The BackSafer Story

BackSafer is a company born out of need. Physically active baby boomers suffering with inevitable tennis elbow, back pain and knee problems are looking for ways to maintain their health and fitness routines without exacting a toll on their aching bodies.

Miami attorney Paul A. Lester has been a distance bicyclist for 25 years and knows the feeling all too well. In the mid 1980's, Lester developed herniated disks in his lower back and was no longer able to ride his expensive 12-speed racing bike. Unwilling to give up his “second profession”, he turned to a friend and self-trained bike engineer and said, “Why don't they make a bike for people with back or joint problems?” His friend told him about recumbent bikes. The two collaborated on a design and built a prototype recumbent which became the first generation of the BackSafer product line.

Lester's doctor, Elliott Grusky, is the chiropractor for the University of Miami Hurricanes football team and has worked with the United States Olympic Swimming Team. Grusky was so impressed with the recumbent design that he became a partner in BackSafer. He saw the bike as a great way to help patients continue exercising without putting added strain on their back and joints.

Conventional upright bikes put considerable strain on rider's neck, back, shoulders and wrists. The hard saddle seats have been linked to male impotence as reported on the ABC-TV news program, "20/20" . On a BackSafer, the wide chair-shaped seat takes weight off the wrists and distributes weight evenly over the rider's back, lumbar region and buttocks. This posture allows the diaphragm to expand freely, improving breathing. Recumbents provide better all-round vision as riders don't have to strain to see where they're going. They are extremely beneficial to cyclists with back or knee problems, who would otherwise need to restrict or stop cycling altogether.

The mission of BackSafer was to create a recumbent bicycle that is ergonomically designed to provide proper spinal alignment and body weight distribution for both recreational and distance cyclists. The BackSafer bike was designed in conjunction with the world renowned Logan College of Chiropractic Ergonomics Institute. The institute, which conducts ergonomic research for Ford and General Motors, was instrumental in the development of BackSafer's seat shell. The seat configuration positions riders for proper spinal alignment and optimal comfort.

While comparable recumbents sell for $1,500+, the BackSafer is priced at $499, plus shipping. The bikes feature top quality components including Shimano grip-shift drive train, forged crank and KendaQwest 100 psi tires. BackSafer offers an optional training stand for $120 which provides the added benefits of a stationary bike workout. The folding mechanism and easy seat removal allow for convenient storage and transport.

BackSafer bikes can be purchased directly from the company's online store (www.backsafer.com) and are shipped from their warehouse in Florida. With it's unique folding design, it's the only recumbent bike that can be shipped via UPS. The bike comes 85% pre-assembled, so the customer simply attaches the handlebars, adjusts the seat and they're ready to ride.

The company is offering a customer referral program. BackSafer recumbent owners will receive $100 for every customer they refer to the company's Web site that results in a sale.

For more information, please contact Lois Joy Lester, director of operations at BackSafer at 800-815-BACK (2225).