a slow, grinding endurance test that takes pieces of you—physically and mentally—and keeps asking if you want to continue. The ride starts at noon on Saturday and ends at noon on Sunday. Simple on paper. Brutal in reality. The First 8–9 Hours: Where Seniors Get Overconfident The early hours feel almost easy. The legs are fresh. You’re riding in heat—often upper 90s—and sweating nonstop, but you’re moving well. This is where many riders, especially experienced ones, make a costly mistake: riding like the day will never end. I always performed best during this window. That’s expected. Glycogen is full, muscles are cooperative, and mentally you’re still r...

Last Updated: December 2025 Quick Take You don’t need a rigid, world-class schedule to ride a century. If you build a steady foundation, ride by feel, and respect recovery, getting to a 60–70 mile long ride is usually enough to finish 100 miles when the day comes. If you search for century ride training plans, you’ll find charts, intervals, zones, and rules that make it feel like you need a coach and a stopwatch just to ride your bike. That approach never worked for me — and I don’t believe it works for most senior cyclists either. I’m not a world-class athlete. I don’t train like one. And I don’t think you need to. I’m a senior cyclist who’s pretty average — but still capable of doing a lot — because I ride consistently, I listen to my body, and I follow a few simple goals instead of a strict schedule. If that sounds like you, this post is for you. My Core Belief About Riding a Century Here’s the honest ...

If you're a senior cyclist looking for an exciting way to explore the United States, a cross-country cycling tour might be just the adventure you're looking for. With two primary routes to choose from - the Northern Tier and Southern Tier - you have a lot to consider before you hit the road. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the differences between these two popular routes, so you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your goals and preferences. Northern Tier Route The Northern Tier Route is a 4,265-mile journey that takes cyclists from Anacortes, Washington, to Bar Harbor, Maine, through some of the most scenic and remote areas of the northern United States. While this route offers breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes region, and the Atlantic Coast, it is not for the faint of heart. The Northern Tier is known for its challenging terrain, with long stretches of steep mountain climbs and descents. Cyclists will also enco...

Cycling is a fantastic way to stay fit, explore new places, and challenge yourself both physically and mentally. For many cyclists, the thrill of conquering a steep climb is one of the most rewarding experiences on the bike. However, if you live and train in a relatively flat area, preparing for a tour with steep climbs can be a daunting challenge. As a cyclist who lives in a flat area, you may be used to spinning at a high cadence and cruising along at a comfortable pace. But when faced with steep hills on a tour, your legs will have to work much harder to get you to the top. So how can you prepare for such a challenge? One of the best ways to train for a tour with steep climbs is to simulate those climbs as closely as possible. Even if you don't have any hills in your area, you can still train for climbs by using a stationary trainer with a steep incline or by finding a parking garage with multiple levels to ride up and down. There is a 10 level parking garage about 3 miles from ...