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

One of a few 24 hr relays - this one a muddy Moonride - Rotorua, May 2008

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 on 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.