Doyle, 82, has ridden his bicycle at least 60 miles per week since he retired in 2010.

“When I first started, I eventually got to the point where I started setting goals, and I got up to 100 miles a week on the bike,” Doyle said. “A couple years ago, I started reducing it to about 60 miles a week, on average.”

He goes out at least three days per week, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, during the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, he sometimes bikes indoors or walks.

Doyle bikes at least 20 miles each time he goes out.

Courtesy Photo Jere Doyle rides his bicycle at the Velodrome in Detroit on his 80th birthday.

He has completed two trips of 100 miles at once, traveling to Oscoda and back.

“A couple of times, I’ve ridden 100 miles in a day,” he said.

He rode at the Velodrome in Detroit on his 80th birthday.

He explained why he became interested in bicycling.

“It appeals to me because, when I retired, I don’t golf, I wasn’t involved in anything else, and I felt that I needed to do something,” Doyle said. “I knew I needed to get my body back to some kind of semblance of being in shape, so that’s why I took it up.”

He often bikes with others from The ROMEO Club. ROMEO stands for Retired Old Men Eating Out. They get together and go for bike rides regularly.

“Right now, I’m riding an e-bike, but I used to just ride a road bike up until two years ago, when I bought the e-bike,” Doyle said. “I bought that when I was 80. It was a birthday present to myself.”

Doyle rides around town, down to Ossineke, out to Hubbard Lake, and up around Long Lake.

“We go out to Presque Isle, occasionally,” he added. “We do the trail out behind the high school, out to Emerson (Station), which is 10 miles out and 10 miles back.”

He explained why it’s vital to exercise as you age.

“You’ve got to keep the body moving,” Doyle said. “I think it’s absolutely critical.”

He also said keeping the mind active is equally important, and that’s why he is an active member of the Association of Lifelong Learners.

“The mind and body, both,” he added. “I really feel it’s important … I think you’ve got to challenge yourself.”