7000 Miles

Memorial Day Weekend 2010 I went to Mike's Bikes in Sacramento and purchased my first carbon fiber road bike. Knowing I would be spending the summer of 2010 riding hundreds and hundreds of miles as I prepared for my first century ride, I felt I was due an upgrade from the aluminum frame (and too small) Fuji I had been bike commuting on for 2 years.

May 28, 2010 - day purchased

My first ride on my new beauty was June 1, 2010. And I've meticulously tracked my mileage of every ride. A few days before going on vacation for the Christmas holidays I noticed I was at 6,960 miles. I made it a goal to hit the 7,000 mile mark before having to return to work on January 7.

2 years, 7 months, and 1 day - I hit the 7,000 mile mark. To some this doesn't sound like much. To others this sounds unthinkable. While I've been riding steadily for 4.5+ years now, I still sometimes find it unthinkable.

January 2, 2013 - the very moment I hit the 7,000 miles mark.

The majority of miles have been chronicled here on my blog over the last several years. I've am grateful and thankful for every single one. My bike has been good to me and the miles have been good for me.

Some miles have been incredibly difficult. Some have been pure bliss. Miles in freezing cold temperatures and others in the scorching hot sun. Miles in the pouring rain and many in the wind...holy cow the WIND. Many have been spent alone biking back and forth to work. Many have been spent with friends giving me memories I'll cherish for a lifetime. I've made new friends because of my bike. I've helped others learn to ride. I've spent days biking along the Pacific Coast staring out at the ocean. This bike helped me raise $6,000+ for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.  I've climbed mountains at 4mph and zoomed down them at 45mph. I've had my picture taken with Patrick Dempsey, Levi Armstrong, and Kristin Armstrong.

So many challenges. So many rewards. So many things I never imagined possible. What I've learned most of all: find something, throw your heart and soul into it, and be amazed at what you can do.

Looking forward to hitting mile #10,000 .....