April 2016 Bike Bicycle Cycling Challenge

1356789

Replies

  • HopHead28
    HopHead28 Posts: 180 Member
    UmmSqueaky wrote: »
    4/1 - 17 miles

    4/8 - 17 miles - snowing again today but nothing is sticking. Next weekend looks to be in the 60s, so I'm planning to do my first century ride. But first I have to do some bike maintenance on my road bike. Shifting is wonky, so I'm going to a women's open mechanics shop on Monday to see if I can change the chain and maybe the rear cassette. Up until now my dad has done my bike maintenance, but I'd like to learn more so I can start touring. Can't very well call up my dad if something goes wrong 300 miles out in the middle of no where!

    We're almost out of the cold @UmmSqueaky -- heck of a ride in today ey?
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    @HopHead28 it was crazy, never seen any weather like it. It was almost like we were in a snow globe - clear skies, then suddenly someone shakes up the weather, freak flurry everywhere, then it all settles and goes away. Shake, settle, repeat. Luckily no one shook the cities on my ride home!

    @tcaley4 - jealous of your weather! The problem is this is our spring lol. Spring is always unpredictable, warm one day and snowing the next it.
  • saphin
    saphin Posts: 246 Member
    Late in this month, but I'll try for 400km this month.

    1st Apr: 12 km
    9th Apr: 22.45 km
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    Super psyched to win this Wisconsin built steel beauty on ebay today! It's a custom sized teeny tiny Gunnar Sport, which in theory should fit my stubby legs well. Fingers crossed! I'm planning to rack and fender it up and use it for my every day commuter and weekend camping trips.

    dlxi7u788l6p.jpg


    4/1 - 17 miles
    4/2 - 23 miles
    4/3 - 2.5 miles
    4/4 - 24 miles
    4/5 - 16 miles
    4/6 - 23 miles
    4/7 - 9 miles
    4/8 - 17 miles
    4/9 - 18 miles - lots of updates from me with 30 days of biking :D Still cold, did this ride all at once, vs splitting it to and from work during the week. Much too long to be out without wearing heavier boots, so I'm frozen through. Brrrrr.

    Month to date: 149 miles
    Year to date: 715 miles
  • cpanus
    cpanus Posts: 19,892 Member
    In for 250 recumbent miles

    04/02 - 12.00 miles
    04/03 - 12.75 miles
    04/04 - 12.50 miles
    04/05 - 12.75 miles
    04/06 - 12.30 miles
    04/07 - 12.75 miles
    04/09 - 12.30 miles

    Chris
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    Hi all! I'm so glad to have found this group! Road bike here, getting back into it after a broken foot ( I've been back a couple of months now). I ride about 15 miles Wed. nights with a group, and longer rides on the weekends, so I'm going to set a stretch goal of 200 miles for the month. Month to date 35 miles - rained out this weekend :-(
    I'm located in the CA east bay about 60 miles n/e of San Francisco.
  • tristramtrent
    tristramtrent Posts: 257 Member
    Here are my beginner steps so far

    4/3 - 6.3 miles indoor
    4/4 - 3 miles outdoor
    4/5 5.7 miles out
    4/6 4.8 miles in
    4/7 4.9 miles in
    9/4 Built a bike shed! ( does that count? It was exhausting )
    10/4 3.5 miles outdoor - including the steepest hill so far x 2
    UmmSqueaky wrote: »
    Super psyched to win this Wisconsin built steel beauty on ebay today! It's a custom sized teeny tiny Gunnar Sport, which in theory should fit my stubby legs well. Fingers crossed! I'm planning to rack and fender it up and use it for my every day commuter and weekend camping trips.

    That looks both smart and swift. Wishing you much enjoyment on that machine. I am still nervous of dropped handlebars and use flat ones, but one day may experiment.
  • cpanus
    cpanus Posts: 19,892 Member
    In for 250 recumbent miles

    04/02 - 12.00 miles
    04/03 - 12.75 miles
    04/04 - 12.50 miles
    04/05 - 12.75 miles
    04/06 - 12.30 miles
    04/07 - 12.75 miles
    04/09 - 12.30 miles
    04/10 - 13.75 miles

    Chris
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    edited April 2016
    4/1 - 17 miles
    4/2 - 23 miles
    4/3 - 2.5 miles
    4/4 - 24 miles
    4/5 - 16 miles
    4/6 - 23 miles
    4/7 - 9 miles
    4/8 - 17 miles
    4/9 - 18 miles
    4/10 - 61 miles. Intended to do a 20 mile ride with my SO, but instead we ended up going 60. Had an unable to clip out tip over about 10 miles in, but made it out and back. Not going to feel too good tomorrow, but hey, I've got 3000 calories I could eat for dinner. So I'm having lots of garlic bread. Mmmmm.


    Month to date: 210 miles
    Year to date: 776 miles

    Edited to add picture of Giant Snowman who lives in North St. Paul.

    ic06jp.jpg


  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    tristramtrent wrote: »

    That looks both smart and swift. Wishing you much enjoyment on that machine. I am still nervous of dropped handlebars and use flat ones, but one day may experiment.

    Take it slow! I spent a year riding a mountain bike (flat bars), and have had my Giant (drop bars) for 2. But, I'd say the vast majority of the time I spend it up on the hoods (ie the flat part that sticks out above the drops). It's easier for navigating through city traffic and making sure I see other path users. I also have a set of turkey wings/safety levers/bar brakes so I can stop while sitting up, again, easier for city traffic. If you're ever interested in a drop bar bike, I'd actually recommend those at first - it makes the transition to drops a bit more gradual.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    edited April 2016
    April 2: 61.9 Miles -- Duration 4:52:00
    April 3: 13 Miles -- Duration 1:44:27
    April 5: 22.2 MIles -- Duration 1:53:35
    April 7th: 8.76 Miles -- Duration 0:30:00
    April 8th: 3.7 Miles -- Duration 0:25:00
    April 10th: 28.9 Miles -- Duration 1:46:36

    April Total Miles: 105.86
    April Total Duration: 11:11:38

    I got the softail assembled with new parts to bring the size HUGE (XL) down to 21.73 pounds for XC racing. Still need to trim the steerer tube and dial in stem size to mate with the wide bar, but the new parts trimmed nearly 3 pounds off of what I had been running.

    25761983634_2e20e9c531_b.jpg
  • saphin
    saphin Posts: 246 Member
    Late in this month, but I'll try for 400km this month.

    1st Apr: 12 km
    9th Apr: 22.45 km
    10th Apr: 23.54 km
    11th Apr: 23.85 km

    Month to date: 81.84 km
  • Tinymeaf
    Tinymeaf Posts: 30 Member
    New to this challenge and just got my first serious bike. Unfortunately we have had a nasty April so far weather-wise. Can't hit the roads until April 15th! Will set a half month goal of 120 km
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    SingingSingleTracker wrote: »

    I got the softail assembled with new parts to bring the size HUGE (XL) down to 21.73 pounds for XC racing. Still need to trim the steerer tube and dial in stem size to mate with the wide bar, but the new parts trimmed nearly 3 pounds off of what I had been running.

    25761983634_2e20e9c531_b.jpg

    As a Minnesotan, I highly approve of your QBP brand bike. *thumbs up*

  • puglife456
    puglife456 Posts: 127 Member
    I NEED to get out on a ride today. I'm going a little stir crazy with this weather. Also, I'm pretty far behind on my goal for this month :p it's windy here, but otherwise sunny and doesn't look like rain. Crossing my fingers !!!
  • tcaley4
    tcaley4 Posts: 416 Member
    After my spill on Saturday and going splat on the asphalt, I have lots of sore muscles now. I have also gained four pounds. Could that be from water retention of the muscles trying to repair themselves?
  • tristramtrent
    tristramtrent Posts: 257 Member
    edited April 2016
    UmmSqueaky wrote: »
    Take it slow! I spent a year riding a mountain bike (flat bars), and have had my Giant (drop bars) for 2. But, I'd say the vast majority of the time I spend it up on the hoods (ie the flat part that sticks out above the drops). It's easier for navigating through city traffic and making sure I see other path users. I also have a set of turkey wings/safety levers/bar brakes so I can stop while sitting up, again, easier for city traffic. If you're ever interested in a drop bar bike, I'd actually recommend those at first - it makes the transition to drops a bit more gradual.

    Thanks for that good advice - I've never seen the brakes you describe but they sound like a good way to ease into the drops. Years ago I had some and did well with them but, ah! I was so young.

    Loving my daily bike rides though - today went to the next village via a hill and thence past the gypsy camp in the woods where dogs were barking and I got passed, as usual, by a cyclist in yellow lycra at high speed ( sigh).

  • cpanus
    cpanus Posts: 19,892 Member
    In for 250 recumbent miles

    04/02 - 12.00 miles
    04/03 - 12.75 miles
    04/04 - 12.50 miles
    04/05 - 12.75 miles
    04/06 - 12.30 miles
    04/07 - 12.75 miles
    04/09 - 12.30 miles
    04/10 - 13.75 miles...101.10 so far
    04/11 - 14.00 miles

    Chris
  • miovlb6
    miovlb6 Posts: 339 Member
    So glad to have found this group. I'm getting a slow start towards my 200 mile goal and I have no excuses. The weather's great, foot feels fine, I just can't seem to get back into the routine. Planning on riding 25 tomorrow before work, no excuses. I will wake up early...I will wake up early...I will wake up early...
    4/5 10.8 miles
    4/9 25.6 miles
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,611 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »

    Review ...
    Distances include cycling + walking
    March: 489.8 km (304.3 miles) = 38 hours 4 min
    April: 491.94 km (305.6 miles) = 43 hours 6 min
    May: 361.81 km (224.8 miles) = 35 hours 50 min
    June: 569.53 km (353.9 miles) = 41 hours 53 min
    July: 230.7 km (143.35 miles) = 32 hours 45 min
    Aug: 211.3 km (131.3 miles) = 28 hours 8 min
    Sep: 306.7 km (190.6 miles) = 35 hour 2 min
    Oct: 441.82 km (274.5 miles) = 47 hours 43 min
    Nov: 660.21 km (410.23 miles) = 60 hours 41 min
    Dec: 499.91 km (282.8 miles) = 54 hours 56 min
    Jan: 864.79 km (537.35 miles) = 65 hours 36 min
    Feb: 470.53 km (292.4 miles) = 40 hours 39 min
    March: 917.73 km (570.2 miles) = 66 hours 13 min

    April probably won't be as ambitious as March was because I have three major uni assignments due before the middle of the month and won't be as active. But if I could do what I did last April, that would be nice. :)
    _________________________
    April 2 - 21.43 km (65 min) cycling
    April 3 - 30.4 km (95 min) cycling
    _________________________
    Totals:
    Apr Cycling Outside: 51.83 km (160 min)
    Apr Cycling Inside: 0 min
    Apr Walking: 4 km (50 min)
    Apr Stairs: 0 flights (0 min)
    Apr Time Total: 210 min = 3 hours 30 min
    Apr Distance Total: 55.83 km = 34.6 miles

    April 9 - 24 km (75 min) cycling


    _________________________
    Totals:
    Apr Cycling Outside: 75.83 km (235 min)
    Apr Cycling Inside: 0 min
    Apr Walking: 42.1 km (517 min)
    Apr Stairs: 170 flights (135 min)
    Apr Time Total: 887 min = 14 hours 47 min
    Apr Distance Total: 117.93 km = 73.3 miles

  • wobblybots
    wobblybots Posts: 52 Member
    edited April 2016
    Gah my April has got off to a really bad start. The weather is so bad here at the min. I don't mind cycling in rain but the winds have been gale force and I've had a bad experience of being blown crossways into traffic and narrowly missed getting hit by a car so I don't go out in strong winds anymore. My bike is full carbon so light as a feather which has it's disadvantages too. And last weekend was a write off with a bad stomach flu. I'm getting out tonight though, I don't care what's going on!

    My goal for April is 450km.

    05/04 - 22km turbo
  • wobblybots
    wobblybots Posts: 52 Member
    What a great prize to win UmmSqueaky. Hope it rides as good as it looks!
  • SteveCro
    SteveCro Posts: 788 Member
    I'm in, will set my goal at 400 miles.

    4/1 - 12.06 miles, road bike, 54.12 minutes
    4/2 - 17.66 miles, road bike, 1:25 minutes
    4/8 - Think I sat my goal to high now. We have had a week of terrible weather. Saturday was high of 35 with 16 to 20 mph winds, sleet/freezing rain/snow. All week been cold and rained everyday and windy. 45000 locally without power as winds has been 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50. Rain with snow mix tomorrow again (Friday) and Saturday high of 35 rain in the morning turning to wintery mix in the afternoon. uggggg!!!!
    4/11 - 18.20 miles, road bike, finally the weather straightened up for a ride.

    Totals- MTD - 47.92

    Jan. miles - 170.5 bike
    Feb. miles- 245.25 bike
    March miles- 409.78 bike

    Total for 2016- 873.45 bike
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    4/1 - 17 miles
    4/2 - 23 miles
    4/3 - 2.5 miles
    4/4 - 24 miles
    4/5 - 16 miles
    4/6 - 23 miles
    4/7 - 9 miles
    4/8 - 17 miles
    4/9 - 18 miles
    4/10 - 61 miles
    4/11 - 17 miles
    4/12 - 23 miles. Very much hoping this is the last sub freezing morning of the year. The weather outlook shows lows in the 40s and 50s over the next 10 days. Fingers crossed, cuz I'm so done with numb extremities.

    Month to date: 250 miles
    Year to date: 816 miles


  • puglife456
    puglife456 Posts: 127 Member

    4/4 - 5 miles
    4/5- 15 miles
    4/11- 20 miles

    Total: 40 miles
    Goal: 300 miles
    Remaining: 260 miles (oh boy)
  • cpanus
    cpanus Posts: 19,892 Member
    In for 250 recumbent miles

    04/02 - 12.00 miles
    04/03 - 12.75 miles
    04/04 - 12.50 miles
    04/05 - 12.75 miles
    04/06 - 12.30 miles
    04/07 - 12.75 miles
    04/09 - 12.30 miles
    04/10 - 13.75 miles...101.10 so far
    04/11 - 14.00 miles
    04/12 - 13.00 miles

    Chris
  • SteveCro
    SteveCro Posts: 788 Member
    I'm in, will set my goal at 400 miles.

    4/1 - 12.06 miles, road bike, 54.12 minutes
    4/2 - 17.66 miles, road bike, 1:25 minutes
    4/8 - Think I sat my goal to high now. We have had a week of terrible weather. Saturday was high of 35 with 16 to 20 mph winds, sleet/freezing rain/snow. All week been cold and rained everyday and windy. 45000 locally without power as winds has been 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50. Rain with snow mix tomorrow again (Friday) and Saturday high of 35 rain in the morning turning to wintery mix in the afternoon. uggggg!!!!
    4/11 - 18.20 miles, road bike, finally the weather straightened up for a ride.
    4/12 - 29.15 miles, road bike, great weather for a change

    Totals- MTD - 77.07

    Jan. miles - 170.5 bike
    Feb. miles- 245.25 bike
    March miles- 409.78 bike

    Total for 2016- 902.60 bike
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    4/1 - 17 miles
    4/2 - 23 miles
    4/3 - 2.5 miles
    4/4 - 24 miles
    4/5 - 16 miles
    4/6 - 23 miles
    4/7 - 9 miles
    4/8 - 17 miles
    4/9 - 18 miles
    4/10 - 61 miles
    4/11 - 17 miles
    4/12 - 23 miles
    4/13 - 24 miles - gorgeous weather on the way into work this morning. I spent the whole ride kicking myself for not getting out of bed earlier so I could take the longer route in. But then I got to work and the lockroom and showers are closed, so I guess it was for the best - if I went any longer I would have been a disgusting mess. It should be in the lower 60s on the way home and I'm so looking forward to it.

    Month to date: 274 miles
    Year to date: 840 miles


  • tcaley4
    tcaley4 Posts: 416 Member
    04/03 - 42.51
    04/06 - 14.52
    04/07 - 14.26
    04/08 - 19.51
    04/09 - 17.25
    04/12 - 14.19


    April total: 122.24
    Year to date: 995.12

    Jan - 175.9
    Feb - 343.3
    Mar - 353.8
  • puglife456
    puglife456 Posts: 127 Member

    4/4 - 5 miles
    4/5- 15 miles
    4/11- 20 miles
    4/12- 20 miles

    Total: 60 miles
    Goal: 300 miles
    Remaining: 240 miles

    Slowly hacking away at my remaining miles :p I've had a cold so I haven't been going very hard. I'm thinking of doing a long ride on Sunday if the weather is pleasant and I'm feeling better. I also want to start going to the gym and weight lifting after my rides, because otherwise my membership is just going to waste :s (I've decided to keep the membership for one more month, as April weather is very unpredictable and I won't be able to get my student discount at the school gym until May).

Categories