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乌鸦传媒檚 wife Isabel providing hydration and a 乌鸦传媒渕obile乌鸦传媒� cheering section, from a support vehicle.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝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乌鸦传媒檛 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.乌鸦传媒�

And Isabel?

乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 always the support vehicle - and I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 do it without her.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淏ut, even (my) new Cannondale SuperSixEvo with Mt. Washington-specific gearing couldn乌鸦传媒檛 keep Tristan at bay,乌鸦传媒� 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.

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

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

乌鸦传媒淵ou can乌鸦传媒檛 clarify ages, so there is a possibility I am the oldest.乌鸦传媒�

Roger says he is slowing down somewhat.

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

乌鸦传媒淎 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,乌鸦传媒� he said.

He is still quite active on his bike.

乌鸦传媒淚 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.乌鸦传媒�

Asked about next year乌鸦传媒檚 celebration ride, Roger said this may have been his swan song.

乌鸦传媒淚 mentioned it to my wife, but she said 乌鸦传媒榯here won乌鸦传媒檛 be a next time,乌鸦传媒� so we will have to see,乌鸦传媒� he said, laughing. 乌鸦传媒淪omething tells me you have to listen to the wife. So we will wait until next year and we will see at that time.乌鸦传媒�