Love of cycling keeps these octogenarians young and active

(Updated June 30, 2022)

When Ray Marentette, now age 85, got the idea back in 2019 to start a Facebook group for bicyclists age 80 and over, it was in part because he didn’t know any other cyclists who were his age.  

“I don’t know of another 80-year-old who cycles,” Ray recalls thinking at the time. “But there’s got to be some out there.” 

So began The Royal Academy of Octogenarian Cyclists, a fun and lofty name for the Facebook group Ray began on Dec. 29, 2019, that now numbers more than 1,100 members from countries spanning the globe, including the United States, Canada, the UK, Scotland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, and Australia. 

Cycling is an ageless sport

Tom Swanson, Tuscon, Arizona, USA

Cycling in your 80s and even beyond is not as rare as you might think. The popularity of Ray’s group proves it. Bicycling is particularly popular with older men. The overwhelming majoriy of members of the Royal Academy are men, but the female ranks are growing (See related feature story about one relatively new female member, Sandy Gettles). 

Members are called “fellows,” in keeping with the academy theme, and judging by recent posts on the site, many of them are remarkably fit and passionate about cycling.

Take Tom Swanson, of Tucson, Arizona, for example. Tom recently turned 83, so to celebrate his birthday, he completed an 83-mile bike ride on The Loop, a trail that circles Tucson. Never mind that the temperature was 104 degrees, with hardly any shade. Like many of the more avid octogenerian cyclists, Tom rides his bike nearly every day, year-round. Each year, he gets with some friends and completes a 400-to-500 mile bike tour. He also competes each year in the 50 or 100-mile El Tour DE Tuscon. At age 74, Tom rode his bike from coast to coast, solo, across the USA. 

Another “fellow” in the Royal Academy, who lives in mountainous Colorado, recently rode a 64-mile trek that included an elevation gain of 3,730 feet. He completed the ride in just 5 1/2 hours. Another fellow rode 32 miles in a day through scenic New England and is well over 1,000 miles already for the year. Yet another fellow, who lives in Central Florida, averaged a fast 19.8 mph on a 22-mile bike ride. That’s double the speed of your average neighborhood leisure bike rider, and an impressive performance at any age.

One octogenarian’s recent long and rigorous bike ride.

“I believe that staying active keeps you alive,” said Royal Academy fellow David Hobbs, who is about to turn 86 and lives in Mission Viejo, California. David rides four days per week, averaging about 30 miles per ride. Since he began tracking his miles on the Strava app in 2013, David said he’s ridden more than 45,000 miles. Already this year, he’s cycled more than 2,500 miles.

“My children can’t believe how much I ride,” David said, describing himself as someone who has always taken fitness seriously.

The group even includes several nonagenarians – bike riders in their 90s. Cycling is apprently an activity many senior adults can do regardless of age.

A Close-Knit Group

Had it not been for Ray Marentette’s dream late last year to start the Royal Academy, most of these 80-plus cyclists would not know of one another and would have missed a wonderful opportunity to build friendships with their peers. In fact, Ray said the group has evolved into much more than just a Facebook page about bicycling. It’s become a community, where birthdays are celebrated, members who lose their spouses are consoled, and where members can talk about their health and other challenges.

“It didn’t occur to me that it would become such a close-knit group,” Ray said. “There’s a great sense of comraderie, a great sense of ‘we’ve made it this far, guys, so let’s celebrate our achievement of living.’ I’m really enjoying the communication with these people, because now it’s like my world is not this neighborhood any more; it’s the whole world.”

Ray Marentette: An Organizer and Optimist

Ray and his wife Jeanne live in Port Credit, a lakefront community that is part of the City of Mississauga, in Ontario, Canada. Even before starting a Facebook group for bicyclists age 80 and up, Ray already had a reputation as a cyclist and organizer. Two years ago, Ray began a bike riding group in his town called the Port Credit Slow Roll that rides every two weeks during the warm months, or at least did prior to the onslaught of the COVID-19 coronavirus. 

“My bike stayed down in the basement for two years,” Ray said, explaining why he started the Port Credit Slow Roll back in 2018. “The tires were flatter than a pancake. I wanted to ride every year, so I said ‘this is the year, I’m going to ride my bike.’ But my dear wife said ‘you’re 81 years old and you’re too old to ride a bike by yourself.’ I didn’t want to get hurt on my bike and her say ‘I told you so.’ Anyway, she said I would really prefer you to not ride by yourself. So, I went to my trusty little computer and printed out a notice: ‘Meet me at Saddington Park at 7 o’clock next Thursday. We’re going for a bike ride.’ We ended up going on our first ride with 13 people. Two weeks later, there were 26. Two weeks after that, it was 48. Then it was 60. It just mushroomed.”

The Port Credit Slow Roll rides average 8 miles (13 kilometers) in length, driving through town and along Lake Ontario, and sometimes include stops at local landmarks. The rides attract people of all ages and backgrounds. 

An organizer at heart, Ray started a Facebook group for the Port Credit Slow Roll and convinced Bert’s Sports & Custom Teamwear, a local bike and sports wear shop, to sponsor the group and provide bright green shirts for all participants.  Last year, Ray was awarded the city’s Phil Green Award for a Mississauga resident who promotes safe cycling and sustainable transportation. The Port Credit Slow Roll group also got to ride in the city’s 2019 Mississauga Canada Day Parade.

Ray has used the group to promote other city activities and even expanded into offering bike valet parking services at events such as the Port Credit farmers’ market.

Benefits of Cycling for Senior Adults

Ray believes cycling is an excellent sport for senior adults.

“As we age, there’s a real problem with balance. The greatest number of problems that aging people have is losing their balance and falling, and maybe breaking their hips. It’s the start of the end for a lot of people. One of the biggest things about cycling is that there’s a part of the brain that has to be maintained to give you equilibrium and balance. In cycling, you have that. You maintain the development of that part of your brain that controls your balance.”

For Ray, bicycling is just one part of a healthy lifestyle. He and Jeanne take 45-minute walks nearly every day. Ray does yoga and water exercises. In addition, he and Jeanne are careful about their diet.

“In the last two years, we’ve really cut down on our meat consumption and are watching our foods, with no fries and hamburgers. I’ve lost 24 pounds. I’ve gone from a 40-inch waist to 36, and I really feel great.”

When asked how long he plans to keep riding his bike, Ray has a simple answer:

“Forever, for as long as I can get on it and go.”

————————-

Related: Watch this video of a couple in the UK who have cycled together for more than 60 years

Watch this video about a UK couple who has cycled together for 60 years.

————————-

Interested in cycling for seniors? Read these related stories from This Retirement Life:

– How to Select a Senior-Friendly Bicycle

– Senior Cyclist Rides 80-Plus Miles to Celebrate Her 80th Birthday

– Safety Tips for Senior Cyclists

– E-Bikes Allow Seniors To Keep Cycling and Stay Fit

– Florida’s Bike Trails Invite You to Rediscover the Joys of Bicycling