The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

I really dislike the feeling I get when I get back on my bicycle after a couple of weeks off of it. The best explanation I have is that I feel kind of like an elephant on a bike. Some of you have probably had similar feelings. Read on to see what you can do to get back to the feeling of being a cyclist again. If you've taken a couple of weeks off the bike, you're probably feeling like an elephant when you first get back on. Your legs may feel heavy, your lungs may feel tight, and you may be wondering how you ever made it up that hill in the past. Don't worry, it's perfectly normal to feel this way. Your body just needs some time to get back into the swing of things. Here are a few tips to help you overcome the feeling like an elephant on your bike after a layoff: 1. Take it easy. The most important thing is to take it easy when you first get back on the bike. Don't try to do too much too soon. Start with short, easy rides and gradually increase the distance and inte...

  Congratulations on taking on the challenge of training for a century as a beginner senior cyclist! With the right training plan, you can build up your endurance and skills to achieve this impressive goal. Here's a sample six-month training plan to help you prepare. It's simple to follow and offers you the flexibility to ride it the way you feel best. From Beginner to Century: A Training Plan for Senior Cyclists Month 1: Start with two to three rides per week, gradually building up to a total of 50-75 miles per week. Focus on building your base fitness with longer, steady-paced rides of 10-20 miles. Incorporate some hill training to build strength and improve your climbing skills. Add some cross-training activities, such as walking or swimming, to build overall fitness and reduce the risk of injury. Month 2: Increase your weekly mileage to 75-100 miles per week. Begin to incorporate one longer ride per week, gradually building up to a distance of 30-40 miles. Add some interval...

As a cyclist, I know that preparation is key when it comes to multi-day tours. While physical training is essential, there's another tool that I rely on heavily: visualization. By visualizing success and focusing on the end goal, I have found that I can stay motivated and on track, even when faced with challenges. Read on to see how visualization in cycling can give you power. Research has shown that visualization, also known as mental imagery or mental rehearsal, can be a potent tool for achieving goals. Studies have demonstrated that visualizing oneself successfully performing a task can improve actual performance. For example, a study conducted by the University of Chicago and published at philcicio.com found that participants who visualized themselves successfully completing a task performed better than those who did not use visualization. The study involved a group of individuals who were learning to shoot free throws in basketball. Half of the participants visualized th...

Cycling is a popular form of exercise and transportation that has gained widespread popularity in recent years. However, with the growing interest in cycling, there are also a lot of questions that people have about this activity. In this blog post, we will address one of the most searched for questions about cycling: how to improve cycling performance? Cycling performance can be improved through a combination of training, nutrition, and proper equipment. Here are some tips that can help you improve your cycling performance: Cycling is a great form of exercise that can improve your cardiovascular health, boost your mood, and help you maintain a healthy weight. However, if you want to take your cycling to the next level, you need to have a well-structured training plan. Let's discuss how a training plan can help improve your cycling performance and provide tips on how to create an effective training plan. Why Do You Need a Training Plan? A training plan is essential for improving yo...

As a cyclist, there's nothing more exhilarating than training for a big ride or event. It gives you purpose, motivation, and a sense of accomplishment. But what happens when that excitement fades away, and you find yourself struggling to train? This is a common phenomenon called a training slump, and it can be frustrating and demotivating. As someone who has experienced this firsthand, I understand how it feels. Let me share my story with you. In 2020, I was training for a tour across Texas, which was scheduled for the July. I had been cycling for years and had participated in many events, but this one was special. I had put in months of training, and I was excited to take on the challenge. However, around three months before the ride, I started to struggle to put in quality rides. Even worse, I found myself making excuses for not riding. At first, I thought it was just a temporary setback, but the days turned into weeks. I wasn't making any progress, and my motivation was at a...

As a cyclist, there are times when you may find yourself struggling to stay motivated, especially when things seem to be going bad. Whether it's a series of bad races, injuries, or unfavorable weather conditions, it can be challenging to maintain the enthusiasm and drive that you need to keep pushing forward. However, staying motivated is crucial for achieving your goals and realizing your potential as a cyclist. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated even when things seem to be going bad: Set achievable goals:  Setting achievable goals is an important part of staying motivated and making progress as a cyclist. Goals give you something to work towards and help you stay focused on your progress. By breaking down your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable ones, you can create a roadmap that will help you achieve success. One of the keys to setting achievable goals is to make them specific and measurable. For example, instead of setting a goal to "improve my cyclin...

Cycling is a fantastic way to stay fit, explore new places, and challenge yourself both physically and mentally. For many cyclists, the thrill of conquering a steep climb is one of the most rewarding experiences on the bike. However, if you live and train in a relatively flat area, preparing for a tour with steep climbs can be a daunting challenge. As a cyclist who lives in a flat area, you may be used to spinning at a high cadence and cruising along at a comfortable pace. But when faced with steep hills on a tour, your legs will have to work much harder to get you to the top. So how can you prepare for such a challenge? One of the best ways to train for a tour with steep climbs is to simulate those climbs as closely as possible. Even if you don't have any hills in your area, you can still train for climbs by using a stationary trainer with a steep incline or by finding a parking garage with multiple levels to ride up and down. There is a 10 level parking garage about 3 miles from ...