Pointless Prizes 2016

[Steve O]

Just getting this thread up and running.

I also want to announce a solution to this issue:
@wheels&wings 103312 wrote:

I was wondering, is there some way Freezing Saddles riders can make themselves identifiable (to each other) on the roads?

@elwbikes 103437 wrote:

I like either the ribbon or the reflective thing, one note–Women & Bicycles has white ankle cuffs. That is a somewhat small subset, but also an overlapping subset

Pink and green are fun though!

@Steve O 103427 wrote:

I think this is a good idea. There are some clues, but no clear identifier:

@rcannon100 103314 wrote:

Many of us have the little reflective tags that say “Bike Arlington” or “Bike Forum” – some are yellow, some are blue, and some are even pink! I think that was the idea behind this. Maybe a volunteer could make another go at it.

I volunteer!
I have ordered a big supply of NEON GREEN ankle bands like this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10169[/ATTACH]

When they come in I will make them available for $3 each; 2 for $5. You can put them on your ankles or just wrap one around one of your tubes. I think the green is unusual enough to make it easy to spot each other.

@TwoWheelsDC 103318 wrote:

In a few weeks, in the most miserable part of winter, you can probably assume most crazy peopl….er…riders you see are BAFS participants.

Topic

[CPTJohnC]

I tell you what: When you return to DC, I’ll consider whipping up a batch of something sweet and delicious just for you… I certainly have no concerns about your freezing saddle bona fides.

[CPTJohnC]

@consularrider 133294 wrote:

Sigh, and I love baked goods, but it would probably be stale (or just crumbs) by the time it got here via diplomatic pouch anyway.

I tell you what: When you return to DC, I’ll consider whipping up a batch of something sweet and delicious just for you… I certainly have no concerns about your freezing saddle bona fides.

[CPTJohnC]

@KWL 133300 wrote:

Woohoo! I may be a Pointless Prize winner! All I need to do is show up for final HH. Not such a hard task unless someone books it in the hinterlands of Muralun.

Note — I added one more caveat to the prize, in the form of ‘additional major snow events’ in case that happens. But I’m happy to help ensure that many people benefit from PP generosity.

[dkel]

@Steve O 133293 wrote:

I’m not showing this to brag, but to make the point that your bike can and will stay up if you let it do so.

—And to brag.

[Kitty]

@wheels&wings 133301 wrote:

Steve O: Did you ride the side roads/hills on Wednesday night? They were ice sheets. I’m all for your tips on technique (though I’ve still got my learner’s permit)… “steady arms–back brake” is my mantra on scary ice-rides, but sometimes the conditions are too slippery even for the most carefully honed ice-dancing techniques, imho. I’m impressed that Kitty made it home with only three falls, given all the ice on those hills. w&w

@Steve O 133315 wrote:

Fair enough; I was Phoenix, AZ for that one. I have slid down on occasion as well, so there are definitely some circumstances where it doesn’t matter what you do. I am glad when she and you and others report falling but not being hurt. That’s the most important thing.

Thanks for backing me up W&W it was nuts! The first bit in the falling snow on the MVT was fine, but since visibility was getting bad I made the stupid mistake to bail as Crystal City and make my way back to North Arlington via the city streets (Columbia Pike to S Courthouse Rd etc.) It was about 14 miles in trying to climb one little block on Pershing that I went down when the car in front hit the breaks and squeezed the shoulder. From there Clarendon blvd. was an ice rink to the extent the police blocked traffic at the top of the hill at N Courthouse with flares and forced traffic around due to the number of accidents below. Mistake number two was opting to chance it… at least I said “weee” as me and my bike slid sideways along the pavement. By then the roads were so slick you couldn’t actually get your footing when attempting to stand and right the bike!

Fortunately, as Steve-O put it, it was a matter of bruised and not broken. I came into the apartment shaken and tearing up and my husband was worried I’d hurt myself, while I was worried I hurt my bike! He reasoned if I was crying about my bike I was okay. Now nearly a week later I’ve got some wicked bruises, but my bike got a check-up at the shop today and was deemed safe to ride, so all good!~

That said, if you could point me to where your pointers are, I’ll look ’em up! :p

[vvill]

@Kitty 133339 wrote:

By then the roads were so slick you couldn’t actually get your footing when attempting to stand and right the bike!

Yeah, I wouldn’t try riding in a situation like this if you do not have studded tires, in fact I’d probably want studs on my shoes. FS is not worth injuring yourself over, hope you heal up quick!

[dcv]

@Kitty 133339 wrote:

Thanks for backing me up W&W it was nuts!

Kitty I fell 3 times on ice and snow this past week, so you’re not alone.

[vvill]

@Steve O 130728 wrote:

Here is the current list as far as I can tell. Please let me know if there are any corrections.

Undefined prize TBA:
vvill

Ok, I’ve announced mine now. It might be more of a sidebet (what’s the difference?).
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?9849-vvill-s-N-1-Pointless-Prize

[Mikey]

@vvill 133392 wrote:

Ok, I’ve announced mine now. It might be more of a sidebet (what’s the difference?).
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?9849-vvill-s-N-1-Pointless-Prize

A pointless prize is a specific amplifier to riding usually occurring over the entire contest period, and open to anyone (usually individuals, not teams).
A side bet is short-term (set start and end) for teams, or individuals acting as one team to promote additional riding. Usually riding to a specific point, photographing a specific item, etc. People may win pointless prizes without even trying, but a side bet requires a positive action to claim that the prize has been won.
Maybe? This would be a pointless prize although It could also be a side bet if the challenge were put up to teams to provide most bikes during a specific ride period.

[consularrider]

I was out on the Pugsley riding almost exclusively on ice covered forest roads today. Studded tires are da bomb, but still managed to go down at least three times due to the tire ruts.

[wheelswings]

@consularrider 133740 wrote:

…. at least three times….

Be sure to keep track of the precise number of falls during Freezing Saddles! You may be in the running for the London Bridge prize. S/he who topples the most will be the luckiest one. Sort of!

Be safe, everyone.

[KWL]

@vvill 133381 wrote:

Yeah, I wouldn’t try riding in a situation like this if you do not have studded tires, in fact I’d probably want studs on my shoes. FS is not worth injuring yourself over, hope you heal up quick!

Yes. Have you ever come to a stop on ice while riding studded tires and put your foot down thinking your shoe will have as much traction as your bike? No, I’ve never done that either.

[consularrider]

@KWL 133750 wrote:

Yes. Have you ever come to a stop on ice while riding studded tires and put your foot down thinking your shoe will have as much traction as your bike? No, I’ve never done that either.

You mean like today?

[Steve O]

Here’s the updated list of Side Bets and Pointless prizes as of 1/31. (please send corrections)
Note that several of these are ongoing: Heads Up!, Beerneuring, Bicycle tag, vvill’s N+1, Bruno’s Ludicrous Coffee Challenge…
So if you are looking for an excuse to go for a bike ride, just look below; Plenty of fun stuff going on.

Side bets:

Heads Up! – Mikey (up for grabs)
Beerneuring – sjclaeys (ongoing)
Bicycle Tag – Steve O (ongoing)
First 10 people to do 5 HP laps – kwarkentien (completed)
Blizzard 3-day riders – CPTJohnC (completed)
Blizzard Pointless Prize (1/23 most miles) – vern (completed)
“you call that a snow day” – kitty
Dog-o-neuring (TBA) – rcannon100
Finders Keepers – Mikey (completed)
Golden Ingot – vicegrip (awarded at opening HH)
Rookie golden nugget – ewilliams0305 (awarded at opening HH)

Pointless Prizes 2016

Ride titles – Steve O (ongoing)
Brünø’s Big Bad Coffee Challenge – Bruno Moore (ongoing)
N+1 – vvill (ongoing)
Instagram – Subby & americancyclo (ongoing)
Visit the most States in one ride – Raymo853
Visit the most DC bike shops in a ride – Raymo 853
The ride during the coldest recorded temperature of the contest – creadinger
The longest ride on the day with the coldest high temperature – creadinger
Longest, coldest ride – ewilliams0305
Most climbing (whole contest) – ewilliams0305
#kidical – dasgeh
Early Bird – Sunyata
Flat Lander (?) – Sunyata
Hains Point laps – Arlingtonrider
Last place team or tortoise award – lordofthemark
Team Billy Goat – glennpstevens
FS Drug Prize – wheels&wings
London Bridge – wheels&wings
Rides in most states – elwbikes
Rides in most countries – elwbikes
Average daily mileage closest to pi – Chris_s
Artisanally handcrafted hipster prizes from PDX – kelonwheels
Lowest variance (mr. & ms. Consistency) – CPTJohnC
Consular rider’s departure date/time – Steve O (won by Dickie)
Elf photo caption contest – Steve O (won by wheels&wings)

Undefined prize
komorebi
Alcova Cyclist
Eminva
A really really totally pointless prize – Dickie

[Rod Smith]

Did I offer a prize for this last year? Whoever won it, congrats! Sorry I couldn’t make the Freezing Saddles Finale Happy Hour Celebration. I was out of town. PM me your E number from FS15 if you think you were in contention. I will give you a prize.

I’m offering a Eddington number prize again this year and will try to actually award one this time. :p

What the heck is an Eddington number? The number of days you rode that same number of miles or more. Kinda fun because it gets increasingly harder to increase the number. Say you’ve ridden 25 miles or more 25 days this year. Awesome, your E number is 25! To improve your number to 26, the days you rode exactly 25 miles will not count. And days you rode 26 miles will not count towards an Eddington number of 27…

https://swinny.net/Strava/-4691-My-Strava-Eddington-Number

[Author]

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