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含羞草研究社檚 wife Isabel providing hydration and a 含羞草研究社渕obile含羞草研究社� cheering section, from a support vehicle.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝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含羞草研究社檛 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.含羞草研究社�

And Isabel?

含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檚 always the support vehicle - and I couldn含羞草研究社檛 do it without her.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淏ut, even (my) new Cannondale SuperSixEvo with Mt. Washington-specific gearing couldn含羞草研究社檛 keep Tristan at bay,含羞草研究社� 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.

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

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

含羞草研究社淵ou can含羞草研究社檛 clarify ages, so there is a possibility I am the oldest.含羞草研究社�

Roger says he is slowing down somewhat.

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

含羞草研究社淎 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,含羞草研究社� he said.

He is still quite active on his bike.

含羞草研究社淚 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.含羞草研究社�

Asked about next year含羞草研究社檚 celebration ride, Roger said this may have been his swan song.

含羞草研究社淚 mentioned it to my wife, but she said 含羞草研究社榯here won含羞草研究社檛 be a next time,含羞草研究社� so we will have to see,含羞草研究社� he said, laughing. 含羞草研究社淪omething tells me you have to listen to the wife. So we will wait until next year and we will see at that time.含羞草研究社�