The Costco Connection

bike has tripled in some U.S. cities since 2000.

Perhaps you’ve noticed more bike trails and bike lanes in your hometown. City leaders are recognizing that amenities like these make cycling safer and enhance residents’ quality of life—and health.

Dr. Michael Schaefer, director of musculo-skeletal physical medicine and rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic and an avid cyclist, says bicycling is an excellent form of exercise, especially for those with long-term joint problems.

“It’s a nonimpact activity,” he explains, “and lessens stress through the hips, knees and feet.” Schaefer, 43, chose a career in medicine because of his love for sports and considers physical activity a means of medical treatment, especially in managing the problem of obesity.

“Motion is actually good for joints, which are designed to self-lubricate,” he continues. Bicycling also provides an excellent cardiovascular workout and strengthens major leg muscle groups.

Getting started

Cycling is accessible for most people, even those who are not in the best shape. “All you really need is a bike and a helmet,” says Schaefer. And if you learned as a child, your

By Peggy Sijswerda

COSTCO MEMBER TOM Demagall has happy memories of riding a bike as a kid growing up in southwestern Pennsylvania.

“It’s your first taste of freedom,” recalls Demagall, 41, owner of Golden Triangle Bike Rental in Pittsburgh. Today he commutes by bike as often as he can. “It adds adventure to your day,” he says.

Most of us remember that exhilarating sense of freedom as we pedaled around our neighborhoods as kids. We didn’t even know it was exercise. We just loved the sensation of going fast.

May is National Bike Month, the perfect time to recapture the feeling of being young and enjoy the many benefits of cycling. Besides, everyone can use a little adventure now and then, right?

Growing sport

Cycling is a growing sport. Surprisingly, one of the fastest-growing groups is cyclists age

55 and up. Millennials are also contributing to
the bike boom. Many are shunning cars in
favor of cycling to work. In fact, commuting by
ability to ride a bike is a durable skill, part of
the procedural memory embedded in your
brain. Balancing should come naturally. Of
course, before you get started, check with
your health-care provider to make sure
cycling is an appropriate activity for you.
Next, ask yourself what kind of cycling
you plan to do since that will determine the
kind of bike you get. There are three basic
types: road bikes, designed for speed; moun-
tain bikes, meant for off-road use; and hybrid
bikes, perfect for paved trails.
Once you’ve decided, finding equipment
that fits right is key. “You need to find a bike
that fits you,” Demagall says. A poorly fitting
bike can “make it not fun.” And make sure
you purchase a properly fitted helmet.
Demagall also suggests that beginners
learn basic bike mechanics: “Adjusting your
brakes and repairing a flat tire are two basics
you need to know.”
Next, choose where to cycle. Many cities
offer maps of suggested routes. Also, review
bicycle safety rules before you hit the road.

Demagall shares his passion for cycling with clients who visit his Pittsburgh shop to rent bikes, join local tours and get outfitted for cycling trips along the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail connecting Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Maryland. “We love when people come back from bike tours and you see that light in their eyes,” he says.

As for the future of cycling, Demagall expects it to continue growing as more people move into cities. “It’s a natural progression,” he says. C

Editor and writer Peggy Sijswerda loves to bike Virginia Beach’s First Landing State Park.

The Costco Connection Costco and Costco.com offer a selection of men’s, women’s and children’s bicycles as well as helmets, bike carriers and hoists.

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Better biking

TO ENCOURAGE A more bike-friendly America, the League of American Bicyclists, an advocacy group, recognizes bike-friendly communities, businesses and universities each year. According to the league, bicycling brings people together, and when more people ride bikes:

; Life is better for everyone.

; Communities are safer, stronger and
better connected.
; The nation is healthier, economically
stronger, environmentally cleaner and more
energy independent.