The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Last Updated: April 2026 Quick Take: At 19 years old, one brutal college bike race made me swear I would never ride a bike again. Decades later, cycling became one of the best parts of my life. Sometimes the thing that humbles you early becomes the thing that saves you later. As a kid, my bike was my freedom. I loved the independence, the ability to explore the neighborhood, and the feeling of wind in my face as I pedaled hard toward some imaginary finish line. A bicycle was not exercise back then. It was transportation, adventure, escape, and imagination all rolled into one. But like a lot of kids, my interests changed as I got older. Basketball became my world. I played through junior high, high school, and even earned a basketball scholarship to a small junior college. But after just one semester, I decided to give up the scholarship and the grind of competitive basketball. I still loved the game, but I did not feel the pull of chasing it as a career. So I shift...

Last Updated: April 19, 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 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 th...

🚲 Quick Take: You’ve got the right-of-way. The car has a stop sign. But one thing has changed—and it’s making intersections more dangerous than ever for cyclists. One of the most dangerous places for a cyclist to encounter a car is at an intersection. And I’m not just talking about big, busy intersections with traffic lights. In fact, I’ve come to believe those are actually safer. At least you know who has the green, who’s turning, and where to expect trouble. But those smaller intersections—especially the ones where you have the right-of-way and the car is stopped at a stop sign —they’re tricky. I’ve had far too many close calls in those exact situations. A few years ago, there was one thing I always relied on: eye contact . I’d approach an intersection and glance straight through the driver’s window. If the driver turned their head and made eye contact with me, I’d feel a little better. It wasn’t a guarantee, but at least I knew they saw me. Of course, I still rode...

Last Updated: March 2026 Most cyclists obsess over bikes, tires, and gear—but the tool that actually keeps those tires working properly often gets ignored. A good cycling floor pump might be the most underrated piece of equipment in a rider’s garage. Tires slowly lose pressure every week. Ride with tires that are even 10–15 PSI too low and you’ll notice it immediately—slower rolling, sluggish handling, and more risk of flats. After riding more than 155,000 miles , one thing I’ve learned is simple: the easier it is to pump your tires, the more likely you are to keep them properly inflated. And that’s where many cyclists make a mistake. They assume any pump will work the same. It doesn’t. Different bikes require different pumping styles because their tires use very different pressures and air volumes. Why I Use a High-Volume Floor Pump Personally, I use the Topeak JoeBlow Mountain II Floor Pump . Most of my training and touring tires r...

Last Updated: March 2026 Most 70-Year-Olds Don’t Ride 5, 10, or 20 Miles — But Cyclists Still Do There’s something interesting about being a cyclist in your seventies. The world tends to assume people our age are slowing down. Retiring. Taking it easy. Spending more time sitting than moving. But then you roll past them on a bicycle. Helmet on. Legs turning. Maybe grinding up a hill or leaning into a headwind. And suddenly the assumptions don’t fit anymore. Because the truth is, most 70-year-olds can’t do what cyclists our age are still doing. Most 70-Year-Olds Don’t Ride 5, 10, or 20 Miles — Cyclists Do If you stop and think about it, riding 5, 10, 20 miles—or more on a bicycle is not a small thing. It means your heart can handle sustained effort. It means your balance is still sharp. It means your legs can keep pushing for miles. It means your lungs can keep up. It means your mind stays alert enough to ride safely. Most people in...

Last Updated: March 2026 Can You Really Buy a Quality Bike on Amazon? (An Honest Cyclist’s Answer) I’ve always been a supporter of local bike shops. A good shop can fit a bike properly, make sure it’s safe, and give you a place to go when something needs attention. But I also live in the real world. Some riders are mechanically confident and don’t need a shop for every little thing. And plenty of people don’t even have a solid bike shop nearby. For them, buying a bike online—including from Amazon—can absolutely make sense. So here’s the honest answer, from a 70-year-old cyclist with 155,000+ lifetime road miles: Quick Answer Yes —you can buy a quality bike on Amazon, if you choose the right bike type, avoid “too-cheap-to-be-true” builds, and buy from a brand with real support. Amazon isn’t the problem. Bad components, poor sizing choices, and bargain-bin bikes are the problem...

Last Updated:  March 2026 Quick Answer The best gifts for a 70-year-old cyclist aren’t flashy performance upgrades. They’re smart safety + comfort tools that say, “I support you riding — and I want you protected.” If you’ve read my post Is My Parent Too Old to Ride a Bike? How Age Affects Cycling Ability , you know where I stand: yes — if they ride smart. But I get the other side, too. When your 70-year-old parent rides on real roads, it can make you nervous. You don’t want to discourage them. You don’t want to sound controlling. You just want them safe. Here are gifts that help in the real world — the ones that reduce surprises, reduce stress, and keep them riding longer. The Right Mindset Before You Buy Anything Don’t give a gift that says, “Maybe you should slow down.” Give one that says, “I believe in you. Let’s make this safer.” 1) Rear-Facing Radar (The Biggest Safety Upgrade Available) I...