Still Rolling Strong at 70: Why I Keep Cycling and You Should Too
Quick Take: At 70 years old, I’m not chasing speed—I’m riding long-distance tours for freedom, health, and sanity. Cycling keeps me moving, thinking clearly, and feeling young at heart. Age changes how I ride, not whether I ride.
Bruce(70) of The Old Guy Bicycle Blog on a Long-Distance Tour
At 70 years old, I’m riding farther, smarter, and happier than I did at 30 or 40. I’m not hunting for KOMs or sprint jerseys anymore. I’m chasing something better: freedom, clarity, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from turning pedals for hours under an open sky.
People sometimes ask why I still ride long distances at my age. The answer is blunt: cycling keeps me alive—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It isn’t just a hobby. It’s stitched into who I am, and it gives my days structure, meaning, and fire.
Cycling Keeps My Body Moving in a World That Wants Seniors to Sit Still
Your body changes at 70. Mine sure did. But change does not mean quit.
Cycling is the reason my joints still move the way they do. It’s why my heart rate and blood pressure numbers look better than those of men twenty years younger. It’s why I sleep well, wake up with a plan, and still feel like there’s a lot of road ahead of me.
I stretch longer now. I respect traffic more. I pay attention to heat, hydration, and recovery in a way I never did at 30. When my body whispers that something isn’t right, I listen instead of trying to power through it.
But the trade is worth it every single time. Cycling doesn’t magically make me feel 30 again. What it does is make being 70 feel powerful instead of limiting.
If you’re looking for more detailed safety and setup ideas for senior riders, you might like my post Cycling for Seniors: Smart Tips for Riders Over 60 .
Cycling Is Social—Even When I Ride Alone
Long-distance touring isn’t lonely. Not if you’re paying attention.
I’ve met more people at gas pumps, café counters, and roadside picnic tables than I ever met sitting behind a desk. A quick water refill often turns into a ten-minute conversation. Sometimes it turns into a memory that sticks with me for years.
On one ride through a small Louisiana town, I stopped outside a little interior design shop while trying to find the start of a 30-mile bike trail. A woman about my age came rushing out the front door, excited to talk to a touring cyclist.
We came from totally different backgrounds, but we clicked instantly. She told me she rarely had the chance to talk with a senior cyclist. We stood there in the street, swapping stories for nearly thirty minutes. No names. No photos. No social media follow.
Just two strangers connected by the sight of a loaded bicycle in front of a small-town shop. I rolled away and never saw her again, but that moment stuck with me.
That’s the beauty of the road: even when you ride alone, you’re never truly alone.
The Mental Benefits Are Real (And Underestimated)
No medication has ever cleared my head the way a long day on the bike does.
There’s something about the simple rhythm of pedaling, the feel of wind on your face, and the steady passing of fence posts and mile markers. Your brain finally gets to breathe. Problems get quieter. Solutions show up you weren’t expecting.
Cycling has helped me:
- Manage stress without staring at a screen or reaching for another pill bottle.
- Stay focused, especially during stretches of life that felt chaotic or heavy.
- Feel genuinely optimistic about the future, even on birthdays that end in a zero.
All you really need is a bike, a direction, and some time.
Senior Cycling Essentials I Personally Recommend
If you’re serious about riding comfortably and safely into your 60s, 70s, and beyond, a few key upgrades are worth every penny.
- Premium Helmet: A modern, well-ventilated helmet with better impact protection. My pick: Giro Helios Spherical Adult Road Cycling Helmet.
- High-End Bib Shorts: The right shorts can make long miles feel dramatically easier on your back, hips, and sit bones. My pick: Castelli Endurance 3 Bib Shorts for Men.
- Comfort Saddle: A wider, more supportive saddle built for real-world senior riders, not 130-pound racers. My pick: Popular Comfort Bicycle Saddle for Men & Women.
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Age Is Not a Full Stop—It’s a Comma
The world loves to tell seniors to slow down. Doctors, advertisers, even well-meaning family members sometimes act like the calendar is in charge of what we’re allowed to do.
I don’t buy that.
If you love cycling, ride.
Be smart, yes:
- Warm up a bit longer than you did in your 30s.
- Know your limits, especially in heat, cold, and wind.
- Stop when your body says, “That’s enough for today.”
- Choose routes and events that match where you are now, not where your ego wishes you were.
But don’t surrender joy just because another birthday rolled by.
Whether you’re 28 or 78, if the bike still calls your name, answer it.
Pump your tires. Grab your helmet. Roll out and see what your body can still do. Because the road doesn’t care that I’m 70—it only cares that I keep showing up.
More for Senior Cyclists
FAQs: Long-Distance Cycling at 70
Am I too old to start cycling at 70?
In most cases, no. If your doctor clears you for moderate exercise, cycling is one of the gentlest ways to build fitness. Start slow, keep rides short at first, and focus on comfort and consistency over speed.
How far should a 70-year-old cyclist ride?
There’s no magic number. A “long ride” might be 5 miles for one person and 50 miles for another. Start with distances that leave you tired but not wrecked. Over time, your body will tell you when it’s ready for more.
Is long-distance touring safe for seniors?
It can be, if you respect your limits. Choose routes with services along the way, manage heat and hydration carefully, ride visible with good lights and clothing, and don’t be afraid to cut a ride short if something feels off. Pride is not worth a medical emergency.
What if I don’t have anyone to ride with?
Ride anyway. You’ll meet people at gas stations, cafés, and trailheads. Long-distance cycling has a way of attracting conversation. You may start a tour alone, but you rarely finish it without at least a few new stories about the people you met along the way.
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