The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

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 ...

Last updated: December 2025 Quick Take: Cycling slumps aren’t about “getting lazy.” They usually show up when boredom, fatigue, and vague goals pile up. You break out of a slump by changing your routes, riding with other people once in a while, taking a smart rest break, and giving your training a clear purpose again—often with a few strategic gear upgrades that make you want to ride. Breaking the Cycling Slump: How I Reignited My Cycling Motivation There’s nothing quite like training for a big event. The structure, the countdown, the long rides that actually mean something—it all gives your cycling a sharp edge. But when that edge dulls, things can get ugly fast. One day you’re knocking out long training rides. The next, you’re staring at your bike and thinking, Not today. Maybe tomorrow. And “tomorrow” never shows up. That’s not just a bad week. That’s a training slump . And yes, it happens to all of us—including stubborn long-distance cyclists like me. My 2020 ...

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 ...