The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

🌄 Mile 200 wasn’t just a number. It happened at sunrise, after 18 hours on the bike — a quiet moment of transformation. This story isn’t about distance. It’s about grit, grace, and what you discover about yourself when no one’s watching. It was 6:00 AM when it happened. The canyon was still — the kind of stillness that follows a long, grueling night on the bike. I was pedaling through the final hours of the 24 Hours in the Canyon ride in Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas. My legs ached. My body was drained. My mind floated somewhere between focus and fatigue. Then the first light of dawn crept over the canyon walls. Soft. Golden. Sacred. Just as the sun rose — about 18 hours into the ride — my odometer ticked past 200 miles . And I cried. Not from pain — though there was plenty of that. Not even from exhaustion — though I was completely spent. I cried because that number, 200 , meant more than distance. It represented every early m...

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...

 Top-Rated Bicycle Companies for Touring Bicycles: A Guide to Choosing the Right Bike for Your Long-Distance Adventures I am going to write just a little bit about the top rated bicycle companies for touring bikes. The bike I ride is not among these companies. I once rode a Specialized AWOl but the chainstay cracked and Specialized gave me a Specialized Diverge as a replacement. I like it a lot and used it for a 962 mile tour from north Texas to South Padre Island. It hauled my BOB trailer and did great. I am currently thinking about getting the Surly Long Haul Trucker as my next bike, but that is a year or so away and I could change my mind. When it comes to touring bicycles, it's important to choose a reliable and durable brand that can handle the rigors of long-distance rides. Whether you're embarking on a multi-day bikepacking trip or a cross-country tour, a high-quality touring bike can make all the difference. Here are some of the top-rated bicycle companies for touring b...

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 ...