One Man, Two (or Three) Wheels

As an avid recumbent bicyclist, Dr. Bob Connor can often be seen riding through the streets of The Hill at Whitemarsh. At 91 years old, he attributes his year-round commitment to the recumbent bike as the key to his continued health and longevity. While the recumbent bike is relatively new for Dr. Connor, he has been a lifelong cyclist.

“I took a long hiatus from physical fitness when I was in college and medical school, but after setting up my ophthalmology practice I started running in a loop around my neighborhood daily,” recalled Dr. Connor. “Once my knees began to protest too much, I knew it was time to find something else.”

A bicycle was exactly what he needed: it provided an outlet for physical fitness without any of the added stress on the joints, and particularly, the knees.

“My bike became my go-to way of maintaining my fitness while also helping me explore new places,” he said. “Many of my rides stretched 50 to 70 miles through the countryside. I can’t claim I avoided accidents—there were plenty, too many to recount—but none of them stopped me from continuing.”

That experience led to Dr. Connor taking week-long trips in other states, all of which had a bike component complete with commercial sponsors.

“At age 60, I decided to go for it and sign up for a cross-country trip,” he said. “There was so much camaraderie on that ride. It was a truly memorable experience!”

The trip, which started in Bellingham, Washington, took a northern route heading eastward across the continent, eventually ending in Portland, Maine. The trip took three months to make, taking Saturdays off as a rest day, and the group of 25 bikers logged a total of 5200 miles on their journey.

“Aside from the cross-country trip, some of the most memorable bike experiences I’ve had included crossing Costa Rica with my two daughters and riding across Arizona with my son,” said Dr. Connor. “I also rode in Quebec and traveled to France during the Tour de France.”

During that trip, he was able to follow portions of the participants’ route and climb some of the Tour’s most iconic mountains, including Alpe d’Huez, which has 21 zig-zagging turns, or “switchbacks,” as cyclists would say.

“Experiencing those climbs, even at my own tortoise pace, gave me a deep appreciation for the extraordinary athletes who race them at 25 mph,” he said. “It humbles you.”

After having a knee replacement three years ago, Dr. Connor struggled with regaining full leg extension, which impaired his balance on a two-wheel bike. Not willing to give up an activity he’s loved for a lifetime, he shifted gears and opted to try a recumbent bike.

“Over the past two years, the recumbent has allowed me to continue biking locally, making repetitive loops within the Hill community. While slower, it offers a stable and sustainable way to stay active. I can confidently say that aging is no barrier to movement—you simply adapt.” – Dr. Bob Connor