Our biking days aren’t over

#Middlebury #Seniors

Remember when we were kids and summers were spent riding our bicycles around the neighborhood? We’d screech around corners, never worrying about balance or falls. Now, as seniors, most of us don’t have that exercise option.

But that doesn’t mean we have to stay off bikes altogether. We only need to add a wheel.

Three-wheel bicycles, known as trikes, are becoming more popular as the boomer generation ages. These bikes have one wheel in the front and two in the back, and most often come with a big basket between the back wheels to hold groceries or a small dog.

Most of the trikes are single speed, but some come with three or seven speeds to make starting and slight inclines easier. Some trikes come with an electric motor, and you’ll need that if you live in a hilly area.

One warning about the trikes, however: If you rode a regular two-wheel bike when you were young, you no doubt learned about balance and leaning. Trikes don’t work that way. To ride one of these safely, you need to sit upright.

If your doctor says yes to a bicycle of any kind, do lots of research before you buy. Especially look at YouTube videos.

Check out trikes at a legitimate bicycle shop. Don’t order one online unless you know exactly what you’re getting.

For many of us, though, the idea of riding any kind of outdoor bicycle is out of the question, either because of health, or busy streets or lack of storage space. There’s something to be said for indoor exercise cycles. They come in either upright (like a regular bicycle) or recumbent, which leans slightly back. Recumbents are closer to the floor, so the likelihood of falling is reduced.

The best thing about indoor cycles: It doesn’t matter what the weather is.

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.