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NEIL'S AN OLD AGE PEDALLER

SUPERFIT Neil Sinclair plans to celebrate reaching 90 - by cycling more than 10,000 miles.

And the icing on the cake will be a cycling holiday in France.

Neil has pedalled around 10,000 miles a year since the end of World War II and has no intention of stopping now.

The retired driving examiner lives with his wife Elizabeth, 79, in St Martins, outside Perth.

He said: "I cycled to Forfar the other day, which is a 64-mile return trip but it's semi-flat.

"The hills get me more than they used to but I still climb them.

"I try for 10,000 miles every year and it's very seldom that I can't manage it.

"I used to do more than 14,000 miles, around 80 miles every day, but I'm starting to slow down. It doesn't stop me getting out there every day though."

When Neil and his wife go on a trip to places such as Killin or Aberfeldy, he cycles while Elizabeth drives ahead.

The OAP still belongs to the Perth United Cycle Club, although he no longer attends club days.

He finds that it's the people he meets on his travels that keeps cycling interesting for him.

He added: "That's the beauty of cycling - you're not cocooned inside a car, you're free to talk to everyone and take everything in.

"People are usually very friendly and open to cyclists.

"They can relate to you because it's something that everyone has done in their life at some time.

"I can't wait to get over to France again this year.

"Cycling is such a great healthy pastime and it has given me so much.

"I'm like a young boy when I go out to the shed and prepare for a cycle. I still get so excited."

You do realise that "chapeau" is a David Duffield expression?