I tend to keep bikes a long time- I was wondering how long (either in age or miles) especially frames (but also other components) might be expected to last.
While riding in today I was estimating my Trek 520 has somewhere between 30 and 40,000 miles on it. (about 4000 per year)
Same handlebars and seat post- have gone through numerous other components and I am on my second Brooks saddle, but the first preceded this bike frame.
I don't remember exactly when I got my current Giant Cypress. I can confirm photographically that I had it in 2003 when I rode the GAP/C&O to DC. I think that when I had ridden to DC in 1999 I still had my Schwinn Sierra, which I had since 1987.
1977 Motobecane Super Mirage... I'd wager less than 5k miles total (but I plan to fix that once I finish restoring and modernizing it). It was my uncle's bike but he moved onto a comfort/hybrid bike with indexed gears. Originally bought in Sonoma, CA.
1998 Schwinn Paramount. I have no clue how many miles the original owner put on it but it seems well used. The second owner had the frame (only) hanging on the wall for several years (an act of homage to the t-top 80's sports car on cement blocks?). Originally bought at a bike shop in Ketchum, Idaho.
2002 Trek 520. I bought it with probably less than 1000 miles. It still had the original tires and they looked relatively new. I've at least tripled that in the year or so that I've owned it. Hopefully next Summer I'll finally use it for what it was designed for (the original owner didn't even have racks on it?!?!). Originally bought in Appleton, WI.
2005 Kona Dew Deluxe. I also bought this second hand. The original owner used it as a commuter in Seattle for a while but it spent a few years living in his closet when he decided to part ways with it. It still had the original tires when I bought it. I bought it in 2008 and have put about 3k miles per year on it (mostly riding rail-trails). At this point, the Kona is an experiment... how long can push this chain/cassette combo which is in dire need of replacement. I already drove the original rear rim into the ground. Originally from Seattle.
I also had a 2008 Gary Fisher Piranha which was my only not-second-hand bike (as an adult, at least). I was only putting a few hundred miles on it per year and decided to sell it when I bought the 520 since I prefer roadies. The Gary Fisher was bought in Seattle.
I should probably also include the 2011 Focus Maleta that I won in a raffle. OK, I lied... I've had two not-second-hand bikes. LOL This one sits somewhere between a backup bike for visitors and an infrequently used commuter. I don't think it has 1000 miles on it yet and it currently isn't even set up properly for me. The fact that it is in my ex-gf's garage makes me question if it even belongs to me anymore :p (it does). The raffle was held in Saltsburg, PA for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the bike was "assembled" in Chicago.
To better answer your questions, I should add:
All of the frames are in good working order. The drivetrain on the Motobecane is more-or-less shot which is why I'm upgrading it to an indexed (bar-end) system. After some restoration, the 1977 Brooks Professional saddle is useable again. The neglected bearings are all still in working order, although I plan to swap out the French head-set as it is starting to show wear (i.e. "indexed head set"). I need to swap out the BB spindle, but I'll probably just use a press in cartridge type from velo-orange (it's a "swiss thread" BB and still useable, so I may just replace the spindle and keep that original). The alloy handlebars are still good but will be tossed aside due to sizing differences once I change out the headset/fork/stem (It's actually getting a lot of the parts off of my 520). The original Weinmann brakes still work great (although the levers are TERRIBLE, but I imagine that they always have been).
The 520 is still in perfect working order but it's got more shims than an old-man's knee. They built it with a 1" fork in a headtube that can take a 1 1/8" fork. Then they used another adapter to put a 1 1/8" stem on the 1" fork. The modern high-rise stem that I currently have on it has yet another shim for the road sized handlebars on an oversized stem. When I get around to it, I'm going to replace it with a 1 1/8" Salsa Vaya disc fork and I'll swap out the Cane Creek 40 headset for another Cane Creek 40 headset in the larger size. I'm converting it to Campy Ergo's due to preference but keeping the Shimano drive train. As is, everything is in great working order and I'd trust it as set up for a loaded tour... but, I'm not as happy with it as set up as I will be after the updates (which are all on the backburner since I'm currently building up the Schwinn and on a limited budget).
I've taken the Kona to hell and back and I've refused to invest anything into it other than a replacement rear wheel. The fact that it has taken so much abuse and continues to happily spin along surprises me. Then again, with an aluminum framed bike that weighs 32# I would hope that it has some durability. I've dropped the bike several times riding in snow/ice conditions and the frame has held up amazingly well.
My 2nd oldest bike is a 44 year old Italian Columbus tubing steel frame, was used pretty hard prob for the first 10. Prob has 50,000 mi. on it. Still ride it couple hun a year, no sign of failing. Brake calipers, stem, shifters, original era. Rear D just about as old, front D newer (triple cranks were rare as hen's teeth back then). Wheels prob 30+- yrs. Change cables, brake pads, wear parts when they start to look scruffy. No scientific method.
My oldest bike is a English Robin Hood 3 speed no part of which will ever wear out so is effectively not applicable.
I am a very light commuter by most of your standards. My bike is about 15 years old. Replaced my bottom bracket and the tires last year, which was the first major maintenance it's required.
Admittedly that's cheating a bit because it sat in my basement for about eight of those years, completely unused.
I ahve about 10,000 miles in 5 years of Surluy Crosscheck- Brakepads, tires, cassette and chainrings have been changed, no real signs of wearing except it looks really old (good theft deterent).
96 Trek 950 - My commuter bike. Bought it for $50 3 years ago. Original wheels/hubs, handlebars, seatpost, crank. Most other parts have been replaced/upgraded
2002 Trek 4900 - Original stem. Rebuilt last spring as a singlespeed
2010 Ragley Piglet - Built up from the frame. Took a lot of the parts from the 4900 to do so.
I have no idea how many miles are on any of them. The 4900 looks like it has been to the moon and back but still rides great and it is my favorite of the three.
02 gary fisher hookooekoo. bought new.
only original parts left are the forks / frame / shifters / derailleurs. daily rider since i bought it.
mileage estimate - dunno, but after 10 years its gotta be somewhere above 20k-ish.
96 klein adroit (got it in nov12 because a co-worker was moving & didnt want to haul it.) planning to make it a single speed once i find a replacement / converter for the headset.
mileage estimate - about 9
2009 Trek XO1 - Bought used
2011 Felt B14 - Bought new
2012 BMC Race Machine - Bought new
