On the Road Again: Join in Popular St. Louis Bike Series

After a two-year hiatus, AARP’s popular Boomers and Bikes program will return to St. Louis in July.

The free program brings together cyclists of all abilities for organized rides on paved paths. Experienced bikers lead the rides, which start at 15 miles and build up to 28 miles. There will be ride marshals spaced throughout the events, which start at 9 a.m. and end by noon.

Riders bring their own bikes and must wear helmets. The program offers safety tips for riding on the area’s greenway trails, which are typically filled with other cyclists and walkers. A mechanic will be available to check bikes, change flat tires and offer maintenance tips.

“The cyclists we get are coming back to cycling—getting back in the saddle, so to speak,” says Sheila Holm, community outreach director for AARP in St. Louis, sponsor of the rides.

Boomers and Bikes, which is run by volunteers, started in 2016 to promote exercise and help people explore the area and meet friends. And there are benefits beyond that: Couples who ride together sometimes reconnect over a new shared hobby, Holm says.

The Saturday rides are scheduled for July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 17 and Oct. 8. Register at aarp.org/stlouis or call 877-926-8300.

—Cristina Rouvalis