Tips for seniors; What to know before biking Anne Arundel County, MD

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Tips for seniors; What to know before biking Anne Arundel County Capital Gazette

Jon Korin doesn't seem like he's retired. The Severna Park resident originally planned to retire at age 55 with his wife Kathy. She retired on the agreed upon date, and he finally retired from his career in the IT industry a few years later. But, he did not slow down.

A graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel, he was part of the all-volunteer launch team of Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County (BikeAAA), founded in 2013. It was, initially, a project of six members of the Leadership Anne Arundel Flagship program that year.

He serves as BikeAAA's chairman.

Now 62, he offered some advice for seniors – and adults of all ages – who are planning to take up bicycling.

BikeAAA's website is www.bikeaaa.org . It has lots of information for cyclists. On the site are lists of bike shops, shops, events to ride, calendars, info about getting more trails and safe places to ride, and education opportunities for adult and child cyclists.

"Bicycling for seniors is taking off like wildfire," he said. "It's the new golf. It is growing in popularity like crazy."

He said, there are a variety of choices based on their interest in riding and for people of any age.

Types of bicycles
Performance bike. For a lot of seniors, folks in their 70s and 80s who ride individually or in groups tend to ride fancy, carbon fiber road bikes, with lightweight frames and skinny tires. They are performance bikes for riding fast and long distance. It is ideal for the 65 and 100 miles rides organized in the region. Anne Arundel County has a Lifeline 100 each year in early October.

In that race, he said, "80 of us will do 65 or 100-mile routes. It's not for everybody, but a class of senior riders will do that level in speed and distance."

Hybrid bike. Another type of bicycle is the hybrid bike with straight across handles. The rider sits up straight instead of hunched over, which is, admittedly more aerodynamic. This hybrid cycle is sturdier and more stable with wider tires. It is suitable for riding on a pavement, paved road, paved trail or smooth trails like the C & O Trail.

Beach Cruiser bike. Even more comfortable and less expensive would be a beach cruiser. It has a wide, comfortable seat, heavier frame, wide tires, and for some, perhaps a step-through frame – also known back in the day as a "girl's bike frame." There is no crossbar, so a rider does not have to throw their leg up over the bar. Their feet are closer to the ground, so it's much easier to stop the bike.

Because it's heavier, it is harder to ride uphill or a distance. But, it is a good bike to ride on a boardwalk or to get from home to a shop.

Tricycle. For some seniors, the balance might be an issue. More and more, Korin is seeing cyclists on three wheels – a trike or Tricycle made for grownups. What's not to like? It is sturdy and easy to balance. Though it is not good for racing or long distances.

Recumbent bike. There are two and three-wheeled recumbent bikes. Korin sees both types on the B&A Trail. One rider has serious back problems. It is hard for this rider to stand or sit upright, but a recumbent has a backrest and is a comfortable position for him.

Tandem bike. It is not for everybody – but some ...

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