The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Most of my bike rides follow familiar paths. I know where the wind will hit, where the traffic is lightest, and even where the pavement is smoothest. I ride through the Texas Tech campus almost daily — but usually along its quieter edges. I avoid the crowded walkways and stick to my set plan. But today wasn’t one of those days. Off Rhythm from the Start The ride was supposed to be a simple 20-miler. I’d had a rough morning, and even though the weather wasn’t especially hot, everything felt off. My neck hurt, my mood was sour, and I just didn’t feel like myself. I almost turned back early. Instead, I kept pedaling. And somewhere on the north end of town, I made a subtle shift — one of those unconscious choices that ends up changing the day. Back Through Downtown — and a Surprise Coming home, I usually swing around the outskirts of downtown Lubbock. It’s a quiet area, not much traffic, not much to see. But today, I rolled straight down Broadway — that old brick road with a bike...

🚴‍♂️ Real Moments from the Road: A simple bike ride through downtown Lubbock turned into something more when I stopped to talk to a woman holding a sign. This is why I keep riding. Most days, my evening ride takes me through downtown Lubbock. It’s not that I’m looking for scenery or speed—Broadway is just quiet in the evenings. The traffic thins out, the buildings throw long shadows, and I can ride without thinking too much about cars or chaos. Tonight, though, something happened that reminded me why I love riding a bicycle more than ever. As I coasted down Broadway, I noticed a woman standing off to the side. She was older—maybe in her 60s—holding a simple sign that read, “Need Food.” I almost rolled past. A lot of people probably had. But something in me said to stop. I told her I didn’t have any money on me, but that I could come back. She looked me in the eyes and said, “I don’t want money. I want food.” She explained that her husband had been in the hospital for ...