Still cycling - aged 103!

[661-Pete]

This is surely the world's oldest cyclist - unless anyone knows different...
Well done that man!
(link from Cycleclips)

 

[palinurus]

"Still cycling - aged 103! Can anyone beat that?"
Not yet. I'll post back here in sixty years time.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

He should have got his wife on the back of a tandem - now that would have been a world record!

I found myself chatting today with someone who was born in the 1920s - he looked about 70 but was 85 - who asked me when I'd stopped to take a photo how long it took me to do a 25. It turned out he'd been a pretty keen cyclist in his day - riding to work and then taking off for Surrey on summer evenings. We ended up chatting about the nearby Herne Hill velodrome, a track which he seemed to know quite well.

I love that kind of chance encounter - he got a bit of company and an opportunity to reminisce a little, I managed to get a bit of local history (he was still living at the same address he was born at) and a boost to my ever-growing tendency to talk to complete strangers. And of course we wouldn't have met if it hadn't been for bicycles. And sunshine.

 

[skudupnorth]

He should have got his wife on the back of a tandem - now that would have been a world record!

I found myself chatting today with someone who was born in the 1920s - he looked about 70 but was 85 - who asked me when I'd stopped to take a photo how long it took me to do a 25. It turned out he'd been a pretty keen cyclist in his day - riding to work and then taking off for Surrey on summer evenings. We ended up chatting about the nearby Herne Hill velodrome, a track which he seemed to know quite well.

I love that kind of chance encounter - he got a bit of company and an opportunity to reminisce a little, I managed to get a bit of local history (he was still living at the same address he was born at) and a boost to my ever-growing tendency to talk to complete strangers. And of course we wouldn't have met if it hadn't been for bicycles. And sunshine.

I like that story

 

[ComedyPilot]

"Still cycling - aged 103! Can anyone beat that?"
Not yet. I'll post back here in sixty years time.

+1

 

[ComedyPilot]

His seat's a little low - that could be his secret to old age?

 

[Reluctant cyclist]

'His seat's a little low - that could be his secret to old age?'

Perhaps at 103 he finds it a bit difficult to still get his leg over!

 

[asterix]

..and look, he doesn't wear a helmet!

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Funny really, bet he started on a Tric and now he's ended up back on one. What goes around, comes around.............

 

[Adasta]

He should definitely wear glasses, though...

 

[661-Pete]

Here he is on video:
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TQgF9ZwxsM[/media]


Somehow the words "inspiration to us all" don't seem adequate....

 

[Arch]

He should have got his wife on the back of a tandem - now that would have been a world record!

I found myself chatting today with someone who was born in the 1920s - he looked about 70 but was 85 - who asked me when I'd stopped to take a photo how long it took me to do a 25. It turned out he'd been a pretty keen cyclist in his day - riding to work and then taking off for Surrey on summer evenings. We ended up chatting about the nearby Herne Hill velodrome, a track which he seemed to know quite well.

I love that kind of chance encounter - he got a bit of company and an opportunity to reminisce a little, I managed to get a bit of local history (he was still living at the same address he was born at) and a boost to my ever-growing tendency to talk to complete strangers. And of course we wouldn't have met if it hadn't been for bicycles. And sunshine.

In France this summer, we stopped at Rochefort en Terre, and parked the recumbent trikes in the town square and went to buy pastries to have with coffee. Coming out of the boulangerie was an old chap, who pointed at our lycra and cleated shoes and indicated that he knew we were cyclists. Then he told me (my French is basic, but I think this is right) that he used to cycle race, and win, but now he was 80. I indicated that our special 'velo couches' were in the square and he should have a look. My friends joked that I'd pulled - an 80 year old with no teeth and one hand!

Pastries bought, we looked round a bit (very pretty) and then found a cafe/bar that was open, to have coffee. And at the bar, with a glass of Pastis (at 9.30am!) was my new friend, who indicated that he'd seen the trikes, and gave a thumbs up.

As you say, a nice little encounter, with the added benefit for me of managing a little conversation in another language.

 

[Davidc]

I came cross a man on a recumbent trike near here, out for a ride on his 90th birthday, but this man in LA puts him to shame!