Hitting the open road

Thanks to Cycling Without Age, residents of Granite Ledges of Concord are able to relive their childhood.

Since 2012, Cycling Without Age has provided a way for aging adults to get back on their bikes. Starting overseas in Copenhagen, Ole Kassow found the solution to this problem by finding comfortable bicycles for them to ride on.

The Cycling Without Age’s specialized bikes go by the name of “trishaws.” They offer comfortable seating for two people in the front, with a hood to put up in order to protect riders from the weather. In the back, the “pilot” pedals the trishaw. There is a motor assist to make it easier for pilots to pedal the trishaw.

Granite Ledges of Concord was fortunate enough to have the money to purchase two trishaws back in April. The trishaws have completely transformed how the residents at Granite Ledges of Concord experience the outdoors.

“It’s been beyond what I thought it could be for our residents,” said Executive Director Deb Burns.

The whole movement behind Cycling Without Age was founded on creating a positive meaning behind aging, building relationships, and sharing generously with others. Now, all of the residents at Granite Ledges of Concord are able to feel the incredible impact of the Cycling Without Age movement.

“They just love getting out and engaging in the environment. You know, feeling the wind through their hair,” Burns said.

At this point, staff members pilot the bikes for residents. Granite Ledges of Concord hopes to get volunteers to help pilot bikes, too. Eventually, the staff hopes to train those volunteers from the community who have a passion for cycling.

The trishaws offer the residents of Granite Ledges of Concord the same freedom and joy they felt when riding around on bikes as children. They are already being put to use, with residents eager to get outside and experience the outdoors nearly every day.

“Every day that the sun is out, we’re out there,” Burns said.

With the trishaws being extremely popular among the residents at Granite Ledges of Concord, Burns hopes to acquire a couple more in the future, but two is just enough for now.

With over 1,000 chapters of Cycling Without Age across the globe, Granite Ledges of Concord is the first organization to start a chapter in New Hampshire.

By getting older adults to ride trishaws around New Hampshire, the program would provide communities with more opportunities to come together. This would allow for people to engage in group rides and other related events. Burns expressed that she would love to see other organizations in the community also join the Cycling Without Age movement.

With the immense joy and youth being brought to seniors across the globe, Cycling Without Age will continue to rejuvenate the residents of Granite Ledges one pedal at a time.