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 Roger91裸聊视频檚 wife Isabel providing hydration and a 91裸聊视频渕obile91裸聊视频� cheering section, from a support vehicle.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝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 don91裸聊视频檛 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.91裸聊视频�

And Isabel?

91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 always the support vehicle - and I couldn91裸聊视频檛 do it without her.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淏ut, even (my) new Cannondale SuperSixEvo with Mt. Washington-specific gearing couldn91裸聊视频檛 keep Tristan at bay,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭here was a time he (Tristan) was first in the world on that route up Mount Washington (among Strava users),91裸聊视频� said Roger. 91裸聊视频淣ow that he brought a new bike here for me (from New Zealand) that is Strava-friendly, I am on there too.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淵ou can91裸聊视频檛 clarify ages, so there is a possibility I am the oldest.91裸聊视频�

Roger says he is slowing down somewhat.

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

91裸聊视频淎 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,91裸聊视频� he said.

He is still quite active on his bike.

91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�

Asked about next year91裸聊视频檚 celebration ride, Roger said this may have been his swan song.

91裸聊视频淚 mentioned it to my wife, but she said 91裸聊视频榯here won91裸聊视频檛 be a next time,91裸聊视频� so we will have to see,91裸聊视频� he said, laughing. 91裸聊视频淪omething tells me you have to listen to the wife. So we will wait until next year and we will see at that time.91裸聊视频�