* Freezing Saddles 2014 *

[rcannon100]

Registration is now open.

Freezing Saddles is a commuter challenge organized by the volunteer efforts of the Bike Arlington / WABA forum. It is a hat style tournament where cyclists are randomly assigned to teams of ~8 based on handicaps, creating teams that will have roughly the same handicap value. The challenge runs from Jan. 1 to the end of winter. Cyclists earn 1 point for each mile ridden and 10 points for each day ridden (and yes, riding means outdoors – it is Freezing Saddles not Living Room Saddles). Participants must be part of the forum and be members of Strava. More than that and what awards will be awarded, well that’s up to the volunteers.

Registration closes Dec. 24th. There will be no late registrations this year. Teams will be announced on the forum by the end of the month.

Freezing Saddles is a self organized effort of the participants. Freezing Saddles is not sponsored by anyone (it is not sponsored by Bike Arlington or by WABA). There is no organization. It is just a bunch of people coming together to be silly and ride bikes when it is really really cold. Your participation in Freezing Saddles is voluntary and at your own risk and you have not paid anyone anything to participate. Please volunteer to help make this self organized effort succeed.

[Rod Smith]

Hmm, well I suppose this is a point I should have raised during the discussion draft, but I see you are asking how much we ride in Nov. and Dec. These are the months I ride the least. I’m motivated by National Bike Challenge and Freezing Saddles. The months between, I sort of slack off. And I spend time with family around Thanksgiving (my only two day of no riding in a row this year was last week) and Christmas. Shouldn’t we base our estimates on the months of Jan, Feb and March, the months of the competition? I’m going to enter my weekly miles based on what I rode during Freezing Saddles 2013. Apologies to my teammates but I would feel like a total sandbagger if I used Nov. and Dec. miles.

[DismalScientist]

What’s the problem with being a total sandbagger?

[KelOnWheels]

We’re tapering. It’s very pro.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

[rcannon100]

Please no sandbagging.

[Subby]

This is what got me through the long slog of last winter. It means a lot to me to be able to do this with everyone.

Thank you for setting this up!

[CPTJohnC]

Registration submitted! Hopefully this will motivate me to ride more this winter than I have this fall!

[ejwillis62]

@CPTJohnC 70873 wrote:

Registration submitted! Hopefully this will motivate me to ride more this winter than I have this fall!

registration submitted, and I posted about it on our women’s WABA facebook page and on the Black Women Bike DC page. Hope we get more females riding this winter.

LIZ W.

[dasgeh]

@Rod Smith 70824 wrote:

Hmm, well I suppose this is a point I should have raised during the discussion draft, but I see you are asking how much we ride in Nov. and Dec. These are the months I ride the least. I’m motivated by National Bike Challenge and Freezing Saddles. The months between, I sort of slack off. And I spend time with family around Thanksgiving (my only two day of no riding in a row this year was last week) and Christmas. Shouldn’t we base our estimates on the months of Jan, Feb and March, the months of the competition? I’m going to enter my weekly miles based on what I rode during Freezing Saddles 2013. Apologies to my teammates but I would feel like a total sandbagger if I used Nov. and Dec. miles.

We’re all in the same boat. Answer honestly.

[Mikey]

Submitted ! Sooooo excited. I estimated more miles than I have in Nov and Dec so far, but less than I did in Jan last year (longer commute last year).
I think it will all work out, and if not, here’s hoping we get a TON of snow – the great equalizer.

[Greenbelt]

I’m planning to get back on Metro from time to time this winter if the weather’s bad, at least in the evening. Maybe.

[DCAKen]

I’m signed up. Last year’s challenge really kept me on my bike during some of those cold, miserable days of winter. That helped put me at almost 5000 miles for the year. This was a big increase over last year’s 4100 miles, previously the most miles I’ve cycled a year.

[jrenaut]

I’m signing up this year. That way I don’t have to just crash the post-challenge happy hour.

[Jason B]

I promise it will only be used to dry wet clothes. In
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[Fast Friendly Guy]

Sounds like fun. Got my toe warmers, gloves/mittens, and layers of Hot Chiles–I’m ready to go! I volunteered for artwork.[ATTACH=CONFIG]4210[/ATTACH]

[Author]

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