80 year old man does 100 mile rides on a regular basis...

I envy this man...
TURLOCK -- At 80 years old, it might seem ambitious to bicycle 20 miles, or 40 miles, maybe even 80 miles.

But for Turlock resident Ray Houlihan, nothing less than a 100-mile ride will do for his birthday.

The former special education teacher and avid cyclist turned 80 on Sunday and today will ride his self-made loop course along the outskirts of Turlock for 100 miles.

Why 100 miles for his birthday?

"Oh, it's just like the mountains. They're there and you want to start riding them," he said.

Houlihan went on his first 100-mile ride in 1991, then in 2005 he started turning them into birthday rides. Today will be his 15th 100-mile ride. He does some of them in June, for his half birthday, because the weather is nicer. But this year, with such a big, round number, he wanted to honor the day itself.

Singing in his church choir prevented him from doing his ride on his actual birthday.

"I'm not going to fight God," he joked.

He calls the 100-mile birthday jaunts his "Geezer Codger Century" rides.

The 100-mile treks aren't the longest distance Houlihan has undertaken. He has made the 110-mile ride to his former hometown of Watsonville to visit his alma mater, Monte Vista Christian School, several times, most recently in October. He also has ridden the more than 300 miles to Santa Monica.

Local riders recognize Houlihan, all decked out in his road-riding gear, and often smile and wave. Houlihan rides a new Sirrus Expert 15-gear road bike, which he purchased to replace his previous, heavier cycle. His riding jersey has three pockets in the back, crammed with all the necessities: cell phone, energy snacks, first aid, toilet paper and anti-dog spray.

He has two companions on the road. One is an old transistor radio he straps to his handlebars and uses to listen to Christmas music while on the road. The other is his good friend John Krause, who follows him in his car for backup and support.

The two men have been friends for 34 years.

"Riding is just in his blood and he loves doing it," said Krause, 66. "People can't believe he's still doing it, but more power to him. It's amazing he can keep at it."

Steak dinner will be waiting

Krause said Houlihan's wife of 58 years, Wanda, often worries about him on his rides. But she always makes him a steak dinner afterward to celebrate the accomplishment.

Houlihan and his wife have four grown children, eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild. He taught special education for 32 years, the last 15 at Turlock High School.

After he retired in 1991, his cycling really took off. He often combines riding with his other passion: photography. He has more than 100 cameras, the oldest dating to 1903.

Houlihan attributes his longevity to healthy living and keeping active. He said younger riders sometimes stop to talk to him and say, "I want some of whatever you're drinking."

His ride today will start about 5:45 a.m. on Monte Vista Avenue near Santa Fe Avenue, then turn up North Montpelier Road until Whitmore Road, before doubling back. He'll go up and back four times to make the 100 miles and hopes to finish before it gets dark about 5 p.m.

Afterward, he said, the feeling of accomplishment is the best birthday present.

"I'm so emotional when I finish the rides," he said. "Then I have so much adrenaline going that night I can hardly sleep."

And, body willing, he'll be back next year for his 81st birthday for another 100-mile ride.