2,500 miles in a year challenge

[SadieKate]

Just thought I'd post this for those riders who want the motivation to bump up their annual mileage. Over on www.bikejournal.com mrprudhom has started a challenge for folks who've never ridden more than 2,500 miles in year. I know a lot of you have said you're looking to step up the number of miles.

Per mrprudhom:


The rules are simple - indoor and outdoor miles count (no nekkid miles this time, it's a family friendly race!) If you have ridden 2500 or more in a year already, you are automatically DQ'd! Only newbies and riders with annual ride mileage less than 2500 need apply. Post your mileage to this thread (monthly is fine until we get close), I will start up a spread sheet, and keep track.

The race begins at midnight your time... On your marks, get set, go.....

Just announced: A BikeJournal Jersey will be awarded to the winner (or equivelent value if one is not available)

Go to the forums in www.bikejournal.com and look for the 2500 mile race.

[Thistle]

i just signed up to bike journal yesterday after seeing it referenced here on and off.

i did 2,600km last year, but i'm going to go for it. 2,500 miles... that's 3,969 km according to my calculator... 12km down, 12km on the way home tonight, that's only 3945km to go :p

[mimitabby]

that's a coincidence, i was going to make my goal for next year 2500 miles!
(and walking 300 miles)

[mimitabby]

thanks, I'm in.

[withm]

Having finally crossed the 2,000 mile mark Saturday, I had kind of set 2400 as my goal this year, but what the hey - what's another 100 miles? Especially if I do a few more commutes. But mine will be outdoor miles only. :)

Martha

[Cluey]

Yep - I've just signed up to - makes it easier with a goal to work to (okay, not easier... just sort of ...'said out loud') :D

[crazycanuck]

Since one of my odometers is in NZ i think i did approximately 4300 km last year..

I'm going to log my km's on bike journal...Theav wanna have a race???

c

[tattiefritter]

I'll look at this as well. I've also set my target to be 2500 this year, only managed to just crawl above 2000 this year.

Even more motivation to pull my finger out!

Added myself in - need to dust my bikes off now.

[7rider]

I had just over 2200 miles in '06 and might have hit 2500 if not for my herniated disc in the neck that put me off the bike.
So....Optimistic that the neck will be fine and dandy in '07, I resolved to hit 2500 in '07 - a PB for me yet again (if I hit it).
This seems like a great motivator to do so. I think I read somewhere here to select "Team Estrogen" as my club affiliation? Yes??
Any other things to keep in mind when registering??
(I don't think I can do indoor mileage unless I ride rollers on my commuter - my Garmin won't register the miles if I'm not really moving!)

[Bad JuJu]

Count me in, too.

Thanks for posting this, SK. I'd been thinking about what to do with my cycling goals for this year, so your post was like a sign from the cosmos. ;)

Hey, looks like there are enough of us that we can have our own little subset race over here at TE. How about posting our weekly or monthly stats in the TE Member Race Results forum?

[Bad JuJu]

I think I read somewhere here to select "Team Estrogen" as my club affiliation? Yes??
Any other things to keep in mind when registering??
(I don't think I can do indoor mileage unless I ride rollers on my commuter - my Garmin won't register the miles if I'm not really moving!)

Regina--Yes, select TE as your club affiliation. Also, if you want your mileage to show in the bj forums, make sure you make your goals public when you set up your profile.

Is there any way you could estimate how many miles you do indoors? I'm thinking you might use your average speed on the road and apply that to the time spent on your indoor trainer. Not sure how accurate that would be, but it's a possibility.

[Bikingmomof3]

Since I am int theory able to ride again, count me in. I love a challenge. :)

[momof4greatkids]

I signed up. This is a challenge for me, but I really think I can do it. I affiliated myself w/Team Estrogen, hope I don't embarrass the club!! :D

Colleen

[IFjane]

Is there any way you could estimate how many miles you do indoors? I'm thinking you might use your average speed on the road and apply that to the time spent on your indoor trainer. Not sure how accurate that would be, but it's a possibility.

Juju - that's what I do. I take my average speed & assign myself that many miles for each hour I spend on the trainer.

I'm headed over to BJ to sign up!

[7rider]

Regina--Yes, select TE as your club affiliation. Also, if you want your mileage to show in the bj forums, make sure you make your goals public when you set up your profile.

Is there any way you could estimate how many miles you do indoors? I'm thinking you might use your average speed on the road and apply that to the time spent on your indoor trainer. Not sure how accurate that would be, but it's a possibility.

Thanks!
I just signed up (now, to ride!!).

I thought about doing that as an estimate - but since I ride rollers (rarely) in the basement, I'm not sure I can get a satellite signal to give me time/speed measurements. However, I think it can calculate speed from a pickup on the wheel, based on RPM and wheel size in the absence of a signal. Hmmmm... Will have to investigate.....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think I passed 2700 miles last year, my first year biking...so I won't enter this fun challenge, though I wish I could! :p I just joined BikeJournal...I was waiting for the first of the year to start a journal. I affiliated with Team Estrogen. My bike is going in to repair a broken spoke today (DRAT, and great weather for riding today!! :mad: ), but I should be able to get a few more rides in before it gets TOO cold. :)

[mimitabby]

I signed up. This is a challenge for me, but I really think I can do it. I affiliated myself w/Team Estrogen, hope I don't embarrass the club!! :D

Colleen
Colleen
hey, you won't embarrass the club, every mile you do adds to the total!

Lisa your mileage is amazing! your first year and you already beat me!

[Geonz]

Gotta find yourself a spare bicycle or two :) Once you get to the 2500+ level of addiction you need the tell-tale paraphernalia...

[DirtDiva]

You know, I have been toying with the idea of getting a computer so I can keep track of my kilometreage (:p)...

[mimitabby]

Gotta find yourself a spare bicycle or two :) Once you get to the 2500+ level of addiction you need the tell-tale paraphernalia...

Oh, I know what you mean. I spend far too much time dreaming about a newer better bike while the bike I have is probably fine!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa your mileage is amazing! your first year and you already beat me!

It surpised ME when I added it up! But all those 20 mile rides every week really add up.
Now it's going into winter though, and all the Florida, Texas, and California gals are gonna mop the floor with me! :D :D :D
...But if I'm lucky maybe we'll eventually get some snow here (like we used to in pre-globalwarming days) and I will be SNOWSHOEING soon, woo-HOOO!!!! :p :p :p

[Duck on Wheels]

Hmmm. I could try. But how do you tally indoor miles? I'd probably need a couple days a week indoors through the winter to get my mileage up there. Spring-Fall I'll commute, but that's only about 3 miles each way, then maybe 20-30 miles on weekends. I'd need to do that much every week of the year, but I'm not going out on my bike in this storm (howling winds, sleet, icy roads), and I don't know of any club rides or events hereabouts. 'Course, that does make it all the more important to set a mileage goal to keep me going. I can't use training for the Cindy as my motivator this year.

[mimitabby]

i have a bike computer hooked up to my indoor bike; with the sensor on the rear wheel. you need a longer cable for that.

[GLC1968]

Hey, I just joined up too! I expect to blast that goal out of the water...but since I've never done 2500 in a year, I qualify, right?!

I hesitated to sign up because I wanted to total up all the miles I didn't log for 2006 first, to make sure I didn't pass 2500...and I barely passed 2000. :eek: I swear it felt like more! :p

(came back to add that I'll only be counting outdoor miles)

[pooks]

Well, I'm back with a bang!

I was trying to decide what kind of goal to set myself, having come NOWHERE NEAR the goal I set last year when I bought my bike. So I'm going for broke on this one!

I think I'd better put on something warm and go ride right now!

Thanks for lighting a fire under my boom!

[light_sabe_r]

Funny, combiuning my Roadie and hybrid totals, I wasnted to do this much too! (approx 4000km)

Yup I'm up for it!

Ladies... the thread to sign up for it on bike journal is this one.

http://www.bikejournal.com/thread.asp?ThreadID={A8249DC9-4B7D-49D3-887C-6C96EFED4A6A}

^_^

[Fredwina]

It's only 48 miles a week for a full year. If you figure a 6 month season, you need to do about 12/day(for those of you who live in less temperate climes). Of course, the challenge is to get to 2500 first...

[guest1]

I assume this contest is for 2007 ... so, start riding ladies! The 2500 is an achieveable goal and one worthy of pursuing! If you break it down to miles per week, that is only 48 miles a week -- 2 rides @ 24 miles, or roughly 3 hours a week (and that is outdoor miles only). Now, indoor, if you ride for 1 hour indoor and cannot caluculate, a good "guess" is 15 miles for every hour, or take your average outdoor hourly rate and calculate for indoor. For example, you normally ride 13 mph, than for every 1 hour indoor, you can add 13 miles. It is that easy!

In 2006, I know a woman who rode 11,000 OUTDOOR miles. That total did not include her 3 times a week indoor spin class miles and occassional trainer miles. Yes, she rode a lot, but in 2005 she did the same thing and only rode 10,000 outdoor miles (even high mileagers can increase!). Personally, I have increased my outdoor miles every year for the past 4 years, plus have added much more indoor training miles to my routine (but I don't add the indoor miles to my total yearly miles). If I did add both outdoor and indoor, I would probably have 5000-6000 miles in 2006; I do know I had roughly 4700 outdoor miles in 2006. So, ladies, 2500 CAN BE DONE!!

Hope everybody has a SUPER CYCLING YEAR in 2007!!! :) :D :)

[mimitabby]

about indoor miles, it takes me 30 minutes to ride 6 miles generally speaking.
these are hard miles, they don't feel like 6 miles at 12mph average on the road.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mimi don't feel bad- I average only about 9.3 or so mph. I think it's partly due to living surrounded by hills. On flats stretches I ride at about 15-20mph, I can do 35mph downhill if conditions are safe, but much of my actual riding TIME is spent crawling up hills at 2-3mph, so that brings my average speed way down.
My "daily" routine ride (whenever weather & my schedule allows) is 21 miles but it takes me about 2 hours 10 minutes to ride it. :o
The good thing is that we are out there pedaling and getting healthy. :)

[wavedancer]

I joined the challenge...I was thinking that 2500 miles would be a good goal (I did a little over 2300 this year). I do count my indoor miles. They actually are harder miles than my outdoor ones usually, thanks to Coach Troy!

[Bad JuJu]

Of course, the challenge is to get to 2500 first...
Maybe so, but for me, the challenge is to get to 2500 miles...period.:eek: :D

[7rider]

Yeah...that "only 48 miles a week" sounds good - until you add up all those weeks you don't do any riding, or get out once for 15 miles, and then you start thinking of that "debt" that has to get repaid to your goal.
Sigh.
Okay...I'm not really such a defeatist. Especially on January 2nd!
...and, my commuting partner just blew out his knee (probably an ACL) in a fall in PA. So...I'll have to motivate myself to get back on the bike...no more partner to get me going!

[mimitabby]

Maybe so, but for me, the challenge is to get to 2500 miles...period.:eek: :D

me too.
there are hundreds of ways to compete!

[sbctwin]

How do you actually register for the challenge? I have a bikejournal account, but never actually logged any miles to it. I edited my profile to be public and my team affiliation to Team Estrogen. But, how do you actually register to be included in the challenge...what am I missing? Do I just log my miles and the moderator will keep track of it? :confused:

[veekcee]

I signed up.:eek:

Boy, oh, boy...what have I done?!? I'll be 50 at the end of this year; I would love to hit the 2500 mile goal by 12/16! :)

Happy New Year!

[light_sabe_r]

what am I missing? Do I just log my miles and the moderator will keep track of it? :confused:

Sign up here (http://www.bikejournal.com/thread.asp?ThreadID={A8249DC9-4B7D-49D3-887C-6C96EFED4A6A})

and set your yearly goal to 2500miles or 4000km

[LBTC]

wow, I can't believe I did it, but I did. I signed up, and I did my first 12.13 km (7.54 miles) on the trainer today. That took 25 minutes, and it was not at a hard resistance, or a very big gear. In fact, I was reading my business law text at the time - it's the only way I can read the text and *not* fall asleep! :eek:

Anywhoo, Crohn's disease is not going to stop me. I will do my best to reach 2500 miles. I've never managed to count my mileage before, so I have no idea how hard this will be. Hopefully the training months will let me crank up the volume!

Good luck to everyone!!

Hugs and butteflies,
~T~

[Sheesh]

I'm in! I only did about 700 miles this past year, but once Spring arrives, I'll commute by bike again, so that will give me a jump on improving my mileage for this year. Goals are great motivators for me.

[kelownagirl]

Darn, I was only going to make my goal 3000 km this year but ended up jumping in a going for the whole 4000 km instead (2500 miles). I did 2775 km 2006 (April - November) - hope I can find a way to squeeze in another 1000 km. :eek: Do I have to do anything else besides do my goal in my profile?

[tattiefritter]

Kelownagirl, you have to set your goals public. Your mileage chart then shows up when you post in the forum.

Mine is still stubbornly set to 0! Having a think about the enormity of this especially as the vast majority of my miles are offroad which always seem not enough distance for the effort you put in (that's my excuse anyway :D ). Barring minging weather and not dying after my long run on Saturday I should get off the mark this weekend - fingers crossed.

Good luck everybody.

[guest1]

for those of you trying to calculate indoor miles, please remember your outdoor mph is an AVERAGE of what you are riding -- meaning, you may climb a hill at 8 mph, get to top and speed down at 20 mph, giving you an AVERAGE of 14 mph (8 + 20 = 28/2 = 14). So, when on a trainer, you may be doing hill climbing training, or sprint training, strength training, or a combo of all in a 45 min to 1 hour exercise. Again, just take an AVERAGE outdoor ride and add your miles accordingly. The key to remember is that mph is an AVERAGE number of various terrains and efforts, and this can cross-over to indoor mileage calculations.

[kerrybelle]

I just signed up for the challenge! What a great way to stay motivated.

Kerry

[Susan126]

Seeing as I am attempting to do the STP (again) count me in! The weather in the Seattle area has been bad this winter. I have been working out mainly at my local gym but as soon as the weather (or March arrives) I hope to get some serious mileage in!

Sue

[IFjane]

I'm in! And I have a grand total of 8 miles for 2007 - thanks to the 30 minutes I spent on the trainer yesterday before work. Hopefully, as the days get longer, I'll be able to get out on the road during the week as well as weekends. **fingers crossed**

[light_sabe_r]

OMIGAWD! I'm coming second... I put in a 25km ride on the way home today and BAM!!!

2007 - 2500 Bike Race (join this club)
All Over



2007 Miles Traveled:
48
50,000
13 club members, club admin: mrprudhom
Row
# Member Location Primary Club Primary Bike
sort by make or type 2007 miles
1 7point62 Santa Clari.., CA Santa Clarita Holy R.. Specialized hard.. 63
2 light_sabe_r Brisbane, Australia Team Estrogen Jamis Tangier 700.. 28
3 kle Phoenix, AZ 2007 - 2500 Bike Rac.. Trek Pilot 5.0 W.. 28
4 Goalstopper Racine, WI 2007 - 2500 Bike Rac.. Sun Bicycles EZ lwb .. 21
5 GLC1968 Greensboro, NC Team Estrogen Terry Isis road 17
6 mrprudhom premier member Racine, WI KR Bike Club GT Nomad 700c hyb.. 15
7 kelownagirl premier member Kelowna, BC Team Estrogen Giant OCR1 road 0
8 kerrybelle New Jersey Team Estrogen Kuota Kharma road 0
9 MSPD premier member Burnsville, MN 2007 - 2500 Bike Rac.. Specialized Roub.. 0
10 Sheesh Chicago, IL Team Estrogen Giant TCR Comp 3 roa.. 0
11 veekcee Arizona Team Estrogen Surly Long Haul .. 0
12 Started_At_320 California Clydesdales Marin Northside Tra.. 0
13 Saxophone Fort Worth, TX FWBA - Fort Worth Bi.. Dawes Lighting S.. 0

[Bad JuJu]

Join the 2007-2500 Bike Race Club at Bike Journal to be listed in the stats for the 2500-mile challenge.

I just noticed this club today--it was set up specifically for this challenge. It DOES look like TE is grandly represented so far, with 7 out of the 14 members being TE members. But I know there are more than 7 people who posted in this thread, so go to BJ and join the club, too. Your mileage gets listed under both clubs. It'll be fun to see how TE members are doing in the 2500-mile standings.

[tattiefritter]

Joined the club, would never have noticed it otherwise. Total unfortunately still a big fat zero until this weekend.

[Duck on Wheels]

OK. I guess I'm really in. Still no miles, but today I joined a gym. Tomorrow I'll start "sampling" their spin instructors ... on my way to the pub for the monthly gathering of "Yanks in Trondheim". Soon as I have some miles to log, I'll officially join the challenge.

[lph]

Gotta find yourself a spare bicycle or two :) Once you get to the 2500+ level of addiction you need the tell-tale paraphernalia...

I liked this.

If I average the same amount of km I've been commuting weekly since October I should need 35 weeks in 2007 to reach 4000 km.

And I'm really feeling the need for another bike. :cool:

[mtbdarby]

You ladies are awesome. This will be a stretch for me but hey, TE needs more riders in here, right? I'm IN!!

[mimitabby]

mtbdarby, so are you dirtangel on BJ?

[mtbdarby]

Yes, but I just requested they change it to mtbdarby so you guys know who I am. Time to dust off the trainer and figure out my computer, huh? If you get bored Mimi, just call me and we can lament indoor miles as we sweat away!

I wonder if they'd let me bring it into work so I can ride and work on my laptop at the same time??? Hmmmm, I need to think about that.......

Isn't January 8th Bring Your Trainer to Work Week?

[mimitabby]

oh cool, that's great. Yes, we could somehow set up a conference call
and all be on bike trainers. is that sick or what?

at least I am above ZERO miles now.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm still at ZERO miles for 2007....bike is STILL getting repaired. :mad: :( :mad: :( And here it is 55 degrees and sunny today!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[mimitabby]

I'm still at ZERO miles for 2007....bike is STILL getting repaired. :mad: :( :mad: :( And here it is 55 degrees and sunny today!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Lisa, grab some one else's bike!!
if i had weather like that today, i might not be at work!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

DH's bikes are way too big! :( Don't need any broken pubic bones, thanks. :eek:

I had to do some work jobs anyway today- they needed to get sent out to clients TODAY. Now it **should** be only 2 1/2 more hours until I pick up my fixed bike, but will be getting dark by then. Tomorrow...90%chance of rain.
Not much I can do. I walked 3 miles yesterday, maybe I'll go for another walk in a bit. :o

[Blueberry]

It's 66 degrees outside and I can't ride. I'm supposed to be at work, but a very nasty case of stomach flu has kept me in bed all day (102 temp). UGH! If I'm going to have to make up billable hours, it should at least be for something I enjoyed. WAHHHH!!!!!!

[mtbdarby]

oh cool, that's great. Yes, we could somehow set up a conference call
and all be on bike trainers. is that sick or what?

at least I am above ZERO miles now.

Hey, don't rub it in:p I plan on getting above zero tonight - I just joined today though, I've been thinking about for 1 or 2, lol.

55 - 60? Yee-gads! I would love that. Calling for snow tomorrow and 30 somthing Saturday. I just some goggles for riding so I need to get the fenders on my mtb so I'm ready for Saturday.

[mel1976]

I've joined the challenge as well.

Road Bike is currently in being serviced but should be able to pick it up early Saturday am to join the squad ride for 50kms or so on Saturday to make up for some lost time.

4000kms in a year = an average of around 80kms a week and I'd say some sexy looking cyclist calves :D

Can't wait to get started

[kerrybelle]

I'm still at zero for the year as well. Looks like this will be the inspiration to get the trainer out. Our weekend forcast is for rain, rain and, yes, more rain! If the trails are wet, I usually have the option of getting on the road bike, but not if it's raining :mad:

What's worse, is I'm having a saddle sore/cyst removed on Wed. So, I'll be off the bike for at least a week or two. I could practice sprinting, right :o

Kerry

[mimitabby]

15 out of 34 contestants in this race are TE gals!

[cosc]

Hey, gals 2500 mi. sounds like a good goal for 2007. I wanted to make 2000 miles for 2006 and was about 200 miles from my goal when I wimped out from the brrrr factor. If I counted my indoor trainer miles I did make my goal. All that being said I think I'll have to count indoor milage this year, but hope to make 2500 mi. outdoor milage for the year. I'm looking forward to every mile as I sat in front of my computer wanting to be outside.:)

[Geonz]

Layers! Layers!

and ... don't let the brrr factor convince you you'll be cold unless you try it. I'm amazed at how cold I am NOT. I also know some people *do* get cold... but a lot of people don't realize how warm you get yourself.

But the nice thing is that 2500 can be done without riding in the nasties, especially if you stay fit in between.

[mimitabby]

Layers! Layers!

and ... don't let the brrr factor convince you you'll be cold unless you try it. I'm amazed at how cold I am NOT. I also know some people *do* get cold... but a lot of people don't realize how warm you get yourself.

But the nice thing is that 2500 can be done without riding in the nasties, especially if you stay fit in between.

I don't know how you guys in a really cold climate do it. Yesterday I had (from bottom) wool undersweater, longsleeve warm jersey, fleece vest, 100% windproof/waterproof raincoat; balaclava, super warm gloves, tights, winter long bike pants, wool socks, shoes, and the shoe cover things sorry, it's 6am...
My feet were getting cold after 28 miles in 38-40 degree weather!

[Bad JuJu]

The problem where I live is the current run of rain and fog--started Friday, still on tap for today. I squeezed in 20 miles yesterday between rainclouds, but today I'm afraid it's back to indoor cycling. Rats!

On the other hand, I already notice that this 2500-mile challenge is keeping me motivated to get in at least SOME mileage each day. Hope I can keep up the momentum!

[snowtulip]

Ok ladies, once again you've inspired me. I signed up! I keep saying I need to start doing some road miles to keep me nice and fit for mountain biking, so now's my chance to finally do it. I logged in my measly mtb. miles from last week, hope to keep inspired!:D

Great job to everyone that's already posted great numbers!