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MFP Grand Tour Cycling Challenge - Discussion/Signup Thread

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  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,682 Member
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    Well, what can I say... every time when I start one of these challenges, I go through a whole roller-coaster.

    First I'm worried that I'll hold a party, and nobody will turn up...

    Then Everyone arrives, and we get started and i'm on a high...

    Then people spit their dummy out because they get moderated a little, and I wonder if it's worth it...

    Then it settles down and people get stuck into the riding, and I get to see all the amazing places some of you ride (google streetview is a wonderful thing for "virtual exploring"), so I'm back on a high again...

    Then towards the end of the final week, and I'm shattered through being too over-competitive and riding more than is good for me, I get low again - especially when it becomes clear I need to average 200km (all uphill) for the last 3 days...

    Then it finishes, and I'm partly relieved it's over, and partly depressed that i'm at a loose end all day again...

    And Finally, everyone starts chiming in and telling me how much they've enjoyed the challenge, and it's back on a high again.

    I'll be honest - after 4-5 days of this challenge, I was at the point of making it the last one I ran. Just a combination of people flouncing out because they couldn't multiply a couple of numbers by 0.621 and type 30 characters or so a day, or people taking the "key slot" in a team, then packing in - it just gave me a complete feeling of "why do I bother". As you've probably guessed, it's no small undertaking to run this - building the spreadsheet for logging and display was a few hours in itself - never mind the on-going ride posting. Even the fun little details like the "dossards" takes time - fortunately i've now got a full set of these for the 3 major tours, so it's a simple job of just swapping numbers to match the names/flags for the usual suspects - but even then it's 2-3 hours of faffing in the run-up to each tour.

    At the moment, I am hoping to be able to set up the Vuelta, though I'm not 100% sure if I'll actually be around to update the rides file... I've not actually had a holiday (or even a overnight away from home for that matter) in 7 years, due to being tied to the house looking after my parents, but now I'm just about in a situation where I can take a break - It would also be fair to say that I've bigger issues in my life at the moment than worrying about my weight or fitness...

    Little things like being 50 years old, deciding if continuing being self-employed and having to fight to grow my business into a liveable income to pay all the bills or to try and get a "day job" when I've been out of the employment market for over 15 years...
    You know, little things...

    But - there's still the Classics Challenge to complete, and after this response, I'm happy to set things up for the Vuelta - though I'm not promising to be there every day to enter things up, and I SERIOUSLY doubt i'm going to be clocking in 1,000+ km. So with that in mind, if anyone's still up for it, it's going to be a bit tougher (especially as FDS has announced he's taking a MFP break...)
  • grahamsimmons
    grahamsimmons Posts: 16
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    I'm new to MFP but not to road cycling - saw this thread with interest and was looking forward to the next! I'm up for a slot in the Vuelta if it goes ahead - planning on hitting at least 750km during the race. Fairly tired from this month's 50% Tour distance though!
  • narak_lol
    narak_lol Posts: 855 Member
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    TBY - whatever you decide to do - I will agree :drinker:
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,682 Member
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    Results thread and podium ceremony now available at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1053603-mfp-letour-grand-tour-challenge-results
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,682 Member
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    And now - the grand finale of the Grand Tour Series... La Vuelta.

    Vuelta-a-Espana-logo-2013.jpg

    1 Saturday, August 24 27 km Vilanova de Arousa → Sanxenxo
    2 Sunday, August 25 177 km Pontevedra → Baiona. Alto Do Monte Da Groba
    3 Monday, August 26 173 km Vigo → Mirador de Lobeira/ Valagarcía de Arousa
    4 Tuesday, August 27 187 km Lalín / a Estrada → Finisterra
    5 Wednesday, August 28 168 km Sober → Lago de Sanabria
    6 Thursday, August 29 177 km Guijuelo → Cáceres
    7 Friday, August 30 196 km Almendralejo → Mairena de Aljarafe
    8 Saturday, August 31 170 km Jerez de la Frontera → Estepona. Alto de Peñas Blancas
    9 Sunday, September 1 174 km Antequera → Valdepeñas de Jaén
    R Monday, September 2 Rest day
    10 Tuesday, September 3 176 km Torredelcampo → Güéjar Sierra. Alto de Hazallanas
    11 Wednesday, September 4 38 km Tarazona → Tarazona
    12 Thursday, September 5 157 km Maella → Tarragona
    13 Friday, September 6 165 km Valls → Castelldefels
    14 Saturday, September 7 164 km Bagà → Andorra. Collada de la Gallina
    15 Sunday, September 8 233 km Andorra → Peyragudes
    16 Monday, September 9 148 km Graus → Sallent de Gállego. Aramón Formigal
    R Tuesday, September 10 Rest day
    17 Wednesday, September 11 185 km Calahorra → Burgos
    18 Thursday, September 12 186 km Burgos → Peña Cabarga
    19 Friday, September 13 178 km San Vicente de la Barquera → Oviedo. Alto del Naranco
    20 Saturday, September 14 144 km Avilés → Alto de L´Angliru
    21 Sunday, September 15 99 km Leganés / Parquesur → Madrid

    Total Distance 3322 km
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,682 Member
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    Signup Sheet for Team #1

    301 -
    302 -
    303 - cloggsy71 (provisional)
    304 -
    305 -
    306 -
    307 -
    308 - frannybobs
    309 - TheBigYin

    You all know know the score by now, pick your number, add your name, and copy the list into your post with details added.
  • Frannybobs
    Frannybobs Posts: 741 Member
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    Woop woop, new challenge, neck/upper back 85% better and a new road bike to do the challenge on... Bring it on!! :-) Estoy muy feliz!
  • Snowoutspokin
    Snowoutspokin Posts: 63
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    Signup Sheet for Team #1

    301 -
    302 -
    303 - cloggsy71 (provisional)
    304 -
    305 -
    306 -Snowoutspokin
    307 -
    308 - frannybobs
    309 - TheBigYin

    You all know know the score by now, pick your number, add your name, and copy the list into your post with details added.
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,682 Member
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    Bye 'Eck it's filling up quick isn't it :smile:
  • Snowoutspokin
    Snowoutspokin Posts: 63
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    Bye 'Eck it's filling up quick isn't it :smile:

    had to keep my 306! lol
  • TDSeest
    TDSeest Posts: 1,089 Member
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    Signup Sheet for Team #1

    301 -
    302 -
    303 - cloggsy71 (provisional)
    304 -
    305 -
    306 -Snowoutspokin
    307 - TDSeest
    308 - frannybobs
    309 - TheBigYin

    You all know know the score by now, pick your number, add your name, and copy the list into your post with details added.
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
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    Signup Sheet for Team #1

    301 -
    302 -
    303 - cloggsy71 (provisional)
    304 - not40yet
    305 -
    306 -Snowoutspokin
    307 - TDSeest
    308 - frannybobs
    309 - TheBigYin

    You all know know the score by now, pick your number, add your name, and copy the list into your post with details added.
  • cyclenut64
    cyclenut64 Posts: 154
    Options
    Signup Sheet for Team #1

    301 -
    302 -
    303 - cloggsy71 (provisional)
    304 - not40yet
    305 - CycleNut64
    306 -Snowoutspokin
    307 - TDSeest
    308 - frannybobs
    309 - TheBigYin

    You all know know the score by now, pick your number, add your name, and copy the list into your post with details added.
  • mdstamand
    mdstamand Posts: 169 Member
    Options
    Signup Sheet for Team #1

    301 -
    302 - mdstamand
    303 - cloggsy71 (provisional)
    304 - not40yet
    305 - CycleNut64
    306 -Snowoutspokin
    307 - TDSeest
    308 - frannybobs
    309 - TheBigYin

    You all know know the score by now, pick your number, add your name, and copy the list into your post with details added.
  • harksy
    harksy Posts: 239 Member
    Options
    Signup Sheet for Team #1

    301 - Harksy
    302 - mdstamand
    303 - cloggsy71
    304 - not40yet
    305 - CycleNut64
    306 -Snowoutspokin
    307 - TDSeest
    308 - frannybobs
    309 - TheBigYin

    You all know know the score by now, pick your number, add your name, and copy the list into your post with details added.
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,682 Member
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    :woot:

    okay

    Team #2

    311 -
    312 -
    313 -
    314 -
    315 -
    316 -
    317 -
    318 -
    319 -

    - oh BTW - cloggsy's confirmed on 303... looks like team 1 are on lead-out duties on the flat stages... :lol:
  • hawkeyegal1995
    hawkeyegal1995 Posts: 2,009 Member
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    Team #2

    311 -
    312 -
    313 -
    314 -
    315 - hawkeyegal1995
    316 -
    317 -
    318 -
    319 -

    May not get many miles on Saturdays once football season rolls around but I have a Century coming up in a month so this will be good motivation to keep riding.
  • narak_lol
    narak_lol Posts: 855 Member
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    Team #2

    311 -
    312 -
    313 -
    314 -
    315 - hawkeyegal1995
    316 -
    317 - narak_lol
    318 -
    319 -

    Bring-it-on!
  • daz_automatic
    daz_automatic Posts: 26
    Options
    Team #2

    311 - daz_automatic
    312 -
    313 -
    314 -
    315 - hawkeyegal1995
    316 -
    317 - narak_lol
    318 -
    319 -
  • goonas
    goonas Posts: 205
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    Team #2

    311 - daz_automatic
    312 -
    313 - goonas
    314 -
    315 - hawkeyegal1995
    316 -
    317 - narak_lol
    318 -
    319 -
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