Now is this a miles stone? Maybe, Maybe not. Many have done this, many never will.
I've been commuting regularly since 2012 and I've cycled a fair distance in that time, 47,000 ish miles. I cycled 10,000 miles in a year once in that time. Cycled London to Barcelona and a fair few in between but I've never cycled 10,000 miles on a single bike.
This is my fault. I am the most indecisive person on earth, maybe. I've had more bikes in that 5 years than I care to remember. Now this, in part is the reason I've never passed the 10,000 mile mark. Perhaps the size of my garden too. We've tried to make the garden look bigger to sell the house, this meant reducing the size of our outside storage space.
The wife has a bike (she never uses) and the boy has a trike. I therefore have space for 1 bike. I totally would have bought another bike before this point had space allowed it. That in itself is half a reason for the 10k bike.
I do love this bike. My 2016 Specialized Allez. It's just a great bike. It's comfortable, fast enough, strong, light, durable, you name it. If I had the money, I'd own a winter bike, a summer bike, a cross bike, a mountain bike. Ow no, wait, I don't have the storage space or the cash. So there it is.
I got this bike in July 2016 and if I'm honest, this has been my least miley year since 2013. So on previous form, I could have done this sooner. Injury, Holidays, new baby, illness, LIFE has gotten in the way and I'm honestly ok with that. I used to chase mileage but I'm not that bothered anymore, it's not like I'm training for anything.
So what is the reward for 10,000 miles? I did think a good full service. I may still do that but the bike has recently had new chain, cassette, brake shoes, jockey wheels, headset bearings and re-grease and a new set of wheels. So that's nearly it, right? The way I see it only the BB and the cables would need repairing/replacing?
I might get smashed by way of a celebration but that's not really a gift for the bike. Funny, I want to celebrate it. It'll come and go just like the rest of the miles I've ridden. I feel like I want some kind of fanfare. Maybe a banner at the side of the road, with some peeps cheering me on as I pass this magnificent milestone.
Sadly, it'll just be another mile, on another commute, probably windy, probably raining, probably too dark, probably solo and to be fair, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Here's to another 10,000 miles.
