Three Reasons to Love Bike Friday
Folding Bicycles Popular Among Boomers and Over 55 Travel Cyclists
Nov 2, 2007
Seniors who like to ride a bicycle no matter where they go are among the biggest fans of the "Bike Friday," a line of folding bicycles.
Three Reasons to Buy a Folding Bicycle
1 ) perfect solution for the traveling cyclist because it packs into its own airline-compatible suitcase so you are not charged for extra luggage.
2) With 20-inch wheels, the bike fits older people because of there is a wide stepover area when mounting, stopping and pedaling.
3) By riding a bike to work or on vacation senior riders stay fit and get regular exercise.
Many brands in Collapsible Bicycles
There are other brands , including Dahon, Brompton and Citizen Bikes, and many are much cheaper than Bike Friday . However, what makes Bike Friday stand out, according to its owners, is that once it is built to your personal specifications, it feels almost exactly like riding a standard 27-inch wheeled bike.
The Bike Friday Web site is filled with testimonials from enthusiasts who praise the various models. They include mountain, touring, commuter and "racing" bikes that are lightweight with skinny tires. There even are tandem folding bikes for couples who want a "bicycle built for two."
Folding Bikes are Affordable
The least expensive "New World Tourist" model, with upright handlebars and eight speeds, starts at almost $800, and weighs about 27 pounds. More lightweight Bike Fridays built to an individual's measurements can cost nearly $4,000. There are many choices in between.
Typically, buyers send their measurements to the company's Oregon office, and have the custom model shipped to their homes.
On the Bike Friday seniors page, many over-55 owners share their experiences of riding all over the world. And one rider related this story of introducing the bike to a 60-year old woman who had broken her pelvis in a fall from a regular bike. Her reaction to the low stepover and general handling of the Bike Friday? She experienced no fear.
"It turned really easily. I could wear a skirt to work on the bike. I had to come off the bike really quickly because a car turned in front of me and I never thought about how to do it. When I stopped at intersections and had to straddle the bike, it felt stable and easy to get back on. It's a light bike and easy to maneuver. It could change my life because I've been thinking about how to use my car less."
