A Brighter Shade of Fuchsia: 2,000 Miles!

That's as clean as she gets. Click for bigger.

Yesterday afternoon I took the time to take apart my bicycle and clean it thoroughly. It had probably been over a year since I had given it a complete overhaul, and it was definitely showing. The grime was plastered on thick; the rims were dirty and the chain was noisy and the wheels were out of true. It’s absolutely ridiculous how much of Chicago ends up on my bicycle.

The proof is in the pudding — today I took it out to go to work, and I just about flew over my handlebars when I hit the brakes for the first time. What a difference it made getting that grime off the rims. And, for the first time I can remember, I averaged over 17 miles per hour on my way to work without a tailwind.

It was good timing, too. I’ve been trying to hit 2000 miles in one year (That’s averaging 40 miles a week for all seasons of the year, including winter!). I arrived in Chicago last year just in time for Bike the Drive, and I started my odometer at the beginning of the ride, so this year’s event (I just registered — I can’t wait!) was my deadline.

Well, it was such a nice day today I decided to take off from work a bit early and head down the bike trail. I got to the Museum of Science and Industry and realized I only needed to go another half mile for the round-trip to push me over. I arrived at home, looked down, and sure enough — 2,000.0 miles on the dot! Whoo! And my bike was all nice and shiny for the occassion — perfect timing!

Just four more years before I run out of digits (although I suppose that if it’s smart, it’ll just drop the tenths). Oh… just in case you’re curious, here’s what came off my Bike yesterday:

Ewww.

Posted by Matt on Monday, May 14, 2007