Cycling keeps Fargo young at heart

LAFAYETTE — Sixty-seven-year-old Bob Fargo, of Lafayette, is a living example that if you take care of your heart and have a young at heart attitude, you’ll be active, vibrant and healthy as you age.

Maybe Pat — his wife whom is affectionately referred to as Saint Patricia” — has a role in his vim and vigor.

Or perhaps it’s that he recently retired from working for over 50 years. Maybe it’s the joy that being a grandfather brings. Whatever Fargo’s secret, remaining active through endurance sports over the years is certainly a big part of it.

Fargo grew up in Franklin and graduated in 1963 from Franklin High School. He didn’t participate in any high school sports, but said, “They just offered the basic sports. If they’d had track, that would have been right up my alley.”

Fargo began his professional career working at the Schwinn Bicycle store in Newton for over a decade. From there, he switched jobs to a DPW in Morris County where he was for over 29 years. He met his wife, Pat, in the parking lot of her job where she worked for a doctor as a medical secretary. “It was love at first sight for me,” Fargo said, and they got married in April of 1970

Athletically, Fargo ran and raced for 23 years all over the place. He was a staple on the New Jersey running scene and loved competing in his age group.

His best performances included running 1:02:30 at Midland Run 15-Kilometer in Far Hills. His fastest 5-kilometer race was at the J&H Classic in Parsippany, and his fastest 10K was at the Run for the Roses in

Fargo turned in stellar performances at both the famous Falmouth Road Race, in Massachusetts, and at the Gasparilla 15K, in Tampa Florida.

Then, two years ago, an escalating back problem forced him to hang up his running shoes and get surgery. Dr. Paul Vessa performed spine surgery on him, and though he knew his running career was done, Fargo had a fall back: cycling. For years, he’d used cycling as cross training for his running. Dr. Vessa set Fargo up with a program to continue his free weight lifting and soon cycling became his aerobic activity.

“When I started running, I started heart monitor training, back in 1987, “ Fargo said, “I have continued that phase in my cycling, too.”

At age 67, his resting heart rate is in the upper 30s to low 40s. “I sleep dead,” he laughed.

Last year, Fargo rode over 5,000 miles, dividing his cycling between a road and mountain bike.

As far as future projects, he plans to semi restore a Schwinn track bike which dates back to the late 1930s and do something with it.

Fargo has a goal to better his mileage of 2012, and he said, he’s given some thought about doing a trail ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.

Fargo’s training consists of year-round outdoor training. “I very seldom ride indoors unless its not safe, then I’ll use my rollers with my track bike which is a fixed gear.” He added, “All my adventures or training, is when I leave my residence. I very seldom transport my bikes on my car.”

Fargo’s longest rides are on his road bike either into New York State and back or his ‘Tour de Sussex County’ which is 69 miles. He rides 7.5 to 16.5 miles every day then goes home and lifts weights for an hour twice a week.

In addition to cycling, Fargo does volunteer work for the National Weather Service as a “SKYWARN” Trained Spotter.

When it comes to cycling and life, his mantra is “Motivation, Determination, and Success.”