AT 81, LIN BRUCE’S PERSPECTIVE ON AGE has changed some in the last couple of decades.
In 1999, when her 60th birthday was approaching, the Northfield resident and longtime Blue Cross member felt the need to do something she had never done—to break out of her normal routine.
“I thought my gosh, 60 is so old, if I don’t do something and bust out now, I’m just going to go downhill for the rest of my life,” Lin remembers. “I decided I wanted some kind of adventure, something that was a challenge, something that was really mine and wasn’t dependent on anyone else—it depended on me.”
After seeing an ad for a cross-country bicycle trip, she made the bold decision to sign up, and spent 60 days cycling from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida. The trip planted a cycling seed. Since then, Lin has pedaled from Virginia to Oregon, Washington to Maine, down the Pacific Coast, along the Mississippi River, around Lake Superior, and beyond. In 21 years, she has traversed roughly 25,000 miles and counting, from the seat of her bike.
When her activity caught the attention of others in the region about a decade ago, Lin started speaking publicly about her adventures and inspiring others to reach their goals.
“Whatever your dream is, whatever your joy is, whatever your hope is, go ahead and stretch for it, and engage with that, because that enhances your life,” she says. “As I have the privilege of being older and older, I realize that engaging keeps us healthy, it keeps us active, it keeps us interested in what’s going on and keeps us part of the scene.”
EMBRACING ACTIVITY
Lin grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, another cycling destination she reached on two separate occasions for high school reunions.
She learned to ride a bike as a child, but like most young women of her era, she notes, she did not pursue it into her adult years. She did cycle with her four children as they were growing up, but she did not travel any serious distances. Until the birthday trip, which actually began on her 60th birthday, she never gave it a thought.
“I grew up in a time where a mom role, a wife role, was really quite defined and narrow,” she says. “So to break out and decide I wanted to take on something like this was way out of the path of what I would have usually taken.”
Lin trained on both a stationary bike and her old hybrid bicycle for the trip and also purchased appropriate gear— padded bike shorts and cycling shirts for example—to help get her through the journey. Even so, it wasn’t completed without soreness and exhaustion.
She is quick to mention that she still doesn’t consider herself to be an athletic person.
“I’m really very ordinary,” Lin says. “I wish I could say I have a very tight physical training regimen all the time, but that’s not true.”
She hopes her “normalcy” helps others realize you don’t have to be a super athlete to get out and take action—to find an activity you enjoy and embrace it.
Brandon Busch, a physical therapist at TRIA Orthopaedic Center and part of its Cycling Program team, says the benefits of routine activity, cycling or otherwise, are too numerous to list.
“It affects every single system in our body in a positive way and especially if you look at exercise compared to inactivity, there’s no comparison, there’s so much value,” Busch says.
A combination of routine aerobic (e.g. cycling, jogging, pickleball) and strength (e.g. weight lifting, stair climbing) activities can help you manage weight, lower risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, maintain or build strength, and more.
Beyond the physical benefits, exercise can also improve your outlook.
“If you exercise for a period of time, your mood is elevated, and that’s been well researched,” Busch says. “Especially as we get older, it’s important to consider your mental health and exercise can be a big benefit to that.”
Lin says her overall wellness now compared with before she cycled is undoubtedly improved. She is goal oriented and needs the motivation of an upcoming trip to train—riding on country roads or bike trails, and using her stationary bike in the winter. During one season without a trip, she set a mileage goal and smashed it, riding 2,000 miles in one season.
She didn’t anticipate continuing in the sport beyond that first trip, but its impact was too great to let go.
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| Brandon Busch, a physical therapist at TRIA Orthopaedic Center and part of its Cycle Program team, says cycling can be a lifelong activity if done safely.
“I certainly believe that because there’s always a different style of bike that you can go to,” Busch says. “Biking doesn’t take as much energy as something like running, and it is accessible in terms of equipment and places to ride—I’ve treated patients who are over 80 years old who bike commute every single day in downtown Minneapolis.” For older adults looking to get back into cycling, or those who are new to the activity, Busch offers some advice for staying safe and avoiding injury. |
  EASE INTO IT. If you are new to cycling, it might be good to start on a stationary bike to get the feel for it and maybe an adult tricycle once you’re ready to get outside. Remember, cycling is a skill that takes time to learn, so be patient. If it’s been a while since you last rode, it’s a good idea to start with shorter rides to avoid placing too much demand on your body, which can result in injury. |
 GET THE RIGHT FIT. It’s common for older riders to use the same bike they rode when they were much younger. From a position and comfort standpoint, that can lead to problems. Note the position of the handlebars in relation to the seat. Handlebars that are above seat height will help you maintain a more upright, comfortable position. Also make sure you can get on and off your bike without a problem, both at a standstill and in an emergency situation. Practice getting on and off in a safe place, using a wall for support if needed. |
 BE AWARE OF CONDITIONS. Though cycling can technically be done year round, riding in the winter is not recommended, as snow and ice can create dangerous conditions. Also look out for loose sand in the spring, or wet surfaces that can reduce traction. |
 DRESS APPROPRIATELY. We all know Minnesota weather varies widely. Make sure you dress for the season. It’s also a good idea to invest in clothing specifically for cycling, such as padded bike shorts that reduce skin wear and shirts that breathe and don’t restrict movement. Also remember to wear a helmet every time you ride. Daytime riding is the most safe, but if you’re out after dark be sure to wear bright, reflective clothing. |
 GET A TUNE UP. Especially if you have an older bike that hasn’t been used for a while, it’s a good idea to check the tires, and to make sure the chain, brakes, and cables are in good working order—a bike shop can help with all of this. If you find yourself in mechanical trouble on a ride, Minnesota also offers a variety of tune up stations for quick fixes. |
 FIND A TRAIL. If you’re returning to cycling or just getting started, bicycle trails offer a safe alternative to dealing with vehicle traffic on roads. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is a great resource for finding bike trails for all skill levels. |
A SENSE OF OPPORTUNITY
At the end of her 60th birthday trip, after reaching the Atlantic Ocean with her group—27 women all over 50—Lin was satisfied, but still searching for the big difference she expected in her life.
That wasn’t fully realized until a couple of years later, when she asked her oldest son if she had changed at all. His answer was that she had a greater sense of possibility.
“And that is the change that has come about for me,” Lin says. “I am not fearless, I get scared, but I have a greater sense of possibility. I’ve learned to make commitments, to stick with it, to recommit.”
In addition to participating in organized trips, Lin also plans cycling adventures with her husband, Bob, 84, who has begun riding with her in recent years. She has purchased one new bike since the start of her hobby. Though she is asked about it frequently, she leaves the engineering and mechanics to others.
“I think the most important feature on a bicycle is the commitment of the person who is doing the pedaling,” she says. “I know how to pedal and I’m persistent.”
Her next goal is to ride the East Coast, so she will have pedalled all four sides of the U.S. The satisfaction of such trips isn’t always in the moment, she says, but in retrospect, looking at what she’s accomplished under her own power.
That can be applied to any goal, she says.
“I try not to give advice, but serve as an example,” Bruce says. “If you have things on an ‘I wish I would have’ list, take a look at those. They might not be a physical adventure. They might be completing your genealogy or repairing a relationship with a family member. Whatever they are, do them. Don’t put them off. You have now.”