One Year On Sage

One year ago, my family surprised me with a new bike for Fathers’ Day. They’re pretty awesome that way. :-)

Since then, I’ve ridden “Sage” quite a bit¹I guess I’m awesome that way… ;-) and bragged²Or “shared personal accomplishments with close friends and family.” I like it! quite a bit on the way. Here’s my year in review.

• I biked 3,207 miles. The number seemed really big to me, but then I looked at some math. At nine miles each round trip, I get more than 2,100 miles just on my daily commute. With lunch rides and a family vacation where I rode 200 miles in a week, the miles really add up.
• I went through some parts: 1.5 sets of tires, 1.5 sets of brakes, and a chain. Rotating the tires probably could have made them last longer, but it’s amazing how much broken glass was embedded in my tires³And not causing flats. Bike commuting tires are awesome these days. by the time I swapped them out. I probably should have gone through more brake pads. I’ve heard of going through a chain, but had never done it before. I do clean and oil my chain at least once a month, but in the winter, I probably should do it a lot more often. Oh, and I broke a spoke. When I had it repaired, they were surprised it had been my first.⁴I didn’t take it as a weight comment, I’m just tall. And I’ve stopped jumping so many curbs.
• We went “low car.”⁵Well, as low car as a family can go when all the kids have their own cars. But they use them. When our family minivan finally died after 295,502 miles, we didn’t replace it. Suzi now drives the CRV; I bike.
• I slowed down a bit. I used to think I commuted at 15-18 mph. Yeah, maybe. But that was in a more hunched down, uncomfortable posture. Now I sit up and enjoy the view. I stop at Starbucks on the way.⁶Yeah, I’ve done that for a while, not just the last year… I take a bunch of pictures.⁷Ditto. And when someone blows by me, I think of Linda Ronstadt.⁸Yup, and her song, “Blew By You.”

Year two starts now. I wonder where Sage will take me. :-)

• 1
  I guess I’m awesome that way… ;-)
• 2
  Or “shared personal accomplishments with close friends and family.” I like it!
• 3
  And not causing flats. Bike commuting tires are awesome these days.
• 4
  I didn’t take it as a weight comment, I’m just tall. And I’ve stopped jumping so many curbs.
• 5
  Well, as low car as a family can go when all the kids have their own cars. But they use them.
• 6
  Yeah, I’ve done that for a while, not just the last year…
• 7
  Ditto.
• 8
  Yup, and her song, “Blew By You.”