Warning: It’s going be hard to justifying your excuses for not exercising after reading this article.

By 12 o’clock on a Wednesday, 84-year-old Ray Lemieux has likely done more physical exercise than the average American will do in a week.

The Mattapoisett resident regularly bikes upwards of 10 miles as part of the Bay Area Senior Cyclists, and he’s not the group’s oldest member.

The cycling club, which began at least 20 years ago, is comprised of members from across the South Coast, ranging in age from 55 to 92.

Every Wednesday from April to November they take to local bike paths and back roads on pedal pounding rides that can be 10 to 25 miles long, ending with a picnic.

A heart attack prompted Lemieux to get his health in check, and he has been biking for the past 45 years.

“I was over 200 pounds,” said Lemieux, who ran a doughnut shop. “I started biking a little at a time.”

Twenty years ago, he encountered some other bikers at the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne who were asking seniors if they wanted to join the Bay Area Senior Cyclists. He did.

Equal parts social club and exercise group, Lemieux said, “We have a good time.”

Members take turns planning the biking routes. On Wednesday, June 26, it was Lemieux’s turn. He anxiously waited for the rest of the group to show up at Ned’s Point where the sea breeze masked the steadily rising temperature.

For his trip, Lemieux prepared a 13-mile loop through the Village, down to Tinkhamtown Chapel, down Long Plain road and across Wolf Island Road, and then back to Ned's Point.

“This is a little different route,” said Lemieux. “It’s going to take them to a nice area.”

Sightseeing is a part of the trips, which have included Boston, the Falmouth Bike Path, and Plymouth.

“We don’t go fast. We’re not racing,” said Lemieux. “It’s a relaxing thing. If we see something, we’ll stop. If you don’t feel good, we’ll stop.”

There are, of course, some younger whippersnappers who power ahead of the rest of the group.

“There are some tough old birds,” said Lemieux. “They’re tough to keep up with.”

Paul Langloise and his wife, who do something active everyday, like to stay with the pack. The two weren’t really bike riders before the cyclists passed their house in Dartmouth more than a decade ago.

“They invited us to go with them,” said Langloise, 73. “They had one guy with only one arm, one guy with only one leg, and one guy who was 90. I thought maybe we can keep up with them.”

Jean Szyndler, of Mattapoisett, said the group is pretty healthy.

“I don’t think we have any smokers,” she said.

Susan Pleadwell, 67, of Plymouth, is one of the “youngsters” of the group and joined two years ago to prepare for a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru.

“I need to exercise. Left to my own devices, I wouldn’t do it, but I have a set day to get out of bed,” she said. "You've got to keep moving to keep moving."

A handful of members also walk each week, including Szyndler, and in the winter months, everyone takes to the streets on foot.

For more information, call Ray Lemieux at 508-758-6447. A decent bike and a helmet are all the requirements to join.