By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Doping scandals have recently surrounded bicycling and the Tour de France, which peddles in this month, turning many enthusiasts off of the sport. But  amongst the bad press, at least one cyclist keeps it clean.

Like son, like father
Like most kids, Fred Gibson grew up riding a bike. Before moving to  Seabrook in Tinton Falls, N.J., three years ago, he and his wife Margaret lived in Arizona where their son Jim reintroduced him to cycling. Now he can’t get enough of it.

An avid cyclist, Gibson’s son helped him choose and purchase a bicycle—the Trek 10-speed he now rides at Seabrook. “I was always into it and always had a bike, but I have more time to ride it in retirement,” he says.

Gibson bicycles around the 98-acre Seabrook campus almost every day, weather permitting. “The loop around the campus is about one mile, so I ride five times around. Once in awhile I’ll ride around the lake,” he says.

The Gibsons moved to the ground floor in May so he could more easily store and use his bicycle. “I can just walk out the back door and cross the lawn to ride my bike,” he says. He previously kept his bike in a storage shed provided by Seabrook, located behind the indoor pool.

Conquering the terrain
“I do it for fitness mostly, but I enjoy getting outside,” he says as he puts on his helmet.

According to the National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Foundation, cyclists experience a fitness level of a person ten years younger.

The low-impact, aerobic activity aids muscle strength and flexibility, as well as joint mobility. Or as Gibson says, “It keeps you limbered up, it’s a fun thing to do, and I love it.”

Local seaside bike trails