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鈥檚 wife Isabel providing hydration and a 鈥渕obile鈥� cheering section, from a support vehicle.

鈥淚鈥檝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鈥檛 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.鈥�

And Isabel?

鈥淪he鈥檚 always the support vehicle - and I couldn鈥檛 do it without her.鈥�

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.

鈥淏ut, even (my) new Cannondale SuperSixEvo with Mt. Washington-specific gearing couldn鈥檛 keep Tristan at bay,鈥� 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.

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

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

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 clarify ages, so there is a possibility I am the oldest.鈥�

Roger says he is slowing down somewhat.

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

鈥淎 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,鈥� he said.

He is still quite active on his bike.

鈥淚 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.鈥�

Asked about next year鈥檚 celebration ride, Roger said this may have been his swan song.

鈥淚 mentioned it to my wife, but she said 鈥榯here won鈥檛 be a next time,鈥� so we will have to see,鈥� he said, laughing. 鈥淪omething tells me you have to listen to the wife. So we will wait until next year and we will see at that time.鈥�

ALSO: Age is no barrier to Comox cyclist

| " target="_blank">"Terry Farrell"
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