The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

Before my San Diego to Las Cruces tour, I was seriously thinking about getting a new bike. My Specialized Diverge had served me well for over 20,000 miles—maybe closer to 25,000—but it was never designed as a pure touring bike. I’d been eyeing a Surly, the kind of bike built from the frame up for long, loaded journeys. A real workhorse. Something that could haul gear, chew up the miles, and shrug off the punishment of the road. But then came the mishap. A rag got pulled into my derailleur. One small mistake, and suddenly my tour plans were sitting on the shoulder with me—a ride-ending breakdown in San Diego . The kind that makes your stomach drop, because you can feel a dream slipping away in real time. Standing there beside my disabled bike, I called my wife. She didn’t hesitate. “Keep going,” she said. “If you have to buy a new bike in San Diego, then buy a new bike.” It would’ve been the perfect excuse. A dream justified. I could’ve walked into a bike shop...

Last Updated: December 2025 Cycling “Nuts and Bolts” Books: Repair, Training, Fit, and Touring (Commonly Recommended) If you want the practical side of cycling — fixing things, training smarter, riding pain-free, and doing longer rides with fewer surprises — books can beat random videos. They’re slower, clearer, and they don’t disappear when a platform changes. Important note (honest + simple): I’m sharing these as well-regarded, widely recommended cycling reference books — not as personal “I used this exact one” endorsements. Use this list as a strong starting point, then pick the one that matches what you’re trying to learn. 1) The Park Tool Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair A classic home-workshop repair guide. This is one of the most commonly recommended “start here” repair references because it’s structured, visual, and step-by-step. 2) Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance Frequently recommended for road cyclists who want a deeper, more detailed maintenance...

Last Updated: November 28, 2025 Quick Take: Cycling isn’t my escape—it’s my confessional. The road knows the version of me no one else sees, and every mile strips away everything but the truth. Cycling Is My Mistress Some people chase hobbies. Some chase goals. I chase the road. I always have. Not because I’m running from anyone—and not because I’m unhappy. My wife knows me better than anyone alive. She knows I love her. She also knows there’s a part of me she can’t compete with, and I don’t say that lightly. Cycling is my mistress. Not in the way people whisper behind closed doors. In the way something calls your name, long after you should’ve outgrown it. In the way a quiet obsession becomes a second pulse. She’s the one who wakes me before sunrise. She’s the one who pulls me out the door when logic says “not today.” She’s the one who knows the version of me no one else sees—the tired, hurting, stubborn, grateful, alive version. My wife sees the man. Th...

Last Updated: December 8, 2025 As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Quick Answer: No — cycling does not raise testosterone. Light riding has little effect, and long-distance endurance riding can actually lower T by increasing fatigue, stress hormones, and calorie deficits. Saddle pressure doesn’t reduce testosterone, but it can cause numbness and ED symptoms that make riders think it does. Here's what a 70-year-old long-distance cyclist has learned the hard way. Does Cycling Raise Testosterone? Short answer? No. Cycling doesn’t raise testosterone. If anything, the more miles you stack up every week, the more likely your testosterone is to dip. Long-distance cyclists — especially men over 50 — tend to see lower testosterone for two reasons: High training volume spikes cortisol, and cortisol suppresses testosterone. Many cyclists under-eat, and calorie deficits lower hormone levels extremely fast. B...

Last Updated: November 28, 2025 The best cycling bib shorts for long rides offer a mix of comfort, fit, value, and support—especially for senior riders. Here are the top bib shorts worth considering. Quick Answer: The best cycling bib shorts for long rides combine comfort, fit, and long-distance support. Top choices include the Assos Mille GT C2, Pearl Izumi Attack, Velocio LUXE, Castelli Espresso, and SUGOi Evolution. These options offer a range of budgets and comfort levels suitable for everyday riders and seniors who want to stay comfortable in the saddle. The Best Cycling Bib Shorts for Long Rides (Chosen for Comfort, Value & Senior Riders) When you reach a certain age—and especially when you’re riding thousands of miles a year—comfort becomes non-negotiable. A good pair of bib shorts won’t make you faster, but they will keep you riding longer, reduce pressure points, and prevent the chafing or saddle discomfort that can derail a ride. This guide uses ...

Last Updated: December 2025 These 10 cycling books have stood the test of time. Whether you're a new rider or a 70-year-old cyclist like me who has spent decades on the road, these books offer the best mix of stories, adventure, history, humor, and hard-earned wisdom you'll find anywhere. 10 Timeless Cycling Books Every Rider Should Read I've ridden more than 150,000 miles in my lifetime, and these are the books that have stayed with me. They’re the ones cyclists still talk about decades later — because the writing, the stories, and the truth inside them never wear out. The Rider — Tim Krabbé The greatest cycling book ever written. A deep dive into the mental game of a single race, told minute by minute. Every cyclist eventually finds this book — and it changes how you see the sport. French Revolutions — Tim Moore A hilarious, brutally honest attempt to ride the entire Tour de France route. He suffers. He laughs. You laugh. It’s cycling mis...

Last Updated: November 24, 2025 Cyclling’s Bad Rides Suck Factor Guide Quick Answer: Every cyclist has bad rides—but some hit harder than others. I use a blunt 3-level “Suck Factor” rating to describe how far off the rails things went: from tough-but-manageable rides… all the way to the ones that end with a walk home or a rescue truck. Why We Need a “Suck Factor” Scale If you’ve been riding long enough—especially as a 70-year-old senior cyclist—then you already know this truth: not every ride is magical . Some are fine, some are irritating, and a few are so miserable you question every life choice that got you onto two wheels. Instead of pretending every ride is sunshine, I started rating my bad rides using a simple, brutally honest 3-level system. Here’s how I measure how badly a bad ride really sucks. 🚲 Suck Factor 1: The Ride Just… Sucks This is your garden-variety “something’s off today” ride. Nothing catastrophic. Nothing dramatic. You’re jus...