Paul Gagnon has had an uphill battle trying to stay healthy enough to cycle.

Most recently the 61-year-old Cleveland resident was fit to cycle, a sport he took up in his mid-40s. He started with a road bike and has cycled with various groups such as the Caloosa Riders and Peace River Riders. In 1999, he said, he bought his first recumbent bike and has been riding recumbents since.