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 AUGUST 6, 2003 Comfort Bikes -- A Comfortable Way to Ride If your old 10-speed bike is just collecting dust, a new generation of "comfort" bicycles may get you out on the roads and trails again. These biking sedans offer broader seats, upright handlebars, shock absorbers (in the seat post and handlebars), wide tires, and simplified shifting. They seem perfect for someone who wants to return to cycling after being away from the sport for a while. These comfort bikes are reintroducing cycling to the over-50 crowd, says Ed Burke, Ph.D, co-author of The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling (2000, Rodale Press) and director of sports science at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Comfort bikes make it easier to shift gears, control the brakes, and pedal uphill. Some provide easy push-button shifting without taking your hands off the grips, while others include a bicycle transmission that shifts gears automatically. Because they are less complicated, they require less maintenance and fewer adjustments for proper fit. They cost from about $225 to more than $1,000. To get back into cycling, Burke suggests you first check in with your local bike shop. There, you can find the right size bike and quality equipment, including a cycling helmet, a good pair of cycling shorts, and cycling gloves. Then contact your local bike club, which will likely have programs, lectures, demonstrations, and rides of various lengths and intensities. "More experienced riders can reintroduce you to proper position on the bike, cadence (how fast to pedal), and gearing (how and when to shift)," Burke says. Start out with 30-minute rides, and work your way up gradually to longer rides. "Let your muscles get stronger so they're not sore or injured, which will just leave you frustrated," Burke says. Cycling is a low-impact, cardiovascular activity that doesn't stress the joints or the back. You could easily get in your 30 minutes of exercise three to five days a week at 60-80% of maximal effort with a comfort bike, he says. And if you feel more comfortable, it just might become a habit. |
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