To date, I have yet to except any of the challenges. Partially because I'm still too new and only be using Strava for just over a month I think? So when I noticed the new challenges this morning I could not resist and I decided it was time too go for it and give them a try.
Which Ones
So out of the several available so far, I only have accepted 2 of them for now. One of them is to ride 50 miles this week as my "personal goal / challenge" and the other is a straight up Strava challenge.
For the Strava community one you have to put in at least 250 kilometers of riding for the month of July - 156 miles. It goes up from there to 1250 kilometers being the highest - 777 miles, although peddlers are welcome, heck encouraged even - to go beyond that. Yeah out of my league right now heck, maybe never in my league. That is a ton of miles to ride in a month, I mean a crazy wicked ton of miles! For the seasoned rider, maybe not? But between family time and work I don't see that many miles happening anytime soon for me.
Not to mention that to ride that many miles for the month of July for example I would have to ride between 5.1 miles on the low end, up to 25.1 miles on the high end per day. I know, when you look at it that way it does not seem like a lot. The other issue that I run into is places to ride far enough. For example, any ride that I take that starts hitting the 15 or 20+ range in my area is full of climbs. For me, this kills my stamina being a new rider. Heck the smaller 6-14 mile rides that I have been doing have been rough because of the climbing and I am only climbing 350 to I think 650 of an altitude change has been my averages / maximums.
If you break them down they come out to anything from a 3% to a 8% grade, which for me is a lot, but its short 5 to 8 minute bursts, a little flat or decent, then back up another. It's a pro and a con of living in a valley surrounded my mountains. Great for training / learning to climb, but rough when starting out and wanting longer ride loops. There are times that I wish I had a decent flat route that I could do over say an hour or two and bust out 50 to 100 miles - that would be sweet! Even then I dunno if my legs, ass and everything else would be able to keep up though.
Oh that brings me to the other challenge. I am on the fence about accepting this one. The challenge is super straight forward. You simply have to do a simple ride that is at least 130 km in length, or around 80 miles. While I think I could build up to this, I don't know where I would be able to find a decent route that would be that long and not kill me first from the climbing! I am still considering it and as mentioned on the fence about it. If I give it a try, succeed or not, I will be sure to post how it went. That one may actually require some GoPro footage as well. Although boring as all hell, it would be a memory and proof that I did it.
Wrap It
Anyway, I just wanted to share what I am trying to accomplish this month. More for motivation and so the riding does not get dull. I don't think that it will anytime soon. Especially because I can swap between mountain bike riding and road. The mountain bike takes MUCH more time to get a lot less distance but has its pros and fun as well. The descents are usually my favorite although sketchy at times because of the rocks.
I think I know where I am going to go ride this weekend in the mountains to get some miles in. Most likely at one of the canyons that I have been having a blast playing in the past few rides. I just need to get my dam brakes swapped out - I have been putting that off for nearly 2 weeks now!
So yea, that is where I stand as of today - let's see how the month goes and the riding achievements I have set. I am confident that I can do them, its just a matter of finding the time and not ignoring the family to do so. At the same time not over doing it and losing focus, getting hurt or worse from a bone head move while out there in traffic. People for the most part are pretty good with those of us on bikes, but there are still a lot of assholes out there as well.
I should know, I was one of them and still am if there is a huge cluster of bikes not riding responsibly. They are the ones that royally piss me off and why I always thought they were all just a bunch of assholes on bikes. Sure some are and always will be, but I don't want to be one of them. I try to respect everyone that I come across. Other bikes, joggers, dog walkers and so on. I figure if a few of us take the responsibility and do the right thing maybe it will help make up for the jerks. If not, at least I know that I have done my part and hopefully have some karma in the vault!
Photo: This is the mail that I got the other day, Saturday to be exact. Some might say that I have a bad addiction to sweets, maybe energy drinks and bars or just plain "bad taste". I guess all of the above could be true in some aspects, although this is nothing more than my collection of snacks. One, maybe two snacks are taken along with me in my Camelbak per ride, usually only on the longer rides and on the mountain bike. It's not only inspiration to get to eat the treats by taking the ride, but there is little to no guilt after chomping one down.
Not to mention that to ride that many miles for the month of July for example I would have to ride between 5.1 miles on the low end, up to 25.1 miles on the high end per day. I know, when you look at it that way it does not seem like a lot. The other issue that I run into is places to ride far enough. For example, any ride that I take that starts hitting the 15 or 20+ range in my area is full of climbs. For me, this kills my stamina being a new rider. Heck the smaller 6-14 mile rides that I have been doing have been rough because of the climbing and I am only climbing 350 to I think 650 of an altitude change has been my averages / maximums.
If you break them down they come out to anything from a 3% to a 8% grade, which for me is a lot, but its short 5 to 8 minute bursts, a little flat or decent, then back up another. It's a pro and a con of living in a valley surrounded my mountains. Great for training / learning to climb, but rough when starting out and wanting longer ride loops. There are times that I wish I had a decent flat route that I could do over say an hour or two and bust out 50 to 100 miles - that would be sweet! Even then I dunno if my legs, ass and everything else would be able to keep up though.
Oh that brings me to the other challenge. I am on the fence about accepting this one. The challenge is super straight forward. You simply have to do a simple ride that is at least 130 km in length, or around 80 miles. While I think I could build up to this, I don't know where I would be able to find a decent route that would be that long and not kill me first from the climbing! I am still considering it and as mentioned on the fence about it. If I give it a try, succeed or not, I will be sure to post how it went. That one may actually require some GoPro footage as well. Although boring as all hell, it would be a memory and proof that I did it.
Wrap It
Anyway, I just wanted to share what I am trying to accomplish this month. More for motivation and so the riding does not get dull. I don't think that it will anytime soon. Especially because I can swap between mountain bike riding and road. The mountain bike takes MUCH more time to get a lot less distance but has its pros and fun as well. The descents are usually my favorite although sketchy at times because of the rocks.
I think I know where I am going to go ride this weekend in the mountains to get some miles in. Most likely at one of the canyons that I have been having a blast playing in the past few rides. I just need to get my dam brakes swapped out - I have been putting that off for nearly 2 weeks now!
So yea, that is where I stand as of today - let's see how the month goes and the riding achievements I have set. I am confident that I can do them, its just a matter of finding the time and not ignoring the family to do so. At the same time not over doing it and losing focus, getting hurt or worse from a bone head move while out there in traffic. People for the most part are pretty good with those of us on bikes, but there are still a lot of assholes out there as well.
I should know, I was one of them and still am if there is a huge cluster of bikes not riding responsibly. They are the ones that royally piss me off and why I always thought they were all just a bunch of assholes on bikes. Sure some are and always will be, but I don't want to be one of them. I try to respect everyone that I come across. Other bikes, joggers, dog walkers and so on. I figure if a few of us take the responsibility and do the right thing maybe it will help make up for the jerks. If not, at least I know that I have done my part and hopefully have some karma in the vault!
Photo: This is the mail that I got the other day, Saturday to be exact. Some might say that I have a bad addiction to sweets, maybe energy drinks and bars or just plain "bad taste". I guess all of the above could be true in some aspects, although this is nothing more than my collection of snacks. One, maybe two snacks are taken along with me in my Camelbak per ride, usually only on the longer rides and on the mountain bike. It's not only inspiration to get to eat the treats by taking the ride, but there is little to no guilt after chomping one down.
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