The fun we had bike riding when we were kids is still fun – with bonuses for seniors.  According to a report from the National Institutes for Health, cycling by older adults improves strength, balance, cholesterol levels, and muscle mass – and much more.  Best of all, biking is an exercise that’s gentle on the joints. Knee problems? Bicycling strengthens knee joints and the surrounding muscles. The NIH report adds that bicycling is a mood enhancer, releasing feel-good endorphins, the main reason you feel so good after a ride.

Biking and Meeting People

Sure, you could get some physical benefits just using a bike in your living room or gym…but what’s the fun in that?  To boost your mood even higher, dust off that bike – or rent one – and join a bike club. The social interaction of chatting with your fellow cyclists as you ride is a mood enhancer par excellence.  Interested? Here’s what you need to know:

Biking Club Basics

Biking clubs generally meet weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. The usual gathering time is early in the morning before it gets too hot.

Ride length varies, from as little as 10 to 15 miles, to as long as a 50-mile weekend ride that ends at a fun place to unwind, relax, eat and drink.  If you’re new to cycling, start with the shorter rides. Soon enough you’ll know when you’re ready for the longer rides. If you’re not sure, your new friends will tell you.

Where you bike depends on where you live. Generally bike clubs travel on nearby bike paths, trails and roads. The Rails to Trails conservancy has developed a network of bike trails around the country and offers a state search function.  Another cycling resource for paths and trails is Adventure Cycling.

Finding Nearby Bike Clubs

Search engines can uncover any number of organizations and private bike touring companies that will take you to new places – around your neighborhood or even around the world! Here are a few to get you started:

• https://epicroadrides.com/cycling-blog/best-bike-tour-companies/
• https://bicycleadventures.com/
• https://www.biketours.com/

If those options seem a bit too challenging, you can look for a bike group tailored for older people.  Possible resources include:

Facebook and Meetup:  Love them or hate them, Facebook and Meetup both have enormous networks of special interest groups. If you can’t find a nearby senior bike riding group on either site, consider starting your own by (of course!) posting on FB  or Meetup.

Parks:  If you live near a park, especially a state park, there is a good chance that you’ll be able to connect with riding clubs that use the park’s trails; they can guide you to the level of challenge you think appropriate. Trail Link has a searchable database for trails near you.

Bulletin boards:  Check out postings in obvious locations such as bicycle shops, gyms, senior centers or the local Y.  And you can always ask the staff at bicycle shops or senior centers for any leads for ‘age appropriate” bike groups.

Biking Safety 

• If its been a long time, consider taking a seniors bike riding brush-up class. Bicycle shops and/or senior centers are likely information sources for a class.
• Make sure that the bike you ride is the right size for you. If your feet are flat on the ground when you sit on the saddle, the bike’s size is probably right.
• Check the tires to make sure they’re properly inflated before you take off.
• Always, always use a helmet even for short rides. Always.

For more senior safety bike tips, check out the tips here.

Senior bike riding clubs are a wonderful way to recapture the fun of childhood with new friends. Try one!

YOUR TURN

Are you a new or returning bicyclist?  Have you joined a group? Share your experience in the comments!

Nona Aguilar is an award-winning writer of numerous magazine articles and two books. She has also edited four specialty business newsletter publications. Her work has appeared in Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Family Circle and Cosmopolitan, and in The Business Owner.