The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

When the World Sleeps, I Ride Sometimes, life gets in the way of our plans—and as a cyclist, I’ve learned to adapt. On busy days when I can’t fit in a daytime ride, I turn to the night. There’s something magical about cycling under the stars, especially on a long, quiet country road. The cool air, the moonlight, the solitude—it’s almost meditative. But as peaceful as it is, night cycling comes with real risks . Visibility drops. Hazards are harder to spot. And let’s face it—drivers don’t always expect to see a cyclist at 10 p.m. That’s why I’ve developed a personal checklist of night cycling safety tips that keep me safe, seen, and still able to enjoy the ride. 1. Be Seen or Don’t Ride Visibility is everything when you’re biking after dark. I light myself up like a Christmas tree—because if a driver can’t see me, nothing else matters. Here’s my go-to setup: A powerful white headlight A bright red taillight Reflective spoke covers ( like these ) Reflecti...

If you're looking to lose weight, boost your fitness, or simply improve your health, cycling can be a fantastic tool. But just how many calories does it burn—and is it really enough to help you shed pounds? As someone who loves cycling and rides regularly, I’ve learned that cycling alone isn’t a silver bullet for weight loss. For years, I put in the miles but didn’t see the scale move. Why? Because I wasn’t managing what I was eating. Once I began pairing my riding with some simple calorie tracking, the results started to come. Cycling + Calorie Awareness = Progress Let me give you a practical example. Say your body needs 2,000 calories per day to maintain your current weight. If you ride for an hour and burn 400 calories, you now have a 400-calorie deficit—as long as you don’t eat more than your usual 2,000 calories. Do this consistently, and weight loss will happen. That was the turning point for me. I didn’t go on a strict diet. I didn’t give up my favorite foods. I just start...