Hale Bicycle Offers Bikes Built for Seniors

LADY LAKE — Angela Duffield, a retired construction loan officer, had to give up riding her bike about two years ago, due to arthritis in her hip.
“Since I have gotten older and heavier, it was hard to get on the bike, so I had to give it up,” says Duffield, 67 who has loved riding a bike since she was a child.
But she’s back in the saddle seat again, thanks to a new bicycle she bought three months ago at Village Cycles Inc. in Lady Lake that is specially designed for senior citizens.
The EZ Board bike has a low step-over bar just six inches off the ground.
“What I like is that it’s easy to get on and off, and you don’t have to bring your leg over,” says Duffield. “You just step in and get on the pedals. It’s easy to ride. I feel very comfortable on it.”
The bike is designed by Birth Bike Group in Heidelberg. Germany, and sold in America by Biria USA, based in Fair Lawn, N.J.
“Getting on and off a bicycle becomes very challenging as one gets older,” says Michael Birth, 36 who founded Biria USA with his 35-year-old brother, Tony Stria.
“So the main focus in the development of the bike was to make the top tube as low as possible so one could literally step through it.
“Furthermore, the seating angle and the handlebar of the bike were designed so the rider would apply the least amount of stress on his or her back,” he says.
Biria recently entered the Central Florida market in May, selling the EZ Board bike in Village Cycles in Lady Lake because of “the large number of retirement communities in the area,” says Biria. There are more than 40,000 senior citizens living in the Villages.
In addition, the weather “is almost always bicycle friendly, and the flatness of most areas in Florida makes bicycling enjoyable,” he says.
“The people who have come to Florida to retire are normally health conscious and work hard to stay fit,” says Biria. “Bicycling is a great way of exercising for many people if they can ride. And now that the EZ Board is available in Florida, almost anyone can enjoy the ride.”
That market research paid off, because Florida customers now make up 20 percent of Biria USA’s business.
Mark Hall, owner of Village Cycles, began carrying the EZ Board bikes in May.
“Tony called and wanted me to list the product. It looked like it would work well with our clientele,” says Hall.
He says the low step-over is very popular with senior citizens. “They have the lowest frame on the market.”
In addition, seniors like the bike’s coaster brake, says Hall. “A lot of them don’t like hand brakes. They are real comfortable with coaster brakes. And the 3-speed is real popular, as they relate to having one years ago.”
eed. Biria also plans to come out with a lighter aluminum frame, that likely will cost about $100 more, says Hall, who adds that he doesn’t think seniors need to pay the extra for an aluminum frame.
“Aluminum is a little lighter and stronger, but this is a very recreational bike,” says Hall. “They’re not going to be racing, so a steel frame will be fine.”
The bikes also come in 18-and 20-inch frames, so shorter seniors still can be comfortable on one, he says. The 3- speeds come in blue or a silver-green color, and the 7-speeds come in red.
Although Hall says his customers mainly are age 55.75, he also has some as young as 40. “This is a very active area. We sell a lot of hybrids and comfort bikes, which appeal to everyone, and high-end road bikes. But the EZ Board bike has struck a chord with some people.”
He says that the price of the EZ Board bike seems high to some customers until he explains that they come standard with a front basket, rear rack, fenders, a generator-powered light set arid a little be/1. “It has a lot of accesories a customer would want to add on,” says Hall. “And the frame is specially designed.”
He says the EZ Board bike is very popular in Europe with people of all ages because there, most folks ride bikes to work and the low step-over works well with business suits and dresses.
As for Duffield, she rides her new EZ Board bike now almost every day, first thing in the morning while it’s still cool outside.
“I like to be out in the fresh air,” she says “I like to be outside. I’m in remission with breast cancer and I just needed my exercise. Now I have my energy level back — this bike really helped me.”
For a new and comfortable biking experience, try the “EZ Boarding” bike. It may he perfect for you. For more information, call Hale Bicycle Corporation, 5 Mechanic St., Court House, 465-3126 or visit www.halebicycles. com
.