Page 25 - Leisure Living

Bicycling Is An Adventure
At Kelleys Island
By JoAnn Cummings, Feature Writer
Who says you can’t be a kid again? According to federal statistics, the rate of bicycle riding is soar- ing among people aged 60 to 79. Many are also finding that a perfect place to ride and feel safe is Kelleys Island.
“The roads on the island are safe,” says Jody Eck- ler. She and her husband Gary recently purchased foldable recumbent bikes. “You need to follow the rules of the road, of course, but, traffic (on Kelleys) is slow and most drivers realize there are going to be pedestrians, bicyclists, and golf carts on the roads.” An added bonus to the recumbent bikes is that they can take their dogs with them. “Having three wheels means our dogs can’t pulls us off the bikes. Sometimes we just make it a day trip. Other times we take the bikes, the dogs and the camper over on the ferry and stay several days.” The Jet
Express and The Kelleys Island Ferry both allow passengers to bring bikes with them for a nominal additional fee.
Eckler says she had a great time biking all over the island. “We always go see the Glacial Grooves while we are on the island. They give me such a sense of the eternal history of our world. We visit the beach (no dogs on the beach but we can have them near it) and the boat ramp. The ramp has a pier you can walk down which provides some lovely views.” Eckler says the island does not offer any major hills. “Not that I remember. There are some gentle slopes. You will have a little bit of a challenge to help you feel like you had a nice workout at the end of the day, but nothing terri- bly daunting. If you get tired half way up a slope, stop and rest. No one will care if you do! Kel-
Jody Eckler bicycles with her dog Caesar.
leys is a big island, but you stop whenever you wish and at each attraction so you don’t really feel the distance.”
According to AARP, the Amer- ican biking market is now ca- tering to the wants and needs of the 50-plus consumer when it comes to bikes. Bike trails are opening up everywhere. Kelleys Island offers bike rentals too. These bikes offer what the mar- ket is now offering consumers: softer seats, U-shaped crossbars for trouble-free mounting, low gears for easy pedaling, and a sturdy upright frame for balance. These are referred to as “lifestyle” bikes. Two factors are driving older adults’ demand for lifestyle bikes: people are commuting more to save money and many boomers bike to stay healthy and live longer.
Eckler says she and her husband always make sure to visit the Kel- leys Island Winery. “They have some great wines and yummy
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