Two Years on a Bicycle

February 23, 2018
Today marks two years since I began riding my bicycle in earnest. In this time I have logged 8225 miles. Some of them were done on a trainer but most on the roads. 1066 miles have been on the Genesis GS29 I bought from Walmart in the summer of 2015, on our family vacation in Yakima. I bought it with the intention of beginning a regular cycling routine. I did not actually begin for about 6 months. By May, 2016 after talking to many times to a good friend with cycling experience, I decided to invest in a more expensive bicycle. My Specialized Sirrus has been a good bicycle. However, at this two year mark, I could have bought nine or ten of the Walmart bicycles for what the Specialized has cost me to both purchase and maintain. I think I have upgraded enough parts on the Specialized so that it will begin costing less and less over the years.

The Genesis has had virtually no maintenance other than a few cleanings and lubes of the chain. I replaced the stem on it with a used one I picked up at the local bike shop. Also replaced the tires a couple of times. I noticed yesterday that it has at least one broken spoke. It would not be cost effective to have the LBS replace it. I know that costs over $30. If there is more than one broken one it would not take much to be more than the $150 I paid for the bicycle. I will either figure out how to replace the spokes on my own or consider replacing the whole bicycle so I have a trustworthy backup.

I have lost significant inches around my chest and belly, though I am far from slim. I have soreness in my legs and can still feel some pain in my right knee from time to time, but I am certainly more stronger and fitter than I was two years ago.

Cycling has had to almost take over my lifestyle. In order to keep it up I require hours of riding and hours of getting ready and cleaning up - not to mention quite a bit of time maintaining my bicycle. I do feel guilty about the amount of time it takes. It seems like I can choose to try to stay healthy or choose to sacrifice my health for my calling. The balance is very difficult to keep up.