December 2017 Biking Cycling Bicycling Challenge!
_nikkiwolf_
Posts: 1,380 Member
Welcome to the December 2017 Cycling Challenge thread!
This is a continuation of the November thread.
This is a continuation of the November thread.
ohhim wrote:If you are new to posting on this thread, or if you are new to cycling, We welcome you! If you are returning from a previous thread, We welcome you, too.
This thread is for anyone who rides a bike. Do you bike to work? Do you pull your children to the park? So you ride weekends? Do you spin, at home or the gym? Do you race crits, ironman, or centuries? Or, are you just starting out and remembering how much fun you had biking when you were a kid? However you choose to push your pedal, you are welcome on this thread.
There's no set challenge across participants - this is a mixed-ability / mixed-experience / everyone welcome group. Just pick your own target that you want to achieve this month, post that when you join the thread, and post updates throughout the month as you're working towards your target.
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Replies
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My goal for this month is to get to 5,000 miles in 2017.
Dithered about committing to it as it means I will have to do a lot of indoor training (I don't tolerate cold very well).
To make it easier I've bought myself a seat mounting bracket for the Wattbikes in my gym so I can quickly fit my own saddle. The standard ones have clearly been designed by a man-hater!
332 miles to go.0 -
My goal for the year was 700 hours...according to Strava I am 6 hours behind pace...so 67 hours this month will do it.
Don't track miles...find it pretty useless when you bike 400 plus hours inside.
11 hours so far...got 2 to do today
John0 -
My only goal this month is to try to get on the trainer at least 20 days for at least 20 minutes or more. That turns into 5 times a week. I am guessing if I stick with it my times will go up fairly quickly, but I figured 20 minutes minimum was a reasonable point to start since I have been really slacking off the cycling this year.
So far:
Dec 1 -- 11 minutes
Dec 4 -- 30 minutes
Dec 5 -- 25 minutes0 -
My goal for the year was 700 hours...according to Strava I am 6 hours behind pace...so 67 hours this month will do it.
Don't track miles...find it pretty useless when you bike 400 plus hours inside.
11 hours so far...got 2 to do today
John
2:05 today. So 13:05 for the month. Held 281 watts for 20 minutes, not bad at 61 kilograms...1 -
Aiming for 300 miles and over 24 hours
12/01: 21.01 Miles | 1:05:23
12/02: Rest Day
12/03: 15.00 Miles | 46:11
12/04: Rest Day
12/05: 23.47 Miles | 1:18:02
Total: 59.48 Miles | 3:09:36 |1 -
Did a little bit of Black Friday / Cyber Monday shopping....
Neat little LED back light, a seat bracket assembly for Wattbikes so I can quickly and easily mount my own saddle rather than suffer emasculation from the Wattbike ones and some new shoes. Subtle colour aren't they?
What did everyone else buy?
MTD -9 Hours 163 miles 3 Personal Records 16 Activities
YTD - 289 Hours 4,734.8 miles 716 Personal Records 270 Activities
266 miles to hit goal.0 -
My target for December has to be...get on the bike!!!
Not doing too well so far. Not even put the bike on the trainer. It must happen! Ideally beat last year's December of real rides - 140km.
Oh, I really don't like this time of year. Too old. Too lazy and the weather is crap!0 -
My goal for the year was 700 hours...according to Strava I am 6 hours behind pace...so 67 hours this month will do it.
Don't track miles...find it pretty useless when you bike 400 plus hours inside.
11 hours so far...got 2 to do today
John
2:05 today. So 13:05 for the month. Held 281 watts for 20 minutes, not bad at 61 kilograms...
So another 2:02 today...hour in the morning & an hour after work. Felt pretty good considering I hit it hard last night. Plus did a ton of abs, pull ups and push ups.
15:07 for the month
0 -
Review ... (Distances include cycling + walking)
March 15: 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 2015: 230.7 km (143.35 miles) = 32 hours 45 min
Aug: 211.3 km (131.3 miles) = 28 hours 8 min
Sep 2015: 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 16: 917.73 km (570.2 miles) = 66 hours 13 min
April: 417.83 km (259.6 miles) = 40 hours 23 min
May: 267.09 km (165.9 miles) = 36 hours 10 min
June: 552.1 km (343 miles) = 54 hours 48 min
July 2016: 709 km (440.5 miles) = 60 hours 41 minutes
Aug: 775.9 km (482.1 miles) = 54 hours 52 minutes
Sep 2016: 371.3 km (230.7 miles) = 32 hours 20 min
Oct: 649 km (403.3 miles) = 49 hours 46 min
Nov: 403 km (250.4 miles) = 52 hours 16 min
Dec: 511.05 km (317.55 miles) = 52 hours 2 min
Jan: 741.9 km (461.0 miles) = 70 hours 3 min
Feb: 600.5 km (373.1 miles) = 57 hours 30 min
Mar: 1113.2 km (691.7 miles) = 78 hours 25 min
Apr: 1181.9 km (734.4 miles) = 76 hours 45 min
May: 426.6 km (265.1 miles) = 39 hours 21 min
June: 575.7 km (357.7 miles) = 41 hours 53 min
July: 714 km (443.7 miles) = 52 hours 23 min
August: 475.8 km (295.6 miles) = 38 hours 41 min
September: 455.5 km (283 miles) = 41 hours 25 min
October: 647.1 km (402.1 miles) = 57 hours 19 min
November: 427.0 km (265.3 miles) = 50 hours 4 min
Dec 2015: 499.91 km (282.8 miles) = 54 hours 56 min
Dec 2016: 511.05 km (317.55 miles) = 52 hours 2 min
Looking back, I see I managed nearly 55 hours in 2015 and 52 hours in 2016. So looking forward, here's hoping for a full 55 hours in 2017.
Dec 1 - 1.6 km walking (20 min) + 4 flights of 20 stairs (3 min)
Dec 2 - 7 km running (56 min) ... 45 min running + 11 min walking to warm up and cool down
Dec 3 - 9.5 km cycling indoors (30 min) + 6.25 km rowing (40 min)
Dec 4 - 5.2 km walking (65 min) + 14 flights of stairs (11 min)
Dec 5 - 6.5 km walking (85 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min)
Dec 6 - 5.2 km walking (65 min) + 14 flights of stairs (11 min) + 15 min of weightlifting
Dec 7 - 2.5 km running (25 min) + 2.9 km walking (40 min) + 6.33 km cycling indoors (20 min) + 20 flights of stairs (16 min) + 12 min of weightlifting
2017 Monthly December
Walking Distance (km): 30.9
Walking Time (min): 354.8
Cycling Distance (km): 15.8
Cycling Time (min): 50.0
Stairs Climbed Number: 62.0
Stairs Climbed Time (min): 49.6
Other Distance: 6.3
Other Time: 67.0
Totals
Total Distance (km): 53.0
Total Distance (miles): 32.9
Total Time (min): 521.3
Total Time (hr): 8:41:200 -
So another 1:22 today...14:25 for the month
YTD 647 hours according to Strava
Do any of you log with Strava?0 -
So another 1:22 today...14:25 for the month
YTD 647 hours according to Strava
Do any of you log with Strava?
I'm on Strava but I'm at a recreational level rather than your level.... Only Strava thinks I'm an athlete!
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4688753
I use Garmin and Wattbike Hub as my primary data collectors but both linked to Strava.0 -
So another 1:22 today...14:25 for the month
YTD 647 hours according to Strava
Do any of you log with Strava?
I'm on Strava but I'm at a recreational level rather than your level.... Only Strava thinks I'm an athlete!
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4688753
I use Garmin and Wattbike Hub as my primary data collectors but both linked to Strava.
I would say with your amount of biking you are clearly an athlete. Most of the world does nothing....
My link
https://www.strava.com/athletes/5058093
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So another 1:22 today...14:25 for the month
YTD 647 hours according to Strava
Do any of you log with Strava?
I'm on Strava but I'm at a recreational level rather than your level.... Only Strava thinks I'm an athlete!
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4688753
I use Garmin and Wattbike Hub as my primary data collectors but both linked to Strava.
I would say with your amount of biking you are clearly an athlete. Most of the world does nothing....
My link
https://www.strava.com/athletes/5058093
Aw shucks!
It does seem that people are becoming less and less active. My short ride to the gym is often held up by hoards of cars with parents ferrying their brats children to my local school instead of walking. It has a one mile radius catchment area!
Then I get to the gym and find the car park is full. Again local people and these are the minority who actually exercise but don't consider using their own legs for transport.
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So another 1:22 today...14:25 for the month
YTD 647 hours according to Strava
Do any of you log with Strava?
I'm on Strava but I'm at a recreational level rather than your level.... Only Strava thinks I'm an athlete!
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4688753
I use Garmin and Wattbike Hub as my primary data collectors but both linked to Strava.
I would say with your amount of biking you are clearly an athlete. Most of the world does nothing....
My link
https://www.strava.com/athletes/5058093
Aw shucks!
It does seem that people are becoming less and less active. My short ride to the gym is often held up by hoards of cars with parents ferrying their brats children to my local school instead of walking. It has a one mile radius catchment area!
Then I get to the gym and find the car park is full. Again local people and these are the minority who actually exercise but don't consider using their own legs for transport.
Most people do not realize unhealthy is actually a million little choices made each and every day. I am always amazed at how many people sit in there cars and wait for there kids after practice. I always go and watch them or walk across the field they are playing to greet them. I take the first parking spot i see and I always use the stairs. Each little choice adds up a ton over the day/week/years. I teach a concept of mindfulness, it's amazingly important concept to apply to life. Had to master but with a little practice there are many benefits.
Keep riding my friend, it all matters
John1 -
Well, winter doesn't mess around in Minnesota - 50 degrees and raining on Monday, temp drops, and yuck. I had set my winter bike up for slush but instead we got a thick coat of ice on EVERYTHING. Going to pull out the studded wheel set tomorrow and get them on the bike so I can get back into commuting. I also have a suuuper cheap trainer somewhere that I may dig out and set up with my old road bike. It's just so dang loud and it scares the cats
But I haven't been completely idle. Finally got myself to the masters swim team before work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then did a solo distance swim work out this morning. The swim team people were all very nice and the fact that I'm slower than molasses didn't bother anyone. Half Ironman here I come...eventually!
12/1 - 17 miles
December total - 17 miles
Also, got myself an early christmas present:
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UmmSqueaky wrote: »Well, winter doesn't mess around in Minnesota - 50 degrees and raining on Monday, temp drops, and yuck. I had set my winter bike up for slush but instead we got a thick coat of ice on EVERYTHING. Going to pull out the studded wheel set tomorrow and get them on the bike so I can get back into commuting. I also have a suuuper cheap trainer somewhere that I may dig out and set up with my old road bike. It's just so dang loud and it scares the cats
But I haven't been completely idle. Finally got myself to the masters swim team before work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then did a solo distance swim work out this morning. The swim team people were all very nice and the fact that I'm slower than molasses didn't bother anyone. Half Ironman here I come...eventually!
12/1 - 17 miles
December total - 17 miles
Also, got myself an early christmas present:
That's a great shirt...I quit triathlon partially for that reason...one of my new quotes
"I did not hate myself enough to keep running"
J0 -
I have also completed 5-6 half ironmans, so if you need some guidance let me know. I think my best time was a 4:48ish...been 4/5 years. I just bike now1
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I have also completed 5-6 half ironmans, so if you need some guidance let me know. I think my best time was a 4:48ish...been 4/5 years. I just bike now
Oh excellent. My goal is just to finish. I know I can do all the distances, just not in 8 and a half hours! I'm looking to summer 2019, IMOO 70.3. Lots and lots of hills on the bike course though, so I'm planning lots and lots of hill work this summer 0 -
To really finish well bike a ton. But hills will only work for a little while unless you keep pushing after the hill. You have to stress the aerobic system for more than 5-8 minutes of a hill. Way to many people slow down after the hill. That is fine for 4-6 weeks but after that adaptation to the training slows way down. Where you live there are not long enough hills to go the job. Hills do work BUT long steady effort are very very important for triathlon, like 20 minute blocks if not longer. I did Ironman Wisconsin, poeople think that hill work matters, what got me ready was long steady riding...even pacing, slightly uncomfortable, slower up hill, moderate on the flats, and I hammered downhill to keep the body working.
I do suggest one day where you hammer hills then rest, but I know long steady is key for triathlon. Even hilly ones.
J0 -
And biking all winter even 2-3 hour per week would help a ton...a ton0
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Sunday -- My husband and I cycled our December Century. We have completed the Century-A-Month challenge with a minimum of one century (100 mile ride) in each month of the year!!
We were hoping to ride this century last weekend, however, our area got nearly 100 mm of rain over the couple days of the weekend, and cold and wind, and we just weren't all that keen on cycling 100 miles in those conditions. And in fact, trees fell and blocked the roads in a number of places, and other roads were flooded, so it really would not have been advisable.
So we pushed it back a week. But this week has been very busy, especially for my husband, and doing a century this weekend was not really the thing we wanted to be doing. However, things are going to get even busier, so we figured we'd better get it done.
This century looked good on paper and we've ridden the whole route in bits and pieces at one point or another with no difficulty at all. But in thinking about it, the last time I've ridden the hilliest parts of the route was roughly last year this time when I was feeling fitter!
Nevertheless, off we went. The ride started by climbing and climbing and climbing. Then we had a fast descent into Hobart, a brisk ride through the city, and onto flat ground on the other side of the range ... the cycleway. But we were straight into a wind blowing at 41 km/h and gusting to 61 km/h. There was one gust, while we were cycling through the city, that knocked my bicycle into the next lane and I had to quickly get myself back again. Fortunately the traffic was fairly light just then.
We slogged into the wind for the full length of the cycleway (13.5 km) and on out to New Norfolk (another 22 km). The planned route continued another 20 km into the wind, but in New Norfolk, we stopped to have something to eat, and made the decision to take advantage of the tailwind, and head back. All that climbing and 35.5 km of cycling into a strong wind had exhausted us. In addition, just outside New Norfolk on the way there, my husband had flatted and changed his tube, so that took some extra time.
The tailwind back into Hobart was lovely, and in order to make up the distance, we did an extra lap of the cycleway (27 km in total) but unfortunately, my husband was having no end of difficulty with his tube/tire. We still couldn't tell you what caused the flat, but a little hole was being cut into the tire from somewhere or something. Finally, toward the end of that lap, we seemed to have solved the problem.
Then it was up and over Bonnet Hill ... more climbing ... and back to the start point. We stopped and took a little break there, then completed the last 8 km to make up the century.
I think this might have been the toughest century of the lot of them this year!! And I think I might head to bed a little bit earlier than usual!
Distance: 161.0 km
Elevation: 1,840 m
Moving Time: 8:51:27
Elapsed Time: 11:22:01
Speed: Avg: 18.2 km/h Max: 47.5 km/h
Temp high for the day: 25C ... and windy!
1 -
Mostly indoor training on the Wattbike for me.
FTP test tomorrow if legs are feeling good. That will be fun.....
MTD - 11 Hours 209 miles 3 Personal Records 19 Activities
YTD - 291 Hours 4,781.7 miles 716 Personal Records 273 Activities
219 miles to hit goal.0 -
Month to date according to Strava....23:15
Going to be hard to hit 700 for the year but it still might happen 655 hours for the year0 -
Spent a few hours trying to wrestle my winter bike into shape yesterday. I took the studded wheelset off 2 years ago (didn't use them last year), and they just sat on the floor of my porch. I'm wondering if they didn't distort or stretch or something. Back studded tire wouldn't seat fully. Put it on, road around the block a few times and it blew out on me. Had to carry it a block back to my house. I'm going to work on it a bit this week and if I can't get it together I'll have to swallow my pride and go to an open bike workshop and beg for help. But first I definitely need to clean it. So. Greasy. It's freakin embarrassing how disgusting it is. Might also just buy a new studded tire and see if that works instead.
12/1 - 17 miles
12/10 - 1 mile
December total - 18 miles0 -
UmmSqueaky wrote: »Spent a few hours trying to wrestle my winter bike into shape yesterday. I took the studded wheelset off 2 years ago (didn't use them last year), and they just sat on the floor of my porch. I'm wondering if they didn't distort or stretch or something. Back studded tire wouldn't seat fully. Put it on, road around the block a few times and it blew out on me. Had to carry it a block back to my house. I'm going to work on it a bit this week and if I can't get it together I'll have to swallow my pride and go to an open bike workshop and beg for help. But first I definitely need to clean it. So. Greasy. It's freakin embarrassing how disgusting it is. Might also just buy a new studded tire and see if that works instead.
12/1 - 17 miles
12/10 - 1 mile
December total - 18 miles
Wow that totally sucks...but sometimes maintaince is a start
J0 -
Review ... (Distances include cycling + walking)
March 15: 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 2015: 230.7 km (143.35 miles) = 32 hours 45 min
Aug: 211.3 km (131.3 miles) = 28 hours 8 min
Sep 2015: 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 16: 917.73 km (570.2 miles) = 66 hours 13 min
April: 417.83 km (259.6 miles) = 40 hours 23 min
May: 267.09 km (165.9 miles) = 36 hours 10 min
June: 552.1 km (343 miles) = 54 hours 48 min
July 2016: 709 km (440.5 miles) = 60 hours 41 minutes
Aug: 775.9 km (482.1 miles) = 54 hours 52 minutes
Sep 2016: 371.3 km (230.7 miles) = 32 hours 20 min
Oct: 649 km (403.3 miles) = 49 hours 46 min
Nov: 403 km (250.4 miles) = 52 hours 16 min
Dec: 511.05 km (317.55 miles) = 52 hours 2 min
Jan: 741.9 km (461.0 miles) = 70 hours 3 min
Feb: 600.5 km (373.1 miles) = 57 hours 30 min
Mar: 1113.2 km (691.7 miles) = 78 hours 25 min
Apr: 1181.9 km (734.4 miles) = 76 hours 45 min
May: 426.6 km (265.1 miles) = 39 hours 21 min
June: 575.7 km (357.7 miles) = 41 hours 53 min
July: 714 km (443.7 miles) = 52 hours 23 min
August: 475.8 km (295.6 miles) = 38 hours 41 min
September: 455.5 km (283 miles) = 41 hours 25 min
October: 647.1 km (402.1 miles) = 57 hours 19 min
November: 427.0 km (265.3 miles) = 50 hours 4 min
Dec 2015: 499.91 km (282.8 miles) = 54 hours 56 min
Dec 2016: 511.05 km (317.55 miles) = 52 hours 2 min
Looking back, I see I managed nearly 55 hours in 2015 and 52 hours in 2016. So looking forward, here's hoping for a full 55 hours in 2017.
Dec 1 - 1.6 km walking (20 min) + 4 flights of 20 stairs (3 min)
Dec 2 - 7 km running (56 min) ... 45 min running + 11 min walking to warm up and cool down
Dec 3 - 9.5 km cycling indoors (30 min) + 6.25 km rowing (40 min)
Dec 4 - 5.2 km walking (65 min) + 14 flights of stairs (11 min)
Dec 5 - 6.5 km walking (85 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min)
Dec 6 - 5.2 km walking (65 min) + 14 flights of stairs (11 min) + 15 min of weightlifting
Dec 7 - 2.5 km running (25 min) + 2.9 km walking (40 min) + 6.33 km cycling indoors (20 min) + 20 flights of stairs (16 min) + 12 min of weightlifting
Dec 8 - 3.6 km walking (45 min) + 16 flights of stairs (12 min)
Dec 9 - 5 km running (38 min) ... first 5 km run!!!
Dec 10 - 161 km cycling (531 min) ... December Century. That's 12! One century for each month. This was a tough one!!
Dec 11 - 2.9 km walking (36 min)
Dec 12 - 4 km walking (50 min) + 10 flights of stairs (8 min)
2017 Monthly December
Walking Distance (km): 46.4
Walking Time (min): 524.0
Cycling Distance (km): 176.8
Cycling Time (min): 581.0
Stairs Climbed Number: 88.0
Stairs Climbed Time (min): 70.4
Other Distance: 8.5
Other Time: 83.0
Totals
Total Distance (km): 231.7
Total Distance (miles): 144.0
Total Time (min): 1258.4
Total Time (hr): 20:58:230
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