The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

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:  May 2026 Quick Take: Years ago, strangers laughed at me while I was overweight and riding a bicycle trying to improve my life. Recently, at that same stoplight, a young woman rolled down her window and asked if I was single because she thought I’d be perfect for her mom. The real lesson is not about insults or compliments. It is about focusing on what is best for you and refusing to let strangers shape your future. The other day I pulled up to a stop sign on a training ride near the Texas Tech campus here in Lubbock. A young woman in a car beside me rolled down her window and asked: “Are you single? You’d be perfect for my mom.” I had to laugh. She looked to be around 20 years old, and at age 70, I’m thinking I’d probably be more perfect for her grandmother. Still, it was funny, unexpected, and kind. But what really hit me was not the compliment. It was the memory of something that happened years earlier in ...

Last Updated: May 2026 Quick Take: I just turned 70, and I’m riding faster, farther, and stronger than I ever did in my 50s. After a 5,000+ mile year and two of my fastest events in more than a decade, I can say it without blinking— 70 is the new 50 in cycling. 70 Is the New 50 in Cycling I turned 70 this month, and I can say something I never thought I’d say: I’m riding better now than I did 15–20 years ago. I’ve logged over 5,000 miles since January 1st , and this summer gave me two undeniable proof points: I rode the Hotter’N Hell faster than I ever did in my 50s. I rode the Day of the Tread 55-mile route in Albuquerque at my fastest pace in 15 years. And here’s the wild part: that Albuquerque ride wasn’t even supposed to be fast. I didn’t push. I didn’t try. It just… happened. My body simply responded. Strong legs, steady breathing, controlled effort—like everything finally clicked at once. Why I’m Riding Better at 70 Than I Did at 50 Most people thin...

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...

Last Updated: May 2026 Confidence = Calm, Ready, and Earned. Quick Take: The kind of confidence cycling gives you isn’t loud. It’s built quietly—mile after mile—until hot, windy hills you once dreaded feel almost effortless. There’s something different about the kind of confidence cycling gives you. It doesn’t come from mirrors or applause — it comes from showing up, mile after mile, when nobody’s watching. I was thinking about this on my 35-mile ride today . About 25 miles in, the wind picked up, the pavement shimmered in the heat, and I hit a short hill I used to dread years ago. This time it felt… almost effortless. No tension, no bargaining — just rhythm. Days like this used to rattle me as a beginning cyclist. Now, after miles upon miles upon miles in every kind of weather and on every kind of terrain, I’ve quietly evolved into the rider this photo embodies: calm, prepared, and ready. You don’t notice the change happening while it’s happening....

What Age Should You Quit Cycling? Last Updated:  July 11, 2026 Quick Answer You don’t stop cycling because of a birthday. You stop when the balance tips—when pain, risk, or fear outweigh the joy. For most riders, that moment comes later than they think, especially with smarter pacing, better gear, and e-bikes. It’s important to me that you know I consider myself a very ordinary cyclist. I’m not especially fast or gifted. If I’ve learned anything after more than 50 years and 155,000 miles on a bike, it’s that ordinary people can accomplish far more than they think. But the reminders stack up. A knee replacement from eleven years ago has started to complain. Skin cancer cut from my leg left a scar that isn’t just cosmetic. And earlier this year, colon trouble led to three colonoscopies in seven months—one a five-hour ordeal where Plan B meant removing part of my colon and waking up with a bag. I got lucky. Plan A worked. But it was sobering...

Last Updated: January 9, 2026 By Bruce | The Old Guy Bicycle Blog I didn’t discover cycling when I retired. I’ve been riding since I was in my teens. Bikes have been part of my life for so long that it’s hard to separate the two. What retirement did — and this is the part people don’t always understand — is it finally gave me the time and freedom to ride the way I always wanted to. Not rushed. Not squeezed into a busy week. Not “when I can.” Just riding because I can… and because I need it. Retirement is supposed to be a time to relax — but I’ve learned something the hard way: too much relaxing doesn’t make me feel good. If every day starts and ends in the same chair, life starts to feel a little… gray. Cycling has been the antidote. Not racing. Not competition. Just me, a bike, and the open road — with a little wind in my face and a lot of peace in my soul. If you're newly retired, thinking about it, or already a few years i...

Last Updated: June 15, 2026 The day I dropped under 190 lbs. The Smart Scale That Helped Me Drop 17 Pounds SNIPPET: I started using the RENPHO Solar Smart Scale in February, 2025 when I weighed 204 pounds. Today I’m down to 187. Yes, tracking calories and understanding TDEE mattered — but this scale gave me daily motivation and clarity I wasn’t getting anywhere else. It’s the best health purchase I’ve made in years. I’ve ridden tens of thousands of miles, watched my weight swing up and down, and tried more strategies than I can remember. But in February 2025 , I made one of the smartest purchases of my cycling and weight-loss life: the RENPHO Solar Smart Scale . And I’m telling you straight — this scale isn’t just a tool. It became a daily accountability partner . From 204 to 187: The Honest Breakdown I weighed 204 pounds the first day I stepped on it. Today, I weigh 187 . That’s a clean 17 pounds lost , thanks to: Tracking calorie...

Updated: June 2026 Derailleur destruction caused by a rag sucked into the drivetrain—proof that even a tiny oversight can bring down thousands of miles of planning. I trained for a year—twelve solid months of sweat, hills, and heart—for one ride that I hoped would complete my dream of cycling across the United States. I had already pedaled from Las Cruces to Lubbock and from there to Florida. All that remained was the western stretch: San Diego to Las Cruces . This tour was meant to be the final chapter of a journey years in the making. I didn’t take the challenge lightly. I logged over 6,500 miles in training , with a heavy focus on hill work, knowing the first two days would demand everything my legs had. Physically, I was ready. Mentally, I was locked in. Spiritually? Unshakable. The Start of the Tour: Strong, Steady, and Full of Purpose I drove the 1,100 miles to San Diego with anticipation and purpose. I rolled out on June 1st , feeling confident and free. In fact, I felt so g...

Dear 13-Year-Old Me: How Cycling Gave Me Freedom, Health, and Adventure In one sentence: Cycling gave me a life of freedom, health, adventure, and self-discovery —and I’m still riding at 69. Here’s what I wish I’d told my 13-year-old self. Dear 13-year-old me, I’m writing to you from 2025, and I want you to know how much cycling will matter in your life. Why You’ll Fall in Love with the Bike Right now you think riding is boring and slow. Fair. But as you get older, you’ll realize the bike is a ticket. It takes you anywhere without traffic or parking headaches, and it keeps your heart, lungs, and mind strong. Most of all, it opens up a sense of adventure that never really ends. Freedom You’ll ride to clear your head, to explore new towns, to roll past miles of sky you can’t see from a car. The bike will always be there when life gets loud. Health Decades from now, you’ll be grateful for the steady, low-impact work the bike does for you—stronger heart, better wei...