2014 MFP Classics Challenge - Discussion
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Need some inspiration for the "Roma Maxima" spot prizes...
I know it's easy to come up with the food/drink ones, that's really not a problem...
I hit a bit of a snag with the photo/video bonuses. Obvious inspiration would be "something roman" but of course this sort of leaves the USA at a bit of a disadvantage, seeing as they hadn't been discovered back then :laugh:
I'm tempted to take inspiration from the Movie, Life of Brian... "What have the Romans ever done for us...."
"...All right... all right... but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order... what have the Romans done for us? "0 -
No Inspiration anyone ?? I've always enjoyed the Photo Bonuses out on the ride, so I'd like to at least set something...0
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Something toga related...
Picture of a coliseum - doesn't have to be the original but any old sports coliseum might work (although it would suck for those in rural areas).
Aqueducts, roman arches or columns, indoor plumbing?0 -
Some of us dont live in Europe, and have all modern cities, plus those in the Southern hemisphere are still in the throws of summer.(sorry,:happy: , I mean sorry)
So would pictures of the beach count? or of a bit of wave action?0 -
the only things I could think of that was pretty much worldwide were:
1) some artifact of a "former civilization" - so, for us in the UK, it's easy, we've got the Romans (or vikings for that matter), for the Former colonials over the pond, you'd have something "Native American / First Nation" I suppose, and for the Penal Colonies, well, you get the picture...
2) and probably more sensible... Photo of some premises with either Rome / Roma and/or the Italian Tricolore outside.... you do have Italian restaurants over there I assume ?
It IS difficult to come up with these cultural reference ideas for photos and still make 'em possible without it heavily biasing things to europe, but, well - at least you're not riding in the snow/rain/hail down in the Antipodes....0 -
Okay folks - that's all the "Winter Series" stickies cleared, so I've stuck this thread up to the top of the noticeboard for us...
How's the weekend planning going folks... got your routes mapped out? , found your "white roads"? , made sure you've some wood dry for the backyard pizza oven? , laid in enough Chianti / Peroni / Moretti to dull the aches on Sunday night ?0 -
All dates added to calendar - Check!0
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Hoping to do something a little different this weekend, routes planned but just hoping the wobbly legs hold out, looking forward to what looks to be a half decent weekend for cycling0
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Entries Thread opening soon now... It'll stay open until 23:00 GMT on the 10th March to allow entries for each of the two rides to be completed.
Please make a separate post for each days ride rather than a single combined one, and if possible make them as soon as feasible after the ride (allowing for getting photo-proof included obviously)
And onto the topic of Spot Prizes...
For the Strade Bianche
- if you post a photo/video that shows your bike on a unmetalled road with proof that it was that days ride then it may just get an extra point.
- if you complete your challenge ride on a "L'Eroica" compliant bike (http://www.eroica-ciclismo.it/documents/regolamento_eng.pdf for the rules) and post a photo to prove it, you'll get another 5 points.
- recovery is important with another hard days riding tomorrow, so food intake is to be encouraged, 1 point for something of an obvious italian nature (Pasta would be logical, Pizza is always tempting...)
- and just for the hell of it - post a picture of your post-ride recovery bottle/glass of Chianti and you can have yet another point!
For the Roma Maxima
- start the ride (or pause mid-way) for a decent coffee and get a photo - 1 point
- a photo while out and about that has the words "Rome" or "Roma" in frame (think the frontage of your favourite Italian Cafe for example) - 1 point
- a photo that shows some example of "a prior civilization" - I know not everyone had been discovered when the Roman Empire was in full swing, but have a think about it - it's worth 3 points if you can get one.
- again post ride recovery drinks - either a glass of Peroni (or similar italian beer) or wine (1 point) and an extra 1 for Italian Food (even if it's leftover Pizza from yesterday...)0 -
TBY,
First of all thanks for running this challenge again this year. I want you to know that your dedication to site and helping others is appreciated. I know for myself that I am motivated and ride more because of the various challenges you run.
I am in this year again, unfortunately Mother Nature had given us more snow and cold this year then I can remember since I was a Kid growing up in Northern Wisconsin. As you know I am not afraid of the cold but we still have some ice on the roads. So my rides will depend on the road conditions. I will ride today but it might be indoors.0 -
TBY,
First of all thanks for running this challenge again this year. I want you to know that your dedication to site and helping others is appreciated. I know for myself that I am motivated and ride more because of the various challenges you run.
I am in this year again, unfortunately Mother Nature had given us more snow and cold this year then I can remember since I was a Kid growing up in Northern Wisconsin. As you know I am not afraid of the cold but we still have some ice on the roads. So my rides will depend on the road conditions. I will ride today but it might be indoors.
Stay safe mate - I'm in this to promote healthy exercise, not foolish risks... Don't forget we had a warm start last year, then got snowed off in March - One week I had to carry the bike nearly a mile to get to somewhere that was actually safe to ride (i.e. a road that had actually been ploughed...)0 -
Ride reports are looking great folks...
Highlights for me so far are Harksey's Donegal refreshment shot, His brilliant Coffee Mug, Kupe's amazing looking Pizza, Jakess's overnighter in Buxton and - well - frankly, the amazing diversity of the riding everyone's done - it certainly seems that the whole "2 day bit" has caused one or two of you to go well and truly above and beyond...
Well done everybody who rode, oh - and anybody who's photo's have "broken" or not come out as you wanted (wrong size etc) - if you want to PM me with a link to the correct shot and i'll tweak the post (unlimited time on editing is a "mods perk"
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In if its not too late0
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In if its not too late
well post something then - i'll hold the doors for you...
rides from Saturday and/or Sunday, post a link to Strava or Garmin Connect to the tracklog and bob's your aunties live in significant other.0 -
Okey-Dokey - thread's now closed - thought there may be a late entry to come but apparently not.
Some Fantastic Rides and reports came in this weekend - probably aided that the UK at least had quite a reasonable spell of weather on Sunday.
Provisional Results for the first two Races are now in...
Strade Bianche
- Composite, with 169.2km, made even more impresive as it was on something with tractor tyres...
- Jakess1971 with phase one of his overnighter into the Peak District. 132.2km and only Fish and Chips with Curry sauce to follow it. 
- a third rider that's new to the Challenges, Indeterminate with a good solid 119.4km.
Roma Maxima - A really strong mans ride from Harksy saw him top the leaderboard for todays ride. The only one of us to crack the imperial Century (176km!), and on some really tough roads. Chapeau. - christophenes managed to escape the house for a day and rode what looked to be a very friendly and pleasant Audax (I'm guessing it's a 100km Brevet with the to-and-from startpoints added) coming to 112.8km in total. - and once again Jakess1971 gets back on the podium this weekend with the return leg of 109.7km back from his overnighter.
congratulations to everyone who managed to get out for a ride - and to the ones who missed for whatever reason, there's still plenty of time to catch up - plenty of weekends left
All told, the thing that has struck me was just how much people (well - everyone but me, apparently!) seem to have upped their game from last year - perhaps its to be expected in fairness, we're a year further on in our fitness attempts I suppose.0 -
Cracking effort by all and some great reports, only 8 more to go 0
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Thanks for the 'grats.
I know these challenges are not all about the distance though, so I'll be making a much bigger effort to capture the add-ons in the Milan-Sanremo. It actually coincides with the Wiggle Cheshire Cat, so the route is a little beyond my control, but you can bet your *kitten* that there'll be pizza and Peroni at the end of it. :drinker:0 -
spot prizes for this year will probably be on a similar basis to last years... here they are smipped from last years discussion thread...As posted in the discussion thread, there's spot prizes available again...
Again 3 possibilities this week
- First one is related to the nickname "La Primavera" - so 1 bonus point for a mid-ride photo showing "signs of spring" (daffodils/snowdrops/catkins/newborn lambs etc. - NOT your MTB's suspension
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- Second, just to piss all over the healthy aspect of this fitness site - 1 point for either a "bottle of Peroni post-ride recovery drink shot" OR a "cafe break shot with coffee/cakes/biscotti as appropriate" taken mid-ride.
Images should by preference have EXIF data present to verify timestamps, and the mid-ride photos should be geotagged to check they match up with the ride in time and location.
- Third - and this is the big 5 pointer (so damned difficult to get) - is time related. The Milan Sanremo is the longest distance race in the series, and it's a long time in the saddle even for the pro's. So - here we go - anyone who spends more "moving time" (i.e. not counting cafe breaks, photo-calls or stopping mid ride for 7 hours for a sleep!) in their single ride gets a 5 point bonus. Obviously, I can only declare the points scored on this AFTER the pro's have crossed the line and registered their time...0 -
I looked it up for reference. 5h 37' 20" was the time of Gerald Ciolek last year. It might be quicker this year as they've taken out the biggest climb due to the road having fallen off the mountain.0
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last year's wasn't entirely representative either though on "moving time" - seeing as they did the Turchino and La Manie on the team bus.
Prior years were 6h59m, 6h51m and 6h57m...0 -
Strong man's ride... il take that Kudos! Cheers TBY praise indeed...just call me the Jens Voigt of MFP :laugh:
Well done everyone love to read the ride reports and see the pics from around the world. We seem to be missing a few from last year hopefully they will join in as it goes on0 -
Truely awesome folks!
Sorry for the DNS's; but I am a littel 'indisposed' at the moment...
Hope to be back on it after the weekend (for the commute).
Then hopefully on for the next challenge 0 -
I really need to up my game I guess. I though I had a top three finish in the bag on Saturday.
Kudos to everyone who got out there, this weekend.0 -
lol just looking at the points tallys for the weekend and I can't believe 3.1kms cost me a place on day 2 and 4points ... costing me top spot ..... how very cruel!! Loving the competition though, it's stuff like that that keeps it interesting 0
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I really need to up my game I guess. I though I had a top three finish in the bag on Saturday.
Kudos to everyone who got out there, this weekend.
I thought I may have been a little nearer myself Carl - though I set off on Sunday with the intent of a century, but after the first 30 miles I knew that while the legs were there, and the head was in the right place, frankly - well - lets just say that I was having issues with a contact point on the bike after all the offroad on hard-tyres the prior day, and the prospect of another 5 hours sat on it just wasn't appealing.0 -
lol just looking at the points tallys for the weekend and I can't believe 3.1kms cost me a place on day 2 and 4points ... costing me top spot ..... how very cruel!! Loving the competition though, it's stuff like that that keeps it interesting
Last year, my winning margin was 8 points overall. All 8 of them were gathered by going out for a 5km ride (that required carrying the MTB nearly 1km until it was on clear tarmac) when almost everyone else in the UK was snowed off. I'm pretty sure that if i'd not ridden that day, that Harksey and FDS would both have made damned sure that they'd done a longer ride than me... That's sort of why I told christophenes to go out for 5 minutes and have a beer to claim some points. At the moment, we don't have a full rosta, and a ride is almost guaranteed SOME points.
This Year I have promised myself that I won't get over-competitive - frankly, last year I did some silly things - including going out for 6 hours in sub-zero conditions and getting a little bit of frost-nip in a rather painful area, which ended up with requiring getting a small burst blood-vessel laser-cauterised to stop me pissing blood. This is NOT something I intend to repeat laying myself open to.
In short - competition = good. Over-competitive to the point of stupidity = bad, don't do it folks. It's for motivation and FUN. I pretty much know I can't hang with the big-hitters riding this year, I'm just shooting for more Km's than last year (easily do-able as there's an extra ride this year, I was almost snowed off on one ride, and missed the Paris-Roubaix sitting in the hospital holding my Dad's hand as he died) and hopefully at least 1 proper century ride.0 -
Strong man's ride... il take that Kudos! Cheers TBY praise indeed...just call me the Jens Voigt of MFP :laugh:
Well done everyone love to read the ride reports and see the pics from around the world. We seem to be missing a few from last year hopefully they will join in as it goes on
7h43m riding, 176.5km and 2296m of climbing - that's strong riding mate - no question of it being anything else...0 -
Glad there wasn't a ride this weekend. I've been limping on my left foot all this past week. Been riding in my MTB shoes all winter and not rode many miles to feel the dis-comfort until last week. I think it was a combination of poor cleat set up and the flex in the shoe. I have a pair of Louis Garneau shoes for best. They were exchanged under a warranty claim right at the end of summer last year and I'm wanting to invest in a proper set of road cleats at the end of the month, rather than fitting the SPDs which I think contributed to the warranty claim in the first place.
Just a need a big dose of HTFU this weekend.
Any advice on a good set of reliable road cleats for a reasonable budget will be gratefully received.0 -
I've not had any experience of the Garneau shoes tbh... do they have the standard 3-bolt mounting for normal road cleats. A quick glance at the Evans website shows one (the XR3) that has both 2 bolt SPD's and a 3 bolt "look compatible" mount setup. Personally, I like the Shimano SPD-SL's - they're all pretty much the same, from the cheapest to the Dura-Ace, only differentiation being weight and price.
http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-pd-r550-spd-sl-road-pedals-63269.html - £30 with a pair of the yellow cleats
Only downside of the Shimano's is the cost of the cleats compared to the Look ones (well, not necessarily the Look own-brand ones, but there are "pattern versions" that are a fiver a pair, as opposed to £15 a pair for the genuine ones...)0 -
I've not had any experience of the Garneau shoes tbh...
I didn't know they made shoes... Thought it was just shampoo!?
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Just me then?
:blushing: :huh:0
