Riding Into My 80s: Bruce’s 1,300-Mile Adventure
Updated: Author: ErpanOmer
For his 80th birthday, Urtopia Ambassador Bruce set out on his 20th long-distance cycling trip — this time, along the Rhine and across Europe on a Urtopia Carbon 1 Pro. But the story you’re about to read isn’t Bruce’s alone. His wife, Mary, lovingly documented every step of their 1,300-mile journey in letters to family and friends. With her permission, we’re sharing her words here, almost exactly as she wrote them.
“Hello Family, Friends, all the important people in our life!”
Mary begins:
“Hello Family, Friends, all the important people in our life!
Bruce and I are on an ADVENTURE again (no big surprise). This is to celebrate Bruce’s 80th birthday year —
and our 20th bike trip!!!!
On July 29th we loaded up the lovingly packed new bikes (2 Carbon 1 Pro) and headed to Denver to finish a
few errands and leave in the am for Amsterdam. An overnight flight (with many delays) got us over the pond.
We enjoyed a couple of days in the big BUSY city, sightseeing and figuring out the train system for our
departure with the bikes to Switzerland.
We are going to ride along the Rhein (Rhine) river on the Euro 15 bike trail. Self-supported and free of
plans as we can be…”
Switzerland: Order and Pastries
“Switzerland is a very organized and clean and safe country. Our first day was spitting water from the sky,
but not enough to dampen our spirits.
We could not use cash if we had gotten any… hotels, stores, snacks, trains all were cashless purchases.
(Swipe before you wipe, even in the lavatory!)
Each of the hotels for the last week have had a breakfast included… pastries, multiple breads,
mouth-watering jams, yogurts in bowls, granola with dried fruits and nuts, cold cuts and cheese selections,
fresh fruit and sometimes salad items. Always a coffee machine for cappuccino. Did I mention fresh juices?”
500 Miles In
“Hello again, we are over 500 miles. Riding is always the most fun when we know where we are, on the trail
along the Rhine passing the plowed fields or the corn fields (which are always taller than me). There are
flowers everywhere.
We’ve had Indian, Greek, Turkish, French, Swiss and German food. In Strasbourg we even saw Route 66 diners,
Cajun spots, fried chicken, Mexican restaurants… almost hard to find a bratwurst!”
Festivals, Castles, and Magic Moments
“We are in Düsseldorf Germany at 750 miles. There is so much to see and enjoy in the middle Rhine we have
been taking our time… this is a vacation not just a bike trip.
In Worms we got there for the Jazz festival with 3 stages around the town and the best act was a band from
Chicago.
The next town we rolled into was the last night of the wine fest celebrating Riesling and we sampled so much
of that!!!
Along the river we have to stop for the Castles that hang out over the river and learn the legends from
times past. Marksburg has the only Castle that was never bombed and burned out on the Rhine. We did the tour
and learned a lot…”
And then came the Alpine horns:
“While biking along the river we were sent up to the top of a dike for a detour. The path was closed for a
band of Alpine horns who were playing a concert that day for one of the members’ birthday. Just amazing to
only have about 10 people and us at a private concert… a few beers were passed around for the band and we
were adopted by two gentlemen also on a bike ride. Steven is 85 and his friend Michael…”
Cologne, Speyer, and Beyond
Bruce wrote with humor:
“Cologne is a big city!! The Cathedral is an engineering wonder and then when you realize how old it is,
even more spectacular!
In Speyer we were at a riverside beer garden late Sunday afternoon and lots of Americans started drifting
in… locals laughed at the Viking Cruise Ship people, soon they all left as the ship came to the
dock.
Fall is in the air and some paths are lined with golden fallen leaves that crunch as we pass through. We
spend a lot of time on forest pathways and gravel roads through harvested fields. What do they do with so
much corn… it is everywhere.”
The Bikes
“The bikes are performing well. We are now at 750 miles and no malfunctions. There was a day that I was so
glad to have the motor back up. This morning it was raining as we left so we put them in level 2 and moved
out of the rainy area very quickly. They are very dirty but will get a check-up for any loose screws and a
wash.
Ours will not start without our fingerprint as an extra precaution. After 850 miles we may be getting lazy
or tired. The battery we have used most is 8 bars on our 76-mile day. Usually, there are 4 or 5 bars left.
After 17 days of riding and 5 days off, the bikes have been flawless.”
Explore the Carbon 1 Pro
The Final Miles to Denmark
“We entered Denmark from Flensburg Germany and went east to Krusa and camped. Then we rode across the
country, through farmland and harvested fields, to the west coast and marshes. In Skaerback there is a 125
meter high tower built like a double helix to look out over the marsh.
North to Ribe, classic homes and squares older than America. Up to Esbjerg, a rocking town, then
Fano
Island with a music festival, kite surfers, wind carts, wide beaches. Then west to Copenhagen!
Copenhagen is striving to be carbon neutral by the end of the year! It rivals Amsterdam for
bike-friendliness. Beware not to step into the bike lane — they do not stop for people.”
Reflections
“We are 1250+ miles and will be at 1300 by the time we pack our bikes. They have been great!!! Never missed
a gear change, always had battery power if wanted…
We will have slept in 30 beds and biked for travel for 28 days. Longest day was 76 miles and shortest was
15.
I am going home to kiss my washing machine… 6 weeks of hand-washing all our clothes.
Thank you for the support we feel when doing these fun trips. See you soon.”
Closing
Bruce’s story is a reminder that age is never a limit. At 80, he and his Urtopia Carbon 1 Pro proved that adventure still calls — across borders, rivers, and miles. His words are his gift to us, and we’re proud to share them with you.
