Back in March of 2020, with the world slowing down and everything going sideways, I made a quiet decision: I got a text message from my wife, who was inside Costco..”hey you should come in and look at these fat tire bikes”. It didn’t take long for me to decide to roll one up to the checkout, for A$496 Canadian it was a low cost entry back into cycling. What started out as short neighborhood rides quickly turned into full-blown explorations. By that summer, I was hitting 60 km days—not bad for a guy in his 50s riding a 7-speed fatbike with 4-inch tires that felt like dragging anchors at times. But you know what? Those tires taught me strength and patience. They didn’t make it easy, but they made me stronger.
That same summer, I started adding gear to the bike—camping gear, a cook kit, a hammock and tarp. The more I loaded it up, the more it clicked: bikepacking was the sweet spot between cycling and my lifelong love of camping and hiking. Instead of hauling a heavy pack on my back, the bike became my pack mule, my partner, and my freedom machine.
Why Start Cycling in Your 50s and Beyond?
You don’t need to be training for a race or chasing KOMs(King of the Mountain) on Strava to start cycling in your 50s. You just need the urge to move, explore, and breathe a little deeper. Here’s why I keep pedaling—and why you might want to start too:
1. Movement is Medicine
For me, cycling isn’t just about getting from A to B—it’s about managing chronic pain. I deal with neuropathy and a degenerative disc, and some days aren’t easy. But I’d rather earn the pain on an adventure than from sitting still. A good ride loosens stiff joints, clears mental fog, and gives my nervous system something else to focus on. Movement helps me own the pain, instead of letting it own me.
2. Mental Reset
There’s something about pedaling through forest trails or winding country roads that resets the mind. It’s meditative. No phones ringing, no deadlines—just you, your bike, and the sound of tires on gravel or pavement. I ride without headphones or a speaker, I want to hear the tires, the birds…the wind.
3. Low Impact, High Reward
Cycling is kinder on the joints than running or hiking with a pack. That makes it perfect for those of us who may not bounce back like we used to but still want to challenge ourselves.
4. Freedom & Simplicity
With cycling—especially bikepacking—you get a simple kind of freedom. You carry what you need, travel light, and let the road (or trail) decide where you’ll end up. It doesn’t take much to get started, and there’s a lot of beauty in the simplicity.
Bike Touring vs. Bikepacking
Yes, there’s a difference—and both are awesome.
Bike Touring usually means riding on roads with panniers or bags, often sticking to paved or gravel routes between towns or campsites. Think long stretches of riding with plenty of pit stops for coffee or pie. It’s classic, comfortable, and usually involves a bit more infrastructure and planning.
Bikepacking, on the other hand, is like backpacking but on a bike. It’s more about off-road trails, forest routes, and backcountry adventure. Gear is often packed in frame bags and roll-top dry bags strapped to handlebars and seat posts. It leans more minimalist and rugged, and that’s why I love it—it puts you deeper into nature, away from the noise.
The Perks of Pedaling with Purpose
Here’s what I’ve gained since getting back on the bike:
- Strength & Endurance – Those fatbike miles didn’t come easy, but they built me up.
- Resilience – When I ride through headwinds or climb hills, I remind myself I’ve been through worse. And I always come out stronger.
- Adventure Stories – Pain feels different when it comes with a sunrise, a mountaintop, or a quiet lakeside camp.
- Connection – With the land, with people I meet on trails, and with myself.
Final Thoughts
You’re never too old to ride. You’re never too broken to move. And you don’t need to be fast, fancy, or fit to start.
Start with a short ride. Strap a bag on your handlebars. Camp under the stars. Let the rhythm of the pedals guide you forward.
If you’re in your 50s or beyond, now is the perfect time to ride—not because you’re running out of time, but because you’ve finally got the wisdom to make every mile matter.
So, how do you adventure?
Here is the Northrock Fatbike (from Costco) all loaded up, over 6000kms and not as much as a flat tire. Look in the “Bikes: category for a post-videos on my rides.