[Closed] New Endomondo Challenge for the Winter Commuters out there

Done! In it to win it, great idea!!

cant open it but whensit start ? im back in uk in november.

winter marathons at the ready 😀

Starting on Sunday at the end of British Summertime.

Runs till the start of March so plenty of time to log your marathons. 🙂

Only open to Cycling (Transport) at the moment as it is aimed at commuters.
But I can expand it to include other cycling if we don't get reasonable numbers. I realise some folk record their commute as Cycling (Sport)

[i]*shameless bump for the lunchtime crowd*[/i]

Am I right in assuming its like strave ie got to register and use GPS etc?

SiB: yeah similar to Strava, but slightly less competitive in that there are still "Challenges" and leaderboards, but less emphasis on being the fastest all the time.

It's free to use. You register on the website, then you can upload rides from your GPS, or I think most folk just use the phone app which logs rides then automatically uploads them for you.

Bit more info here:
http://www.endomondo.com/features

We've had a few "Singletrack members only" challenges in the past, including the current [url= http://www.endomondo.com/challenges/7149471 ]"STW October all cycling challenge"[/url] - but this one I have created is open to all UK commuters.

14 brave warriors have taken The Oath so far. Any more?

Looks like I set this challenge up just in time, it has just started snowing here! 😀

its + 40 here.......

cant wait to get back to bonny scotland even if it is cool enough to wear a jacket sometimes .

Excuse the noob question but do I need the Pro version or can I just cheap out with the free version?

i've signed up to endomondo just for this.

but i've never seen such a confusing website, i can't find anything!

+1 for what ahwiles said 😕

[b]brodie[/b]: you're fine with the basic/free app.

The Pro app is ad-free and adds a couple of nice-to-have extras like little graphs of lap times and the ability to do interval training.

More details here:
http://www.endomondo.com/features

[b]ahwiles[/b]: happy to point you in the right direction.

Basically all you do is run the app on your phone. Set your Sport to [b]Cycling, Transport[/b], check you have GPS reception then hit Start when you start your ride and Stop at the end.

It records your "Workout" using the phones GPS and automatically uploads it to the website when you finish. It will be automatically counted in any challenge you have joined too.

All your previous rides appear under the [b]Workouts[/b] tab on the website, where you can also look at maps, statistics etc.

After not using Endomondo for about 8 months i'll join this, also adding my October miles, although tbh they are low this month due to injury 🙁

Don't worry [b]will[/b] - this challenge doesn't start till Sunday so your low October miles won't disadvantage you.

Ah yeah, good call. Lets hope the knee is better for sunday then 😆

okay then who has the longest commute? Is MidlandTrailquestGraham banned?
I will start with between 11-20 miles each way.

haha - I might be able to cobble together 2km commute (when/if I cba to bother with the bike)

[b]soma_rich[/b]: mine is 11 miles each way, though I can only do it two sometimes three times a week, so I don't expect to place that well.

Graham - ta, but i'm only on a wind-up phone, so i'll be uploading gpx files.

(assuming i can work out how)

but the website it jamrampackedfull of adverts, and it's very hard to navigate.

#preferthelookofstrava

i'm only on a wind-up phone, so i'll be uploading gpx files.
(assuming i can work out how)

Go to [b]Workouts->Import Workout[/b]

You can upload directly from a Garmin device connected to the PC or you can just upload as a gpx/tcx/fit file.

the website it rampackedfull of adverts, and it's very hard to navigate.

There are certain browser add-ons which should not be discussed on Singletrack, and definitely not used here, but which are very useful for reducing the adverts on such sites.

They only just added the adverts recently and some of their positioning is [i]sub-optimal[/i].

#whatadverts

26kms each way shortest route from my new house

try to do it 5 x a week when in the uk

old one was 50k each way - did it twice a month ! - wasnt the distance it was the time ... id leave the house at 5 and get in at 7pm.

i have poofed it up a little this year with an alfine 8 to replace my 42:19 fixed.

Is there any chance you can include Cycling sport as well as transport to count towards the figures?
All my commutes up until now have been logged as Cycling sport.

soma_rich - Member
okay then who has the longest commute

In the morning it ranges between 15 miles and 30 miles, on the way back anything from 7 to 25.

My commutes are obviously not direct and as use them for training too, so what is classed as transport and what is sport miles? Either way I still start at work/house and finish at the other.

Maybe open it upto sport to?

what is classed as transport and what is sport miles?

I'd say it is Transport if you are going to works/shops etc rather than just out for a spin.

Hmmm... I was trying to keep it focussed on hardy regular commuters rather than people doing big distances on fair-weather weekends.

But if folk think it should be opened up a bit I'm happy to do that...

Any objections?

I'm in, do I get extra points for wearing shorts all winter?

I really don't mind tbh, it's your challenge 😆

yeah leave it as transport only graham. Cycling during the daylight hours is cheating .... itll be dark both ways soon !

> I really don't mind tbh, it's your challenge
> yeah leave it as transport only graham

Fair enough.

[b]disco_stu[/b]: are you happy to start logging your commutes as [b]Cycling, Transport[/b] - or does that mess you up in some way?

Remember your commutes up till now won't count anyway so you'd only need to change it for your future commutes.

GrahamS - Member

Hmmm... I was trying to keep it focussed on hardy regular commuters rather than people doing big distances on fair-weather weekends.

But if folk think it should be opened up a bit I'm happy to do that...

Any objections?

"focussed on hardy regular commuters" is the bit that appeals.

Cool. Motion rejected, I'll leave it as [i]Cycling, Transport[/i] only.
Sorry if that excludes anyone.

It's easy enough to change once you have uploaded your ride though, so should be fine 🙂

gah, i dont want to stop using Strava but my poor old iphone will probably have a fit trying to run 2 GPS apps at the same time.

I love the idea of this challenge though!

EDIT: I've tried downloading the GPX files from strava but get "Validity
Excluded from statistics" in endomondo

scaled - is it a 4 ?

i run both on my iphone 4 with no issues .... battery doesnt even seem to go down any quicker !

also you can upload strava gpx to endomondo and get them included into statistics. There is a check box you have to untick though once uploaded

disco_stu: are you happy to start logging your commutes as Cycling, Transport - or does that mess you up in some way?

Remember your commutes up till now won't count anyway so you'd only need to change it for your future commutes.

The only reason my commutes are logged as Cycling Sport is so they counted towards the STW Road challenges as I normally don't take the direct route into work or when heading home.
Now that you can have multiple workouts types counting towards a challenge I suppose it doesn't matter as much now.

gah, i dont want to stop using Strava but my poor old iphone will probably have a fit trying to run 2 GPS apps at the same time.

Nah it'll be fine. I spent half the summer running Endomondo plus the Samsung Hope Relay charity app on my rides.

On some rides I'll run:
Endomondo
+ BikeHub (for navigation)
+ Sustrans (for cross-referencing the NCN bits that BikeHub hasn't got)
+ OSMTrack (for recording the ride to trace into OpenStreetMap, so I can fix BikeHub 🙂 )

Copes fine (iPhone 4) and doesn't seem to drain the battery noticeably quicker.

Rode home last night through blinding hail and wet sleet. Shame the challenge hasn't begun yet - it would have been a very fitting start. Still... snow outside this morning so who knows what Monday will bring. 😀

Battle has commenced 🙂

Not very wintery either this morning, daylight (just), no rain, quite warm 😆 This will be easy...

Over 200km logged by our brave warriors this morning already 😀
Good work! Chilly but pleasant here too. A gentle start.

[b]It's never too late to join by the way[/b]: Endo will count all your existing workouts when you join a challenge - so don't worry if you are just reading this now and you realise you've missed the start.

+1. Looks like fun.

Looking at that leader board already i'm in trouble with this and my pathetic 6 mile commute!

It's a marathon, not a race 😀

Which one of you is "Will Beresford" then? That 49.23km commute looks suspiciously like a big training loop.

[img] [/img]

😆 That be me. It is indirect (obviously) but still my commute. Guess that was why I asked if sport cycling should be included as I never go direct to work.

Still start at home and end at work...

Great idea, I'm in!

Is 'taking the long way home' acceptable? The vast majority of my mileage is transport but I don't necessarily take the most direct route! 😉

GavinT +1

I'll be going the slightly longer way home tonight, so whilst I'm commuting home, I'm sticking in a few extra "training" miles. Anyway, great idea for a challenge - hope I can remember to keep turning my phone on!

Still start at home and end at work...

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Ok, so we're agreed taking "the long way home" is still commuting, fine. Don't want it to be unfair though! 🙂

Edit: Gavin, maybe my favour use of that Fry picture ever! 😆

/scaled/ -

EDIT: I've tried downloading the GPX files from strava but get "Validity
Excluded from statistics" in endomondo

this seems to happen because it defaults to "Running" then decides that's too fast. Need to edit for Cycling, then untick the "Exclude" box that appears.

I've used Endomondo for about 18 months now and only recently started using Strava. Added bonus though, when you export Endomondo rides and import them to Strava the average mph goes up!

+1 for cycling transport only, you can easily edit a ride afterwards

I've used Endomondo for about 18 months now and only recently started using Strava. Added bonus though, when you export Endomondo rides and import them to Strava the average mph goes up!

Why not just run Strava AND Endo apps at the same time? Saves fannying about exporting files and the like.

Why not just run Strava AND Endo apps at the same time? Saves fannying about exporting files and the like.

Because it was for the last 18 months worth of rides 🙂

Ah see what you mean. Well for future reference, you should be able to run both apps at the same time without issue.

Right... time to get my bibs on...

I'll join up for the solidarity when I get home. I'm not going to be anywhere near the top, with only 6 miles each way and some uninspiring alternatives, but I'll be cycling in all winter - it's 15 minutes quicker than the tube with the walk either end.

Except for tomorrow. And Wednesday. I'm not going to cycle from London to Norwich!

I'm not going to be anywhere near the top, with only 6 miles each way and some uninspiring alternatives, but I'll be cycling in all winter

[img] [/img]

I like the cut of your jib old boy.

I'm not going to be anywhere near the top

I'm not going to cycle from London to Norwich

not surprised with that attitude. 😉

Another trip in the bank with a slow mid section at an Aldi.
The challenge to the mobile battery. First time I have used GPS on my Razr maxx so not sure how much charge it uses...

I'm in, not doing my 35 mile round trip daily though..

Has anyone actually had to ride in the rain yet?

Has anyone actually had to ride in the rain yet?

Just drizzle. Though I had snow and hail on the Friday before it started.

Not riding today as I need to get home early to carve a pumpkin and set up the apples and lucky dip 😀

Monday night was heavy rain, and I got two punctures...

Only 8 miles last night as I was on the club run, and then 19 this AM due to tired legs 😆

Utterly pissed on this morning yes. Got lycra draped over every available radiator trying to get it dry in time for ride home!

I'm in... no excuses to drive now

come rain or shine or snow I will be on the bike

That's it I've broke my duck.

Do rides to a ride count as a commute if you are riding out to a ride?

I would have thought that was stretching it! 😉 Not my call though...

I'm just going to put in rides two and from work. I'm currently wondering whether using the bike for shopping should count as well? Probably - not that these amount to a lot of miles.

Is Will deliberately staying just one mile ahead of me to taunt me?

GavinT - Member
Is Will deliberately staying just one mile ahead of me to taunt me?

😆

You'll be in 1st by the end of the day sir. Only 9 miles on the way home tonight due to going out so I have to get back in good time...

I reckon any "utility" cycling is fair game: work and back, shopping run, kids to school/nursery - all fair enough I reckon.

Riding out to a ride... nope! That's taking the Michael Fish.

Still start at home and end at work...

I'm in the same boat, 4.5 mile one way on one day and the if its once 20-30 miles taking in Nant-yr-arian and Anglers Retreat, but ending up muddy and smiling at work

Another two punctures tonight! That's 5 since Monday, think somebody is trying to tell me something!!

That's 5 since Monday, think somebody is trying to tell me something!!

Get better tyres??

I believe these are the commuters choice in puncture prone areas:
http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/tour/marathon-plus/

Another one this morning! I hadn't even sat on the bike. I fixed teh puncture last night, pumped it up and it was fine, went to it this morning and it was fine. Then about to set off and it goes down again!

Got some Vittora Zaffiro ones coming, I used them last winter with no issues, I was trying to be clever by buying a £6 tyre...

Best give the rim tape a good checking over while you're at it. That sounds a bit suspect!

will: is it possible you still have something stuck in your tyre? SIX punctures in a few days is very suspect. I've had ONE in six months of commuting [i](touchwood)[/i] and that was after stupidly running over a broken bottle.

Continental City Contact tyres here.

That's the annoying thing. I took the tyre off, rim tape off, inspected the rim, tape and tyre and all seemed fine. Although i'm going to look over it again.

Got to agree it is very strange! Prior to this I'd only had a few all year!

Maybe a loose (or overly tight) spoke poking through?

Match the tube up to the rim, see if they are all happening in the same place. Assuming you line up your logos and valves like a good STWer, then you can check the tyre that way too 😀

Brrr.. proper frosty ride in this morning.

White roads and frozen puddles.

[img] [/img]