A year older and a couple minutes faster.

On Monday, Roger Thomas spent one hour and 40 minutes riding his bicycle to the top of Mount Washington.

Call it an early birthday present to himself. He turns 81 this month.

Last year, it took the Comox man one hour and 42 minutes to pedal the steep climb 鈥� which was a little faster than the previous year.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been my wish to ride Mount Washington every year,鈥� said Thomas, who used to ride with the Comox Valley Cycle Club. 鈥淚t was just as hard this year.鈥�

Like last year, he was accompanied by his wife Isabel, who drove the route to keep him charged with water and sports drinks, and called out encouragement. He was also joined this year by his son Tristan, who rode the route with Thomas. Tristan runs a company that handcrafts bike wheels in New Zealand.

鈥淲e set up a 鈥榟andicap鈥� timing system, and we both arrived at the lodge within three minutes of one another,鈥� Thomas said, noting weather conditions were perfect Monday morning.

鈥淥vercast skies, a light wind, just a few drops of rain, and virtually no insects or bears.鈥�

Will Thomas continue with another Mount Washington ascent at age 82?

鈥淭ime will tell,鈥� he said.

READ: Comox Valley man marks 80th birthday by cycling up Mt. Washington

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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