Cycling for older people
About this page
Regular exercise such as riding a bicycle means you increase your capacity to live longer and more happily.
Bicycle riding is an appealing activity for seniors as it improves cardiovascular fitness while being low impact on the hips, knees and other joints. It is suitable for all levels of ability. Bike riding is a social and enjoyable activity that can be incorporated easily into day-to-day life. People start riding for their health and fitness. People keep riding for the great company and enjoyment that riding provides.
Regular exercise, such as riding a bicycle:
- Builds physical activity into a busy lifestyle
- Improves health and fitness
- Helps with stress reduction
- Is fun and enjoyable
- Is socially interactive
- Naturally reduces risk of chronic disease
- Helps control weight.
Bicycle riding is a simple, affordable, easy and fun way to:
- Experience local trails and paths
- Visit friends
- Discover your neighbourhood
- Ride to work.
Riding a bicycle is an excellent way to exercise and has special benefits for seniors as it:
- Is low impact, easing loads on joints
- Is aerobic, improving cardiovascular fitness and reducing the risk of heart attack
- Helps prevent obesity, colon and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, mild depression, hypertension and arthritis.
Bicycle Victoria has recently completed Time to Ride, a pilot project to encourage and support over 150 men and women aged 45+ to get started or back into bike riding. Thank you to the Office of Senior Victorians, Department for Victorian Communities and all partners for providing the support to make this happen. Time to Ride was conducted in Ballarat, Wangaratta and metro Melbourne (mainly in Darebin and Moreland) between July 2005 and March 2006.
Time to Ride involved group coaching and encouragement sessions, a Getting Started Guide, provision of regular local calendars of introductory bike rides, experienced and helpful local ride leaders and mentors, participant buddy groups, complimentary basic bike maintenance courses and a helpline. The program was developed to give these riders the skills, confidence, motivation and social support they needed to get back on their bikes. At the completion of the program there was an evaluation. Below picture shows the program launch August 2005. Carlo Carli, MP and The Hon. Gavin Jennings, MLC, Minister for Aged Care set off on the inaugural ride with the Time to Ride Group in Darebin / Moreland.
Congratulations to all those who participated!
