Today’s focus on healthy aging has people over the age of 50 wondering how best to stay active. Exercise is an essential part of any healthy aging plan. Cycling is one of the most beneficial workouts you can do to extend your muscles, burn fat, and stay fit.
Cycling has many advantages for people over the age of 50 beyond. It’s low impact, for one thing. That means it is easier on joints.
Cycling outside can also enhance your mood and offer you a sense of well-being. The mix of exercising and being outdoors is beneficial to your health.
For those over 50, the question isn’t whether biking is an excellent physical activity, but what bike is the best choice for their unique needs. Consider some top bikes for those over the age of 50 and our ratings for them.
Why Bike Over Age 50
Cycling is an excellent aerobic endurance workout. It raises your heart rate and helps you breathe better. This enables you to stay healthy and offers you more stamina to complete the tasks you need to do every day. Endurance activity, such as cycling, can help to prevent:
- Diabetes
- Cancer of the colon
- Breast cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
Also, just a chance to exercise outside is a massive benefit for many Baby Boomers.
Tips for Choosing a Bike
There are things you should consider before you look at bikes. First, what do you plan to use the bike for, and where will you ride?
These questions can help you pick a bike that best suits your needs. Someone riding each day to work, for example, might do well with a hybrid bike or an electric one. If you want to go riding on the weekends on rough terrain, you’ll want an all-road or mountain bike.
Once you pick a bike style, you can move on to other critical considerations such as:
- Budget – You are making an investment when you buy a bike. The question is, how much can you afford to spend? If you are riding for leisure, it might be okay to look for something less pricey. If you plan on using your bike a lot, though, it is worth the money to get exactly what you want.
- Materials – The frame style can make a big difference in how well the bike performs and the price. The least expensive frame is made of steel. Other choices include aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium – typically the most expensive material and the best quality. Steel or aluminum are practical choices if you want something functional but not over the top on price.
- Frame size – This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when bike shopping. To pick the proper size, you’ll need to know your height and your inside leg measurement (inseam).
- Gears – Some bikes have a single gear while others offer multiple gears.
- Brakes – Do you prefer rim or disk brakes?
- Riding position – Do you prefer an ergonomic riding position, or do you want to lean forward over the handlebar?
- Saddle – Do you want a saddle with lots of padding or one that is small and sleek?
Once you get a good sense of what you are looking for in a bike, you can start shopping.
The Top-Rated Bikes for Those Over 50
What are some of the best bikes on the market now for those over the age of 50?
SixThreeZero’s Reach Your Destination – Five Stars
The Reach Your Destination is a quick and smooth hybrid bike designed for comfort and performance. With a lightweight aluminum frame and adaptable 7-speed gears, it offers an unstoppable combination of performance, utility, and enjoyment.
The step-trough frame ensures this bike is easy to mount and dismount. This is an optimal choice for anyone looking to commute or ride for fun in urban or suburban areas.
Like most bikes from SixThreeZero, Reach Your Destination provides an innovative frame design that allows you to ride upright in a way that won’t irritate your back, shoulders, or wrists. The pedals align ideally below the rider's hips for the most ease and comfort.
Specific features include:
- Weight range up to 300 lbs.
- Aluminum frame
- Quick-release mounts
- Alloy rims
- Shimano Tourney Rear Deraileur
- Shimano Index Revo Shifter
- 7-speeds
It also weighs in at a sleek 33 pounds, making this bike easier to transport and store.
SixZeroThree’s Ride in the Park 500W - Five Stars
This bike has many noteworthy features, but first and foremost is the motor. The Ride in the Park is an electric bike with a 500 Watt rear hub drive that ensures you can ride as long as you want and get home comfortably. With is model, you have the option to use pedal-assist riding or go full throttle and not pedal at all.
Ride in the Park also has a regal retro feel that is classic. The easy step-through frame means you can climb on and off without straining your back or legs.
Specific features include:
- 48V/10.4Ah Lithium-Ion Rear-Rack Mounted Battery with Charger
- 500W Rear Wheel Hub Motor
- Easy-to-install step-through frame
- The seat has dual single-springs for further support
- Tapered saddle for hip and back support
- Shimano Index Revo Shifter
- Seven speeds
- Sleek display
- Simple thumb throttle
Like most products from SixThreeZero, Ride in the Park offers a comfortable riding and pedaling position.
SixThreeZero’s Relaxed Body – Five Stars
The name says it all. SixThreeZero's Relaxed Body bike offers the ultimate in comfort riding. The ergonomic frame design provides upright riding that reduces the tension on your muscles.
The forward pedaling design allows for optimal leg extension when riding, even if the seat is positioned low to the ground. With the flexibility to keep the seat low to the ground, you may easily mount and dismount the bike and keep your feet flat on the ground when stopping.
Specific features include:
- 26” wheels with 2-inch semi-slick tires
- Lightweight aluminum frame
- Front and rear handbrakes
- Adjustable stem
- Shimano Index Revo Shifter
- Seven speeds
This bike is also fully customizable with some help from the bike experts at SixThreeZero.
Schwinn Discover – Four and a Half Stars
The Schwinn Discover has many features that will appeal to the over-50 crowd. For one thing, it offers a removable cargo rack on the back, so you can use it for shopping or take the rack off when you want to enjoy a local bike path.
The front suspension does an excellent job of absorbing road bumps. It also boasts soft grips, an adjustable stem, a cushioned seat, and swept-back handlebars to prevent strain on your arms, hands, and back throughout your ride.
Specific features include:
- 17-inch rigid aluminum frame
- 21 speeds
- 14-28T rear cogs
- Comfortable padded saddle
- Fenders
- Taillight
- Four-finger brake levers
- Front and rear alloy brakes
- Suspension fork
- Upright riding position
- Suspension seat post
This hybrid bike from Schwinn has both form and function, making it a good choice whether you are looking to commute or just joyride.
Co-op Cycles CTY 1.1 Step-Through – Four Stars and a Half Stars
Co-op Cycles CTY 1.1 Step-Through from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI). This is a commuter bike made for a serious biker. This hybrid bike comes with an aluminum frame to make it a practical choice for someone riding a long-distance or on a daily basis.
It comes fitted with puncture-resistant 700 x40mm tires and a Shimano Tourney derailleur.
Specific features include:
- Rack and fender compatibility
- Versatile Shimano 3 x 8 drivetrain
- Mechanical disc brake
- 300 lb. weight capacity
- Disc breaks
- Twenty-four gears
This bike weighs in at just under 27 lbs, as well, for easy transport and storage, and it comes in a variety of colors.
Schwinn Wayfarer – Four Stars
The Wayfarer is a hybrid from bike pioneer Schwinn that offers a rigid steel step-through frame and a rear carrier. It may be the right choice for someone looking for sustainable transportation to the grocery store or while running errands.
It also comes with a fun retro city frame and fork for stylish comfort. With a Schwinn grade spring seat and upright riding stance, you'll always have comfort and visibility.
There are some drawbacks to this model, though. For example, the tires that come with it are average, not high quality. Also, it has only seven gears and a standard twist shifter, like many retro bikes.
Specific features include:
- Vintage city frame and fork
- Schwinn 7-speed twist shifter
- Schwinn rear derailleur.
- Front and rear linear pull brakes made of alloy
- Fenders
- Fits adult riders 5'4" to 6'2"
- 700c wheels.
It comes in three fun retro colors.
Priority Turi – Three and a Half Stars
Priority Bicycles offers a hybrid that they call low-maintenance and low hassle for lifestyle riders. The most significant feature of the Priority Turi is their proprietary shifting hub designed by Enviolo.
This model also boasts a Gates Carbone Drive Belt that never requires greasing, hence the “low-maintenance” claim. Combined with a mid-step frame and wide gear range, the Turi is a fun option for someone looking for a leisure bike.
Specific features include:
- Infinity Shifting Enviolo City CVT Gearing
- Fenders
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Wide saddle
- Low maintenance, low hassle
- Tektro or Promax Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Puncture Resistant tires
Reviewers did have a few problems with the Turi, though. For one thing, the handlebars are somewhat uncomfortable, and it is difficult to adjust them.
Priority Coast – Three and a Half Stars
The Coast is another offering from Priority Bicycles that is worth a look. It offers many of the same features you find on the Turi, such as the Gates Carbon Drive belt system and Knda picture-resistant tires.
This is a good choice if you dream of biking on the beach, as well. It comes with sealed cartridge bearings to protect them against sand and salt damage. It also has a unique pedal design that is comfortable if you want to ride in sneakers, flip-flops, or go shoeless.
Specific features include:
- 3-speeds
- Twist shifter
- Classic design and colors
- Fenders
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Wide saddle
- Low maintenance, low hassle
- Tektro or Promax Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Puncture Resistant tires
Most bikes designated as beach cruisers are not built to tolerate the conditions of beach use. This one is, but it does have a few problems. Reviewers report rusting on the screws, frame, and rims. Also, the ride is upright and not very relaxed.
Batch The Fitness 700C – Three and a Half Stars
If the budget is your priority when bike shopping, then Batch Bicycles’ The Fitness model might be something to consider. This is a versatile bike for someone looking to stay in the city. It can handle daily commuting on city streets and recreational riding on the local paved bike trails.
It offers a standard aluminum frame, so tough mounts, and dismounts. But it has an impressive gear range with the Shimano 3x7 drivetrain plus a rack and fender mounts. It also comes in a variety of fun colors.
Specific features include:
- Double-well alloy rims
- Shimano shifters
- Shimano front and rear derailers
- Shimano brake levers
- Internal cable routing
The Fitness doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that come with a higher-priced bike, but that is part of the reason it might be a good choice for some riders. It is a budget-friendly option for someone just looking for a practical ride.
The one downside to this model is the frame design. It does not have a step-through frame, so you’ll need to be fit enough to hop on and off the seat and to mount and dismount the bike.
If you are still unsure what bike you want, check out SixThreeZero's website to see more options.
