Blowing out the candles of a birthday cake would be an achievement for many octogenarians.

Roger Thomas is not like most people.

He celebrated his upcoming 82nd birthday with a bicycle ascent of Mount Washington. Fourteen kilometres, uphill at almost every turn.

Roger and his son, Tristan Thomas, completed the challenge on Aug. 3, with Roger香蕉视频直播檚 wife Isabel providing hydration and a 香蕉视频直播渕obile香蕉视频直播� cheering section, from a support vehicle.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been doing this probably the last three or four years as part of my birthday celebrations, but I have been doing it (Mount Washington ascent) for I don香蕉视频直播檛 know, maybe 30 years. My son has done it with me a number of times. He lives in New Zealand and manages to get over here at about this time every year, so he has done it with me quite a few times.香蕉视频直播�

And Isabel?

香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 always the support vehicle - and I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 do it without her.香蕉视频直播�

As Roger has a few years on Tristan, they set up a staggered start to make for a closer finish, with Tristan giving Roger a 45-minute head-start.

香蕉视频直播淏ut, even (my) new Cannondale SuperSixEvo with Mt. Washington-specific gearing couldn香蕉视频直播檛 keep Tristan at bay,香蕉视频直播� said the elder Thomas.

His time? One hour and 44 minutes and 20 seconds - four minutes longer than in 2022.

Thomas finished in 53:35, meaning he got to the top approximately six minutes before his dad. The official times were recorded by, and posted to Strava.com - a mobile app that records and stores cycling and running times.

香蕉视频直播淭here was a time he (Tristan) was first in the world on that route up Mount Washington (among Strava users),香蕉视频直播� said Roger. 香蕉视频直播淣ow that he brought a new bike here for me (from New Zealand) that is Strava-friendly, I am on there too.香蕉视频直播�

Roger said he ranks third in his age group, although the top age group is 75-plus.

香蕉视频直播淵ou can香蕉视频直播檛 clarify ages, so there is a possibility I am the oldest.香蕉视频直播�

Roger says he is slowing down somewhat.

He recalls earlier years when riding with the Comox Valley Cycle Club.

香蕉视频直播淎 few hardy souls would, with little difficulty, make the ascent and descent, back-to-back, twice, in quick succession. Those days are a fond memory unlikely to be repeated,香蕉视频直播� he said.

He is still quite active on his bike.

香蕉视频直播淚 usually do around 500-600 kilometres a month. It used to be about 1,000 but it has dropped off as I have got a little bit older.香蕉视频直播�

Asked about next year香蕉视频直播檚 celebration ride, Roger said this may have been his swan song.

香蕉视频直播淚 mentioned it to my wife, but she said 香蕉视频直播榯here won香蕉视频直播檛 be a next time,香蕉视频直播� so we will have to see,香蕉视频直播� he said, laughing. 香蕉视频直播淪omething tells me you have to listen to the wife. So we will wait until next year and we will see at that time.香蕉视频直播�