Bike Mileage Competition & Today's Ride

[Mike T]

One other thing. +1 on the extra cost idea! I ride a 30 year old Raleigh Super Course. This bike owes me nothing. However, this year, so far, I have lunched two Michelin Axial Carbon folding tires (one with 12,000 km - 7500 miles - on it), about 6 inner tubes, two gears on the rear cluster, a chain.....

And I think I may have to replace this old trusty bike soon as getting parts for it is becoming difficult. To get one of similar quality, I'd be looking at $3 grand roughly. Ouch!

But I have lost 25 lbs this year.

[Lug_Nut]

My costs for this year will be much lower than for last. So far it appears I'll only need two tires and a chain, and a 're-fill' of my tube patch kit.
I, too, have considered a dedicated, fendered, commuter bike, but then I'd not have reason to ride the racer. No clearance to add useful fenders on this one, nor clearance to add them on the mountain bike either.

[red91sit]

Hmm, I travel 2-3 miles every weekday by bicycle. This is my commute to classes and work. My bikes rear tire is getting awfully bald, the gear changers are both non functional, and the crank bearings are shot (clickity, clickity, clank)

Since starting my job, I've replaced a VERY conservative 100 miles by bicycle! If I had used the car, that would have been around $25 in gas

[Lug_Nut]

I'll be buying tires sooner than I had hoped. I had yet another puncture yesterday afternoon. Front tire, going down a hill at 35 mph, with a sharp turn at the bottom. I didn't crash, but the 'pucker' factor was right up there.
I managed to slow enough that I barely overshot the turn, but in the process managed to flatspot the rear tire because I didn't dare use the front one.
I wasn't happy with these tires from the first mile ridden, this was their last ride. Off to the store tonight for something with a harder tread and a more supple sidewall rather than these rock casings with shard magnet tread.

[Mike T]

2285 km now (1420 miles)....if the weather holds through early and mid-October, I might even hit the 3000 km I was targeting in May when I started riding! I've lost some weight this year too, about 25 lbs so far. That's the main reason I cycle....

[Mike T]

OK I need to rant. This season (only a bit over 1400 miles so far) I have lost THREE Michelin 700 by 23 C tires. One died of old age (7500 miles) but the other two were virtually new and the freaking sharp debris on the road did them in way prematurely. This has been the worst year I've ever had for tires, and the damned things cost over $50 each up where I live. Well over $50!

I feel better now.....a little.... and have to get onto the Ministry of Transportation to get the sweeper trucks out more often.

[striegel]

The farther into the year we get, the more difficulty I have looking for just my displaced car miles, but overall I've biked 2,335 miles.

I've biked every weekday since August 20th and only driven the car to work once, when I had to make a repair before the bike would be rideable.

[Lug_Nut]

September: 195.54 miles
2008 YTD: 1505.58 miles

[Kohote]

September 2008: 254 miles
My best month so far, I would have hit 300 had we not had such a rainy weekend. My goal is to get 200 miles in both October and November. After that I will consider any serious mileage as icing on the cake.
I also came across my first costs, a new rear inner tube for $7.5.
It appears that I have saved about 17 gallons.
Mileage since 6/1/08: 516 miles

[Mike T]

Total to date: 2780 km (1726 miles). I did ride today, leaving before dawn and will arrive home at twilight. The changeover to daylight savings time is the killer, usually the end for me. This is my best year ever for riding, not bad for a guy pushing 50, eh?

It's getting colder now and I will struggle to hit the target of 3000 km, but I do think I will make it. Only 4 more days of commuting and I'll be there! I hope the weather holds.....