The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

They Said I Wouldn't Be Ready. I Proved Them Wrong. They said I wouldn't be ready. That I'd be lucky to ride a bike again in six weeks. That it would be months before I could train the way I used to. That chasing a 24-hour ride just a few months after a total knee replacement was unrealistic. That riding from Lubbock to Albuquerque two months after the canyon ride? Out of the question. But here's the thing about me: I've never accepted the limits others set for me. Twelve years ago, after my knee replacement, I told my doctor I planned to ride 200 miles in 24 Hours in the Canyon. I told him I'd be ready to take on a five-day, cross-state ride not long after. He said it wouldn't hurt to try—but warned me not to be disappointed if I couldn't. Two days post-surgery, I was in physical therapy. I spotted a stationary bike in the corner and asked to ride it. The therapist told me no. Not because it would hurt me—but because he was sure I wouldn...

Last Updated: June 2026 My son and I during my June 2026 Mississippi River bicycle tour. He provided vehicle support while I rode 366 miles through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois on my Specialized Diverge. Last week I finished a six-day, 366-mile bicycle tour along the Mississippi River on my Specialized Diverge. The ride began in southeast Minnesota, crossed into Wisconsin, continued through Iowa and Illinois, and ended near the Missouri border. My son provided vehicle support for the trip, carrying gear and helping with logistics while I rode the route. It wasn't the longest tour I've ever ridden. It wasn't the fastest. It wasn't the toughest. But it may have taught me more than any bicycle tour I've done in years. At 70 years old, I came away with a realization that many older cyclists eventually face. No matter how much we train, age changes things. And that's okay. This Wasn't My First Adventure I've been riding bicycles serious...

Last Updated: March 2026 Most 70-Year-Olds Don’t Ride 5, 10, or 20 Miles — But Cyclists Still Do There’s something interesting about being a cyclist in your seventies. The world tends to assume people our age are slowing down. Retiring. Taking it easy. Spending more time sitting than moving. But then you roll past them on a bicycle. Helmet on. Legs turning. Maybe grinding up a hill or leaning into a headwind. And suddenly the assumptions don’t fit anymore. Because the truth is, most 70-year-olds can’t do what cyclists our age are still doing. Most 70-Year-Olds Don’t Ride 5, 10, or 20 Miles — Cyclists Do If you stop and think about it, riding 5, 10, 20 miles—or more on a bicycle is not a small thing. It means your heart can handle sustained effort. It means your balance is still sharp. It means your legs can keep pushing for miles. It means your lungs can keep up. It means your mind stays alert enough to ride safely. Most people in...

Updated March 2026 For those who ride, no explanation is needed. For those who don’t, no explanation is quite enough. But here’s my best attempt. When I get on my bike, the world opens up. The wind presses against my face, my legs find their rhythm, and my heart syncs with the steady hum of rubber on asphalt. It's not about speed or Strava segments. It’s about freedom . It’s about peace of mind . How Cycling Changed My Life I wasn’t always a cyclist. Like many people, my life revolved around work, traffic, and routine. I spent my days in classrooms, waiting rooms, and car lanes. Life felt boxed in — predictable, heavy. Then one day, I got back on a bicycle. I didn’t know it at the time, but I wasn’t just riding — I was returning. Returning to a version of myself I had forgotten. One that craved movement, exploration, and self-reliance. Reconnecting with the Joy of Riding The beginning was tough. My legs were weak, my lungs burned, and every hill felt impossible. But somethin...

Last Updated: February 25, 2026 There’s a version of me from years ago I think about sometimes. He didn’t know what a cadence sensor was. He didn’t track calories. He didn’t understand recovery. He didn’t look like a cyclist. He weighed over 275 pounds. He was just trying not to quit. Now I’m 70 years old. Over 155,000 lifetime miles . 187 pounds. Still riding into West Texas wind. Still stacking miles. Still learning. If that man could see me now… Would he be proud? Quick Answer If you stayed consistent, kept learning, embraced safety, and adapted instead of aging out — yes. The person you were when you started cycling would likely be proud. Back Then, I Thought Cycling Was About Fitness I thought it was about getting lean. About keeping up. About looking like I belonged. I didn’t realize it was about becoming someone dif...

Updated May 2026 Quick Take: You can do everything right and still watch a dream ride unravel. The work isn’t wasted. Change the goal, keep the miles, move forward. When the Big Ride Falls Apart You train hard. You log the miles, study the route, check the gear, and show up ready. Whether it’s a multi-day tour or a one-day event, you feel stronger than ever. You’re not just prepared—you’re excited. And then… it all falls apart. I know that feeling. I spent more than a year preparing for a San Diego-to-Las Cruces tour—over 6,000 miles of training rides. Thirty-four miles into day one, a rag blew off the road and straight into my rear derailleur. In seconds it snapped the mech, twisted the chain, and broke multiple spokes. The bike was done—unrideable. I stood on the shoulder staring at a dream that just evaporated because of a gust of wind. The first wave is disbelief. Then anger. Then the silence where you wonder if you wasted all that time. But the truth shows up when...

Last Updated: June 2026 Quick Take: Some cyclists keep riding strong into their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. They are not magic. They stay consistent, ride within themselves, recover better, and never fully give up the habit of moving. I used to think cycling had an expiration date. Not officially, of course. Nobody hands you a letter when you turn 70 that says, “Please turn in your bike shoes and report to the recliner.” But somewhere in the back of my mind, I probably believed there would come a day when long rides, bicycle tours, and big cycling dreams would just fade away. Then I got older. And instead of quitting, I kept riding. A few weeks ago, at 70 years old, I finished a 366-mile bicycle tour along the Mississippi River. I was not fast. I was not trying to impress anyone. Some days I felt strong, and some days I felt every one of those 70 years. But I finished it. And more than that, I enjoyed it. That ride reminded me of something I’ve seen ...

Updated: June 19, 2026 Quick Take: You don’t need fancy training plans to get better. Ride often, keep most rides easy, and stack them—one on top of another—so adaptation compounds. “Stacking rides” is simple: you add frequent, repeatable rides so your body adapts before those gains fade. It’s momentum, not masochism. A five-mile spin becomes ten. Two rides a week become four. Before long you’re stronger, leaner, and calmer on the bike—without white-knuckle training blocks. What Stacking Really Means Stacking isn’t grinding yourself into dust. It’s controlled consistency. Each ride lightly stresses muscles, lungs, and heart; riding again (before the effect disappears) tells your body to build back a little better. Skip too long between rides and the effect resets. Keep the rhythm and the gains compound. Why It Works (and Beats Occasional “Hero” Rides) Consistency > intensity: A week of steady, easy rides usually outperforms one punishing session....

How Cycling Keeps Me Young at 70 SNIPPET: I turn 70 on November 24th, and I’m celebrating the only way I know how—by riding 70 miles. Not to be fast, not to prove anything, but because cycling still makes me feel alive. This is why I’m still riding strong after decades on the bike. I’m a little over a month away from my 70th birthday, and while most people are slowing down, I’m getting ready to ride 70 miles—one mile for every year I’ve been alive. Not because I’m the fastest or the strongest, but because cycling still gives me freedom, purpose, and joy. I’ve already ridden over 5,000 miles this year alone. All summer long, I trained for single-day events—30 miles, 25 miles, 35 miles, 47 miles. My focus was on shorter, faster rides to stay sharp. But after I ride the Day of the Tread in Albuquerque next Sunday (just a 25-mile ride), everything shifts. My training is about to change. No more chasing speed. It’s time to go long again. On November 24th—my 70th birthday—I’ll ...

Last Updated:  June 19, 2026 Quick Answer: Anyone can become a cyclist. Start small, ride easy, and stay consistent. I went from gasping around the block to pedaling across states in my late 60s. The hardest part usually isn’t the miles. It’s believing you can begin. There’s something about a bicycle that makes people stop and ask questions. The simplicity of two wheels carrying someone so far stirs something in them. I’ve lost count of the times a stranger has pointed at my touring bike and trailer and asked, “Where are you headed?” or “How far have you come?” I smile because I know that feeling. I still remember the day circling my own block left me winded and a little embarrassed. I didn’t start with long tours, state crossings, or mountain climbs. I started by saying yes to that first short ride, then going a little farther the next time. More than 155,000 cycling miles later, I can tell you this: every long journey starts the same way — with one short ride. Decade...

Last Updated: May 14, 2026 Why a Bicycle Is the Perfect Vehicle for Almost  Quick Take: A bicycle turns your pedaling into motion through the crankset, chain, and rear wheel — and it’s one of the most efficient, affordable, and low-impact ways to travel, stay fit, and enjoy life at any age. I’ve owned cars that cost more than my first house payment. I’ve joined gyms I stopped using after a month. I’ve bought fitness gadgets that ended up in a drawer. But the bicycle? That one never lied to me. And it never quit on me — unless I quit first. I’m 70 years old now, with 155,000+ miles on real roads in real wind, heat, and traffic. And if there’s one thing I’m convinced of, it’s this: the bicycle is still one of the smartest machines humans ever built. If you’re coming back to riding after time away, start here: Cycling Tips for Senior Citizens (Smart Tips for Riders Over 60) . Understanding How a Bicycle Works A bicycl...

🌄 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...