Zwiftest Rider

[Brett L.]

This thread really went sideways. Let’s keep it fun and aloof, delete a whole bunch of comments – keep the funny ones – and summarize with rubber chicken award! First timey here, I know I’m out of place to comment, but this freezing saddles competition has already been tremendous fun for me as I’ve competed, joshed with biking buddies and have met so many more people. For me, Freezing Saddles has already been a success. As a third party, and knowing that I’m interjecting myself unsolicited to this thread, perhaps let’s all take a step back, forget what’s been said, retrack some of the animosity, and all have some fun.

[Bob James]

@rcannon100 152621 wrote:

Bob. Thanks for joining the conversation late and offering your opinion. I can only assume you failed to read this full thread or comprehend that most of the people competing on virtual miles are on the slacker team. And as for the one other person mentioned her who likes to ride a trainer, he rides more miles on the road than almost anyone with their big fat mouth open.

Let me offer you a few observations

(1) I founded Freezing Saddles. I know what I am talking about. I know why it was created.

(2) I am dying of cancer. I am currently in Chemo to change that fact.

(3). I am on the slacker team. Other people in this conversation are on the slacker team. Other people who aren’t on the slacker team pound more miles than I could ever dream of and I am not worthy

(4). I am sponsoring a pointless pointless prize for the person who rides the most trainer miles. The winner gets a rubber chicken. I have been having fun with members of the community with it. Or we were having fun until Eric decided to express his opinions on what he thinks of people riding trainer rides – Eric the person who was trying to give the award for most trainer ride miles which apparently wasn’t – as played – a celebration – but a reflection of his animosity towards those who are riding trainer miles.

Would you care to retract your opinion on how I OUGHT to participate in Freezing Saddles?

At least half the slackers have serious medical conditions – that I know of. There are probably more issues I dont know of. And yet they keep getting caught in the cross hairs of assholes telling them how they OUGHT TO PLAY THE GAME. One jerk is on a personal vendettte to prevent slackers from participating because he believes you can only play his way. Then Eric went diagonal today because he has all this negative energy about one person and how this person is riding a trainer when, in his patronizing opinion, that person should not. Now you have decided to chime in.

We participate because we want community. We participate for fun. We participate because at the moment we need joy in our life. That’s why we want to be on the slacker team even tho we know we cannot be part of the full competition.

Maybe we can all agree to STOP PATRONIZINGLY TELLING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO RIDE A BIKE OR PARTICIPATE IN FS.

Everyone’s world is different. They play for their own reasons. The original reason what “Hey lets have fun this winter.”

I would seriously love to proposal a freezing saddles procedural rule: If someone else’s participation in freeezing saddles does not DIRECTLY affect your participation, then SHUT UP.

I retract (and apologize for) any comment or opinion you or anyone else found offensive or insulting. It was certainly not my intent. I road 18,000 miles outside last year while going through chemo for Leukemia. Ride on, outside or virtually. Best of luck with your treatment.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@ewilliams0305 152620 wrote:

Kathy, this thread quickly got out of control (by way of my own contribution for sure). I don’t intend to bully or discourage anyone INCLUDING MATT from riding, inside, outside, or from participating in BAFS.

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But you should always try to discourage Matt. Always. Though trying to bully him is probably a bad idea.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@KLizotte 152614 wrote:

If Matt Aune can do 34 mph on a properly set up trainer without breaking a sweat then surely doing so outside will be just as easy for him. He is in really, really good shape.

I can assure you that my avg mph are the same both on and off the trainer and that my legs are more sore from my trainer rides than my “real” rides, esp if I’m just commuting. Please don’t assume Matt is the “norm”!

Also, we should not discourage (or bully) people who can only do xx miles in the real world then have to (or choose to) use a trainer to supplement those miles. Everyone has medical, family, logistical, and time issues that are no one else’s business but their own. The whole reason FS was originally started was to promote community, have fun and provide an incentive for people to stay in shape over the winter. For all the folks that want to be super competitive about it, create a different contest or establish side bets.

The fun factor and supportive atmosphere is quickly dissipating and is one of the reasons I stopped participating in FS.

I think he’s suggesting that it’s an improperly set up trainer that allows this, and could therefore be used to game the pointless pointless prize. Like an infinite loop of pointlessness.

A perfect metaphor for this thread.

[MattAune]

@ewilliams0305 152620 wrote:

Kathy, this thread quickly got out of control (by way of my own contribution for sure). I don’t intend to bully or discourage anyone INCLUDING MATT from riding, inside, outside, or from participating in BAFS.

Reset! I assure you me sense of humor is a bit over the top…

Going back to my initial thread. I simple wanted to recognize the person who road the most on a trainer. In fact it started because I invited a friend to play BAFS and she ended up riding inside almost every day so far, I was secretly rooting for her to win. I “thought” it would be a fun comical prize and could include a hilarious prize. People seemed to even respond positively to the idea.

This was never intended to be a debate about wether indoor trainers are good, bad, lame, none of that. Just a way for people who are outside suffering in the cold to have a good laugh when it’s all over. Sure, a laugh at someone else’s expensive is never a great idea, but I thought it was all in good fun. After all, we have had awards for the slowest rider and so on.

I don’t want anyone in this community to feel intimidated or pressured to ride. You should feel welcome here and you should definitely keep on riding however or whatever way you choose to do so.

I’m going for a bike ride[emoji1338]

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It is a fun comical prize, its truly the perfect pointless prize actually.

At no point did i ever suggest that indoor rides should count towards FS points. I just have no shame in that fact that I am going to ride inside a bit during the game.

[MattAune]

@ShawnoftheDread 152630 wrote:

I think he’s suggesting that it’s an improperly set up trainer that allows this, and could therefore be used to game the pointless pointless prize. Like an infinite loop of pointlessness.

A perfect metaphor for this thread.

Correct, while it would be a super lame thing to do, it would be possible to set your trainer in “ERG” mode at 100 watts. No matter what gear I am in or what speed I am “riding” the trainer will maintain a perfect 100 watts. Something I totally expect Cannon to try now that I explained it, he wants that damn chicken.

[laurenist]

Since Aune and I are on the same non-BAFS racing team, and competing in the same pointless team trainer challenge, AND competing against each other in BAFS, I feel like we should probably compete for the rubber chicken, too. But, given my dumb trainer, I vote for hours vs. miles as the decider.

[hozn]

@Bob James 152628 wrote:

I road 18,000 miles outside last year while going through chemo for Leukemia.

I’m not sure this is any less patronizing …

… but I trust you’re not trying to be an ass.

[Steve O]

As the coordinator of pointless prizes, when I first saw this proposed by Bob, I thought it was excellent, and excellently titled. And exactly in the spirit of Freezing Saddles–in that it engages the members of the community in another fun game.
I also interpreted eric’s posts more as smack talk than insult. And I generally think of smack talk as satirical and friendly banter more than personal attack. Maybe that was being too kind to eric, but I guess I’d prefer to err in that direction.

I have added the Pointless Pointless Prize to the “official” list of Pointless prizes. It’s open to anyone playing the game. Obviously, players’ outdoor miles will count towards their team’s points and their indoor miles will count towards the rubber chicken. Good luck everyone!

[KLizotte]

@hozn 152652 wrote:

I’m not sure this is any less patronizing …

… but I trust you’re not trying to be an ass.

I read it that he was showing condolences to a fellow cancer patient/cyclist; that’s all.

[Nadine]

@LeprosyStudyGroup 152594 wrote:

just wanted to correct the record that a proper noodle is performed at far less than 14 mph
exhibit A: https://www.strava.com/activities/830685551

Thank you LSG! I was feeling small ever since I read the noodling comment. When I average 14 mph on a ride, that’s a fast ride. (I was doing it in the summer, but I seem to ride slower in the cold.)

The point is, for some of us 14 is not noodling….

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[Nadine]

@KLizotte 152657 wrote:

I read it that he was showing condolences to a fellow cancer patient/cyclist; that’s all.

That’s right. I know Bob, and that’s the only thing he couldabin doing.

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[Nadine]

That’s right. I know Bob & I’ve never seen him patronize. Plus, I biked to chemo too, & have talked with him about it…

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[hozn]

@KLizotte 152657 wrote:

I read it that he was showing condolences to a fellow cancer patient/cyclist; that’s all.

Yeah, I believe you are right. It just seemed like an odd way to phrase support for someone that was explaining why they wouldn’t be riding outside this winter due to chemo.

Regardless, I shouldn’t have said anything, as I think that this thread has been a rather tragic tangent for all involved. I think the rubber chicken prize is great and wish rcannon the best in his indoor miles while undergoing treatment.

And wish you, Matt, and others the best as you ride indoors for fitness goals; anyone that thinks trainer miles are less valuable to physical fitness has probably just been doing it wrong. (Honestly, I admire those of you that have the level of dedication to fitness to get on a trainer; I don’t have that and I think that is a type of mental hardiness that seems a lot harder to develop [or purchase] than comfort riding around outside when it’s cold.)

In any event, the rules for the main FS competition have always been clear and the sw implementation has always been to exclude virtual or trainer rides. Nothing (except maybe a data challenge we need to resolve) to prevent people having fun and awarding prizes for trainer miles.

[Judd]

@ewilliams0305 152569 wrote:

PS I have big quads and nice abs regardless[emoji12][emoji869]

I’ve seen Eric. Total beefcake.

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