Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Posts talking about component longevity

How does everyone know the number of miles that they have pedaled in a year (or other long period of time)? I keep seeing posts talking about total miles for various components (longevity of tires, frames, wheels, etc.). Is this an estimate or are people using computers and keeping meticulous records?

I know the distance of my routes because I have mapped them out on Google Earth. I also keep a diary of my mileage (and weight) each day.

I have a computer on each of my 3 bikes, and I usually keep track of when I replaced something so I know when it might be time to replace it in the future.

I use bikejournaldotcom. It logs miles and otehr info. I pay the $20 eventhough it's free site so I can add more info columns. Basic free sevice is 4 columns of info. You can set up the site to keep track of tires and other aspects of riding.

One thing that helps me is that I added my newest roadie to the site profile. It keps track of lifetime mileage and this year's mileage on each bike. SO I look at my profile and my Lemond will say, 3,000 in 2009 and 20,000 lifetime miles. Keeps track of each bike.

I don't get too detailed though. No HR, cadence, calories. Just basic info.:D

I use Excel.

My Garmin tracks my running and biking miles. I used to use Excel to track everything, now I just replace as needed and keep spare tires and tubes around all the time. When I put on a new chain, I buy a new chain when I buy tires and/or tubes.

I have a Garmin that keeps track of miles, but I don't distinguish between what miles were on which bike (of three), nor do I log when I change out an item.

But, I am not nearly as hard core as many of these guys. I only have 2700 miles since getting my Garmin in November. For some of the guys here that is just their warm up ride.

I lie prolifically. I don't even own a bicycle. :D

I lie prolifically. I don't even own a bicycle. :D

:roflmao2: +1

I use the computer on my bicycle and microsoft Access. Jan 1st I log the miles for the year, when componets are replaced I make a note of the date, componet, and milage.

Is it meticulous to keep a 4 table relational database on my bicycle?

I use the computer on my bicycle and microsoft Access. Jan 1st I log the miles for the year, when componets are replaced I make a note of the date, componet, and milage.

Is it meticulous to keep a 4 table relational database on my bicycle?

It gets meticulous when Access is no longer adequate and you find yourself purchasing a 32-core server to run Oracle.

ROFLMAO. What the server purchase tells you is that you have done some poor programming to have that much code bloat, and need to hire an analyst to design your system for you. I happen to know someone ;)

:roflmao2: +1

TakingControl...Down over 120 lbs..Wow..great job. That is really taking control

It gets meticulous when Access is no longer adequate and you find yourself purchasing a 32-core server to run Oracle.

That's small peanuts.

I program mainframes for a living, I'll fire up a dedicated LPAR on one of our new z10s!

Never trust a computer you can't lift!

How does everyone know the number of miles that they have pedaled in a year (or other long period of time)? I keep seeing posts talking about total miles for various components (longevity of tires, frames, wheels, etc.). Is this an estimate or are people using computers and keeping meticulous records?

A lot of people do estimate, some use bike computers with odometers, the data junkies among us use spread sheets and databases. I use an Open Office spread sheet, and track rides by length and time. I write them on a sheet of paper that stays in the garage, then I put it into the spreadsheet, usually on Saturday. I usually add notes on when repairs are done, so that I can backtrack to know how far back the repair was done. Because I have been recording this since the beginning of 2007 I can compare year over year. This year I had trouble getting motivated, and distance is way down over last year, not even half what I did in 2007. I find that riding on the trainer when it's blowing and snowing out is okay, riding the trainer in the garage when it's blowing and raining out, is much, much, much harder. My plan is to rewrite it using a database and possibly c# and mono, but that's also a project I can't seem to get motivated about.....

I just use a calender that has a page for each month with a little square for each day of the month (I got my 2009 for free where I had my car repaired, they were giving them away to help advertise their buisness). There is enough room in each square to write in which bike I rode and how many miles (I've checked the mileage on most of the usual routes I take, either via car odometer or bike odometer (there are times I do estimate, but I think I'm getting pretty good at it, a 10th of a mile is about a stones throw, including the bounces). Sometimes I add notes about a different wheel I just started using, or if I adjusted something, etc. I mostly keep track of mileage out of curiosity (I also keep track of yard-mowing, haircuts, and eye-contact replacement on the same calender) but the information can be useful.

weenies

records we don't need no stinking records

I lie prolifically. I don't even own a bicycle. :D

I would +1 this to be a wise guy, but a quick peek in my barn would produce 4 working bicycles... More scattered between basement and other barn. 7 total I think!

I have a bike computer, I try to keep track of miles I put on the bike, but not every individual component. I had 8 years on my mountain bike cassette. Probably still good but for $25 I got a brand new SRAM low end cassette which shifts like brand new again. had 6 years on the chain, it was stretched by 1/4" or more!

I just use a calender that has a page for each month with a little square for each day of the month (I got my 2009 for free where I had my car repaired, they were giving them away to help advertise their buisness). There is enough room in each square to write in which bike I rode and how many miles (I've checked the mileage on most of the usual routes I take, either via car odometer or bike odometer (there are times I do estimate, but I think I'm getting pretty good at it, a 10th of a mile is about a stones throw, including the bounces). Sometimes I add notes about a different wheel I just started using, or if I adjusted something, etc. I mostly keep track of mileage out of curiosity (I also keep track of yard-mowing, haircuts, and eye-contact replacement on the same calender) but the information can be useful.

:roflmao2:

...yeah....me too.

On some of my older bikes I used a calendar and wrote down milage from my computer every time I did maintenance. On my last bike this drove me nuts for a bit because I'd swap from 23c to 38c tires as the ride demanded. I finally set it to 23c and assumed I was going faster/farther when I had the 38c's on the bike. On my current bike I use a Garmin 305 and Motion Based/Garmin Connect

I'm keeping records via my Garmin 305.

I use an excel spreadsheet... I use a tab for each year and have the last six years on a daily basis. The spreadsheet provides weekly, monthly and annual totals and compares last years months to current months. I can't take credit for developing the spreadsheet, I got it from another cyclist who provides it on his website and have adapted for me.

If anyone is interested here is a URL to the spreadsheet I mentioned above... http://www.pankin.com/miles.htm

An odometer, standard in most cyclocomputers, it's not fancy and is easy to use.