BikeWalkLee: You’re never too old to bike or walk

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, April 7, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

Image: Max Pixel, Creative Commons Zero

Are you ever too old to bike or walk? Of course not, as long as you work with the skills you have (or don’t have).

Biking and walking offer many advantages for the chronologically challenged. Both are accessible and scalable forms of exercise, requiring minimal and basic equipment (particularly for walking) and suitable for a range of exertion levels depending on your fitness and energy.

Both use “lifetime” skills (the phrase “just like riding a bike” didn’t come along by accident) that, again, can expand or contract with your current physical conditions. They can be done practically anywhere, and are as easy to start as walking (or riding) out your front door.

They have the added benefit of also being transportation… not that you have to walk or ride somewhere, but that you can incorporate other things (such as errands) with your exercise.

Finally, both are considered good for the psyche, a way to lift one’s spirits or work out one’s problems. Plus, they both pack a pretty good fitness punch into a basic means of movement – whatever your level of energy and exercise.

Don’t take my word for it… Google “walk and aging” or “biking and aging” for the myriad ways both activities keep you healthy and forestall the aging process. Good for the bones, the blood and the brain.

If you’re already biking or walking (or both), great! Keep it up and you’ll have a routine fit for your life… and, as the years advance, you can adjust your routine to suit your skillsets.

Walking, as a weight-bearing exercise, greatly benefits your body… but said body might raise a few objections as the years and miles pass. Nothing you can’t compensate for, of course.

Balance a little iffy? Pick flat routes, and even consider a walking stick (also a plus for those who like t hike). Feet and knees achy? Make sure your shoes are up to the task, and be sure to stretch before and after. Need some motivation? Plan to walk with friends, and you help make each other get off the couch and on the road.

Biking likewise offers ways to compensate for the passing years. Different styles of bikes offer different seating or bending options, so when the road bike’s drop handlebars get too painful, you can get bars (or even new bikes) offering a more upright riding position. Hills (not usually a problem here) and distance getting to be more than you can handle? Look at an electric bike that can give you the additional boost you might need to climb a little faster or go a little farther.

If bending over bothers your back, look at a recumbent option to sit rather than stoop. And if staying stable on your bike gets to be a challenge, consider a move to a trike – and it doesn’t have to be a trailer-park special (not that there’s anything wrong with those heavy haulers). There are a variety of sleek and fast three-wheeled options suitable for bigger riders or those with back issues.

What about those of you not currently walking or riding… but who’d like to give it a try – or, with riding, return to the saddle after a long absence?

Of course, the first step is to make sure you’re ready to ride or stride, a discussion best had with your favorite medical professional (who can also probably give you some recommendations on getting started, or at least steer you in the right direction).

Once that’s done, it’s time to set some realistic goals, ones that you might have to work a little to reach but that will be something you can live with as you make this new routine a habit.

Walking is definitely the better route for a rookie to consider, since (we assume) you already know how to walk. Look at what you’ll need to make the process more pleasant (such as something to listen to or someone to walk with), more comfortable (appropriate clothing for the climate or time of day) and easier on your body (new or better shoes, say, and sunscreen…always sunscreen).

Plan out some routes, either specifically or general, but allow some latitude for times you want to explore or days you want options in terms of length. Also, give yourself some time to get used to regular walking… studies show it can take from 21 days to more than two months to make habits stick.

If you decide to take up cycling from scratch – be patient and be prudent. There are a number of guidelines out there on how to learn to bike as an adult, and almost all of them rely on the fact that losing your balance as an adult (particularly one with a few miles on the odometer) is a lot more dangerous than falling down as a kid.

It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, it just means that you should proceed with caution and give yourself enough time to learn before you get frustrated.

But whether you bike or walk, it’s always a good thing for your body – and it’s never too late to start.

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EVENTS 

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Lovers Key Turtle Trot 5K, Saturday, May 14, 8 a.m., Lovers Key Park, Fort Myers Beach.
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• 10K Run for Music, Saturday, April 19, 7:30 a.m., Pelican Bay, Naples
• Tropicool 5K, Saturday, May 14, downtown Naples.
  

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Paradise Coast Half Marathon, Sunday, April 24, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
  

OTHER RUNS

• Average Joe 5K Run (you finish in the middle of the pack to win it), Sunday, April 10, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (active.com).
  

OTHER RIDES

• Thursday, May 18: Annual Ride of Silence, to honor those cyclists who have been killed or injured on our roadways. Details at caloosariders.org.
  

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

• SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers. 
• Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
• Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
• Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.
  

TRIATHLONS

• Escape from Fort Desoto Triathlon, sprint tri, duathlon, aquabike, Saturday, April 16, Fort Desoto Park, St. Petersburg.
  
• St. Anthony’s Triathlon, Olympic and sprint, Sunday, May 1,  St. Petersburg (satriathlon.com/).
• Heartland Triathlon, sprint and Olympic tri, duathlon and aquabike, Sunday, June 5, Sebring (heartlandtri.com/).
• Siesta Key Sirens & Merman Triathlon, Sunday, June 26, Siesta Key (run941.com/).
  

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.

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Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at bikewalklee.blogspot.com.