This is a minor “Big Deal” or 1500 days of fun

Recently, during our usual morning ride, Sherrie and I recorded a big deal. For us, anyway.  My bicycle odometer rolled over to 10,000 miles. I have never seen 10,000 miles on any odometer I have ever owned.  I wish I could say that all these miles were from this year or even within the last twelve months, but let’s be honest -no one would believe that.

I keep a record of all the rides and miles accumulated in the Sierra Club Engagement calendars that I traditionally receive for Christmas every year. (There is a story behind that if anyone cares to ask.) After finding the calendars for the appropriate years, it appears that I last changed the batteries in the Cateye Padrone odometer on February 24, 2021. For those who are not cyclists, changing the batteries resets this particular odometer to zero.  I’m more amazed that the small battery in the Padrone has lasted 1,558 days so far. Who would have thought that possible?

Another factoid about this “Big Deal” is that the vast majority of the 10,000 miles ridden were accumulated riding back and forth from our house to both the old and new 222 Artisan Bakery in Edwardsville.  Sometimes the ride is as short as 15 miles or as long as 29 miles, depending on which loop in the MCT trail system we take. Most often, we follow the 25-mile loop.  Given that we occasionally take our bike out of town, let’s say we have at least 375 cycling trips to the bakery during the 1,558 days it took to accumulate the miles.  (Before our friends who own the bakery take offense at the seemingly low number of recorded visits, I should clarify that the 375 counted trips exclude the many occasions when we opted to drive instead of bike.) Based on scientific estimates created on the back of a napkin, I think I have consumed 112,500 calories during these rides.  I’ve always told myself that cycling cancels out the calories I consume at the bakery — a perfect system. But lately, I’m starting to suspect the math might not be in my favor.

A final thought on this “big deal” is that the numbers quantifying the event are not all that important. What is important is the time Sherrie and I spend enjoying ourselves on the trails while we both can. Back in the old days, my younger self never thought that riding at this point in life would be a possibility.

Hope to see you on the trails soon, or at the bakery. We will be there several times next week.

Dennis