Why Most Cyclists Quit After 60 - And How I'm Still Riding 150 Miles a Week at 70

"Most cyclists don't quit after 60 because they lose interest. They quit because pain, fear, and slow recovery pile up-and no one shows them how to adapt. I almost quit too. By changing my pacing, putting comfort first, and treating recovery like part of the ride, I still average 150 miles a week at nearly 70. You don't need to ride harder. You need to ride different."

"I've ridden more than 150,000 miles in my lifetime-and I'm still riding 150 miles a week at almost 70 years old. Here's the truth most cyclists won't say out loud: almost every rider I used to roll with has already quit. Not because they stopped loving the bike, but because staying on it after 60 gets hard. Pain lingers. Traffic feels sketchier. Recovery takes days. Confidence slips."

"Let's skip the fake internet advice ("drink water!") and talk about what actually takes people off the bike. Pain doesn't bounce back. At 40, I could ride hard, sleep, and wake up fine. At 60+, one bad route and I'll feel it for three days. Knees, back, hands-DOMS hits harder and lasts longer. Recovery takes forever. Stack two tough days and your next three get worse."

Many cyclists stop riding after 60 because pain accumulates, recovery slows, traffic becomes more intimidating, and confidence erodes. Age-related changes in hormones and muscle accelerate weight and energy shifts when riding decreases. Repeated hard efforts without adequate recovery compound decline and make cycling unsustainable. Adapting pacing, prioritizing comfort through equipment and route choices, and treating recovery as part of each ride enable continued high mileage into the late 60s. Practical support includes tailored recovery protocols, comfort-focused gear, adjusted training loads, and a senior cyclist toolkit with stories and resources updated October 2025.

Read at Theoldguybicycleblog