jpkrueger

I need some help setting some parameter for a competition.

A "friend" of mine challenged me to a 100 mile on/off (25% trail) ride. He's not an endurance athlete, but does have a good amount BMX (Freestyle/Halfpipe) experience and claims to be mountain biking 120mile per week. Myself, on the other hand, have been a marthoner/triathlete for the past 7 years. While not great I usually perform in the top five-ten percentile. He talks a lot of trash without any backing and I'm not sure why he thinks, or wants, to challenge me, but he has. I accepted. I realize this can put a serious strain on or end a friendship, but the amount of garbage that spews from his mouth is intolerable. I should be the "bigger" person, but it's a bit late as there is no way I can back out now (not that I want to). At the very least I can chalk it up to a training ride.

Basically I need some help setting up some "rules of engagement." As I said it is an on/off road event so it will incorporate 25miles of trail and 75miles of street. There is a local mountain bike trail that has a 6 mile loop and we would include that in a 19mile out and back on the street for a total of 4 loops. There will be a check-in at each loop where ridetime, distance, and average speed will be recorded and checked off by a judge. Once I've finalize the rules, I'm going to have my attorney draw up a contract to make it official.

I realize this is kind-of childish, but at this point is absolutely necesary.

I do appreciate your help.

Thanks,

Jon

Retro Grouch 

It seems to me that once you get an attorney involved it isn't just a friendly competition anymore.

jpkrueger

No, not so friendly at this point. My attorney is a long-time friend of mine, who, after hearing about it, thought the competition to be both amusing and absurd, but offered his services anyway.

recursive

Well, one rather important item is making sure no shortcuts are taken. Is there any way to set up a few strategic checkpoints with some proof that the riders were actually there? Maybe a disposable camera would work or something. Or maybe a bike computer is all that's necessary.

jpkrueger

This is a big concern but we'll use the computers to check distance, ridetime, and average mph at each loop, have it recorded and signed off on by a judge on a check-in sheet for each of us. Any discrepancy should be apparent.

recursive

Also make sure you have a plan for dealing with equipment failure. If a bike breaks or gets a flat, does the race continue? How is it dealt with?

caloso

Are you limiting yourselves to one bike each?

jpkrueger

One bike each. If a bike breaks or gets a flat each rider must deal with it on the road/trail. Each rider must finish or is disqualified. No exceptions. I'm thinking of adding a caveat that if a rider does not finish he will relinquish his bike or a predetermined amount of cash, in addition to the cash for losing, and cash for time bonus ($100 for every 20 mins after finisher)

islenska

jeez. this does not sound friendly at all. it doesn't even sound like fun. but...

how rough are the trails and what sort of bike to you plan to ride? depending on the offroad section, if you ride a rigid 29er with 'cross tires on it, you will probably have a big advantage over him if he rides a 26 inch mtb.

if he actually rides 120 miles / week, that is pretty good, but that doesn't necessarily make him fit. if you actually train for tri's and go out and hammer on the road, you are going to spank him. seriously. if i were you i would just make sure you are prepared to deal with mechanical problems and outsmart him. it will probably be really easy.

as for rules...hmm. each rider must be completely self-sufficient? that is...no aid, no van backup, no pits, no staff of mechanics, etc.

what about interferences like local traffic, peds, etc?

Dewbert

you've got to be kiddin', right?

recursive

Wow... high stakes. This is crazy.

jpkrueger

No. Not friendly. In fact it's getting really ugly. This guy has been my friend for a long time and my family has gone well out of their way for him on many occasions. As of late he's been downright nasty with regard to me and my family name. He's even gone so far as to tear apart my endurance ability and has criticized it relative to his, which is kinda ridiculous...for example; my best half marathon - 1:27:00, his only half - 2:30, my best marathon 3:06:30, his none. I've tried to give him an out, several times in fact, but he won't budge, as I really don't want to lose the friendship but I think we've gone past the point of no return. He certainly cannot back out now without losing face. "Those whom the Gods wish to destroy first make proud." Indeed.

A chase van is probably not a bad idea, as equipment will be my primary concern seeing as I will be borrowing my brothers mountain bike (which I will take to my local shop to have tuned optimally for the race - new tires, gearing, etc...). Perhaps a pit area at the check-in as well. Traffic and Peds should not be a concern as I'm planning the course for the "country." I'm most worried about him cheating and really not sure of the best way to combat that.

Look this is really bugging me, I do enjoy competition, but not at the expense of others or freindship. I try and live by Churchills words, " I don't compare myself to other men, only to the way I was the day before." Right now though I just want to tear him up, get a few bucks, and a new bike.

Thanks for the input. If anyones interested, I'll post some updates.

bikedean

Tear him up.

lemurhouse

Just when you think you've seen it all...

Retro Grouch 

This is none of my business but it sure looks to me like you're giving him free rent inside your head. While you're laying awake at night obcessing over him slighting your fitness what do you think he's doing? Honestly, it sounds to me like he's found a way to punch your numbers and you're letting him do it.

Moonshot

I think you should call it off and just invite the guy out for a ride in the country.







Then, drop his sorry arse!

recursive

I can get ridiculously competitive sometimes so I can relate. My advice is to school his sorry a$$, take the money, burn the bridges, and don't look back! Woo!

Then make some new friends.

Peek the Geek

I'm in agreement with Retro Grouch. You guys haven't even raced yet, but he already owns you.

ChAnMaN

So how big of friends are you still going to be when one of you loses hundreds of dollars?

This thing seems out of control, friendly races are "Hey, 10 bucks says I can make it back to the LBS before you can."

TheKillerPenguin

Sounds like you're both out for blood. You know when he loses he's going to claim he was having a bad day. Why didn't you just go on a few "friendly" training rides with him at your pace and school him that way? Nothing screams "you suck" like going easy up a climb while your "friend" is gasping for air.

Anyway, good luck. Hope you show your friend the light.

BikeInMN

Jon,

This is one of the dumbest posts I've read in quite some time.

Why not just throw knives at each other and be done with it?

skiahh

Too late. Friendship's gone. You think beating him will save a friendship? Nope, the attacks'll just get worse. And what if you lose? He'll be insufferable.

Race if you want/need to to prove your manhood to yourself, friends and family. But, as others have said, this guy hass beaten you mentally already. To trump that, walk away, let him spew all he wants. You have the numbers in your corner and anyone who really cares can see that.

TheKillerPenguin

Well, if you really want to bring him back down to earth, and you're 100% sure you can beat him, beat him and beat him bad. Afterwards hopefully he'll understand you really are better than him at that stuff, and maybe he'll settle down and you can offer some tips/help for him to improve his performance.

islenska

how about this...

why not challenge him to an actual, official race. then you wont really have to worry about him cheating because there will be race officials, timekeepers, rules, other racers, etc. also, when you beat him, he will look bad in front of tons of people, and you will have many witnesses to attest to the fact that you destroyed him.

jpkrueger

You're absolutely right. Dumb is sugarcoating it. Did I mention he insulted Minnesota, where my family is originally from.