Two Mile Challenge

[Tri Girl]

I'll join you virtually! Hopefully it cools down a little by October.
I love the idea and commend you for starting it! Way to go!
How will you keep track of accountability? Do people have to check in weekly or just keep track for the month? Will prizes be determined by random drawing?

[TsPoet]

Yes, are you looking for locals, or can we join virtually? My plans to commute this year were derailed by road construction, and now i'm getting over pneumonia.
I know October is a long way away, but I've been so sick for so long that it might be great to really go for something hard in October - commuting 4 days/wk would be a good challenge for me.
Oh - and using the bike for 50% of all of my shopping - that would be huge challenge for me, if it counts.

[Possegal]

I too would be interested in virtually joining in. I keep telling myself - tomorrow you have to start riding the bike to work at least 2-3 days a week. Then tomorrow comes and goes and I don't do it. Yet again, I'm telling myself that tonight. We'll see what happens come tomorrow. I'd like to get myself riding to do my grocery shopping as well, at least part of the time.

[Catrin]

This got me to thinking...but work is 23 miles one way, the grocery store is 12...I moved where I did to have easy riding access to my country roads but it has me so far from everything else. This means the only short trips are to put gas in my car

Still, I would like to at least attempt a bike commute to work this year, late October might be a fine time for that...You got me to thinking about it at least, though you probably aren't looking for participants in Indiana

[TsPoet]

This got me to thinking...but work is 23 miles one way, the grocery store is 12...I moved where I did to have easy riding access to my country roads but it has me so far from everything else. This means the only short trips are to put gas in my car

Still, I would like to at least attempt a bike commute to work this year, late October might be a fine time for that...You got me to thinking about it at least, though you probably aren't looking for participants in Indiana

Is there a park-n-ride lot somewhere? I know many people who drive 1/2 way and ride the rest. My commute is 13 miles 1-way, that is quite doable and takes slow me 1 hr. Just an idea.

[Melalvai]

Maybe we could do a simultaneous 2-mile challenge here at TE. The one I'm planning is restricted to locals as far as the participant packets & prizes. But here at TE we already have a forum, we just start a new thread in October, and we don't need prizes etc.

And the TE community is better qualified for "consultations" than any one member!

Catrin, a 23 mile commute would be super impressive! Or you could consider alternatives. Drive halfway (or more) and bike the rest, leaving your car in a church or business parking lot (with permission). Or drive one way, bike home, bike in the next way, drive home.

[Tri Girl]

Oh, I didn't mean to ask about the prizes for us.

I was actually wondering how you were going to do it, because I thought that might be something fun to do at my work (stealing your idea and all). I like the idea. My bike to work challenge in May didn't go over too well. I'm not done trying to get my lazy co-workers to get off their duffs and move!

[TsPoet]

Oh, I didn't mean to ask about the prizes for us.

I was actually wondering how you were going to do it, because I thought that might be something fun to do at my work (stealing your idea and all). I like the idea.

I was thinking we could maybe pair up with 'real' people in the challenge. Then if my partner got a prize, I'd go buy myself something
I like this idea, lets do it.
My only comment is, if we are going to virtually do it, why wait until October - why not start in 100 degree September. Heck, it's August first, i could start tomorrow.

[Possegal]

Oh, I didn't mean to ask about the prizes for us.

I was actually wondering how you were going to do it, because I thought that might be something fun to do at my work (stealing your idea and all). I like the idea. My bike to work challenge in May didn't go over too well. I'm not done trying to get my lazy co-workers to get off their duffs and move!

I didn't even notice the thing about prizes. I was just looking for motivation and accountability.

Though I can offer this - I'm a bit addicted to 'customizing', meaning I've made a number of things that have my 'team' logo (my family/friends who run and ride to kick cancer's butt, all in my sister's name). So, I have a couple of cycling things with our team name/logo on it. I sell them to put the money back to fundraising. But I have a bit of stock, shall we say. Long story a bit less long - I could send a prize or two to people in our challenge here.

[Melalvai]

I was actually wondering how you were going to do it, because I thought that might be something fun to do at my work (stealing your idea and all). I like the idea. My bike to work challenge in May didn't go over too well. I'm not done trying to get my lazy co-workers to get off their duffs and move!

This certainly is not an original idea, I'm stealing it from several places. I don't know where I heard of it first. Clif Bars is doing a Two Mile Challenge and I think August is the last month of it.

So feel free to steal anything you like.

A cliche I keep hearing when people talk about bike/ped is "low hanging fruit". I'm starting to hate the term but there is something to the concept. Instead of going after your lazy and resistant co-workers, you go after people who are already doing it or on the verge of doing it, who don't need much incentive or prodding to try it (or increase what they are already doing). Get experience, build momentum, then go after the more difficult tasks.

I was thinking we could maybe pair up with 'real' people in the challenge. Then if my partner got a prize, I'd go buy myself something

I like that! Pairing you all up with people in Kirksville, MO will help them feel motivated, it will be kind of a buddy-system, an extra resource for them. That's awesome! When we get a bit closer to October, I'll have people pm me if they want to be a buddy to one of our commuters. (And you can feel free to buy yourself something to celebrate your buddy's success, or console yourself on his/her failure, TriGirl! lol)

We can definitely start a two-mile challenge of our own long before October. The reason I picked October is because it is further away than September. (August is still too hot for most people here.) When I did the No Car Diet in 2007, it was in September. Once during that month I rode 25 miles one-way to go for a 20 mile bike ride. And then 25 miles home. A 70 mile day so I could ride 20 miles with friends! It was beautiful weather all month.

Deborajen, I like the substitution thing, and teams. I'll keep it in mind for future events--I want to keep it simple this year. Or, the team concept is definitely something we could do here on TE. And Possegal could send the winning team a bit of schwag!

I'm continually amazed at how many great ideas people come up with, every time I talk about this project. So fun!