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 RogerB次元官网网址檚 wife Isabel providing hydration and a B次元官网网址渕obileB次元官网网址� cheering section, from a support vehicle.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝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 donB次元官网网址檛 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.B次元官网网址�

And Isabel?

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 always the support vehicle - and I couldnB次元官网网址檛 do it without her.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淏ut, even (my) new Cannondale SuperSixEvo with Mt. Washington-specific gearing couldnB次元官网网址檛 keep Tristan at bay,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭here was a time he (Tristan) was first in the world on that route up Mount Washington (among Strava users),B次元官网网址� said Roger. B次元官网网址淣ow that he brought a new bike here for me (from New Zealand) that is Strava-friendly, I am on there too.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 clarify ages, so there is a possibility I am the oldest.B次元官网网址�

Roger says he is slowing down somewhat.

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

B次元官网网址淎 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,B次元官网网址� he said.

He is still quite active on his bike.

B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�

Asked about next yearB次元官网网址檚 celebration ride, Roger said this may have been his swan song.

B次元官网网址淚 mentioned it to my wife, but she said B次元官网网址榯here wonB次元官网网址檛 be a next time,B次元官网网址� so we will have to see,B次元官网网址� he said, laughing. B次元官网网址淪omething tells me you have to listen to the wife. So we will wait until next year and we will see at that time.B次元官网网址�