The day started, as many do, with the intention to mark the milestone of 800 consecutive days of cycling with a special ride, but they’re all special to be sure because I’m moving and mobile and I want to just keep pedaling. That was always the intention, but today it just so happens I hit a big number, 800! I didn’t start this whole streak with more that one year in mind. I figured it would be good exercise and the streak, while different from my daily commute to work, was a way to mark my days from my working life. I retired after 40 years and now I could and do bike whenever I want and that’s the best thing ever.

Even though the streak began in the Spring of 2024, I had foot surgery and had to take a week off so I reset and began the streak again in August of that year.

What have I learned? I love riding my bike. Sometimes in the course to my 500s it was very hard to get a bike, but I got it done. My 600s were the easiest, 700s have been mostly on this Brompton pictured. It’s a G-Line and it’s the easiest, e-bike ever. I love this bike because it’s a simple, straight forward design which is easy to take on the train and also very helpful when I need a wee assist here and there.

I was going to stop the streak at two years, 730 consecutive days, but then came 731 and 745 and then I thought I would stop at 789 because of the joke. Why was 6 scared? Because 7-8-9, (seven ate (eight) nine). But I kept spinning. You’re so close to the next big number, so why not?

Tomorrow will be 801 and there will likely be an 805. However, other activities are calling. We have a sailboat and the river is calling. It’s time for a boat trip and I don’t want the bike to be an obstacle to other possibilities when in fact it’s opened up so much to me in the 800 days I’ve logged. I’ve shown commitment and grit and perseverance and that’s on my personal résumé and something I can always be proud to have accomplished.

This was a momentous occasion this morning to see the tugboat on the river and the railroad bridge open and I felt like it is fine to stop the streak. 800 days. Few people get to 365 days and fewer to 730, so regardless of what happens, I accomplished 800 with a trip to the Netherlands, a Midwest polar vortex and some very suspicious weather situations last winter, I did it.

800 days! I did way more than I set out to do.

Yes, people will think and maybe even say, “But why not 1,000?” I’m sure I’ll even ponder that question, however, I’ve reached a point where the streak could pose a challenge to the other adventures. I can’t have that.

I didn’t do this to impress anyone. I did it to see if I could.

What else have I learned? When it comes to clothing, layers and good rain gear always save the day. Also, it’s important to check your bike before every ride and of course make sure you can see and be seen. One more thing, for me, cycling clothes are regular clothes, but in the summer it’s nice to have some sun shirts and decent technical riding britches, whatever that means for you and your bum.

I feel like riding 800 days in a row has given me some street cred. I have not been logging much of anything on the blog and I regret that because there are many days of riding in the 800 that would have been worthy of blogging and yet I didn’t, for whatever reason. Like Yoda, there is no try, only do! I want to do more writing about the rides.

Get out there and ride your bike. ☺️

Thanks for reading and I’ll write again soon.

Bike Goddess