Ardennes: at 86, Mario Bonotti still repairs bikes!

In his bicycle repair workshop in Boulzicourt (Ardennes), Mario Bonotti is not about to retire. At 86, he is in great shape. He started working at the age of 14, and has been repairing bikes since 1965. His work is a passion. “We must love. You have to be picky”, he notes. For him, there is no question of being slumped in front of the television, even if he has been contributing for 70 years for his retirement.

A couple activity

“It does not bring us anything, since my terms are complete”, he says. If he and his wife Bernadette have been practicing together for years, they know that for certain professions, it is difficult to accept a postponement of the starting age. “Depending on the trades we have, some may be more difficult than others”, recognizes Mario Bonotti. In any case, he and Bernadette do not intend to close shop immediately.