I have ridden a bike since I was about 7 years old, but about 10 years ago, I became afraid of biking. I don’t know why. I lived in a very bike-friendly town with good bike lanes. I had not fallen, my balance was fine, but I was uncomfortable. I was worried that I would fall when I stopped the bike and leaned over to put my foot on the ground. So I stopped. But I missed riding my bike and I became angry with myself for being a quitter.
Then I decided that maybe the solution was a new bike, something more stable. I found a bike called a “Townie” made by a bike company called Electra. The Townie has what the company called Flat Foot Technology®. They moved the seat back a little bit to allow the rider to place both feet on the ground when stopped. You can read more here if you want. http://www.electrabike.com/way-to-roll/flat-foot-technology
It worked for me. I bought the bike shown in the picture above and began riding around town again. I added a light, a bell, a front basket, and two side baskets and found that I could carry 3 shopping bags home from the grocery store or carry a picnic or sports equipment to the park. I still ride the same bike now, 12 years later. I don’t race and I don’t wear biking shorts. But I ride to the store and the post-office and I have fun. I also noticed that biking helps me maintain some leg strength and flexibility. You many not want a Townie but if you want to start riding again, go to your local bike store and ask to try some “comfort bikes”. There are several bike companies that make good products.
And, there's another way to go. I bought a small, folding bike a few years ago. It's small enough to carry on the train or put in the back of my car. Most folding bikes have very small wheels so you sit fairly low and can put both feet on the ground when you stop, just like I can on my Townie.
But, if you never learned to ride a regular two-wheeler or if you are reluctant to ride one again, you might want to consider an adult tricycle or a balance bike.
Then I decided that maybe the solution was a new bike, something more stable. I found a bike called a “Townie” made by a bike company called Electra. The Townie has what the company called Flat Foot Technology®. They moved the seat back a little bit to allow the rider to place both feet on the ground when stopped. You can read more here if you want. http://www.electrabike.com/way-to-roll/flat-foot-technology
It worked for me. I bought the bike shown in the picture above and began riding around town again. I added a light, a bell, a front basket, and two side baskets and found that I could carry 3 shopping bags home from the grocery store or carry a picnic or sports equipment to the park. I still ride the same bike now, 12 years later. I don’t race and I don’t wear biking shorts. But I ride to the store and the post-office and I have fun. I also noticed that biking helps me maintain some leg strength and flexibility. You many not want a Townie but if you want to start riding again, go to your local bike store and ask to try some “comfort bikes”. There are several bike companies that make good products.
And, there's another way to go. I bought a small, folding bike a few years ago. It's small enough to carry on the train or put in the back of my car. Most folding bikes have very small wheels so you sit fairly low and can put both feet on the ground when you stop, just like I can on my Townie.
But, if you never learned to ride a regular two-wheeler or if you are reluctant to ride one again, you might want to consider an adult tricycle or a balance bike.
Tricycles
If you can't ride a bike, or don't think you should; how about a tricycle? There are several types of adult tricycles available. I tried one of the standard upright adult trikes, like the one in the picture, at a bike store, a few years ago. I found that it was quite stable when I was riding straight but I felt a little uncomfortable when I tried to turn. The trike tries to keep all three wheels flat on the ground and does not lean over like a two-wheeler. I’m sure I would become more comfortable with practice. I would consider buying a tricycle if I lived in neighborhood with fewer hills and with good bike lanes. As you can see, you can put quite a large basket on the back to use for shopping. Now I don't know what your children or grandchildren will say when they see you pedalling around town on your tricycle, but who cares. The important thing is to have fun and keep active.
I have seen videos of a double adult trike, one where you sit side-by-side with another rider and pictures of recumbent bikes and tricycles. They are more expensive than standard bikes or trikes and harder to find. I am trying to find a bike shop where I can test them. I'll let you know if I succeed.
I have seen videos of a double adult trike, one where you sit side-by-side with another rider and pictures of recumbent bikes and tricycles. They are more expensive than standard bikes or trikes and harder to find. I am trying to find a bike shop where I can test them. I'll let you know if I succeed.
Balance Bikes- another type of "two-wheeler"
A few years ago, a 50-year-old friend who never learned to ride a bike as a child, asked me if I thought she could still learn. I told her that I thought it would be hard. I couldn't picture me or her husband running down the street next to her, helping her balance without one of us taking a bad fall.
But then I learned about balance bikes.
Nowadays, many toddlers as young as 18 months, first learn to ride a bike by using a balance bike, a two-wheeled bike without pedals. The kids quickly learn to balance on the two wheels and they have great fun. I bought balance bikes to help my grandchildren learn to ride. If you are not familiar with balance bikes, take a look at this Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/user/striderbikes from Strider Sports, the leading manufacturer and marketer of no-pedal balance bikes.
As you will see in the picture above, Strider and some of the other balance bike manufacturers make larger bikes for teens and adults. I contacted Strider to learn more about the older adults who are shown in their video and spoke one of the Strider Education Specialists. She told me that, although working with older adults is relatively new to Strider, the feedback they have received has all been positive. They have some Retirement Communities that are incorporating Strider bikes into their exercise classes.
Now, I still don’t know whether an older adult who never rode a bike before could make the switch from a balance bike to a regular two-wheeled bike with pedals as the kids do. I'd still be afraid of falls and injuries. I think it would be prudent to just stick to the balance bike and have fun with it.
But then I learned about balance bikes.
Nowadays, many toddlers as young as 18 months, first learn to ride a bike by using a balance bike, a two-wheeled bike without pedals. The kids quickly learn to balance on the two wheels and they have great fun. I bought balance bikes to help my grandchildren learn to ride. If you are not familiar with balance bikes, take a look at this Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/user/striderbikes from Strider Sports, the leading manufacturer and marketer of no-pedal balance bikes.
As you will see in the picture above, Strider and some of the other balance bike manufacturers make larger bikes for teens and adults. I contacted Strider to learn more about the older adults who are shown in their video and spoke one of the Strider Education Specialists. She told me that, although working with older adults is relatively new to Strider, the feedback they have received has all been positive. They have some Retirement Communities that are incorporating Strider bikes into their exercise classes.
Now, I still don’t know whether an older adult who never rode a bike before could make the switch from a balance bike to a regular two-wheeled bike with pedals as the kids do. I'd still be afraid of falls and injuries. I think it would be prudent to just stick to the balance bike and have fun with it.
For more information about bikes you might want to look at a website called Bicycle-Riding-for-Boomers.com.