These days, with gas prices hovering above $4 a gallon, everyone is thinking twice before hopping into their cars for trips that are not absolutely necessary.
The price of gas is less of a concern for Jerry Streltzer, and it’s not because he has an electric vehicle.
Streltzer, who turned 80 on June 13, goes nearly everywhere on his bicycle — emphasis on everywhere.
From his home in Winston Downs on Denver’s East Side, Streltzer cycles for practical reasons, like running errands in his part of town, as well as for pure enjoyment as he rides to the farthest reaches of the Denver metro area to explore and take in the scenery.
Streltzer says he rides his bike year-round, six days a week, parking it only on Shabbat.
As a youth on Denver’s West Side, Streltzer rode a bike like most other kids did, until he started driving at age 16, and moved on from riding his bike.
He graduated North High School, went to Regis University, and served two years in the army, stationed in West Germany.
Upon his return to the US, Streltzer and his then-wife drove cross country back to Denver. En route, they stopped to visit his older brother and family in Columbus, Ohio. There he saw that his brother and wife would take bike rides nightly after dinner.
“It hit me: Adults ride bikes!” he says. Back then, in the early 1970s, adult bike riding wasn’t as big as it is now.
When Streltzer resettled in southeast Denver, he started cycling for recreation.
He recalls riding bikes with his daughters Sunday mornings to a breakfast place at 9th and Downing from Hampden Heights, and then over to Cheesman Park, where the girls would play, before heading home.
Before long, cycling became Streltzer’s passion. He connected with a childhood friend, Michael Engleberg and his son Jeff, with whom he would go on adventurous bike rides all over the Denver area.
“On our longest trip, we went south on the South Platte bike path, along Chatfield Dam. Then we got on C-470 going north and went to Golden. We stopped there and had a snack. Then we followed the Cripple Creek Trail back to the Platte River, and through downtown, back to Mike Engleberg’s house [in East Denver]. That ride was 65-70 miles roundtrip.”
Recently on Memorial Day, just a few weeks before his 80th birthday, Streltzer rode his bike to Standley Lake in Westminster.
As an avid baseball fan, Streltzer often cycles to Coors Field to cheer on the Colorado Rockies.
Other destinations have included Parker, Watson, Arvada Reservoir, Aurora Reservoir and Lookout Mountain, Morrison, and Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton.
Biking is supported in Colorado. “Denver has one of the best biking systems in the nation. You can get anywhere on these bike lanes and paths. Whether it’s a game or I’m going to North Denver or downtown to pick up tickets at the DCPA, I love those bike lanes.”
Streltzer also takes advantage of the growing number of underpasses for cyclists to avoid busy intersections on surface streets. There is one at Colorado Blvd and Hampden Ave., going under the street and coming out at Eisenhower Park.
Among the other bike underpasses are where Leetsdale Dr., Parker Rd. and Mississippi Ave. meet, and another one at Iliff Ave. and Dayton St.
Safety is always a priority for Streltzer. He always rides with a helmet, which proved to be beneficial when he had his one and only serious bike accident five or six years ago.
He was on his way to a baseball game on an extremely sunny September day. “I was going west on Dakota Avenue between Monaco and Holly. I had sunglasses on, and I had my helmet, thankfully. The last thing I remember was seeing this yellow flash.
“I woke up, and a young friend was kneeling next to me, trying to talk to me. I remember saying, ‘This really hurts.’ There were policemen, firemen and an ambulance.”
Streltzer was concerned that he’d be late to the 1 p.m. baseball game. When he woke up at Denver Health, his first words were, “What time is it?” It was 3:30 p.m.
He suffered a lacerated kidney, two fractured ribs and a minor concussion. “But nothing turned out to be really serious. Thank G-d it was the helmet that got cracked and not my head!” he says.
To this day, Streltzer doesn’t know what exactly happened, and the accident didn’t deter him from resuming his cycling passion. As soon as he recovered from his injuries, he got right back up on the bike.
This experience positions Streltzer to give advice to would be cyclists, starting with “wear your helmet.”
He also recommends staying hydrated while riding; his bike accommodates two water bottles.
“In the summer, I’ll go early morning or late evening. You want to avoid the midday heat.”
Sun protection is important too, says Streltzer. “Colorado is the melanoma capital of the nation. I use 50 SPF sunscreen. You can buy these white cuffs that fit over your arms to protect them from the sun.”
Another piece of advice: Pay attention while riding. “You have to be aware of your surroundings.”
That includes awareness of motorists sharing the road, including those who are not courteous and even those who are perhaps too polite. “Let’s say, someone in a car is at a stop sign, and they got there before I did. They have the right of way, but they want me to go on. That can cause an accident.”
He adds: “You really gotta be on your game. One of our friends wanted to take up bike riding, and he’s not in the best of shape and he hasn’t had a lot of experience. I said to him, ‘Think twice before you do this because you are not allowed a lot of errors. You have to be focused and it just takes one misjudgment, and your life is changed — if you even live through it.”
Despite the dangers, Streltzer’s cycling hobby brings him many benefits. The exercise factor is obvious. Streltzer is slim, energetic and moves around with smooth agility, belying his octogenarian status. He doesn’t have knee or hip issues like many his age might. He gets additional exercise by working in his large beautiful garden.
Beyond the fitness advantage, cycling is relaxing for Streltzer. It enables him to clear his mind and just take in the scenery, whether it’s seeing the woods, animals, trees and architecture as well as magnificent vistas of the mountains or pastures.
“I just enjoy being out. Colorado is great, right? It’s beautiful. It’s sunshine. Denver is really pretty.”
© IJN 2026
