The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

As a senior cyclist, it's essential to take care of your body and make sure it's ready for the rigors of cycling. One of the most critical aspects of this is stretching. Stretching before and after cycling can help improve flexibility, reduce the risk of injury, and increase overall performance. As we age, our bodies naturally become less flexible, which can lead to a host of problems. Tight muscles and joints can cause pain, reduce mobility, and increase the risk of falls. Stretching can help counteract these effects and improve overall flexibility, making it easier to move and reducing the risk of injury. For senior cyclists, stretching can also help improve cycling performance. Tight muscles can cause imbalances in the body, leading to poor form and reduced power output. By stretching regularly, you can help maintain proper muscle balance and improve your cycling efficiency. Here are a few tips to help you get started with stretching: Warm-up first: Before stretching, it...

In 2016, I was riding from Lubbock, Texas to Pensacola, Florida. It was a long and challenging ride, but I was having a great time. One day, I was about 10 miles into an 80-mile day when I broke a spoke. I was in a very secluded area, and I didn't see another cyclist or car for hours. But I was prepared. I had the gear I needed and the knowledge to fix my spoke. Without it, my ride would have ended on day 2. This experience taught me two important things that are essential for any long distance cyclist: basic bicycle repair knowledge and a positive attitude. Basic Bicycle Repair Knowledge Even if you are a seasoned cyclist, you are bound to encounter some mechanical problems on a long distance tour. You may be far away from home and bike shops, so it is important to be able to fix basic problems yourself. Here are a few things you should know how to do: Change a tire Fix a broken chain Adjust your brakes and gears True your wheels Replace a cable Replace a broken spoke You c...

Lilly loves cycling. She loves the feeling of the wind in her hair, the sun on her face, and the road beneath her wheels. She loves the challenge of pushing herself to her limits and the sense of accomplishment she feels when she reaches her destination. But Lilly knew that cycling could also be dangerous, especially for women cycling alone. One day, she was riding down the route of the Mississippi River when she felt a car following her. She looked over her shoulder and saw a man leering at her. Lilly's heart started to race. She pedaled faster, but the car stayed behind her. She started to panic. What if he tried to pull her over? What if he tried to hurt her? Lilly knew she had to do something. She pulled over to the side of the road and called 911. She told the dispatcher that she was being followed by a car and that she was scared. The dispatcher stayed on the phone with Lilly while they waited for the police to arrive. A few minutes later, a police car pulled up behind Lilly....

I used to put in 5,000+ miles a year on my bicycle and pretty much stayed the same weight because I ate a really bad diet. One year I scaled my riding back to about 3,000 miles but changed my diet and dropped 20 pounds. What did that teach me? Cycling alone will not help you lose weight unless you pair it with a sensible approach to nutrition. Cycling with a decent diet will do wonders for you. In fact, the pounds will melt right off. Cycling is a great form of exercise that can provide numerous benefits for your health and fitness. It's a low-impact activity that can help improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and boost endurance. Additionally, it's a fun and enjoyable way to get outside and explore your surroundings. One of the most popular reasons for cycling is weight loss. Many people turn to cycling as a way to shed excess pounds and improve their overall health. However, despite its many benefits, cycling alone may not be enough to achieve your weight loss go...

The subject of cyclists becoming better ambassadors for the sport is near and dear to my heart. So many people hate cyclists because we are perceived as elitist snobs. I think that is an unfair reflection of most cyclists but it is what is it is and it hurts the sport of cycling when we try to get our cities to address better infrastructure for cyclists. It seems like anytime you bring up the need for better or more bike lanes or safer roads with wider shoulders or even building trails for cyclists to keep them off of the road, many people bring up a negative interaction they had with a cyclist and refuse to even think about helping out. This post is about becoming better ambassadors for cycling. Enjoy it and please leave comments below. Cycling is a great way to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and reduce your carbon footprint. But it can also be a dangerous sport, especially in cities where there is a lot of traffic. One way to make cycling safer is for cyclists to become better amb...

That picture of the sign with the bike and the phrase "Life is a Beautiful Journey, Enjoy the Ride" is on a bookshelf in my home. The picture at the bottom is my family and me at South Padre Island at the southernmost point in Texas at the end of my Ride across Texas in 2020. I think that picture represents the phrase perfectly for me and that is why it is on the sign. This phrase is a popular one, and for good reason. It is a reminder that life is a gift, and that we should cherish it and make the most of it. But what does it really mean to enjoy the ride? On one level, the phrase is simply a metaphor. Life is like a journey, and we are the passengers. We can choose to sit back and enjoy the ride, or we can worry about the destination and forget to appreciate the present moment. But the phrase can also be taken literally. Cycling is a great way to enjoy the ride of life. When we are cycling, we are fully present in the moment. We are aware of our surroundings, and we are fee...

Cycling is often seen as a green and sustainable sport, but there is a growing concern that it is being greenwashed by corporations and governments. Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading or exaggerated claims about the environmental benefits of a product or service. There are a number of ways in which cycling is being greenwashed. One common example is when corporations that are involved in polluting industries sponsor cycling events or teams. This can give the impression that these companies are environmentally friendly, when in reality they are doing little to reduce their impact on the planet. Another example of greenwashing is when governments promote cycling as a green transportation option, while at the same time continuing to invest in car infrastructure and fossil fuels. This can confuse and mislead consumers, who may believe that they are making a more sustainable choice by cycling, when in reality the government is not doing enough to support cycling as a viable t...