The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Last Updated: June 2026 Quick Answer: Hard training and major weight loss can make your blood pressure medication too strong. If you start getting dizzy when standing, don’t ignore it — get real numbers with a home monitor and talk with your doctor. Support This Blog: If my writing helps you ride smarter and stay healthier, using the affiliate links in this post is the easiest way to support the work I do — at no extra cost to you. When Training Hard Backfires in a Strange Way This past summer I was in the strongest shape I’ve been in for decades. I was logging long miles, dropping weight, and feeling powerful on the bike. Then something bizarre started happening: every time I stood up, the world tilted. I’d have to grab a chair and steady myself. Not occasionally — every time . That’s when I knew something was off. The Hidden Culprit: Blood Pressure Medication I’ve been on blood pressure meds for years. Lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide kept me stead...

Last Updated: June 15, 2026 The day I dropped under 190 lbs. The Smart Scale That Helped Me Drop 17 Pounds SNIPPET: I started using the RENPHO Solar Smart Scale in February, 2025 when I weighed 204 pounds. Today I’m down to 187. Yes, tracking calories and understanding TDEE mattered — but this scale gave me daily motivation and clarity I wasn’t getting anywhere else. It’s the best health purchase I’ve made in years. I’ve ridden tens of thousands of miles, watched my weight swing up and down, and tried more strategies than I can remember. But in February 2025 , I made one of the smartest purchases of my cycling and weight-loss life: the RENPHO Solar Smart Scale . And I’m telling you straight — this scale isn’t just a tool. It became a daily accountability partner . From 204 to 187: The Honest Breakdown I weighed 204 pounds the first day I stepped on it. Today, I weigh 187 . That’s a clean 17 pounds lost , thanks to: Tracking calorie...

Last Updated: July 18, 2026 I Thought Cycling Would Make Me Lose Weight. I Was Wrong. Quick Take: Cycling helped me lose weight, but cycling alone was never the answer. The real change came when I started counting calories honestly and stopped using bike rides as permission to eat more. I spent years believing cycling would eventually make me lose weight. It seemed logical enough. Ride the bike. Burn calories. Get healthier. Lose weight. Simple. Except it did not work that way for me. For years, I was consistently around 230 pounds even though I rode a lot. I was not sitting on the couch doing nothing. I was putting in miles. I was doing long rides. I was training. I was sweating. I was doing the thing everybody tells you to do. And still, the weight stayed. That was the frustrating part. I could ride for hours, come home tired, and still not really move the scale in any lasting way. I felt like I was working harder than the results showed. ...

Last updated: May 2026 Cycling helps—if your calories do, too.     Quick Take: Cycling helps with weight loss only when you’re also in a calorie deficit. Ride consistently, track what you eat, and keep intake a little lower than output. Cycling for Weight Loss: It Works— If You Track Calories I’ve ridden 5,000+ miles in some years and didn’t lose a pound. The missing piece wasn’t more miles; it was managing calories . Cycling is fantastic for heart health, mood, and longevity. For fat loss, though, the rule is blunt: you lose weight only when you consistently eat fewer calories than you burn . How Cycling Fits Into a Calorie Deficit Calories out: A steady ride can burn a few hundred calories. Heavier riders and harder efforts burn more. Calories in: One big snack can erase the whole ride. Portion size and “healthy-but-heavy” foods are where most people slip. Consistency: Moderate rides most days + honest food logging beats one heroic we...

Why Nutrition Is More Important Than Cycling for Weight Loss Cycling is an excellent way to stay fit, boost cardiovascular health, and enjoy the outdoors. It’s low-impact, easy on the joints, and suitable for almost anyone. But when it comes to weight loss, cycling alone may not get you where you want to go. I know this firsthand. 🚴‍♂️ My Personal Story: 5,000 Miles, No Results For years, I logged over 5,000 miles a year on my bike. I was committed, consistent, and determined—but the scale barely moved. I assumed that all those hours in the saddle would eventually lead to weight loss. They didn’t. Why? Because my nutrition was out of balance. I consumed high-calorie meals, sugary drinks, and oversized portions. I was burning calories on the bike—but I was replacing them just as quickly off the bike. 🥗 The Shift That Changed Everything One year, I cut my riding down to less than 2,500 miles . But that same year, I dropped over 40 pounds —all because I finally took nutrition...

The Real Cost of “Expensive” Bikes Sticker shock— $2,000 for a quality bicycle —stops many would-be riders in their tracks. Yet the average American spent $1,200 out-of-pocket on healthcare in 2018 alone. Project that across five years and you’ve shelled out $6,000 —triple the price of a reliable, well-fitted bike that can slash those very medical bills. Cycling Turned My Health Around Weight loss: Regular rides helped me chip away at decades-old obesity. Lower blood pressure: Consistent aerobic exercise let me ditch costly prescriptions. Fewer doctor visits: Better fitness equals fewer co-pays, lab fees, and missed workdays. Five Reasons a Quality Bike Saves Money Durability: Premium frames, wheels, and components last for tens of thousands of miles. Low maintenance: Modern drivetrains and disc brakes need simple, inexpensive upkeep anyone can learn. Preventive medicine: Cardio workouts on wheels cut long-term risks of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Mental-he...