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...

Quick Take: After tens of thousands of miles together, I sometimes wonder what my bicycle would say if it could talk. What would I ask it about the miles we have shared, and what would it want to know about me? These are the five questions I would ask my bike—and the five questions I think it might ask me. Cyclists often say they have a special connection with their bike—that it becomes an extension of their body, their will, and maybe even their spirit. After enough miles together, I think there is some truth to that. But what if that bond went one step further? What if your bicycle could actually talk back? I started wondering what kind of conversation we would have. What would I ask my bike? What would it ask me? After all the miles, tours, breakdowns, good days, bad days, headwinds, climbs, and quiet roads we have shared, I have a feeling we would have plenty to talk about. Here is how I imagine that conversation might go. 5 Questions I'd Ask My Bike 1. "H...

Last Updated: June 2026 Quick Take: I still ride. I still train. I still dream about future tours. But after completing a 366-mile ride along the Mississippi River at age 70, I realized something I had managed to avoid for decades: age has finally become part of the equation. A few weeks ago, I finished a six-day bicycle tour along the Upper Mississippi River. It covered 366 miles and averaged about 61 miles per day. By any reasonable standard, I was happy with the ride. The scenery was beautiful, the weather mostly cooperated, and I enjoyed every day on the bike. Yet when I got home, I found myself thinking about another tour. Back in 2020, when I was 64 years old, I rode from the northernmost point of Texas to the southernmost point of Texas. The trip covered 972 miles in July, and most days the temperatures were over 100 degrees. Several days stretched beyond 100 miles, and when the tour was over, I felt tired but still strong. The more I thought about it, the more I realized...

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: 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...

Updated June 20, 2026 with an update on how the ride went Last summer I tried to ride from San Diego to Las Cruces, New Mexico. I wrecked on day one. It was random. A freak accident. The kind of thing you can’t plan for and can’t really explain. But it stopped the tour before it even began. For the first time in my life, I didn’t finish a cycling tour. And that sticks with you. Why I’m Not Riding RAGBRAI For a while, I thought I’d pivot. Maybe I’d ride RAGBRAI. Maybe Oklahoma Freewheel. Maybe something organized. Structured. Safer. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized something simple: I’m not a group rider. I don’t thrive in crowds, chaos, and “event energy.” I’m a plodder. I ride steady. I ride alone. I like long stretches of quiet road and the rhythm of my own cadence. That’s not rebellion — it’s temperament....

Last Updated: January 4, 2026 Quick Answer Older cyclists often assume burning feet are “just part of aging,” but the real cause is usually nerve irritation from sustained pressure — not temperature and not age. Heat can make it worse, but even in cool or cold weather, hours of pressure on the same spots of your feet can inflame nerves and restrict circulation — creating that fire-on-the-soles feeling. Why This Hits Older Riders So Often If you ride long enough, you’ll eventually deal with it: you’re feeling great, the miles are clicking by, and then somewhere around mile 50–60 the bottoms of your feet start to burn. A lot of senior riders assume this is just age catching up — but the timing gives it away. When the burn shows up after a predictable number of miles (not a predictable temperature), that’s a pressure/nerve problem. I used to blame summer heat because I did most of my touring in the summer. Then I did a mu...

Last Updated: November 24, 2025 Cyclling’s Bad Rides Suck Factor Guide Quick Answer: Every cyclist has bad rides—but some hit harder than others. I use a blunt 3-level “Suck Factor” rating to describe how far off the rails things went: from tough-but-manageable rides… all the way to the ones that end with a walk home or a rescue truck. Why We Need a “Suck Factor” Scale If you’ve been riding long enough—especially as a 70-year-old senior cyclist—then you already know this truth: not every ride is magical . Some are fine, some are irritating, and a few are so miserable you question every life choice that got you onto two wheels. Instead of pretending every ride is sunshine, I started rating my bad rides using a simple, brutally honest 3-level system. Here’s how I measure how badly a bad ride really sucks. 🚲 Suck Factor 1: The Ride Just… Sucks This is your garden-variety “something’s off today” ride. Nothing catastrophic. Nothing dramatic. You’re jus...

Last Updated:  August 5, 2026 Quick Answer: These are highly-rated bicycle helmets in 2026 across road, MTB, commuter, gravel, and all-purpose categories. Every pick here is known for comfort, protection, ventilation, and strong rider feedback. Under each section, I’ve also included extra helmet links so you can compare styles and price points. Highly-Rated Bicycle Helmets (2026): Best Road, MTB, Commuter & All-Purpose Helmets As a 70-year-old long-distance cyclist with over 150,000 miles under my wheels, I’ve learned something simple: your helmet matters more than any other piece of cycling gear. I personally wear a Giro Fixture MIPS II Helmet , but not every rider needs the same kind of helmet. A road rider, commuter, gravel rider, and mountain biker may all want something a little different. That’s why I broke this list down by category. These are, in my opinion, some of the best highly-rated bicycle helmets for 2026 based on comfort, ventilation, protec...

Last updated: June 2026 Quick Take: I once weighed 275 pounds and kept saying I’d start “tomorrow.” One morning I looked in the mirror and thought, “Get off your fat ass and do something.” I rode. Then I rode again. I stacked rides until, somewhere around 300 total miles, it finally started to click. Years later, I’ve logged 155,000+ miles. If cycling is in my DNA now, it’s because I forced it there. I was young and already worried I wouldn’t live long. I had been a marathon runner. I’d even ridden a bike before. But then—almost overnight—it felt like I slipped. Weight climbed. Habits fell apart. The couch became home base. At one point I weighed 275 pounds . Every morning I’d tell myself the same lie: today’s the day I ride. Then I’d find something “more important” to do. What I Use Now: RENPHO Solar Smart Scale — The scale I’ve used for over a year to track weight, body fat, and riding progress The Mirror Morning One morning I was getting ready and caught...