Well, it’s had a good life

Looking back through more than four years of photos, it’s pretty clear just how much my little bike has been involved, how much it’s been used & how much it has travelled. Apologies for the gratuitous photo dump – but I’m feeling nostalgic & really don’t care. But after over five-thousand kilometres, five continents, fourteen countries (including ten US states & two Canadian provinces that are bigger than most of those countries), many great friendships made & strengthened and more memories besides – I think I can be excused. (The frame cracked badly on Monday & that bike is no more, in case you’re wondering.)

Brand spanking new, June 2007

With British riding buddies, John, Rich & Andy – Craters of the Moon, Taupo

Many, many days at the Redwoods – Rotorua

Four day weekends were good for travelling – with Luke, Craigieburn, Central South Island

Also with Luke near Oxford, Central South Island

Near Pokhara, Nepal – February 2008

With Luke again at the end of the 42nd Traverse, Central North Island

Packed up for another plane trip – off to UK & Europe, June/July 2008

Three countries in one day – Switzerland, Germany & France

Road-trip around the UK with Mum & Dad

Glentress, south of Edinburgh

Exmoor National Park, SW England with John, Andy & Rich

Back in NZ making a splash on the Wires Track

End of Luck at Last – one of many rides with Pukekohe riding buddies Mark & Roger

After a late Christmas, hitting Coronet Peak near Queenstown

I still maintain this is the best ride I’ve done – Queen Charlotte Walkway, Easter 2009, top of the South Island

Two & a half years since I left NZ – exploring San Diego

I met many riding buddies online for California riding – this friendship still going strong, cheers Chip

9am & it was already 40ºC/110ºF – riding near Las Vegas, June 2008

Cannell Plunge, CA – still one of the top rides I’ve done in the States

Joining thousands of cyclists taking over Central London for the Mayor’s Skyride – over Tower Bridge

Visiting Adrian – Kenya, November 2009

A bleak, wet & freezing ride on Exmoor – right at the end of 2009

Somehow I ended up moving to Canada – it was a lot rockier & the riding was fantastic, May 2010

Minnewanka Trail, Banff National Park

Visiting school friends in Kelowna, BC

Razor’s Edge – just out of Canmore & one of my favourites

Last Canmore ride of the season before the snow came & took the riding away for six months, October 2010; the end of a great summer riding with Alex

The snow was beautiful, but it wasn’t good for riding on this bike

It was good for snow-bike-angels

After the riding hibernation, what better return than a three-month riding road-trip in the west-USA? The world famous Slickrock Trail, UT, May 2011

I rode around the top of the Grand Canyon! Well, a little bit of it.

Emma & Brent (Kiwi mates) were doing a similar road-trip in reverse; we met up near San Luis Obispo, CA

There was a little bit of snow still at the start of the Downieville Downhill, but what a ride!

McKenzie River Trail – central Oregon

Definitely looking forward to the next bike, whatever that may be. I just hope it’s soon.

One thought on “Well, it’s had a good life”

  1. hey brendo, sorry to hear about your bike, but you have certainly had some good times and plenty of use out of it! Where are you working this time? Cheers, Liz

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