The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Updated March 4, 2026 Why a High-Quality Bike Is One of the Smartest Investments You'll Ever Make My Specialized Diverge has carried me well over 25,000 miles Because breaking down 40 miles from the nearest town isn’t just frustrating — it’s dangerous. After thousands of miles on the road, I’ve learned the hard way that quality matters. A dependable bike isn't a luxury — it's your lifeline on tour. Here’s why spending a little more up front will save you time, money, and breakdowns in the long run. 🚲 A Lesson I Learned the Hard Way If you're planning a multi-day bike tour , you already know how important it is to have a reliable ride. But let me tell you — when you're 40 miles from the nearest town and your frame cracks or your derailleur fails, it's not just an inconvenience. It’s a problem that can leave you stranded. Let me take you back to early 2020. I was out on a training ride when the chainstay on my steel-framed Specialized AWOL cracked. No ...

                                   It might sound ironic, but at 69, I believe I'm a better cyclist now than I was 20 or 30 years ago. No, I don’t ride as fast as I once did, and my days of chasing personal records are behind me. But I’m more proficient — smarter, more efficient, and more in tune with the rhythm of the road. As a touring cyclist, I value endurance over speed. And thanks to years of experience, I can now ride longer distances with less struggle than I could in my younger days. So, does cycling change as you age? Absolutely. But not all of those changes are negative. 🧓 The Physical Realities of Aging Let’s be honest — aging does bring challenges. Our bodies change in ways that can affect performance, comfort, and safety on the bike. Some of the most common changes include: Muscle loss , making it harder to generate power Joint stiffness , which can impact comfort and mobility ...