Living a Happy, Healthy Retirement

Cycling Resources for Seniors

Mike

Exercise is an important part of healthy aging. It helps keep your heart, lungs, and brain healthy and your muscles strong. Many older people turn to cycling as a healthy, stimulating activity. Personally, it is one of my lifetime favorite activities; hence I had to pen this post, “Cycling Resources for Seniors” to encourage others to take up the hobby.

Benefits of Cycling After 50

Cycling is a great endurance exercise. It increases your heart rates and improves your breathing. This helps keep you healthy and gives you better staying power so that you can do the things you need to do every day. Endurance exercises like cycling can prevent:

Exercise is also important for treating arthritis. Extra weight can cause pain because it adds stress on the joints. Exercise helps you keep a healthy weight, which can help your joints feel better. The muscles around the joint can also get weak if you don’t exercise. This means they won’t be able to absorb shock from moving and can make your joints hurt more. Luckily, cycling is a low impact sport and a great alternative to jogging or running for people with joint issues. This is a primary reason I became an avid cyclist in my thirties. I also found it is a great way to see the scenery A 3-mile run is likely a tall order for a senior with joint issues, but a 10-mile ride, once you’ve built up to it, is a pleasurable trip and allows you to take in the sights along the way.

Regular exercise can also help your mood and your memory. This is because it can increase blood flow in your brain. Studies also show that cycling outside can also improve your mood and give you a sense of well-being. The combination of exercise and the outdoor environment has positive effects on your health.

How to Start Cycling

If you are just getting into cycling, there are a few things to consider:

Find the right bike for you. Cyclists need a bike that fits them. You should be able to sit on the seat and comfortably reach the handlebars and pedals. Be sure to adjust the seat so that it is at hip height while standing. Also consider what kind of bike to purchase (road bike, mountain bike, or a favorite for seniors, a hybrid).

If you are buying a used bike, make sure the brakes work and all the parts of the frame are together.

Get a helmet that fits. Helmets are an important part of cycling safety. Try on some helmets to find the right fit for you. It should sit level on your head and be snug. The snap should be tight enough to fit two
fingers between your chin and the strap. The buckle should be centered under your chin.

Find the right riding gear. It’s a good idea to find the right light exercise clothes for summer so you don’t overheat and warm enough clothing for cooler weather. Make sure your pants (if long) are not baggy and that your gear is reflective. You will need a light for the front of your bike and some reflectors so cars can see you if you are going to ride at night. Wearing a backpack to hold your water and belongings will keep your hands free.

Get familiar with road rules.
Ride on the road instead of sidewalks and in the same direction as cars. Learn about how to signal to turn. It’s a good idea to practice riding on a path or at a park before you head out onto the road. Of course, roads with lighter traffic makes riding a lot easier as well as safer.

 

Trails and Guides

The Best Long Trails in the US – Bicycling Magazine

What cyclist doesn’t love a good rail trail? Even terrain. No cars in sight. Scenic nature. Such a trail is a great introduction to longer rides like centuries.

To help you scratch the itch for a long and uninterrupted ride, here are the top 10 best rail trails you can find in the United States, and why each one belongs on your bucket list.

The 50 Best Bike Rides in America, State by State – health.com

From mountain passes to urban oases, these are the top cycling routes to pedal in every state.

Some parts of the United States are famous for their wide-open spaces, while others take pride in their mountains or coastal views. But no matter what a state’s best features are, chances are they’re even better when explored on a bike.

Not only is cycling a great way to take in sights, but it also boasts incredible health benefits. It’s a form of aerobic activity, a type of exercise that has been shown to boost heart health and cardiovascular function. Cycling may also make your bones stronger, as suggested by a study from 2014 published in Sports and Exercise Medicine and Health that looked at the link between mountain biking and bone strength.

And riding a bike may even improve your overall well-being. In a study published in PLoS One in 2019, researchers found that older adults who cycled a few times a week had improved mental health compared to those who didn’t ride a bike.

So we rounded up some of the best places to bike across the country, from gravel rail trails to scenic byways to technical mountain singletrack. All routes are point-to-point, and distances listed are one-way unless otherwise noted. Before you head out, check trail websites for hours, pricing information (some charge fees), and safety information. Happy pedaling!

Philanthropic, Fund Raising Rides

I list the first two rides as I have had the pleasure of both riding and being on the planning committees of two of their local rides (Colorado and Virginia/Maryland)

MS 150 – National Multiple Sclerosis Society

150 Miles of Open Road Ahead

You’ve always been up for a challenge. And meeting this one can make a world of difference. Two days, 150 miles that will challenge you and reward you like no other cycling event. Will power versus fatigue. Training versus excuses. It’s time to ride the MS 150 Bike Tour. Register Now!

TeamMS Wants You

Share your MS 150 experience by starting a team. Teams are a great way to build morale and demonstrate your community involvement. Any group of four or more people can form a team, and there are plenty of places to find members friends, family, your company or your community. Learn more about teams.

Pledges, Prizes, Prestige

Add up the dollars as the miles roll by. After registering, you’ll receive everything you need to collect contributions. And with our powerful online fundraising tools, we’ve made it even easier for your friends and family to contribute to your ride. Raise more than the minimum amount of $250 and you’ll be eligible to win great prizes. Support a participant.

Support

The MS 150 Bike Tour is a fully supported event. You train and fundraise and we’ll take care of you on the event.

Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for Life

CF Cycle for Life is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s premier cycling event. Each year, thousands of cyclists gather in dozens of cities across the nation to take part in an exciting effort to raise funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis.

With supporters like you by our side, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has led the way in the fight against CF and fueled extraordinary medical and scientific progress. Working alongside the CF community, the CF Foundation has helped advance the development of more than a dozen CF treatments, and added decades of life for those with CF. Thanks to this work, the life expectancy of someone born with CF has doubled in the last 30 years.

Despite this progress, many people with CF do not benefit from existing therapies either because their disease is too advanced or because their specific genetic mutations will not respond. Our vision is a cure for every person with cystic fibrosis – a life free from the burden of this disease.

CF Cycle for Life provides a fantastic opportunity for companies, friends, and family members to come together and ride in support of a worthy cause. If you are a biking enthusiast, take your ride to the next level by signing up for CF Cycle for Life and help those with CF live longer, healthier lives. Together, let’s make CF stand for Cure Found.

To hear why other members of your community cycle, be sure to check out the CF Cycle for Life Spotlight Series.

Top 10 U.S. Million Dollar Cycling Fundraising Events

Provided by Grand Fondo Guide: Connecting cyclists to cycling events worldwide. Gran Fondo Guide is “the site” for cyclists looking for “Bucket List” rides. The best Pro Cycling news and race coverage.

Bikes and Beers

We strongly believe in bicycling as a safe, comfortable, and smart choice for transportation and recreation. Every event benefits a local cycling charity to improve policies, laws, and infrastructure.

Cycling Events Calendar – Bikeride.com

A cycling events calendar for riders of all kinds.

Organizations and Clubs

League of American Cyclists

I cite this organization as it is the oldest cycling club in America, founded in 1889. For generations past and to come, the League of American Bicyclists has been the grassroots movement to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. Through education, advocacy and promotion, we work to celebrate and preserve the freedom cycling brings to our members everywhere.

Cycling Clubs Across the US

This gives you a comprehensive list of clubs across America.

Bikeride.com

BikeRide is an online cycling community that serves as a hub for cyclists to promote and join cycling events, as well as offering how-to repair guides, discussion forums and bike reviews with price comparisons. They have been a go-to resource for me and are very community oriented.

Bikemunk.com – Cycling for Seniors

Bikemunk is a website dedicated to helping people understand bikes, especially in the context of making a purchase. The price of a bike can run all the way up into the five figure range, so it’s vitally important to know what you’re getting for your money.

Magazines and Newsletters

Bicycle Shops

Equipment and Accessories

If you are interested in Cycling Apparel and Accessories, check out my page by the same name.

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