In Honour of an Old Lady

OrbitRider
OrbitRider Posts: 78
edited June 2009 in Commuting chat
Rolled over 20000 miles (total) for the bike riding home last night. Judging by a previous thread on here, that puts it positively in the "Grey Hair" class for distance travelled. In honour of this achievement, here's a potted history:

Name: Orbit Ventura Audax Tour
Made: Sheffield, 2001.

Aquired by present owner as a replacement for much loved Raleigh Ventura, written off in an argument with a car. Used mainly for commuting, but also day rides & occasional tour.

Upgrades:
Brookes Pro Saddle
Shimano M324 pedals.

Accessories:
B&M Dynamo Light Set
Cateye Computer
AirZounds Horn

Maintenance & repairs:
Front wheel rim: 1
New front wheel: 1
New rear wheel: 1
New cassette: 1
Tyres: 4
Inner Tubes: 3
Chains: 8
Brake Blocks: 5 pairs
Brake Cables: 1
Handle Bar Tape: 1 set

Travel:
Farthest North: Tarbet, Isle of Harris
Farthest West: Tigharry, North Uist
Farthest South: St Catherines Hill, Isle of Wight
Farthest East: err... Dunstable
Max day distance: 71.3 miles

I hope she's good for another 20K miles!
FCN 7 (4 weekdays)
FCN 11 (1 weekday)

There is an old cyclist called Leigh (not me!)
Who's pedalling's a blur to see
So fast is his action
The Lorenz Contraction
Shortens his bike to a "T"

Comments

  • gert_lush
    gert_lush Posts: 634
    That is indeed a mighty good amount of miles racked up, especially on one cassette!

    ....just think how much CO2 that would have produced in a car!!
    FCN 8 mainly
    FCN 4 sometimes
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    Huh, I'd never heard or orbit bikes before I saw one in brum city centre about an hour ago, now this. Strange.

    Congratulations, that is quite an acheivement how many other bikes have you had running along side, to satisfy your lust for buying shiny things :wink:
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • OrbitRider
    OrbitRider Posts: 78
    I own just the one bike! Does everything: commute, day rides, tours, running to the shops, taking the kids to school...
    FCN 7 (4 weekdays)
    FCN 11 (1 weekday)

    There is an old cyclist called Leigh (not me!)
    Who's pedalling's a blur to see
    So fast is his action
    The Lorenz Contraction
    Shortens his bike to a "T"
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    I've had this broom for 20 years, it's had 3 new handles and 6 new heads... :D

    Congratulations to your bike! That's some serious mileage! And well done you for warding off the upgrade bug.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    WTF is that cassette made out of? Diamond?
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    20000 miles on 2 cassettes is pretty good going!
  • Jehannum
    Jehannum Posts: 107
    Congrats!

    When I started to read the list of upgrades, i was afraid it would be a Trigger's Broom moment... :wink:

    J.
    Reduce your carbon footprint - ride a metal bike!
  • OrbitRider
    OrbitRider Posts: 78
    I don't have any magic secrets to long life of cassettes. The first one did 14K. The only thing I do is change the chain regularly, hence 8 chains. I give the chain a lube about once a week, but I don't do any special cleaning. I only give the bike a full strip down & clean once or twice a year.
    FCN 7 (4 weekdays)
    FCN 11 (1 weekday)

    There is an old cyclist called Leigh (not me!)
    Who's pedalling's a blur to see
    So fast is his action
    The Lorenz Contraction
    Shortens his bike to a "T"

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