Richard Howard, a former tricycle racer, reached the grand old age of 100 yesterday and still manages to cycle five miles every weekend.  Mr Howard, from Winslow in Buckinghamshire, raced during the 1930s coming in 50 and 100 mile events and on occasion even 24-hour events, where he is recorded as achieving a distance of 350 miles.

That is some feat on a tricycle, and with the equipment and cycle clothing that was available back in the thirties.

Mr Howard, a former teacher, was born in Tottenham in north London, one of twelve children, took up tricycling again in 2007, after his wife passed away. On turning 100 he said that he felt perfectly OK, same as always.

He is still an active member of the Unity Cycling Club and the Tricycle Association.

His son Peter, only 63, has said that his father’s love of riding has probably given him a good foundation of fitness that has helped him to live to such an age. They ride together at weekends, for five mile excursions, but in the warmer weather this can be as far as 12 miles, and he reveals that it is accomplished at quite a pace.

Mr Howard said of his riding “I just accept it as normal”.

Not bad for a gentleman of one hundred years of age, so if it has put you to shame (as it has me) maybe its time to check out what is available on the website so that we can try an emulate Mr Howard’s achievements and see if we can stay as fit and active when we are one hundred.