| My son and I during my June 2026 Mississippi River bicycle tour. He provided vehicle support while I rode 366 miles through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois on my Specialized Diverge. |
Last week I finished a six-day, 366-mile bicycle tour along the Mississippi River on my Specialized Diverge. The ride began in southeast Minnesota, crossed into Wisconsin, continued through Iowa and Illinois, and ended near the Missouri border.
My son provided vehicle support for the trip, carrying gear and helping with logistics while I rode the route.
It wasn’t the longest tour I’ve ever ridden. It wasn’t the fastest. It wasn’t the toughest. But it may have taught me more than any bicycle tour I’ve done in years.
At 70 years old, I came away with a realization that many older cyclists eventually face. No matter how much we train, age changes things. And that’s okay.
This Wasn’t My First Adventure
I’ve been riding bicycles seriously for more than 50 years. Over the years, I’ve ridden in states from California to Florida. I’ve crossed Texas from north to south and from west to east. I’ve ridden across New Mexico in both directions.
I’ve completed three-day tours, five-day tours, twelve-day tours, and even a nineteen-day tour. I’ve ridden multiple century rides, averaged 80 miles a day on some tours, and ridden through Texas heat that topped 100 degrees.
But before this starts sounding like I’m trying to brag, let me stop right there.
I’m Just an Average Guy
I’ve never considered myself an elite cyclist. I’ve never won races, and I’ve never been exceptionally fast. I’m just an average guy who loves bicycles.
The only difference between me and many people who dream about bicycle touring is that I kept riding. One ride led to another. A twenty-mile ride became a thirty-mile ride. A local ride became a weekend ride. A weekend ride became a tour. Over time, those miles added up.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that bicycle touring isn’t reserved for super athletes. Most of us are far more capable than we think we are.
This Mississippi River trip is proof of that. I didn’t carry panniers. I didn’t pull a trailer. I had vehicle support carrying my gear. But it was still a bicycle tour. Every mile was ridden under my own power.
I believe many people could do something similar if they’re willing to train, be patient, and give themselves time to build up to it.
The Surprising Part
I trained harder for this ride than I’ve trained for any tour in recent memory. I rode consistently, climbed hills in Palo Duro Canyon, spent months preparing, and showed up ready.
Yet something became obvious during the trip. The 61 miles per day I averaged felt close to my limit.
Not because I was injured. Not because I was out of shape. Not because I wasn’t prepared. The simple truth is that 61 miles at age 70 feels different than 61 miles at age 50.
That isn’t a complaint. It’s just reality.
The Part We Don’t Talk About
Cyclists love inspirational stories. We hear about the 75-year-old riding centuries every weekend or the 80-year-old setting records. And those riders absolutely exist.
But most of us aren’t those people. For most cyclists, aging eventually changes the equation. Recovery takes longer. The aches last a little longer. A hard day affects tomorrow more than it used to.
The fifth day of a tour feels different than the first. The sixth day feels different than the second. That’s not weakness. That’s simply what happens when you’ve been carrying the same body around for seventy years.
One Piece of Equipment I Wouldn’t Tour Without
One thing that stood out on this ride was how valuable my Garmin Varia radar was. Most of the route followed the Mississippi River Trail, but there were sections with commercial traffic and busy roads. The Varia alerted me whenever vehicles approached from behind.
What surprised me most was how useful it became on quiet country roads. When you’re riding alone for hours, your mind wanders. You start admiring the scenery, thinking about life, and losing a little focus. More than once, the Varia reminded me a vehicle was approaching long before I heard it.
For me, it has become one of the most important safety tools I own. Used along with my mirror, it gives me more peace of mind than I have ever had while riding in traffic.
Recommended safety upgrade: See the Garmin Varia Rearview Radar
If I were leaving on another tour tomorrow, the Varia would be one of the first things packed.
Over the years, I’ve tested and used a lot of cycling gear. Some of it was worth the money, and some of it wasn’t. If you’re curious about the equipment I currently use and recommend, I’ve put together a page with the bikes, safety gear, clothing, electronics, hydration items, and roadside tools that have earned a permanent place in my cycling setup.
See all the cycling gear I actually use and recommend
Success Looks Different Than It Used To
Twenty years ago, success meant bigger miles, longer days, faster rides, and more suffering. Today, success means something entirely different.
Success means waking up healthy enough to ride. It means finishing the day tired but smiling. It means enjoying the small river towns, the conversations, and the scenery. It means wanting to do it again tomorrow.
The older I get, the more I realize cycling isn’t about proving anything. It’s about continuing to experience the freedom that made me fall in love with bicycles in the first place.
Looking Ahead
This ride taught me something important. Future tours may be built around 50-mile days instead of 80-mile days. And honestly, that doesn’t bother me.
The goal isn’t to impress anybody anymore. The goal is to keep riding, keep exploring, and keep seeing what waits around the next bend in the road.
If reducing my mileage means I can continue touring for another decade, that’s a trade I’m happy to make.
Why I Share These Stories
One thing I’ve always worried about when writing this blog is sounding like I’m bragging. That has never been my goal.
I didn’t start The Old Guy Bicycle Blog to impress anyone with how far I’ve ridden or how many tours I’ve completed. I started it because I believe there are a lot of people, especially older cyclists, who would like to ride farther, stay healthier, or maybe even attempt a bicycle tour someday.
Sometimes they just need to hear from someone who has already done it. If I share a 366-mile tour, it’s not because I’m trying to show off. It’s because somewhere out there is a 60-year-old, 70-year-old, or even 80-year-old cyclist wondering if they can still do something adventurous.
Maybe they’re thinking about their first overnight ride. Maybe they’re considering a weekend tour. Maybe they’re wondering if age has already closed that door.
I hope my experiences show them that it hasn’t. You don’t have to ride across a state. You don’t have to ride 100 miles in a day. You don’t have to be fast. You just have to start where you are and keep moving forward.
If my stories help even one person believe they can do a little more than they thought they could, then sharing them is worth it.
Final Thoughts
When I was younger, I measured success by miles. This Mississippi River tour reminded me that success isn’t measured by mileage anymore. It’s measured by the fact that I’m still out there.
Six days. 366 miles. Four states. One bicycle. Countless memories.
No records. No heroic accomplishments. Just an ordinary guy who loves riding bicycles.
And honestly, that’s exactly enough.
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