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.