henkelphoto

Hi Jeff,

I'm 62 also and have just picked up riding again after a very long layoff (think decades). Last year, my wife got her Trek mountain bike back from her brother (it was a 93 model I think) and she asked me if I wanted to ride with her. I had a knee replacement about 5 years previous and since I had not taken my stretching exercises very seriously, my left knee didn't bend enough to be able to rotate the crank on a regular bike. So, I was a little reticent about taking up cycling again. I might add that I have a bit of lower back problems also.

It just happened that we were at the REI on Charleston and they had a Electra Townie bike there. The pedals are about 6 inches forward of the seat post and I tried it. I could turn the crank and that was it! I bought the bike and we started biking together. I would mention that because the extra length of the bike, it does take a bit more area to do tight turns. It's also a bit heavier than a regular mountain bike and substantially heavier than a road bike.

Anyway, we just ride on paths and trails, but we do get into gravel some so I had the tires swapped out to mountain bike tires because I slipped once in the gravel with the fat hybrid tires the bike came with.

The bike worked for me and got me over the hump of beginning biking again. But I ended up giving it to my mother-in-law and getting a Cannondale Trail 5. I still have a little trouble with pedaling with my gimpy knee, but it gets better every time I get on the bike.

We haven't delved into road bikes as my wife has a bit of a back problem and leaning over aggravates it.

PM me when you and your wife get up and running, maybe we can do a trail together.

Jerry

Crank57

I saw a comment early in this thread about a "comfort" bike putting all the load on your butt and "that's not comfort".

I would have to reply that moving the load to your butt can be a blessing if you have arthritis in your wrists like I do.

My wife and I have four bikes. All Giants. A drop bar road bike (mine), a flat bar hybrid (hers), and two Cypress comfort bikes (ours).

She is 62 and I am 64. We love the comfort bikes for most local riding. If I had started with the Cypress bikes I could have saved about $2500. :^(

Dudelsack 

You need to have 50 posts before the PM feature is activated. Just head over to the Addiction thread omn the 41. You can generate that many on a good day

ModeratedUser150120149

The suggestion to get a new Forum was probably a good one. Anyway, here is what I did. Looking back it was the right thing for me. Might be for you too. That is up to you.

-I had been riding a Huffy in my transition from bike as toy to bike as athletic and fun tool. If the shop dissed my Huffy I immediately walked out, never to return. I only want to deal with positive people. Plus, Huffy's and the like have a place.
-I picked a shop whose staff I liked and respected. No matter what bike I started with I knew there would be a change down the road and wanted a shop that had my interests at heart.
-They recommended a hybrid with front suspension that was lockable. Fact is that as a beginner comfort way overshadowed any theoretical power loss. I realized up front that recommendations and flex/power loss comments by strong, experienced riders were meaningless to me.
-A year later had some experience , a bunch of miles and knew more. I bought a carbon fibre road bike from them. Still have and ride the hybrid.

IF I decide I no longer want/need the hybrid there is a good used market. My net cost after I sold it would be pretty minimal.

cplager

Being able to lock out a front suspension is a huge improvement. It means you can turn off the lossy-ness of the suspension. You still have the extra weight, but that is a much smaller effect.

As far as Huffy bikes and the lot, the biggest problem with them in my opinion is that they are usually assembled by idiots. If you put one together well and keep it tuned, they can be OK. If they aren't, they are a very useful tool for convincing people they don't like biking when in reality they don't like crappy bikes.

kris7047th

I am a 63 yr old lady, bought my first bike in many years one of those *comfort* bikes at REI Novara Transfer with fenders, rack etc in spring of '12. It didn't take me long to realize the bike was missing some gears (too slow) This past spring of '13 I bought a REI 29'er mt bike Madrona, month later a Specialized Dolce Sport compact. In August I bought a Trek 520 and tomorrow I pick up my Surly Pugsley fatbike so that I can continue biking through THIS winter. The first bike from '12 .. I gave it to my daughter in SC so she can ride with her small son so she can keep up with him.

I have a car, but prefer to use one of my bikes for in town errands, grocery shopping, post office, group rides with friends .. so many reasons for using a bike and why I have four very different bikes. The OP will have to decide which type of a bike for the type of riding they will be doing. Personally, I find the 29'er mt bike with disc brakes and front suspension a blast to ride. I had planned it to be my winter/snow bike but I hadn't planned on this much snow .. so the fatbike will keep me in the saddle and on off trail riding with two good friends. I haven't felt so young .. healthy and happy in years. And to think of all of the $$$ I haven't spent on gas wear & tear on my car (only clocked 3,000 miles on it this past year)

OP .. pick what you want. Go to a local bike shop and try different bikes out, and don't be afraid to spend for a really GOOD quality bike. Get properly fitted to avoid injury. Let the store rep/sales person know that you are unsure and new. He/she will help you to select what will be best suited for you.

cplager

This list is fabulous. You win!

Garfield Cat

Whatever you choose, most likely it will not be your last.

kris7047th

My pride and joy Trek 520



REI Novara Madrona .. This pic was taken shortly after purchasing and the seat has been fixed/leveled. I interchange bags and front bag with all of my bikes, all having at least a rear rack for grocery shopping etc. I have to say I LOVE the lock out suspension which is adjustable and the disc brakes. They are far more responsive than the rim brakes.



My Specialized Dolce Sport Compact road bike which is currently mounted on a bike trainer in my bedroom.

phoebeisis

One way to go would be to buy a cheap used bike with an upright riding posture-and a big soft wide seat.
You are male-so make sure the seat has a cutout where your "equipment/perineum" is.
You don't want ANY weight on the area between your anus and scrotum
There are important nerves and arteries there-don't compress them-nose that saddle down
Many folks here INSIST in the down in drop riding posture-and there are plenty of threads about Low T(probably because of wedding tackle problems) and some headed "numb penis"
Yeah-forget the "you just need a better fit crap" don't put weight on your perineum
Sit like a 1950's bike- 1950 handle bar etc- Your neck will thank you for it-you can actually see where you are going.

Oh-they are right-forget the cheapo from suspension folks-you will have all the "softness" you need from the WIDE- 2"-lowwer pressure 50psi- TIRES.

If you like riding-you can sell your cheap used bike-and by that time you will know more about bikes-and can make a better choice

Now I'm cheap-so my thinking is colored by that-but used bikes-much better deal than new-new is fun of course-new bike new car new motorcycle-lot to be said for NEW.
Giant-fine brand-so is Trek(and they resell very quickly) -so is Jamis and many others. Treks are the easiest to resell.

Luck-have fun-forget the suspension for now-perhaps you can buy a big wide suspension seat/saddle($28 on ebay-move it from bike to bike)-forget bikes with drop handle bars-

Jeff in vegas

So we went out and bought a pair of Giant Sedona bikes with delivery next week. My bike is in stock, my wife's had to be ordered. Once they get in, we go in for a fitting where they will make adjustments to make sure the bike is correctly set up for us. We also purchased helmets and bike shorts at the same time. The guys at the shop are amazing and have the same enthusiasm for cycling that I have seen here on the Forums. We are looking forward to our first "ride"(does around the block count?) and many more after that.

qcpmsame 

Congratulations on the new bicycles, enjoy all the miles you both can ride together. We have a hard and fast rule about pictures of all new rides posted here when you get them home, post us some to ooh and ahh over along with your first ride report. Good choice on your bicycles, too.

Bill

scott967

Now we just need a couple pix, then get on those and ride!

scott s.
.

Retro Grouch 

I'm thinking that you did it right.

My general advice to new riders is to "shop for a bike shop" first. Once you find the shop that has the right people the rest is easy.

Fredmeister

Call me another in agreement to skip front suspension. I have a Cannondale MTB with the Fatty front shock. It can be turned either on or off. On the street (100% of the time) I have it 'off'. It makes the front of the bike too 'squishy' if it's on and I find it annoying.

FM

Wanderer

Good choice on the Sedonas. Keep those tires pumped up, and you will enjoy riding them.

Another great thing about the Sedona, is that it will make a great Utility Bike, should you decide to switch to something else later.

Make sure you stop back, and let us know how things are going.

kris7047th

Good for you! You are doing it right. I started out last spring .. March/April with 2 mile rides and worked up beginning on my REI Madrona 29'er trips to the grocery etc. A month later I bought a Specialized Dolce road bike from my local bike shop. I asked about groups and the store owner handed me a flier of a newly forming group to contact. I called the number that night, joined the twice a week ride about 11 miles & stop for coffee afterwards. A few more people joined the group in the month to follow and we have become good friends. I can't recommend enough for you to do the same because more experienced riders will guide you both safely and teach you about road safety and about your bikes (changing flats, types of clothing that will benefit you more etc)

I have since bought a Trek 520 and absolutely LOVE this bike with hopes to do some touring and just recently a fatbike for winter riding. OMG when they say the first ride on the squishy tires will bring back days of childhood 1st bike ride WHEEEEE ... yup