The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

I bought my little Jayco Hummingbird 10RK for one main reason: I wanted it to take my bicycle to places I might otherwise never ride. I’m not really interested in camping just so I can sit around a campground all day. My idea is to use campgrounds as cycling hubs. I can tow the Hummingbird somewhere interesting, set it up, spend the night, and then get up the next morning and explore the surrounding area on my bicycle. Funny thing, I took lots of pictures on my first trip with my Hummingbird but I forgot to take one of it set up in the park. I promise to take a picture on my next weekend trip at the end of the month. My first real test of that idea was a weekend at Caprock Canyons State Park in the Texas Panhandle. I went there with one ride planned, but by Saturday evening I already knew I wasn’t going to ride it. First, I Drove the Road I Planned to Ride I arrived at Caprock Canyons State Park on Saturday and got the Hummingbird set up. Since I had never ridden the road I wa...

Quick Take: Most cyclists think peaceful rides mean country roads, farm lanes, or bike trails. One of my favorite places to unwind on a bicycle is the historic brick streets of downtown Lubbock, where traffic nearly disappears during evenings and on Sunday mornings. When people ask me where I like to ride, they usually expect me to name some quiet country road or a bike trail outside of town. Those are certainly great places to ride, and I enjoy them as much as anybody. But one of my favorite destinations is somewhere most people would never think about. Downtown Lubbock. Now, before you think I have lost my mind, hear me out. Lubbock has more than 250,000 people, and during the middle of a workday downtown is exactly what you would expect. There are people going to work, delivery trucks making stops, city business taking place, and traffic moving through the streets. It is not some empty ghost town all the time. But something interesting happens after busine...

Last Updated July 2026 Quick Take There will be a day I can no longer ride — but today is not that day . Real cyclists adapt: slower, shorter, different gear, different bike — but we keep riding because cycling lives in the here and now. There will be a day when I can no longer swing a leg over a bicycle. I don’t know when it will come. I don’t know what will cause it — age, injury, balance, reflexes, strength, or something that’s been quietly waiting down the road. But I do know this: Today is not that day. And that matters more than any future I can’t control. Small Safety Upgrade (Worth It at Any Age) If you’re still riding, protect the one body you’ve got. Here are MIPS bicycle helmets I recommend browsing. Pick the one you’ll actually wear every ride. As an ...

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...

Last Updated: May 2026 Quick Take You don’t become a stronger cyclist first — you become someone who thinks differently first. At 70 years old and 155,000+ miles later, I’ve learned that the way you frame wind, hills, age, and pain determines the rider you become. That’s neuroplasticity in action — even if you’ve never heard the word. I’m 70. I’ve Ridden Over 155,000 Miles. And I Just Learned This Word. I’m 70 years old. I’ve ridden over 155,000 miles . I’ve trained through West Texas wind, 100-degree heat, doubt, weight loss, aging, and long empty highways where the only sound is your chain and your thoughts. And until yesterday, I had never heard the word neuroplasticity . Then it showed up twice in one day. First, I read an article about Olympic champion Eileen Gu. A reporter asked her if she thinks before she speaks. She said: “You can control what you think. And therefore you can co...

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 ...

Updated on January 19, 2026 Want to meet more cyclists on your rides? Here are 15 easy, friendly ways to start a conversation — even if you’re shy or new. You might be surprised how many people are hoping someone says hello first. Ever ride past someone and wish you had said something — but didn’t know how to start? It happens to all of us, especially when we’re new to cycling or just naturally a bit reserved. But one of the best parts of riding a bike — especially as an older adult — is the people you meet along the way. From casual group rides to surprise encounters at a roadside stop, cycling opens the door to meaningful conversations… if you know how to start them. Why It Feels Hard to Speak Up Sometimes I’ll be honest: when I started riding, I used to feel completely out of place around other cyclists. They had the flashy bikes, the tight kits, the confident riding style — and I just didn’t feel like I belonged. I figured they were probably elite, maybe even a little ...