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Pedal Power

Local bike enthusiasts stay fit and forge friendships along rides

by Market Writer

Published Nov 2008 in , local spotlight | 0 Comments, Talk about this article »

When it comes to creative ways to get and stay fit, one man with a plan is Eric Bender, proprietor of Bicycle Sports in Beaumont. Not only does Bender peddle bicycles in his shop every day, but this self-styled “pedal-power” guy believes in taking the scenic route through life on the back of his bike.

And he’s working to make it easier for everyone to hop on board. Bender is a major force in the Hike and Bike Coalition, which works to create linear recreational paths and marked bicycle routes for commuters. A visit to the HikeNbike.info website provides information on rides, ride maps, a calendar of events, the opportunity to chat with other riders, and much more—for everyone from the casual cyclist to the serious health-and-fitness rider.

Physicians have long extolled bike riding as a great cardiovascular workout without the joint strain that running or jogging can cause. Thanks to Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour de France wins and the movement in cities across the country to create and restore bike trails, this has become what some experts call “the century of the American bicyclist.”

pedal

Ready to Ride

Locally, Bender works hard to get and keep people interested in cycling year-round. “Rides throughout the year afford opportunities for meeting new people and seeing new places,” he says. Examples include the “Happy New Rear” ride in January, the “Freeze Your Fanny” and the “Big Chill” in February, the “Bluebonnet Express” in March, and the “Tour De Houston” in spring that includes the major botanical gardens in the city. There are also numerous rides throughout the year that raise money for a host of good causes.

In addition, there are the “everyday” rider groups suited for all fitness levels, such as the Fast and Furious group that rides 25 miles together every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. and another group that rides 30 to 35 miles every Saturday starting at 8 a.m. Bender notes that regardless of your level of involvement or skill, you’re bound to find a ride that will interest you.

Regardless of your level of involvement or skill, you’re bound to find a ride that will interest you.

“Just riding for exercise alone is good,” says Bender, “but combining healthy exercise with social contact and pleasing the senses with scenic beauty make for an excellent prescription for health. Whether you’re riding to fight high gasoline prices, to improve or restore your cardiovascular system, or to provide your family with an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, the bike is the best way to go.”