I just got introduced into biking a few weeks ago when a friend of mine asked if I wanted to go. I didn't have a bike so I used an old one of his. It was a really old Specialized bike (I think anyways). I enjoyed it enough to go out a buy a new bike for casual riding. Nothing like you guys do , just a few hours out of the week.

I told my mom about me getting my bike and the next thing I hear is "Wow I need to go get a bike...I think I am going to walmart to go check them out". I promptly stop her.

I am in need of some advice from you guys for a few suggestions for a bike for both of my parents.

If they were interested in mountain biking I would have a great deal of information to throw at them as I just got done researching a bike for myself. But I don't think they would enjoy a bike like that at all.

They both are over 50 and I know the #1 thing for them is comfort, so a big seat is ideal (I would assume). My mom is of normal height 5'7"-5"8" and weight, my dad is about 5'10" but hes on the heavy side of things 230-245lbs. So I am not sure if this puts a damper on anything for my dad on his choices of a bike. They would be riding mainly on pavement, light grass and some dirt roads (our driveway is a dirt road).

Would something like the Trek Calypso be ideal or would something like the Trek Navigator bikes be better suited for them, or is there actually a difference or than styles in the "Cruisers" and "Comfort" bikes?

The Raleigh Venture bikes look like they are pretty good as well. Are they? Please keep in mind my dads weight when suggesting a bike. I want him to get some exercise and him feeling like he is going to break the bike not good! haha

Thanks in advance.

Don't assume a big padded seat=comfort. I was miserable and couldn't ride more than 10 miles before I discovered this. They need to go try some bikes to see what's comfortable for them. I don't personally think comfort bikes are at all comfortable.

Realistically mate, whatever they buy now will be unsuitable in a year's time. IF they keep riding, they'll get fitter, stronger, discover interests that may not appeal now. Few people can accurately predict how they're going to use something new and not a lot of experienced cyclists get it right either.

If you can, get them to buy from a bike shop. Theoretically, the bike will be of decent quality, will have been built properly and they can take it back for maintenance ... but you know all that. After that, just get them to look at a lot of bikes, the more the better, and then buy the one they fall in love with. Bearing in mind my warning in the first paragraph, bottom of the series or one step up is better than buying the top line model, purely because they will probably want to buy something else next year, but hey, it's their money, let them spend it how they like.

The actual model, brand and style isn't that important. What's important is that they love their new bike and just can't wait to get on it and wear it out. The emotional connection is more important than the physical. There aren't many truly bad bikes out there, particularly in bike shops. Make sure they test ride it (on the road, not on a trainer, it makes a big difference) and make sure they are comfortable. Let the adventure grow from there.

Richard

A lot of us started bicycling over 50 - I started at 58 (am now 69)

Within 3.5 months I rode 358 miles over Colorado passes in a one-week tour. My wife, now 71, is fully capable of riding 25-40 miles. She started about 62 years old.

My point being, don't sell your parents (or yourself) short. I and my wife started on mtn bikes (which we still have and ride) with slicks instead of knobby tires.

I think a mtn bike or a hybrid would be ideal as a starter bike.

A big soft seat may be ok for a short ride, but on a long ride it will expose a lot more skin to pressure. Ideally, a seat should support your "sit bones" - which is the reason for those narrow seats - but that may be something to worry about later

Smallish firm saddle on a hybrid would be a good place to start. Stay away from any suspension and make sure whatever they get fits them. Remember that consistency is more important than distance when starting out.

+1, try several different brands, the top brands all make the type of comfortable upright bikes you are talking about. Are you absolutely sure that is what they want? As they see and try others, they may realize that something else is more appropriate. I went through a mountain bike first, then a comfort bike, now a flat bar road bike, and a couple of other roadies.

But when they do decide, please post pics, folks here love 'em.

Keeping that in mind, take them to a bike shop to look for used bikes. Many shops, even some small ones, will have some used bikes available for less than $400 that will make great starter bikes of better quality than Wally World bikes, and save them some cash.

Are you assuming what your parents would like or do you really know. I personally would hate to have someone choose for me a bike or anything else that requires effort to use and adapt too. The wife too: grandparents in very, very late 60's.

I would suggest that you enter into a learning & education process so they can learn/think through the disadvantages of big saddles, too-upright riding position, various bike options, their goals etc. Otherwise, an opportunity will have been missed and the bikes will become garage queens like the vast majority of bikes sold in the US.

Al

I'd join the chorus of folks who recommend that you work with your parents on deciding what to get. It's too easy to fall into imposing your own taste in bikes on one's relatives. Have them ride a bunch of bikes and see what they like.

Paul

I prefer my saddles to be just leather--- no padding, no plastics, no fillers nor additives, just 100% organic built on a steel frame. My order of preference would be Brooks, Ideale, Wrights, Belt, and then Middlemore. I'm over 50 and heavier then your Dad.

This old Brooks (at least 30 years old) is on my 2003 Cannondale Comfort bike. Your Dad would be hard pressed to damage this bike. It's a blast to ride on the pavement, dirt roads, and MUPS. I'm not one to do any single tracking.

You are a swell rider to help your parents find bikes. Way to go!

I too commend you on your efforts to assist your parents, and steering them to a trusted LBS is most important as well.

I am older than your dad, taller and presently heavier, I love my comfort bike, a 07 Specialized Crossroads -

I also, learned on my own, a Brooks seat was more comfortable as well, starting with a Brooks Imperial, which is now on a vintage road bike, then placing a B68 onto this bike. Soft and comfy to the touch is not the best to ride, proper firm support of sit bones is important.

Allow parents to learn at their pace, after selecting their own bike (s), and matching bikes may be cute, yet may not be the best for each of them.

It also can be addictive, when I got the Crossroads, my Schwinn Conti was hanging in the garage, now it is out and about as much as the Crossroads, plus I added a 73 Super Sport, a 76 Superior, and another Conti, a Varsity, a Traveler (2 different models), and a few more. Nine total in full ride ready condition, and when wife and I travel, it takes me longer to choose the bike for the trip, (she has only the one), than it does for me to pack.

You may be openning a whole new world to your folkes, enjoy the ride.

Thanks for the replies guy and I appreciate the input. I am going to try and hit on all the topics that you spoke about and let you know more about how I was thinking about getting them to ride.

Not knowing much about bikes I assumed that a big fat seat would be ideal, I see that is the wrong assumption. I was just going on the assumption bigger is better (or in this case more comfortable). I completely understand where you guys are coming from.

Before my mom had me (25 years ago) she was looking at getting a road bike to do biathlons (she had run in several marathons) but she got pregnant with me and quit (she never got the bike). So I know if she ended up getting a good bike she would really enjoy getting back into it. She road wal-mart bikes before she was looking into getting a more expensive bike, so she doesn't know what it is like to get a good one.

My dad on the other hand is captain of the La-Z-Boy, now that he is retired (less than 6 months ago). My mom is getting sick of him just sitting around the house (he goes fishing and stuff but he still is sitting and not getting a lot of exercise). My mom made him start walking with her about 2-4mi a day, a few months ago and he has lost close to 30lbs over the course of 4ish months. He gets bored with it and only goes because my mom nags the hell out of him to go.

He is the main reason why I suggested the big fat seat. I know if it is comfortable for him, he will have more fun, and enjoy doing it. Which also means he would be more willing to go more often.

My mom may get more into it then my dad but I know this would be no more than a casual thing for my dad. A few times a week just like the walking.

I have made the suggestion to them to go look around at the bike store and to check things out (I can't go with them as they don't live near me) but they haven't done it yet.

Thanks for all the input. I really appreciate it.

On a side note I got my bike after I got off of work today and LOVE it. Road about 3 miles (was getting dark) and felt some burning in my legs (I am out of shape haha). They had to take the front wheel off to get it in my car and I was nervous about putting it back on but it was EASY. Took me about 5 min tops to get it put back on. Going to post some pictures in the Mountain bike forum in a bit.

Get your mum and dad to logon to 50+. Any problems they come across in choosing a "New" bike can easily be answered on here. And we are not all ultra fit cyclists that have been riding for years with $2,000 bikes.

We may not be able to help your parents on choosing a bike or help them get fit and lose weight- but me can provide advice that has been well earned from our experiences.

Tell your mom to visit us at C&V and look up super moderator East Hill. Along with a new comfort bike she will need some 1980s vintage steel.

He needs some man time. Send him to my church. I'll put him to work on some serious stuff.

Reno, Nev., where I live, has two or three more bike shops than it really can support. A friend of mine runs one of them, and he's stayed alive the last few years by focusing on "family bikes"--the ones people really need for the kind of riding they really do, not upselling them to some wannabe racer.
"If you just want to ride around with your kids," he says, "you don't need a $2000 bike." he handles high-end bikes, but he keeps a big stock of cheapies and his staff is always courteous and helpful when people come in and want to know what they can get for $300.
His best seller is a Raleigh comfort bike--actually it looks to me like sort of a cross between a comfort bike and hybrid--that goes for $318. I can't remember the model, but he's sold hundreds of them in the last three years and says he's never had a return. My everyday bike is a Rivedell Atlantis, and I love everything about it, but I test-rode one of his Raleighs the other day, and for the riding I do now, it would be just as good as anything I own for not much more than 1/10 the cost.
The moral of the story is that you don't have to spend a ton of money, but you probably should go to a bike shop and tell them what you're looking for. If they try to sell you a $1200 bike, think about trying another shop.

I think most people will listen to advice, but are happiest if they make the final decision. I don't like a cushy, padded saddle, but my son and daughter both do. If I tried to impose my "better judgement" on them I think they'd be less likely to fall in love with their bikes and want to ride. Besides, they're not to the point of going on 40 mile training rides every weekend yet, like I enjoy. If they are happy on their 5 mile rides with their cushy saddles, good. If they ever get to the point of taking longer rides, maybe they'll come to the point where their saddles aren't comfortable, and might be willing to try something like what I use.

I think that's true of bikes too. My college-age daughter wanted a comfortable, upright bike, with a cushy saddle and a step-through frame. It had to be cute. She wanted to put a basket on it for shopping. Luckily, we found a Trek that has a lightweight frame, including suspension forks with a little bit of cushioning, a suspension seatpost, and a wide, cushy saddle. She mounted a "Toto" basket on the handlebar, a fold out set of shopping baskets in back, and she's happy with it. She usually just rides a few blocks to school or to the store. Good for her.

If the biking thing becomes more of a hobby, we'll consider something a little more "serious". If not, she's happy.

The Wife and I started riding again when I retired late last year. I bought a couple of Raleigh's because the best bike I ever owned in the 60's (a Raleigh) was stolen many years ago and I should have bought another but got something different that I was never happy with. I We bought fairly inexpensive bikes,I got a mojave M3 and she a EVA. I am almost exactly you dads size and its why I started riding again , I have a bum leg from an accident and wife has some knee issues with arthritis, so we suffer walking but riding works well.
I'm glad we didn't spend a ton of money on the bikes because it allowed me to add the upgrades we wanted without feeling I was wasting parts. We both ended up with brooks saddles me B17 she B 18 lady. I also added an adjustable neck (is it stem LOL)(forgot the correct term) and ergo grips then a couple a bells and mirrors as we ride mainly on the mup near our house.
I recommend hard tails and sprung saddles, they work for us. So I believe in suspension. Also we have switched to a smooth tire as we don't do a lot of riding in the grass and the roll is a lot smoother.
Could have spent more on the bike but these will do everything we ever want on a bike. We even bought a rack for the car as there are many mups in our area that are out of our daily range but this way we can vary our rides.
Hope thinks work out, it's a great way to do things together for us. Even a couple hours and a lunch stop beats sitting home potato'ng it.