Winter Bike Challenge

[rcannon100]

I would be in.

I would be willing to attempt a Google Docs / Google Forms / Google site interface. It will be clumsy. But basically I can give permissions to whoever wants them – and we can all input and correct the data. It can be poured into a spreadsheet, and the spreadsheet can be displayed on a Google site.

I could also see if other members of the Federal Cyclists Commission want to join. There are a handful from Arlington

And finally, I would like to propose some stupendously cheesy award for the end – something that can be proudly or embarrassingly displayed on one’s office shelf.

One comment: I liked the Natl Bike Challenge structure, where it was 10 pts per day and 1 pt per mile. I know I will never be able to keep up with the likes of Dirt, but this creates an incentive for the “daily rider” and encourages you to get off your but and get a mile in every day (and I would propose that a min ride be at least 1 mile).

Does someone want to throw up a discussion draft of the competition – pull all these thoughts together? Time span, rules, teams, ect? I might have time later today (it is friday after all) where I could draft something up. We can all look it over – give input – put out a final – and then go live with recruiting.

[Bilsko]

@rcannon100 36838 wrote:

I would be in.

I would be willing to attempt a Google Docs / Google Forms / Google site interface. It will be clumsy. But basically I can give permissions to whoever wants them – and we can all input and correct the data. It can be poured into a spreadsheet, and the spreadsheet can be displayed on a Google site.

This should be fairly straightforward – and I’m happy to lend a hand to help out on site construction – Google has good integration with forms and spreadsheets (and, as of a couple days ago, you can now host webpages on your Google Drive too).

A couple options come to mind:

1- Just set up a shared Google Spreadsheet where riders enter their miles per week and then points are tallied. Something like this It would be honor-system where everyone is responsible for their own mileage entries. Version control would help make sure no one messes with data. Could do mileage per week or even mileage per day – which would allow for different points assignments (example 2x points for weekend rides…)

2- Set up a form that ties to the spreadsheet and riders only get view access to the spreadsheet. Just a different way of inputing the data. Makes it so that riders can only enter their own data.

The drawback with either system is that riders will need to keep track of miles using some other tool (GPS, Strava, etc.) and then manually enter miles in yet another interface.

Unless someone has another tool – just not Endomondo- which makes data tracking easy for everyone, I say we just settle for a system, even if it is clunky. The challenge should be motivation enough to get users to input data.

[vvill]

Works for me. I think the second option (form rather than just a spreadsheet) would be easier/less likely to get screwed up (with shared permissons), assuming someone can build it.

I think for a casual challenge like this, the fewer rules the better. My suggestions:

• Agree with rcannon: the National Bike Challenge points system worked well I think (10/day ridden + 1/mile). Stick with that.
• A 5 rider cap/team since there are fewer winter riders and we want probably at least 3 teams to make it interesting.
• consularrider, Greenbelt and Dirt are on different teams

[TwoWheelsDC]

Dammit, why can’t I have Photoshop at work, MSPaint is suboptimal. Anyway, every contest needs a name and EPIC graphic:

[IMG]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o82Y5VOpEGA/ULjY5QS7cjI/AAAAAAAAAWg/Cetchm5FRDk/s1600/freezingsaddles.JPG[/IMG]

[KelOnWheels]

I’ll join just for the epic graphic. ELITE!

[culimerc]

I’ve never jumped into a competition like this, hozit work, beyond input miles-get points-the one with the most points wins? is it just a “trying to keep it interesting” exercise?

[Dirt]

Did the folks who are Strava members get the Survey Monkey email asking about how to improve challenges this morning? I filled mine out and put in a plug for being able to create our own challenges.

I figured that creating a tool that let someone create any kind of challenge might be very difficult, so I suggested that they create a few basic templates for challenges that a Strava Club could choose for its members. X number of days ridden per month or Y number of miles ridden in a month. I figured if I asked for something simple, they might actually be able to make it happen.

The old 2MileChallenge had a great way of doing it. You could challenge other riders to replace X number of car trips per week, and if both you and the challengee completed the challenge, you got bonus points toward the goals. I liked that a little better than the current set up, but I can see how it was not easy to administer and how it really emphasized the people that were riding the whole challenge (May-October). I just liked the aspect that we as participants could create and join challenges and that there was a strategy that you could choose to maximize the number of points you would gain with a challenge.

Dirt.

[Bilsko]

@Dirt 36855 wrote:

Did the folks who are Strava members get the Survey Monkey email asking about how to improve challenges this morning? I filled mine out and put in a plug for being able to create our own challenges.

Dirt.

Didn’t see that survey – might be for premium members only or phased roll-out. I did tweet them yesterday asking about user-driven challenges…alas, no response.

[Dirt]

@Bilsko 36856 wrote:

Didn’t see that survey – might be for premium members only or phased roll-out. I did tweet them yesterday asking about user-driven challenges…alas, no response.

I am pretty ELITE, so I guess that’s why they asked me.

[rcannon100]

I can set up a spreadsheet, form, and site.

Your team can have access to your spreadsheet.

If you dont have a google account, I can set up an easy form that pours the data into your spreadsheet. Anyone on your team will have permission to edit the spreadsheet – and correct it as needed.

I can create a site where all of the spreadsheets, results, standing are displayed.

Yes, it will be manual input – but it can be through spreadsheet or form.

[Mikey]

Dirt’s post about challenges got me thinking. If we set this up and rode for a couple of months, we could end it with a “March Madness” -like tournement. 3 weeks, 8 teams ranked 1-8 based on their previous months total miles or points.

I need an excuse to sing “One Shining Moment” while I bike.

[Bilsko]

@rcannon100 36859 wrote:

I can set up a spreadsheet, form, and site.

Your team can have access to your spreadsheet.

If you dont have a google account, I can set up an easy form that pours the data into your spreadsheet. Anyone on your team will have permission to edit the spreadsheet – and correct it as needed.

I can create a site where all of the spreadsheets, results, standing are displayed.

Yes, it will be manual input – but it can be through spreadsheet or form.

OK, since this is getting done, lets move on to the next agenda item: teams.

How do we want to do this?

First: Who’s participating? New Forum Thread where everyone responds with ” I’m in” ?
Second: Teams: # of teams and # of riders / team depends on total # of participants. Assuming about 12-15 participants, then 4 riders / team to begin so we get at least 3 teams?
Third: Team Composition: To avoid confusion and/or awkwardness, how about either pick 3 or 4 captains (like vvill’s recommendation) and then assign riders to those teams. Or just random assignment with balancing.

Sounds like we’re settled on points:
+10 per day ridden
+1 per mile

Any bonus points for specific rides? 2x points for riding during a declared snow emergency?

Start: Jan 1
End: April 30?

Other Details?

[Certifried]

I was screwing around with MapMyRide. It seems you can create groups, personal challenges, and events. I didn’t see a way to share a personal challenge with others, but you can create an event. I don’t know if this would work, but if someone with more MMR experience is around, maybe they could figure out if this would work.

[GuyContinental]

Not that I don’t love the enthusiasm… but isn’t this getting a bit complicated? Multiple teams, platform-specific data entry (google docs)… Why not just use the BA club on Strava and heckle from there? Allows manual entry and it’s easy to summarize (individual) miles and hours by month.

Regardless, I’d love to participate in the VA-centric 75-150 mile/week bracket (whatever that may be)

[vvill]

@Dirt 36855 wrote:

Did the folks who are Strava members get the Survey Monkey email asking about how to improve challenges this morning? I filled mine out and put in a plug for being able to create our own challenges.

Yeah I got one. I should’ve mentioned that too, oh well.

[Author]

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