AnnieBikes Blog, Five Years Down the Road

It seems too good to be true, 835 posts later, this blog is five years old. I'm pleased that I've stuck with the blog's original intent. Below is an excerpt from my first post.

Welcome to my bike ramblings. I live and breathe bicycles—much to my family's dismay—so this is the reason for my blog.

I am 53 years old and I still love to ride my bike.

Writing has always been a sort of therapy. I journal while on cycling adventures and in recent years began editing a world trip cycling adventure. But through this blog I've also learned the importance of taking photos that tell a story. And through extension, to become comfortable photographing myself. While reading others' blogs I occasionally wanted to know what the author looked like and was thankful to be given a glimpse now and then. And so, I include a photo or two of myself in a post - a hurdle I once had to overcome - now a relatively easy task.

I am still amazed that I've written 835 little stories.

Some ideas come as a response to other bike blog authors posts, or musings while pedaling, or fixing up my own bicycles, or delving into fashion or upcycled bike bags. Often the thoughts come out of nowhere. Honestly, they just appear, but I must be doing something right because I'm still satisfied with scribbling in this blog.

I am not alone.

I never anticipated the value that bike bloggers would eventually contribute to my bike community. I've learned about tires, handlebars, even a kindly soul sent a pair of serviceable pedals, which I now use on my Mount Saint Helens. Readers have provided interesting solutions to my most vexing problems - I love that kind of camaraderie. We have so much to learn and teach each other.

During the last five years, I've realized the importance of bike overnights to my emotional well being. These adventures were not specifically inspired by blogging - I've always loved bike touring - but I really enjoy writing about my adventures afterwards. It amuses me that consistently these posts rank highly overall. It was never my motivation, of course, but if I've inspired someone else to try an overnight then I consider that a bonus.

Taking a break from writing is completely normal.

I've given up transcribing our world trip journal, and while it was interesting to reread a special part of my past, the effort was very time consuming. I still possess the paper editions, so if I never get back to that monumental task, I'm fine with that too. I've also learned to put blogging in perspective. Everyday life is more important.

Challenges are worthwhile.

Through the bike blogger universe, I've discovered little challenges like Chasing Mailbloxes' Errandoneering and Coffeenering outings. This year I adapted Endless Velo Love's idea and rode all 95 miles of Burlington's public streets (blogging it here). Sometimes you just gotta have goals to keep yourself motivated!

Where to next?

I am looking forward to more challenges in 2016, possibly riding all the streets in a neighboring city. Of course I will go on more bike overnights. It's what keeps the flames alive: writing and photographing and riding.