The Annual Lunacy (aka "I Don't Do Winter") Challenge Chatzone

[Alex321]

The reference to stretch targets is irrelevant - they're only personal ambitions/self-motivators, intended to push yourself even further.

On the other hand, if someone loses a couple of months because of illness/injury and wants to set a lower annual target for the completion of their 13 rides, then why not?

Of course, we'd need to see mitigating documentation - including a doctor's certificate and a note from your mother.

My mother has been dead for about 20 years

I think I did my last one on NYE once... So much for not doing winter!

At my current rate of progress I will be doing it again this year...

Lat year, I did my last one on 2nd December, but was already on 11 by this point, while this year I only have 5 done. I was expecting to get at least two in each of August and September, and got none.

I did get back on the bike this week, but it will be a few weeks before I'm up to 35 miles rides, and I'm away for the last week of October. I'll be surprised if I get more than 8 in.

 

[FrothNinja]

My mother has been dead for about 20 years




Lat year, I did my last one on 2nd December, but was already on 11 by this point, while this year I only have 5 done. I was expecting to get at least two in each of August and September, and got none.

I did get back on the bike this week, but it will be a few weeks before I'm up to 35 miles rides, and I'm away for the last week of October. I'll be surprised if I get more than 8 in.

6 years since my Ma passed - should make it easier to fake a not from her if she can't deny it 😇 and I used to do it at school all the time, just to save her the job

Don't beat your self up on the distance, set your revised target initially at something like 1 mile (or whatever) and then take your time with plenty or rests. Ride flats with a low seat. In your position I would be getting myself as fit as possible following the physios orders (they maybe able to factor it in after a month or so). Main thing is to get yourself sorted, but a much lower revised target for rides done post accident should give you a sense of achievement and bolster the ole head health too.
If you do finish the challenge you can be our Challenge Hero 🦸‍♂️
....I just made that role up

 

[Alex321]

6 years since my Ma passed - should make it easier to fake a not from her if she can't deny it 😇 and I used to do it at school all the time, just to save her the job

Don't beat your self up on the distance, set your revised target initially at something like 1 mile (or whatever) and then take your time with plenty or rests.

Well I got 9ut again today, doing 10 miles this time, and feel fine afterwards.

Hopefully I'll be up to doing 15-20 mile rides by next weekend.

Ride flats with a low seat.

I'd have to change the pedals to ride flats, and I'd rather keep my seat at the right height. How would it benefit me to change to flats and a lower saddle?

In your position I would be getting myself as fit as possible following the physios orders (they maybe able to factor it in after a month or so).

Physio?

At the last fracture clinic, the surgeon seemed surprised by how much motion I had, asked if I was doing physio. I said I haven't had any formal physio, was just working at bending it as much as possible, and he just said I was obviously doing the right things. So I don't think I'm going to be getting any formal physio.

Main thing is to get yourself sorted, but a much lower revised target for rides done post accident should give you a sense of achievement and bolster the ole head health too.
If you do finish the challenge you can be our Challenge Hero 🦸‍♂️
....I just made that role up

😂

I only get to do 30 mile+ rides at weekends and home based holidays, and there just aren't enough of those left now.

Next year will be much easier, as I'm going part time from January, so an extra 2 days a week with potential for longer rides.

 

[FrothNinja]

How would it benefit me to change to flats and a lower saddle?

I had an issue with back & wrists some years ago now and the physio advised said things so that I could get my feet down quickly and keep the pressure off my wrists. It probably would have made more sense if I had mentioned that I was also advised to ride a bike that afforded me an upright stance. So ended up pootling along on a 1940s Coventry Eagle, which meant rides where as flat as possible (thank you L&L)
Glad you are managing to get out for some gentle rides.

 

[Alex321]

I had an issue with back & wrists some years ago now and the physio advised said things so that I could get my feet down quickly and keep the pressure off my wrists. It probably would have made more sense if I had mentioned that I was also advised to ride a bike that afforded me an upright stance. So ended up pootling along on a 1940s Coventry Eagle, which meant rides where as flat as possible (thank you L&L)
Glad you are managing to get out for some gentle rides.

Makes sense, for back issues, certainly. Not so sure it would help the wrist much, and mine is just above the elbow.

 

[ColinJ]

It is highly unlikely that I will complete the challenge this year but it was a lovely day today so I made the effort to go out with my pal Bill to do a metric century ride to the Ribble Valley and back. Rather than just riding to and from Padiham by our usual route, we made it more interesting by going out via Fence and Sabden.

I am physically capable of doing these rides and even with the iffy weather in 2024 there have been enough decent days to get my 13 rides in. The problem is motivation. I just haven't felt the oomph that I used to have!

I'll see how many more metric centuries I can persuade myself to do on whatever decent days we have left this year, because yes, I really don't want to 'do' winter!

 

[Sea of vapours]

Today is very much a 'decent day', at least in prospect, Colin ... !

 

[ColinJ]

Today is very much a 'decent day', at least in prospect, Colin ... !

True, but... (searches drawer for Relatively unfit older guy needs recovery day after lumpy metric century card)... I think I will take it easy today.

I'll definitely go out but maybe just a gentle hour or two to get to over 200 km for the week.

I have been catching up on the World Track Championship and am looking to watching day 3.

Tomorrow looks like being damp, so a rest day, but then some good riding opportunities later in the week.

 

[steverob]

Completed the challenge today - one day after the clocks change that I said marked the end of my 'long ride season', but that's semantics! And I did it with my second shortest but also second hilliest ride of the challenge, although that did mean it was my most elevation per mile.

Not sure I'll do any extra qualifying rides to bump the lowest ones off the chart, but if the weather is good one weekend and I don't feel like lying in (which is the default for me), there's a possibility I suppose.

 

[bluenotebob]

Completed the challenge today

Congratulations @steverob ... finisher #4.

 

[steverob]

Map of my lunacy:

You can tell by the amount of little spurs and dead-ends that I rode, that I am also working on gaining as many VeloViewer tiles as possible at the same time as well! And that the map would have been a lot smaller without RideLondon making an appearance.

 

[bluenotebob]

Well done! @FrothNinja .. our 5th finisher this year

 

[FrothNinja]

Well, gotta say I'm mighty glad it hasn't been windy or rainy.
Car has been off the road for a bit so I have resorted to 2 wheels to get in and out of Preston. More or less crossing Lancashire twice a day, riding from a couple of miles north of a lump of Yorkshire, over the Ribble where it's still tidal, and up into the dark heart of Preston.
Knees are getting bloody sore and my neck/shoulders are very stiff but I think I can work from home for the rest of the week.
I have noticed that in Whalley there are a lot of bastards who deliberately try and put you in danger, whereas a few miles along in Copster Green they are reet considerate. I ride through a fairly depressed part of Preston but most of the drivers - with a couple of notable exceptions - are tolerant of the foibles of other road users. Just as well because ones attention is easily distracted.