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Savvy Senior: The best bikes for baby boomers Fun, fitness and easy on the joints are the reasons more and more baby boomers are turning to cycling than ever before. But what makes a good bike for boomers? While there are lots of hard-core, 50-plus cyclists out there, most older riders are more interested in a leisurely ride on the comfy side. Here's what you should know. Ask many bike owners why their bicycle is gathering dust in the garage, and they'll tell you it's uncomfortable to ride. Who wouldn't be turned off by a contraption that routinely bruises your bottom side, causes carpal tunnel syndrome and leads to neck and back pain? That's why manufacturers such as Schwinn, Electra, Sun, Raleigh, GT, Giant, and Trek are making a line of "comfort" bikes that are feel-good alternatives to the highperformance road bikes and nubby tired mountain bikes. Comfort bikes let you sit upright which eases lower-back strain; they come with bigger tires that ensure a smooth ride; have raised, sweptback handlebars to reduce pressure on the wrists and hands; and offer oversize seats to eliminate saddle soreness. Some comfort bikes also come with suspension (shock absorbing) seat posts and/or forks connecting to the front tire to help ease your ride. And some offer unique design features like an ultra low step-over bar that makes getting on and off easy for people with limited flexibility (see the Biria EZ Board www.biria.com), or the "flat-foot" design offered by many manufacturers that lets you literally put your feet down flat while seated - a great safety feature for older riders. And Trek, Raleigh and Giant all offer bikes with the Shimano Coasting system which is an automatic three-speed shifter that changes the gears for you - ideal for boomers who haven't ridden in a while. Costs will range from between $400 to $800 or more depending on its features.
Keep in mind, though, that what you gain in ease when you ride a comfort or cruise bike, you lose in performance. The upright position is not exactly aerodynamic or ideal when it comes to getting the most leverage from your legs. So forget about these bikes if you have a need for speed or if you want to do some off road riding on a bumpy mountain path. Comfort bikes are for pleasure/fitness rides around town, running errands, and generally having fun.
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