By Jane Sandwood –
Cycling for Seniors: Riding Toward Some of Your Best Years Yet
Did you know that for American seniors, the most common disability is limited mobility? That’s right. According to the US Census Bureau, the inability to move unassisted is one of the biggest hurdles keeping elderly individuals—not only in Boulder, but also across the rest of the country—from living a happy, comfortable life. The good news is that this can easily be remedied with a little exercise—and cycling is a great way to do just that. Not only is it a relatively affordable hobby to get into because there are a lot of quality used bikes that you can buy, it also provides seniors a fun low-impact workout that brings a whole lot of great benefits to the table.
Improved mobility
Cycling is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to improve your bone and joint health. Aside from helping you build your endurance, it also provides a great full-body resistance-based workout that can help strengthen your bones and joints. You see, every time you ride a bike it’s not only your legs that are working, but also practically every other major muscle group in your body. All this ultimately not only makes you more mobile, but also more resistant to falls, fractures and other bone- and joint-related injuries
Don’t know how to incorporate biking into your daily commute in Boulder? It’s easy! With Community Cycles’ Bus-Bike shelters, you can simply leave your bike in protected storage before riding the bus and then come back to it—again via bus—at the end of the day. No more lugging around your bike until you’re ready to ride it again!
Better heart health
Studies have consistently shown that regular physical activity can help prevent life-threatening illnesses. The problem is that not everyone enjoys following structured workout programs. Well, cycling provides an equally beneficial but way more enjoyable alternative. Instead of having to lift the same things the same way over and over again, it allows you to ride at different speeds across different terrains to go to as many awesome places as you want. Just be sure to keep your bike in perfect working condition at all times to make sure that it can handle everything that you throw at it. Don’t worry if you don’t know how. Community Cycles holds regular bike maintenance workshops to help complete beginners get started.
More opportunities to socialize
Another common issue a lot of seniors have to face is loneliness. Well, you won’t ever have to worry about that once you step on a bike. By riding all over the place, you effectively put yourself in the perfect position to not only experience new sights and sounds, but, more importantly, also meet and talk to new people. You can also attend one of Community Cycles’ events to socialize with fellow cycling fans.
It’s a never-ending adventure
Cycling clearly is one of the best ways to make the most of your senior years. It does not only help improve your health, but also provides you with endless opportunities for brand new adventures each time you ride. So, just get up, go out and start riding today.