The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

🚲 Looking for the best bike for older adults? Whether you're just getting started or upgrading your ride, these expert tips and bike recommendations will help you find the perfect two—or three—wheeled fit for your comfort, health, and freedom. 🚴‍♂️ The Best Bikes for Older Adults: Comfort, Ease, and Confidence As we age, the joy of cycling doesn’t fade — but comfort, ease of use, and safety become even more important. After decades on two wheels, here’s what I’ve learned about picking the right bike after 60. 🛠️ What Older Riders Really Need in a Bike Step-through frame: Easy to mount and dismount without swinging a leg. Upright handlebars: Keeps your posture relaxed and reduces back and neck pain. Wide, cushioned saddle: Because comfort matters — especially on longer rides. Shock absorption: Suspension seatposts and front forks soften bumps. Simple shifting: Internally geared hubs or trigger shifters reduce hand strain. Lightweight frame: E...

By Bruce | The Old Guy Bicycle Blog Retirement is supposed to be a time to relax — but I’ve learned something over the years: too much relaxing doesn’t make me feel good. What I really needed was a hobby that made me feel alive. Something that kept me moving, gave me purpose, and helped me shake off the fog that can creep in when the routines of working life disappear. That hobby turned out to be cycling. Not fast racing. Not some hardcore competitive grind. 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 in and feeling restless, let me tell you why cycling has been the best hobby I could’ve chosen. And if you're looking for practical tips to make riding safer and easier, check out my full guide: My Best Advice for Cycling Seniors . 🚲 1. It Gets You Out of the House Look, I love a good recliner and a quiet morning. But if every day starts and ends in ...

By Bruce | The Old Guy Bicycle Blog They say 60 is the new 40 — but when you’re standing next to a bike after a long break, it might feel more like the new 80. I get it. I’ve been there. But here’s what I’ve learned: cycling over 60 isn’t about reclaiming youth. It’s about owning this chapter. It’s about moving your body, clearing your head, and feeling strong in a world that keeps telling you to slow down. Whether you’re just getting started, coming back after years away, or riding regularly but wondering if it still “counts” at your age… this post is for you. 💡 Why Cycling Is Perfect for People Over 60 Low-Impact Exercise: Cycling is easy on the joints — unlike running, there’s no pounding on knees or hips. Heart and Brain Benefits: It keeps your heart healthy and clears mental fog better than any morning crossword. Ride Your Way: You control the speed, distance, terrain. Want flat and scenic? Great. Want hills? Even better. 🧓 What About Common Concerns?...

I’ve written before about why I believe cyclists should support their local bike shop. That post told the story of how my Specialized AWOL frame cracked after 33,000 miles — and how my local shop, Velocity Bikes in Lubbock, Texas , stepped in to help. They reminded me that Specialized offers a lifetime warranty on frames and took care of the entire process. The AWOL was out of production by then, so Specialized replaced it with a brand-new Specialized Diverge . That was five years and 22,000 miles ago, and I’m still riding it. That experience earned my loyalty — but it’s far from the only reason I keep going back. Let me break it down. 🚲 1. Local Bike Shops Take Care of Their Customers When you buy a bike from a local shop, they usually take care of you in ways that big box stores and online retailers never will. Many local shops offer: Discounts on accessories and parts Reduced prices on service , often half off A basic tune-up that might cost $40 could drop to $20 simp...

Quick Tip: If something starts hurting on the bike — your hands, knees, back, or neck — it’s usually your body warning you about fit or fatigue. Don’t ignore it. Adjust, rest, and prevent it from turning into a real injury. Pedal Pain-Free: How to Prevent Common Cycling Injuries Cycling is a low-impact, full-body workout — but it’s not injury-proof. Over time, even the most experienced riders run into nagging issues that can turn a great ride into a painful one. I’ve been there. Fortunately, most cycling injuries can be prevented with the right setup, a little awareness, and some smart habits on and off the bike. Here are some of the most common cycling injuries and how to keep them from derailing your ride: 🚴‍♂️ Knee Pain This is one I know well. Whenever I overdo it — too many miles too fast — my knees are the first to complain. That little ache behind the kneecap or on the front of the joint? It’s often caused by overuse, improper saddle height, or poor pedal alig...

Real Cyclist. Real Gear. Real Stories. What I actually use on my rides — and why it matters. This is my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 on pause about halfway through an easy training ride. Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2: My Go-To Cycling Computer for Navigation, Training, and Motivation I had the original Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT and loved it — until the day I made the mistake of setting it on the back of my truck and forgetting it was there. One turn onto the road, and it was gone. I never found it. When I went to replace it, I didn’t hesitate: I bought the Wahoo BOLT V2. Why? It fits the same mount I already had on my bike, and the first one had proven to be a workhorse — rugged, simple, and smart. I’ve used the Wahoo BOLT 2 on long-distance rides, day rides, and even during a solo bicycle tour across San Diego — where it guided me from the Pacific coast through the heart of the city with surprisingly little interaction with traffic. I thought that would be impossible. But thanks to Ride with GPS in...

🚴‍♂️ 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 ...