Tinus van Nuil from Beilen’s birthday is: he was 80 years old earlier this week. But sitting still is not the case with him. Tinus is a fanatic cyclist who travels around 20,000 kilometers annually. And that at an age when many prefer an e-bike. His cycling friends therefore surprised him with a special promotion.
Shortly after sunrise, the yard of Tinus was full of cyclists and banners. The Beilenaar was completely surprised by his cycling group, who calls himself the Hulzebosch team.
“When I woke up I heard the doorbell. I thought who is at the door so early, at 6.45 am. I looked out of the shower name and suddenly saw all those men standing,” Tinus says gleeping. “I had no idea what was going on until I saw the big banner.” His bicycle friend Otto Koops launched the festive tribute.
That Tinus is not just a recreational cyclist is evident from his impressive performance. He drives around 20,000 kilometers annually, kept neatly kept through Strava and his own administration. And those are not just trips to Assen or Hoogeveen. “We often cycle longer trips, also two -day journeys. In the past also just with rain, but now we wait a while when it gets wet,” he says soberly.
His bicycle buddies are full of admiration about his perseverance. “He is still taking part in the toughest trips,” says Otto Koops. “Like the Bartje 200, the MTB winter trips of 200 kilometers and even the Winter-Eelfstedentocht on the racing bike.” Tinus also regularly travels through Europe with his bicycle colleagues. Austria, the Czech Republic, Rome, Santiago and Budapest: they have all been there by bike.
Tinus plant his trips usually out of the head. “I usually know where I want to go. Varied, not the same every time,” he says. “We cycle around sixty to seventy kilometer on the mountain bike. Those young dogs still keep me up.” And no, he does not secretly do electricity. “I do have an e-bike, but I don’t use it yet.” “If I get ten percent of what he does at his age, I am already satisfied,” Koops jokes.
Main of the surprise longer is not in the case of Tinus. This weekend he is already leaving for three weeks of cycling in Austria. There he hopes to go into the mountains, just like in previous years. Tinus may have turned 80, his legs still kick as if he is half younger. “As long as it is possible, I keep cycling,” he says with a smile.