The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Some rides don’t test your legs — they test your heart. In 2016, I was cycling across the country from Lubbock to Florida. I had already put in long, hot, humid days through Texas and Louisiana, and I was somewhere in the middle of central Louisiana on a road that felt like it might never end. From the start of that day, something felt off. My legs were dead. And when your legs go, everything else starts to follow. My neck ached. My shoulders were tight. My spirit was worse. I was days into the tour and starting to feel completely isolated. Even on my worst rides, I usually know I have the physical ability to grind through — but this time, doubt started creeping into my head. The kind of doubt that whispers, “Maybe you don’t have it today.” I had about 60 miles left to ride. I pulled into a convenience store to refill my bottles, mentally counting down how far I had to go — and not liking the number. That’s when I met them. Two large young men — I mean big guys, built like NFL linebac...

Last Updated: November 30, 2025 Quick Answer: Fifty years on a bicycle teaches you far more than fitness. You learn patience, resilience, freedom, gratitude, and the joy of riding at any age. The road changes you—but always gives more back than it takes. 50 Years of Cycling: The Lessons That Actually Matter For more than five decades, I’ve lived a big chunk of my life on two wheels. Roads changed. Bikes changed. I changed. But that feeling of freedom I get every time I pedal? That’s the one thing that never has. I started riding in my teens chasing speed, independence, and adventure. Now, at 70, the rides mean something deeper—clarity, health, peace, and a connection to the world I don’t get anywhere else. Lesson 1: Patience Is Earned One Climb at a Time Long climbs taught me pacing, breathing, and calm. You can’t rush a hill, and you can’t rush life. The bike taught me that decades before I learned it anywhere else. Lesson 2: Your Body Changes — Your Spirit D...