I used to have motorcycles ... but then we started riding bikes. I caught on to liking the exercise and the freedom and the fresh air.”

Fernando Antonio

For most people, riding 20,000 miles on a bicycle would be a lifetime accomplishment.

For 81-year-old East Providence resident and Army veteran Fernando Antonio, it’s become part of his daily routine.

Over the last five and a half years, Antonio has logged more than 20,000 miles on his electric-assist bicycle, averaging roughly 24 miles a day whenever the weather allows. Most of those miles have been spent traveling the scenic East Bay Bike Path, where he enjoys the exercise, fresh air and peaceful surroundings.

“I always had a bike,” Antonio said. “I used to have motorcycles ... but then we started riding bikes. I caught on to liking the exercise and the freedom and the fresh air. It’s a hobby, and it’s a habit, and it’s a good habit.”

Antonio grew up on a farm in mainland Portugal before immigrating to the United States at age 13. Learning English wasn’t easy, but he persevered, graduating high school with straight A’s before being drafted into the U.S. Army.

He served two years on active duty, followed by a year in the reserves. Although he trained as infantry, he eventually became a supply sergeant, an achievement he remains proud of.

“I did very good in the service,” Antonio said. “In less than two years, I became a supply sergeant, which was unheard of.”

That sense of discipline has stayed with Antonio long after his military service ended, carrying over into the consistency that has kept him riding nearly every day.

The e-bike stigma

Antonio is quick to point out that his current bicycle isn’t a throttle-powered e-bike. Instead, it’s an electric-assist bicycle that only provides extra power while pedaling, particularly on hills.

“It doesn’t go by itself,” he said. “You have to pedal all the time. If I want to go fast, I have to pedal fast, just like any other bike. The electric assist just helps you going uphill.”

Antonio purchased the Magnum bicycle in early 2021 after watching his brother and friends transition to electric-assist bikes.

“They got electric assisted bikes, and I was the last one,” he said with a laugh. “It gives us the ability to go on the rides and still do all the sweating and hard work.”

What began with roughly 3,000 miles during his first year quickly turned into an annual tradition.

“Last year I did 3,640 miles,” he said. “In five and a half years I put 20,000 miles on the bike. People say, ‘How do you do it? You’re crazy’ — including my wife.”

Seen it all on the path

Most rides begin near Veterans Memorial Parkway in East Providence before heading south toward Bristol or north toward Pawtucket. On Saturdays, he and friends often venture even farther, exploring scenic neighborhoods and coastal roads.

“Ninety percent of my riding is on the East Bay Bike Path,” Antonio said. “It’s beautiful. The scenery keeps changing, and in some places there’s water on both sides.”

The miles have also taught him patience and caution.

Antonio has witnessed reckless behavior from cyclists and scooter riders over the years, though he says most people use the trail responsibly.

“You’ve got to be aware that you’re not alone,” he said. “Everybody has the right to use the bike path, but they should do it more responsibly.”

While cycling has remained remarkably safe for him, Antonio recently survived a frightening accident away from the bike path. During a game of ping pong with a friend, he tripped and struck both his hip and head against a cement wall.

“By all accounts, I should have been dead right there,” he said.

Instead, he walked away with little more than a bump on his head — something Antonio credits to his Christian faith.

Faith, discipline and consistency are themes that have carried through nearly every chapter of Antonio’s life, from serving in the Army to maintaining an active lifestyle into his eightie.

His advice for others, especially fellow seniors, is simple.

“Start slow,” he said. “Don’t try to be a hero. Do shorter rides and let your body get used to it. After a while, you’ll get stronger."

When asked whether he has another mileage milestone in mind, Antonio isn’t focused on a specific number.

“I just want to keep on riding and see how many miles I can put on it,” he said. “Maybe another 20,000. Who knows?”

For Antonio, the odometer isn’t what matters most. It’s another day outdoors, another ride along a path he knows by heart, and another reminder that age doesn’t have to define what’s possible.