The National Bike Challenge is on!

[creadinger]

Sorry B team, but I will be out of commission for a week or two starting Thursday because I’m having a mole surgically removed from my ankle. Thankfully, as someone previous pointed out – it is a marathon, not a sprint. I’ll be back at it when it doesn’t look like it’s gonna bleed all over the place.

And the PSA that accompanies this procedure – Use sunscreen! And if you have lots of moles or fair skin, see a dermatologist semi-regularly for check-ups.

[GuyContinental]

@americancyclo 20239 wrote:

Glad to see everyone logging some good miles! I’m back in the saddle again, but this rainy weather is putting a damper on my commute!

It’s funny- if I wasn’t participating in these challenges and in particular, falling behind in a few individual challenges in the Cascades event, I totally would have bailed on commuting this week. Instead I crawled out of bed at o’dark-thirty, got wet and had a heck of a good time. Warm rain, empty trails and actual daylight! No more looking at the weather and who cares if I have to take apart and lube my bike (again) over the w/e- I’m going regardless!

[americancyclo]

@creadinger 20242 wrote:

Use sunscreen!

Hear Hear! I’ve got fair irish skin and a dermatologist for a father-in-law, so I’m always slathered with the stuff. BikeArlington was handing out small tubes of SPF 15 and 30 at the BTWD pitstops and at the FCC bike fair. Big props to Tim and the rest of the crew for these. I keep a few in my bag at all times!

[Dirt]

@GuyContinental 20243 wrote:

It’s funny- if I wasn’t participating in these challenges and in particular, falling behind in a few individual challenges in the Cascades event, I totally would have bailed on commuting this week. Instead I crawled out of bed at o’dark-thirty, got wet and had a heck of a good time. Warm rain, empty trails and actual daylight! No more looking at the weather and who cares if I have to take apart and lube my bike (again) over the w/e- I’m going regardless!

I do like these challenges. They’re kinda fun and motivational.

[Dirt]

@americancyclo 20245 wrote:

Hear Hear! I’ve got fair irish skin and a dermatologist for a father-in-law, so I’m always slathered with the stuff. BikeArlington was handing out small tubes of SPF 15 and 30 at the BTWD pitstops and at the FCC bike fair. Big props to Tim and the rest of the crew for these. I keep a few in my bag at all times!

I’m about due for a check-up. Maybe past due….

Thanks for the reminders!

[Megabeth]

Indeed. A good reminder that all my millions of freckles need to get checked.

Meanwhile, Sorry B-Team, I’ve been sidelined since Saturday afternoon with whatever bug Mark had. I just got back on my bike today for a slow roll down the hill to work and nearly hacked up a lung. Hopefully, I make it home, up the Rosslyn hill, with both lungs intact…

[creadinger]

@GuyContinental 20243 wrote:

It’s funny- if I wasn’t participating in these challenges and in particular, falling behind in a few individual challenges in the Cascades event, I totally would have bailed on commuting this week. Instead I crawled out of bed at o’dark-thirty, got wet and had a heck of a good time. Warm rain, empty trails and actual daylight! No more looking at the weather and who cares if I have to take apart and lube my bike (again) over the w/e- I’m going regardless!

What team do you ride for Guy? You may need some de-motivation. :p Take a long look at some of these.
http://www.allowe.com/Humor/DemotivationalPosters.htm

No that’s awesome! I commuted in all weather for a couple of years. It felt great not to be confined by common things like weather and darkness. It’s nice feeling so capable and car-free. <- yeah that's car-free not care-free. Right now I don’t think I’m up for it with my new route that is 2x as long and more difficult though. Maybe I’ll reconsider the all-weather commute once I get more used to it. Finding some fenders to fit my ‘Cross bike would be a first step though I think.

[Greenbelt]

@Dirt 20238 wrote:

The A-Team seems to have passed the C-Team… for the moment at least. All three are doing really well. Cool to see the miles racking up.

We Cs are so going to get dusted when Zanna starts posting her climate ride miles for the As.

[GuyContinental]

@creadinger 20249 wrote:

What team do you ride for Guy? You may need some de-motivation. :p Take a long look at some of these.
http://www.allowe.com/Humor/DemotivationalPosters.htm

Those rule- I like “Ambition” in particular…

I’m riding with Arlington A and CCrew’s Cascades Health Challenge Team (where we are 8th out of 1500 teams). Cascades has a simple challenge system set up so I’m competing with a couple non-local riding friends from Grad school- that’s where the real smack-talk/motivation is happening.

I wish that I could truly be car-free but 3 hours a day in the saddle, while great for my legs and outlook, would not be so great for my marriage. I’ve received special dispensation for the challenges and summer but if I keep waking my wife up with any time starting with “4” I’m going to end up on the couch

[vvill]

I just sleep on the couch anyway, it’s easier that way. 😎

My daily commute time in less than 12 months has gone from <60 mins (driving) to 75 mins (hybrid drive/cycling) to 90 mins (cycling both ways) to 110-120 mins (cycling both ways, not the most direct way but more miles).

After the National Bike Challenge is over I may cut back on the miles again, and when winter hits I may even do some hybrid commute days again…

[Dirt]

I like the discussion of time spent commuting in regards to something like these challenges. When I compare the REAL time it takes me to commute each day, I spend approximately 30 minutes more commuting by bike (driveway to desk and desk to driveway), but the timing actually balances out well when you look at the bigger picture. With all the other benefits and savings, commuting by bike is much more efficient for me.

It is easy for me to say that, however, since I forgot to reproduce. I know that’s something that many humans have to factor into these things.

Rock on, y’all. I’m gonna go for a bike ride.

Dirt.

[Greenbelt]

As of 8:30pm, the C team had pulled back in front of the As, after a big day with 8 of 10 riders logging miles! (Not that I’m competitive, of course…)

[TwoWheelsDC]

I took Sunday and Monday off after doing my first century on Saturday, but now I’m back in the game for C squad. I’ll be out of town for a wedding this weekend, but I’m hoping to get at least one long ride in. I’ll be up in the mountains, so it’s too bad there aren’t extra points for climbing!

[JacquesOfAllTrades]

It’s definitely been an incentive for me to get out these last couple of mornings (and as the rain thinned out the crowds, I ventured onto Hains Point for the first time this morning to get an extra three miles in).

[GuyContinental]

@Dirt 20289 wrote:

I like the discussion of time spent commuting in regards to something like these challenges. When I compare the REAL time it takes me to commute each day, I spend approximately 30 minutes more commuting by bike (driveway to desk and desk to driveway), but the timing actually balances out well when you look at the bigger picture. With all the other benefits and savings, commuting by bike is much more efficient for me.

It is easy for me to say that, however, since I forgot to reproduce. I know that’s something that many humans have to factor into these things.

Rock on, y’all. I’m gonna go for a bike ride.

Dirt.

My average driving commute is an unpleasant 100 minutes/day (up to 130 minutes on bad traffic days); Riding is 165 minutes + 15 minutes cleaning/changing. If I weren’t riding and wanted to stay in shape (in reality I’d probably just sleep in and get fat…), I’d be swimming which would easily eat that 80 minutes. It nets out plus additional benefits (based on 60 RT- 3K miles) and since I did reproduce, doesn’t interfere with kid time (or not much):

3600 miles of wear and tear on the car
$480 in tolls
$720 in gas
$300 in food (I usually eat out for lunch- when I ride I have to bring vittles)
-$300 for various bike parts & repairs

So, I’m getting my workout, keeping up with kids and actually saving $1200/year… that rules

[Author]

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