St. Joseph cyclist adds miles and subtracts pounds

Since getting an ultimatum from his physician at the age of 40, the St. Joseph man has scaled the mountains — literally — in the quest for physical fitness.

In so doing, he has racked up some incredible numbers.

“I was having quite a bit of problem with blood pressure,” Bailey recalled. “I was in to see the doctor for a cold, and he said you’d better do something with the blood pressure or it’s going to get you.

“It was kind of a rude awakening.”

With a blood pressure reading of 195/40, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound man already found himself out of breath while trying to officiate youth hockey games, and seriously considered giving up that passion. . . .

“I started out real slow, and one thing led to another,” said Bailey, who last week surpassed 7,700 miles on his bicycle for 2005. . . .

The 43-year-old has achieved plenty since first taking his bicycle for his first arduous 41/2-mile spin around town.

Now at a trim 171 pounds, Bailey’s blood pressure has been recorded as low as 103/51, and he tossed out his blood pressure medication more than a year ago. His resting pulse, recorded about three months ago, was at just 39.