Marylandnewbie

Since today was President's Day here in the States, I put off starting a thread in the hopes most of you were enjoying a day off.

President's day also marks the 3rd anniversry of my bike commute. During those three years I have:
--- ridden 12,875 commuting miles (which would be higher if it weren't for a horrible work schedule lately)
--- ridden 1,479 miles on tours and centuries
--- lost 50 pounds
--- Wore out and replaced 3 rear wheels
--- Broke and replaced 4 saddles
--- Replaced a bottom bracket, cranks and chain rings
--- Replaced the chain and cassette several times
--- Replaced my original bike with a classic Fuji Grand Touring from '83

All in all not bad for 3 years work. Does anyone else care to look back over their bike commuting career and sum up their accomplishments and tribulations?

unixpro

No day off for me. I did enjoy the lighter than usual traffic, though.

I can't say how many miles it's been, but over the past 3 years I know that I've replaced my cassette and front chainring once each, my chain at least 4 times, my disk brake pads at least twice, two disk rotors (don't use them for leverage when putting the wheel back on after fixing a flat on a rainy, cold night -- they bend), I've had 3 sets of tires, 3 saddles (I really like my Brooks now), more lights of different varieties than I can remember, two bottom brackets, and two rear wheels. I've been through two sets of rain gear, at least three pairs of gloves, and two helmets.

The mechanic at the LBS says he likes my bike because it's obviously used, as opposed to one that just sits in the garage all year. I'm not sure, exactly, if that's a compliment.

I'm about to pick up my second ride. I actually bought it from a friend on Saturday, but after doing some initial rides on it I took it into the shop for a tune-up and some customizations. My friend had purchased a Bacchetta 26 for himself and a 20 for his wife about 3 years ago. Turned out that she didn't like riding a recumbent, so it just hung in his garage until last weekend. I got a practically brand new $1500 bike (the odometer had all of 26 miles on it) for $1000. I'm supposed to get it back on Wednesday, but I think I'll use the weekend to get used to it before I try my first commute next Monday.

richardmasoner

Looks like you're putting in some good miles, Maryland Newbie.

My "commute" today wasn't to work, but to the Tour of California Stage 1 start in Sausalito. Total distance was 90 miles from near Santa Cruz, only 15 of which was by bike after I took the bus into San Jose and Caltrain up to San Francisco. I don't normally consider 15 miles far enough to qualify as an "extreme" commute, but steep hills on my singlespeed commuter ensure that my legs and lungs were feeling it today.

Here's a photo of me on the Golden Gate Bridge today while I cycled across.

mallfellow

I started commuting after I got back from my honeymoon about 3 1/2 years ago. In that time, I've racked up over 20,000 commuting miles and nearly 25,000 total miles during 1,304 rides (to work and from work count as separate rides) during which I've spent almost 1,450 hours on the bike. About 12,500 of those commuting miles were on my fixed gear which I first built up 2 1/2 years ago. I've gone through many many chains, a lot of tires, a couple cassettes and a few cogs & chainrings (mainly as I worked out which gear ratio was right for my commute).

climbhoser

Just put a new chain on yesterday, after my Dura-Ace chain broke!

In my time of commuting I've ridden 5 bikes. Mostly tires and chains have been the parts needing replaced, and some pedals...oh, and one fork! I crashed a Pro-Flex Animal into a tree at about 45 mph...bent it 30 degrees sideways and tore my acromioclavicular ligamengt in the process.

Oh, and wheels. Saw a set of wheels crack on me, which needed replacing. Many brake pads, couldn't remember how many. Lastly, cables. It seems like I refuse to believe my cables need replacing, and one of my bikes has 16 year old cables that work fine...but some are just obvious in their old age that they need replacing.

Couldn't tell you the miles or hours, but good on you guys for keeping track.

tibikefor2

I have been commuting for 20 years, egad I am old. I have used 7 bikes, of which I still ride 4 of them. I have probably commuted over 100,000 miles . I have ridden close to 200,00 miles total over the same period. Can not remember how many components, saddles etc that I have gone through.

I love my current commute: 23 miles in the morning and 17 on the way home.

I am also happy to have ridden this morning after 5 days sick in bed.

Marylandnewbie

God we have a lot of miles piled up here! Just from those people who've posted so far, we're racking up some serious distance. I should be well over 13,000 miles by now, but since October I've only been riding maybe 3 days a week because of late meeting out in the 'burbs. That means I'm doing maybe 75 miles a week instead of 125 like I used to. Hopefully, I will be able to do more in the future.

climbhoser

Marylandnewbie...I thought of you today as I passed another commuter on the MUP. I couldn't believe it. The guy was bundled up like it was Antartica, and it was easily 30degF!

Marylandnewbie

Hoser -- I didn't ride today since I've got another late night meeting in the 'burbs, but it is actually a pretty nice day in these parts. I always see such a range of clothing on a single day of commuting that I am amazed at the wide range of thermodynamics among riders.

tibikefor2

Wimped out today, as snow is expected in the nation's capital and my cross bike is still being rebuilt. No nokians no go in the snow.

robtown

Same here. I'm setting up a new computer (takes days) to finally replace my unstable work horse. That needs to get done so I can do some side work & pay my tax bill.

I've been wanting to ride the Guecerotti I bought this weekend (or change out the tires, tapes) but was concerned about the alledged snow this afternoon. I didn't want to use the electric assist MTB just yet - maybe for the big event Friday.

I called in sick [before I got sick].

tibikefor2

Nothing like intuition

climbhoser

I felt like posting this, even though it's a total digression, because I know Marylandnewbie just got a new Brooks, too.

I've really got this thing dialed! It does not forgive being crooked. For a while I felt like even though it was more comfortable than most saddles for longer distances, it was still short of the magic that had been described so eloquently by others. I realized I ride crooked. I have bad sciatica in my left leg from riding, and I tend to sit a little left of center to put less pressure on my sit bone on my left side (big source of sciatic pain for me).

Today I sat down, felt the mild rise in the middle, and centered myself. Ohmygosh, it was like tasting heavy cream in your Americano for the first time. It felt so good. The whole ride was a pillow of joy! Of course, my posture has compensated for my crooked riding style, so I've got some muscle memory to develop, but I found the source of some of my greatest problems and couldn't be happier.

Carry on! Temps are in the 40's today, so riding was pure joy.

You guys ever get to work and have a hard time working because you just want to keep riding? I got it bad today.

Marylandnewbie

Hoser -- congrats on a happy day. I didn't have similar issues with my Brooks, but then I think my riding position is fairly standard. I still have some breaking in to do since it seems a little slippery, but its very comfortable. There is a very noticeable sweet spot or position with the Brooks -- when you're on it you know it!

robtown

Hey D.C. / NOVA commuters - another predicted ice day! Time to find out if that electric assist bike makes a difference. I know the studded tires do. I also get to try out the poggies.

The hardest part is getting out the door with my wife fussing about safety.

knucklesandwich

This week has been a wash for me. Our office was closed for the holiday on Monday, and I had hoped to ride a good 50-60 miles on my own. But, I ended up having to come to work to handle a bit of a fire drill. Then 3 days traveling, and today the DC area was expecting snow/ice- the wonderful mix. Didn't even try to ride in today. I will probably leave my car in Alexandria tonight after a party, then ride down to Mt Vernon tomorrow and get it on the way back.

unixpro

Yesterday I did my first full commute on my new 'bent! Sweet ride! OK, so I fell over once and learned that it's more important to keep my cadence up than my speed, but other than that the ride was very good. The ride home was low 40s weather, but by the time I got to the top of the 2.5 mile hill I come up, I had a really good sweat going. I think I'm going to like this new ride.