The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Last Updated: January 5, 2026 Quick Answer: If your chain is jammed behind the cassette (between the cassette and spokes), don’t yank it. Shift to the smallest cog, release rear-wheel tension, and “walk” the chain out while rotating the cassette backward. If it’s wedged hard, remove the rear wheel and pull the chain out from the cassette side. If you’ve never had this happen, it’s a special kind of panic. One second you’re pedaling, the next your rear wheel locks up and the chain is stuffed where it absolutely doesn’t belong — behind the cassette, right up against the spokes. It happened to me just 2 days ago. It is not fun but it can be fixed. Here’s the honest truth: most damage happens when people try to rip the chain out . Bent derailleur hangers, broken spokes, torn chain links… all from one “I’ll just yank it.” First: Stop Pedaling and Get Safe Pull off the road/path and flip your bike upside down or lean it against something stable. Do not force th...

Last Updated: January 7, 2026 Quick Answer: If you ride more than neighborhood loops—multiple times a week for fitness, longer routes, hotter days, or rides that require navigation—your phone will eventually let you down on the handlebars. Heat, battery drain, and screen dimming are real. A dedicated bike computer is built to run in sun and heat all ride long, track your heart rate and effort, and sync cleanly to Strava. I’m not talking about being a “serious” cyclist. I’m talking about the kind of rider most of us become once we start riding for fitness: You ride multiple times a week . You leave the neighborhood and do longer routes . You start caring about heart rate, pace, and progress . You want your ride data to show up in Strava without drama. If that’s you, a phone mount and a phone can work—until it doesn’t. And once it fails you mid-ride, you’ll understand why bike computers exist. 🔥 The Phone Problem: Heat Happe...

Last updated: January 4, 2025 Quickest Answer: If you only pedal around the neighborhood, your phone is fine to record the ride. For anything longer, hotter, hillier, or navigated? Use a dedicated GPS bike computer. The #1 reason: phones shut down on the handlebars from heat; bike computers are built to run there all day. I’ve been riding long distances for decades. I’ve cooked phones, drained batteries, lost GPS in the middle of nowhere, and had rides where everything went right only because my bike computer stayed rock-solid while my phone tapped out. Here’s the blunt truth from a 70-year-old cyclist: if you’re just looping the neighborhood, sure — your phone is enough. But once you add heat, distance, sun, hills, or navigation, your phone becomes the weak link. A dedicated GPS bike computer becomes the thing that keeps the day on track. Why a Phone on the Bars Is a Bad Idea for Long Rides Overheating & shutdowns: Dire...

Last Updated: January 2026 Quick Answer: I don’t trust drivers to see me or do the right thing. I ride safer by assuming I’m invisible, then stacking visibility, motion, lighting, positioning, and awareness so drivers can’t ignore me — without giving up riding. I’ve never trusted drivers. Not when I was younger. Not now. Not on quiet back roads or busy city streets. And I’ve never bought into the idea that being “in the right” is the same thing as being safe. I don’t assume drivers see me. I don’t assume they’ll stop. And I definitely don’t assume a bike lane magically protects me. But I also refuse to stop riding because of them. Over the years, I’ve learned something important: safety isn’t about trust — it’s about stacking the odds in your favor. And the way you do that isn’t complicated, trendy, or theoretical. It’s practical, sometimes ugly, and occasionally a little obnoxious. That’s fine by me. I want to be noticed, not stylish. Trusting Dr...

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: December 10, 2025 Quick Take: Triathletes already bought all the expensive stuff—bike, wetsuit, shoes, gadgets. So the best gifts are the practical upgrades they use every single day but never think to replace. Trust me: it's not the flashy gear that impresses them… it’s the stuff that makes training hurt a little less. Before someone asks: no, I’ve never competed in a triathlon. I wanted to when I was younger, but after knee reconstruction, running is not on my approved activities list. I’m a cyclist through and through—70 years old, miles in my legs, and no shame in admitting I admire triathletes from the comfort of my saddle. But here’s the thing: I used to run marathons. I’m a strong swimmer. And after decades of endurance training, I absolutely understand what triathletes go through. Three disciplines, constant fatigue, nonstop gear, and approximately 487 things to remember on any given training day. So yes—I may not toe the start line of an Iron...

Published: December 24, 2025 Quick Take: At 70 years old, I’m riding stronger than ever—not because I’m chasing speed records, but because I’ve leaned into organized events, smart training, and a few key gear upgrades. If you’re a senior cyclist (or want to be one), this is what’s working for me and how you can build your own cycling life after 60. There’s something poetic about flipping a calendar page. The calendar turns, but the road remains the same. The asphalt doesn’t care how old I am, what month it is, or whether the wind favors me or tries to break me—it just waits. Looking back on 2025, I can see just how much this past year shifted the way I ride. For decades, I was a solo tour guy. I’d pack up the bike, head out alone, and let the days unfold one mile at a time. But 2025 was different. This was a year of single-day events, multi-day rides, and shared roads with other cyclists chasing their own stories. And honestly? It was one of the most rewardin...