The Future of Cycling Depends on Us Old Guys
The Future of Cycling Depends on Us Old Guys
Here’s a truth nobody likes to say out loud: seniors and grandparents are often the ones quietly holding families together.
We’re the ones who show up to ballgames, school programs, and birthdays. We’re the ones who have the time to listen. We’re the ones who still believe in teaching work ethic, respect, kindness, and follow-through.
And like it or not, a lot of us are either helping raise our grandkids outright—or we’re the ones pouring into them the skills and values that will shape who they become as adults.
That’s why I believe the future of cycling—especially the simple, joyful love of riding a bicycle—rests heavily on the senior class.
Why Seniors Matter So Much to the Future of Cycling
Cycling isn’t just a sport. It’s not a fad. It’s movement, freedom, independence, and a sense of “I can get there on my own.” The older you get, the more you appreciate those things.
But kids today are growing up in a different world. Screens are everywhere. Neighborhoods are quieter. Fewer kids are just jumping on bikes and roaming around like we did.
If nobody introduces them to the joy of cycling, how would they ever find it?
That’s where we come in as older riders. We’re the storytellers, the examples, and—very often—the gift-givers.
We’re the ones who can say, “Here. This is your bike. Go see where it can take you.”
The Gift That Changed My Life: A Stingray with a Banana Seat
My first bike was a Stingray with a banana seat, and I can still picture it like it’s sitting in the driveway right now.
That bike wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t light. It wasn’t fast by any modern standard. But to me, it was a rocket ship.
It gave me something I’d never really had before: freedom.
- I could leave my street and ride into other neighborhoods.
- I could explore streets and alleys I’d only ever seen from the back seat of a car.
- I could decide where I wanted to go—and actually get there under my own power.
I can draw a straight line from that one gift—over 60 years ago—to where I am today. Long-distance rides. Bicycle tours. Over 150,000 miles ridden. A lifestyle that has kept me moving, sane, and grateful deep into my senior years.
All because somebody bought me a bike.
That’s why I don’t say this lightly: the simple act of buying a bicycle for a child or grandchild might be all it takes to set them on a lifelong path of cycling.
A Kid’s Bike Doesn’t Have to Look Like My Specialized Diverge
Today I ride a Specialized Diverge. It’s a great bike for what I do now—longer rides, gravel, all-day comfort. But kids don’t need anything close to that.
A kid’s bike doesn’t have to be carbon, electronic, or “high-end.” It just needs to be something that makes them want to ride.
For younger kids, that might mean:
- Bright colors and a fun look.
- A small, light frame they can actually handle.
- Training wheels or a balance bike so they feel safe.
- A bike that fits them now—with a little room to grow.
They don’t care about brand names or component levels. They care about whether the bike feels fun, whether it feels like freedom, and whether anyone believes in them enough to put that bike under them.
Why Older Cyclists Make the Best Mentors
Kids see more than we think they do.
They see that we’re still moving in our 60s and 70s. They notice that we’re not just sitting in recliners complaining about our knees. They see us in helmets, jerseys, and yes, sometimes on bikes that cost more than our first cars.
And whether they say it out loud or not, a lot of kids think, “If Grandpa can still do that, maybe I can too.”
That’s powerful.
When an older adult says, “You’re going to love riding this,” it carries weight. We’ve lived long enough to know what really matters. We’ve seen what happens when people stop moving. We know the cost of inactivity.
So when we put a bike in a child’s hands, we’re not just giving them something to ride. We’re giving them a value: movement is good, freedom is good, exploring your world is good.
One Simple, Practical Step: Be the Person Who Buys the Bike
You don’t have to coach a junior race team or organize a youth cycling club to change the future of cycling. You can—but you don’t have to.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply be the one who buys the bike.
- If your grandchild doesn’t have a bike, consider making that your next birthday or Christmas gift.
- If they’re outgrowing their current bike, help them move up to the next size.
- If you don’t have grandkids, there are neighbor kids, kids at church, or family friends who would light up at the chance.
And when you can, don’t just hand them the bike—ride with them. Those first rides up and down the street can become core memories they’ll never forget.
We don’t control the bike industry. We don’t control traffic. We don’t control city planning. But we do control whether the next generation ever gets the chance to fall in love with two wheels in the first place.
Kid-Friendly Bikes I’d Look At (By Age & Stage)
These are the kinds of bikes I’d consider for grandkids at different ages. I’m listing one solid example plus a broader search link so you can compare colors, prices, and styles.
1) Balance / Push Bikes (Ages ~1–3)
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Strider 12” Sport Balance Bike – A classic no-pedal balance bike for ages 1–4 with flat-free tires and an adjustable seat. Great way to teach balance before pedals.
👉 See the Strider 12" Sport balance bike on Amazon
👉 Browse more balance bikes and Strider-style options
2) First Pedal Bikes (Ages ~3–6)
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RoyalBaby Freestyle Kids Bike (12–20") – Comes in a range of wheel sizes and colors with kid-friendly geometry and training wheels included on the smaller sizes.
👉 See a RoyalBaby Freestyle kids bike on Amazon
👉 See more RoyalBaby kids’ bike options -
Schwinn Koen / Elm SmartStart – Designed around kids’ proportions with simple gearing and tool-free seat adjustment, available in multiple wheel sizes.
👉 Check a Schwinn Koen SmartStart bike on Amazon
👉 Browse Schwinn Koen / Elm SmartStart bikes
3) Early Elementary Riders (Ages ~6–9, 20" Wheels)
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JOYSTAR 20" Kids Bike – A geared 20" bike option with hand brakes and kid-sized frame, good for neighborhood cruising and simple hills.
👉 See a JOYSTAR 20" kids bike on Amazon
👉 Browse popular 20" kids’ bikes
4) Pre-Teens (Ages ~8–12, 24" Wheels)
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Retrospec Dart 24" Kids Bike – A 24" geared bike for bigger kids who are ready for real rides, with 7-speed drivetrain and youth-friendly fit.
👉 See the Retrospec Dart 24" kids bike on Amazon
👉 Browse more 24" youth bikes
Tip: whatever you choose, make sure the bike fits now, not “someday.” A bike that’s too big is scary. A bike that fits is fun.
How This Ties Back to Senior Cycling
If you’re an older cyclist, you already know what the bike has done for you. Better health, stronger legs, more energy, and a clearer head. For many of us, the bike is how we’ve processed grief, stress, retirement, and getting older.
The question is: will that stop with us?
It doesn’t have to.
Every time you share a story, take a child for a slow ride, or show up with a bike-sized box wrapped in birthday paper, you’re pushing the story forward. You’re saying, “This mattered to me. I believe it will matter to you too.”
That’s how the future of cycling gets built—one kid, one bike, one ride at a time.
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FAQ: Seniors, Grandkids, and the Future of Cycling
Do kids today even want bikes anymore?
Yes—if someone gives them a chance. Many kids are buried in screens, but that’s partly because nobody has put a bike, helmet, and a little freedom in front of them. When a child gets a bike that fits and an adult who’s willing to ride with them, most of them light up just like we did.
How much should I spend on a grandchild’s bike?
You don’t have to overspend. For younger kids, a solid, safe, properly sized bike in the low-to-mid price range is usually plenty. The key is fit, stability, and a design they’re excited to ride. Save the high-dollar upgrades for when they’ve truly fallen in love with riding.
Is a balance bike really better than training wheels?
For many younger kids, yes. Balance bikes let them learn to glide and steer without worrying about pedaling. By the time they move to a pedal bike, they already have the hardest part—balance—figured out. Training wheels still work, but balance bikes often shorten the learning curve.
What if my grandchild’s parents aren’t “bike people”?
That’s where you come in. You can be the cycling role model. Check with the parents first, of course, but you can handle the helmet, the safety talk, and the short, slow rides around the block. Sometimes it only takes one adult in the family to open the door.
What’s the most important thing I can pass on as an older cyclist?
Yes, you can pass on a bike. But more than that, you can pass on the idea that movement is normal, exploring is good, and it’s okay to live a life that doesn’t revolve around a car or a couch. That mindset, combined with a simple kids’ bike, can change the whole direction of a life.
One child. One bike. One life changed. The future of cycling really does depend on us old guys—and I’m okay with that.
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