My direct route is 45 miles each way.
Sadly I can't be arsed to do it any more than one round trip per week, and tend to drive half way instead for a more sensible 23 miles each way.
I'm in for this, although I always forget to upload anything and miss the challenge deadlines!
I always forget to upload anything and miss the challenge deadlines!
Welcome! The deadline for this one is the start of March - so you've got plenty of time! 😆
Njee - maybe try a d week at 90 miles a day. That would be a good effort!
Welcome! The deadline for this one is the start of March - so you've got plenty of time!
Expect a late surge on March 30th 🙂
Njee - maybe try a d week at 90 miles a day. That would be a good effort!
It would be some good training for sure! If I still worked in a bike shop or something I'd give it a go! Fairly sure I'd not survive beyond Tuesday in a 'proper' job though!
Expect a late surge on March 30th
I can see why you miss deadlines! 😀
([i]start[/i] of March, not end!!)
Haha! I'll set a reminder for 31st February then, what can go wrong 😉
White roads and frozen puddles.
Indeed. And on that note, anyone considering spike tyres for the winter commute? Really want to keep up the bike commuting through winter this year, but I am wary of taking a tumble on ice (done it too many times before on the MTB!).
They seem like a good idea, but given that most roads are kept pretty clear I'm wondering if they're a waste of cash. I'm only in West Yorks so hardly the frozen north! Are there any alternatives to spike tyres for a bit of extra winter grip?
And on that note, anyone considering spike tyres for the winter commute?
I wondered that myself as my slicks went out from under me on the first corner.
Not a day for being clipped in through the bends. 😀
No ice down here but that didn't stop me from falling off this morning!
Wet wooden bridge - very slippy...
Wet wooden bridge - very slippy...
Yeah I've got one of those too. Just a short one, but wonderfully positioned on a corner and with bollards at each end to punish you if you skid.
This one's ok as long as you don't stop to look at the view and touch the brakes. /schoolboy error
If I ever have a need for spike tyres in London then I fear for the rest of the country!
Have had a look at some of the big mile cyclists it seems many are not playing by the commute rules 🙄
It was always going to be an issue I guess. Unless you only allow direct commutes to be counted? Or include *all* cycling?
Have had a look at some of the big mile cyclists it seems many are not playing by the commute rules
Yeah we discussed it earlier. Will is still doing a commute, albeit he is adding in some extra distance on the way.
No shame in that I reckon, he is still riding to work and still having to face a grim winter morning* at 6am, so more power to him.
But if anyone submits a 50-mile circular ride on a sunny Sunday afternoon then they will be getting the boot.
.
* (admittedly southern shandy "grim", not proper t'northern GRIM!)
Maybe there should be a modifier to reflect location 😆 grim down here is summer oop north 😆
I'm only marking commutes, shopping trips or errands as 'transport' ie - things that might otherwise be done in the car. But if any seem innapropriate shout and I'll change them to something else to remove them from the challenge. 🙂
On the face of it it looks like Grieg Brown in 3rd may have left his phone on Transport for his weekend rides.
Innocent mistake.
Think Endomondo is on the blink... Leader boards all messed up and distances not recorded...
Indeed - boo!
Just when I was winning too 😉
Yeah, it has all gone very screwy. 62 people in the challenge and only 14 currently listed.
But don't panic - it is only a temporary blip. Endomondo are apparently twiddling with something behind the scenes:
[b]We are optimizing challenge statistics calculation[/b]
Dear users,
we are working on better calculation of challenge statistics, which can result into messed up order in challenges.
Please note that this is only temporary and everything should be correctly recomputed within 24h.
Thanks for bearing with us, you will be rewarded with faster challenge stats update.Thanks, Eva
-- https://getsatisfaction.com/endomondo/topics/we_are_optimizing_challenge_statistics_calculation
Nice to see it's all working again now. Also seems to update the challenges very quickly now, which is good.
Doesn't seem to be working that well to me - 62 members in our challenge and it is only listing 23 of them.
[i]*sproing*[/i] They're all there now!
(although a lot of them say No Applicable Workouts)
Yeah 37 with a ride, not sure if that was the same as before tbh?
First day off the commute tomorrow as I'm in Leicester, and although I did consider it, i'm not riding there 😆
Good of you - I didn't ride yesterday so gives me a chance to catch back up! 😉
Looks like reduced miles tomorrow too... Dam! 😆
Right, I just need to do 380 mile commute tomorrow then! 😉
2 miles in it Gavin 😉
There was no way I was doing my usual 30 miles this morning, not after yesterday's epic!
Yeah, I noticed that. Good effort! 🙂
Cheers Gavin!
Testing conditions for most this morning. Was rather grim but at least it was warm!
Yep, absolutely chucking it down! Anyone got any recommendations for decent waterproof trousers?
🙂
Bike had to go in for repair last week but back on this challenge... yipee.
Waterproof trousers... [url= http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=endura+gridlock&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&bpcl=38897761&biw=1024&bih=600&wrapid=tlif135349203663611&safe=vss&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11499777758847937487&sa=X&ei=RKasUJyjOYqRhQeF74GgCw&ved=0CGQQ8gIwAQ ]Endura Gridlock Trousers[/url].
Lycra 😈
Not waterproof, but never had an issue in rain.
Bad start this week! I don't expect I'll catch up for a bit unless Will's got any holiday planned! 😉
Waterproof trousers not worth the extra heat. Just rub your legs with lard or something.
I need to ask a question... what do you do with your phones?
I used to use Endomondo, but got completely bored with always having to have my phone at hand before the ride, storing it somewhere dry, then remembering to hit stop at the end of the ride.
Am I just lazy?
Am I just lazy
Yes 🙂
Phone goes in jacket/jersey pocket. I have mine on a 60 second countdown, so I hit the countdown button then phone in pocket, gloves on etc and off I go. Set it to auto stop/start and you don't really need to worry about stopping it immediately when you get home. I'm not overly bothered about time though, only really the route/distance.
I used to use a phone, and it was never really much of a problem. I did then get a Garmin, which is much better though 😀
Gavin - I was just waiting for you to upload the past 3 days rides and beat me! I've also had a bad week in terms of miles. Only hope is a big effort tomorrow.
I need to ask a question... what do you do with your phones?
[img] 
[/img]
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0057FJ41Y (Important note: not my bike in picture!)
Has the advantage that I can see incoming texts or calls to see if they are worth stopping to reply to.
I have a waterproof Xperia go so just stick it in my shorts pocket. Did the same with a Motorla Defy+ before.
[i](Important note: not my bike in picture!)[/i]
Case of the bar furniture being worth more than the bike! 🙂
Nah, still can't be arsed 😉
Nah, still can't be arsed 😉
It's a really low arse factor for me. That's why I like it.
I need to carry my phone anyway and having it on the bars is useful for screening texts/calls and for playing music. Plus it means the missus can accurately track my location.
So the only additional faff is remembering to start and stop Endo. That's not really a biggy - though I really must get round to putting some touch-screen tips on the ends of my gloves!
Upload is automatic and so is workout naming (as I am following a route). I quite like having the Voice Coach shout out how I'm getting on against my PB - keeps me motivated, even if I'm not out to beat it every day.
How are people coping with the floods then? No floods down here, but lots of standing water around, and this morning's commute was in very heavy rain. Got to say I really enjoyed it 😆
first day back in the office today for me.
Wasnt as cold as i anticipated. was a touch hot in stealth lights and my pogies.
Getting my winter marathons bedded in - they work well on wet leaves too 😀
Agree about the "warmer than it looks" statement. I was overdressed and quite thankful for the rain.
How are people coping with the floods then?
Yesterday was fairly bad here. One part of the path was full-flowing river for about 500m, as deep as the bottom bracket in places and far too long to cruise through - so it was foot-fully-underwater pedalling. Lovely.
Took a different route this morning and had less issues, though I couldn't use the underpass because it looked to be a couple of foot deep down there!
Also wore waterproof trousers, special-kid anorak and sealskinz for the first time today after my gear all got soaked yesterday.
Stayed dry but ended up soaking with sweat!
Sounds quite epic. Think it's strange that I wish I had to cycle through flooded roads.
If it helps you live the dream I'll mail you my toes when I finally lose them to Trench Foot 😉
😆
Todays commute was a bit on the chilly side, time to get the Aldi winter gloves out!
Indeed. Plenty of ice around on some of the back roads this morning 😕
It was cold, but not "that" bad. Looking forward to frost and proper winter!
Bit of snow this morning, still lots of bikes out though:
[img] 
[/img]
Just wet and mild this morning. Quite glad as I came a cropper on the ice yesterday! As it seems a lot of other people did.
Snow in London. Well I say snow... It was falling and settling around 7ish, but by the time I left teh house at 7:30 it was just wetness.
NE looks like it will get a big dump today.
Ow and Gavin - Please don't tell me you're going to do a big bulk upload soon 😆
icy in sheffield - lots of cyclists in the office comparing bumps and bruises.
i stayed upright, but did have a few 'left-hookers' - maybe i was mincing along just slowly enough to be a target, but quickly enough to get in trouble...
stay safe kids 🙂
Icy here in Bradford, particularly on the side roads. Was about 5 minutes slower getting in today, but still better than sitting in the car 🙂
Forecast colder tonight, might try the spikes tomorrow just to see what they're like.
Icy in manchester too, attempted a left hand corner a bit too fast and am now hobbling about with a very bruised knee...
in all the time i waste on this website, i can honestly say, i have only just noticed this challange.
can i get my miles backdated from when it started? and do i get brucie bonus point, for doing it with a ****ed up ticker....... 8)
p.s, not missed a days commute since 1st march this year after my last procedure.
can i get my miles backdated from when it started?
Yep. Endomondo does that automatically when you join any challenge. Any "Cycling,Transport" workouts since the challenge started will be counted automatically (it can take an hour or two to update).
do i get brucie bonus point, for doing it with a ****ed up ticker.......
Only if I get one for doing it with a big belly.
And Asthma (I've got a note from my mum).
Forgive me. I turned back this morning and decided it was a good day to work from home! 😳
The path was sheet ice for as far as I could see. Got a couple of km, with several "moments", but it would have taken me hours to pick my way through it all and the risk of injury was high.
[img] 
[/img]
cold and frosty this morning, but less lethal...
[img] 
[/img]
Stunning! 😀
Christmas parties are having a massive negative impact on my miles! Think i've only done about 70 this week 😆
leaving my GPS widget on the ground* at home yesterday morning cost me 23k!
(*seems to pick up the signal faster like that...)
Damn my luddite ways, my chance for a shot at mediocrity is dashed by not having a gps, or an endomondo account.
Darn.
On the plus side my commute envy is waning, graham that looks awful
No smartphone with GPS D0NK?
Aye that path is [i]not great[/i] in the ice. I've ridden it a few times now and it is almost bad enough for me to consider chancing the dual carriageway instead.
Almost.
Have we done a "what ice tyres?" thread.
Just been looking at the Schwalbe Winter Marathons on wiggle. Any good?
no phone is works, basic job with no data, could buy myself one but meh, guess it's actually my tight-arsedness that's holding me back. Just noticed you're only doing commutes so my mediocrity is even greater (lesser?) than I first thought.
Dunno bout ice tyres, how deep does the ice have to be before they work? Probably great on compacted snow and frozen mud but I can't see them doing you any favours on frosty roads
Sod it. Ordered them anyway. Can;t be any worse than what I'm using and if nothing else the extra weight will be good training and make up for the fact I'm crawling along.
Blimey, I've just accepted this challenge and uploaded my commutes...a mere 5 miles each way and I'm on the front page, are the others southern softies?
😀 2nd page and Northern here.. in fact 18th now, thanks al!
My commute is 11 miles each way, but I can only do it a couple of times a week.
I suspect the Southerners are actually leading as they have it easier
[i]*eyes Will suspiciously*[/i]
Got to agree there Graham, whilst you've been having roads of ice i've been having slightly cold mornings. Although Greig is in Wishaw...
Get this bumped back up now commuting has started again!
However I am quite sure miles aren't being added to the challenge. sure i've been at that mileage for a few days now...
There is no "last updated" section now either!
Who's braved the snow this morning then? I've dug the SnowRat © out of the shed this morning for a test run, shame it was mostly just a slushy mess! Oh well, it'll have bedded the spikes in I guess 🙂
"Dunno bout ice tyres, how deep does the ice have to be before they work? Probably great on compacted snow and frozen mud but I can't see them doing you any favours on frosty roads "
no - they work best on frosty roads.
they are not that great in snow at all.
Been running mine since the first frosts in november.
Im back on it after a lax december period - didnt really get out on the bike at all to work with all the Xmas partys and the like , i got back from turkmenistan and had to go for a meeting in houston.
got a wee bit of MTB in but didnt include that as its not in the spirit of the rules.
Working my way back up the standings at an alarming rate (28th as of this morning from the bottom last week)
boss just called asking if i made it in , saying he cant make it roads are too bad..... i suggested he gets a bicycle and was met with torrents of abuse - only last week he suggested i buy a sensible car and my bangernomics mobile had a hicup.
However I am quite sure miles aren't being added to the challenge. sure i've been at that mileage for a few days now...
Seemed to stall around Christmas - the Endo fairies have fixed it now.
Who's braved the snow this morning then?
Tick! Put the Schwalbe Winter Marathons on at the weekend (as well as a whole new drivetrain, but that's a different story!)
[img] 
[/img]
Bloody hell they are heavy. Super grippy though and the "riding through rice crispies" road noise is oddly soothing.
Got bedded in this morning on a mostly dry run. It's snowing again now, so we'll see how they perform on the way home.
heavy - yes .
looking forward to putting the summer tires on and dropping nearly 2kgs off the bike weight !
reassuring on solid ice of aberdeenshire - Yes.
the road from my house to north deeside doesnt seem to get gritted before i leave.
Yep, I'm mostly off road, so no grit and some pretty thick ice at times (see pic at top of this page!)
Funnily though, my only fall so far this winter was on the road, suddenly moving from gritted to non-gritted on a corner!
They do feel incredibly grippy so I think they'll perform well on ice. Got to be better than my narrow slicks anyway and 2kgs is just extra winter training 😀
-3 and an inch of snow on the ground today. Winter Marathons didn't skip a beat. I was only 2 minutes slower getting to work than I was with them on dry trails yesterday!
[img] 
[/img]
Impressive stuff! A light dusting in London yesterday, roads were obviously all fine, and just wet.
[img] https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JeQuxqNXBOE/UPUvjqHAT9I/AAAAAAAAHiU/N8SbtuHbtYQ/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg [/img][img] https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SSlkm5xAqTQ/UPU9FEBIXXI/AAAAAAAAHi0/sHA2KhoKO2E/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg [/img][img] https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fNrDUpD4oes/UPUvoH5A-cI/AAAAAAAAHic/XWNZ2jNjItQ/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jp g" target="_blank">
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JeQuxqNXBOE/UPUvjqHAT9I/AAAAAAAAHiU/N8SbtuHbtYQ/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg [/img][img] https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SSlkm5xAqTQ/UPU9FEBIXXI/AAAAAAAAHi0/sHA2KhoKO2E/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg [/img][img] https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fNrDUpD4oes/UPUvoH5A-cI/AAAAAAAAHic/XWNZ2jNjItQ/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jp g"/> [/img]