Way back last January, I thought there was a decent chance that I'd arrive at a milestone before the end of the year - 150,000 bicycle miles. I was about 6100 miles short at the time, and for the last few years I've been averaging around 6k miles per year.
At the beginning of December, I was 329 miles short. And this afternoon, I tore through the tape! Woo-hooooo! 150,003 miles and counting.
I hit 100,000 miles on September 1, 2004. If you're interested, you can read about that auspicious occasion HERE (PDF document).
It took 27 years. The first year ('86), I rode 2195 miles. In the 26 ensuing years, I've ridden 4000+ miles every year; 20 of those years I've ridden 5000+ miles; 10 of those years I've ridden 6000+ miles.
When I hit the 100k mark, 200k seemed like a long ways off, and an unlikely milestone. Not so much any more. Heck - I might make it before 2020, if I can stay healthy and the creek don't rise.
In the morning, I rode to work over a light snow covering, but the day actually turned out lovely!
6 comments:
I just saw you on KTVB.
Congratulations!
My mother-in-law mentioned seeing someone on the news that just hit 150K on the bike and I knew exactly who it was. Now if I can just find the link to the story on the KTVB website...
As Bob said, well done!
Thanks for the kind words, my friends!
I contacted the KTVB folks using their generic "contact us" website form, and told 'em I didn't know whether the story had enough interest to their audience... they called me back within 5 minutes or so! He asked where they could send a cameraman to meet me. (I chose the location.) So apparently they thought it would be interesting.
I saw it on the 6pm broadcast, and they made one mis-statement, saying I hadn't driven a car to work in all those 27 years. Incorrect! I used to drive now and then... but I've not driven since September '97 - 15+ years - and intend to keep it that way!
Congrats.
Congrats! Here's to another 150k!
Scott, somebody else asked, "Do you think you can ride another 150k?"
NOPE! Since the first one took 27 years, that seems unlikely. But 'cha never know; there are people in their 80s who ride bikes, just not many. (Hips get brittle!)
Another 50k definitely seems doable at this point.
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