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害羞草研究所檚 wife Isabel providing hydration and a 害羞草研究所渕obile害羞草研究所� cheering section, from a support vehicle.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝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害羞草研究所檛 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.害羞草研究所�

And Isabel?

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 always the support vehicle - and I couldn害羞草研究所檛 do it without her.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淏ut, even (my) new Cannondale SuperSixEvo with Mt. Washington-specific gearing couldn害羞草研究所檛 keep Tristan at bay,害羞草研究所� 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.

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

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

害羞草研究所淵ou can害羞草研究所檛 clarify ages, so there is a possibility I am the oldest.害羞草研究所�

Roger says he is slowing down somewhat.

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

害羞草研究所淎 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,害羞草研究所� he said.

He is still quite active on his bike.

害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�

Asked about next year害羞草研究所檚 celebration ride, Roger said this may have been his swan song.

害羞草研究所淚 mentioned it to my wife, but she said 害羞草研究所榯here won害羞草研究所檛 be a next time,害羞草研究所� so we will have to see,害羞草研究所� he said, laughing. 害羞草研究所淪omething tells me you have to listen to the wife. So we will wait until next year and we will see at that time.害羞草研究所�