The 2010 500 mile/month challenge
 

Jesspal started the 2009 500 mile challenge.

I really benefited from that thread and rode 5000 miles last year. There is nothing wrong with some online motivation!

I’m going to try to ride 500 miles/month from April to October. Anyone else?

Anyone can report any result. Normally, participants will post accumulated miles once or twice as the month progresses, and will then provide a month end total.

It not necessary to meet the 500 mile goal either. If you’re tracking your accumulative totals and would like to build-up to 500 miles/month feel free to participate.

It’s all about fitness and motivation as a Clyde or Athena.

Sure, I already have 135 miles "in the bank" for April. :)

I'm in; this will be great motivation for me. I usually get close anyway commuting to work and a few weekend rides, but having a monthly goal will help me stretch it.

April 1 - 26
April 2 - 16
April 3 - 63
April 4 - 17
April 5 - 13
April 6 - 0
April 7 - 72
April 8 - 0
April 9 - 0
April 10 - 22
April 11 - 40
April 12 - 15
April 13 - 0
April 14 - 15
April 15 - 2
April 16 - 0
April 17 - 0
April 18 - 37
April 19 - 15
April 20 - 16
April 21 - 7
April 22 - 10 *Flat tire today :(
April 23 - 33
April 24 - 12
April 25 - 0
April 26 - 16
April 27 - 16
April 28 - 16
April 29 - 25
April 30 - 0

Total: 504

Rode 22 of 30 days this month.

573 for March, but it is a little easier in Tx. 85 so far in April.

1652.6 for the year. I'm doing just a little over 500/month so far.
Working on my R-12 series for the Randonneurs USA has been a big motivation. 12 consecutive months of a 200k ride or longer.

Hey Hammond - these early months are easier in TX, but not when you kids start seeing triple digit temperatures! :eek: I'll take 28F and a dusting of snow over 110F any day.

I'll be in starting in May. I have a triathlon May 1, so I've been focusing more on intensity than duration of my rides. Once I get that tri done, I'm going to start upping the distance...

Summer in Texas is OK if you can ride in the morning. I completed an R12 last year. That's a tough goal. Forces you to get out and ride on days when you would really rather not. Did the March ride last year on a terribly windy day. To do the July and August rides I had to start at 5am. Then I messed around in September, and didn't ride my 200k until the end of the month and ended up riding one of our hardest rides on a pretty hot day.

I'm hoping to do at least that much from May to the end of Aug. Work schedule is tough. I've gotten a couple of 100 mile weeks in since the snow melted, and I'll do as much a possible.

127 miles MTD

OK, I'm in. I'm up to 23 miles so far as I attempt a comeback.

I am in - might do mine in kilos though.

I'm game. I think... I need to up my miles any. MS150 in two weeks and I would really like to go for an R12.

Texas isn't so bad. I can handle the heat. Its the umbrella I want to carry to protect me from the sun that I am having problems working onto the bike.

Can I join? I only have 30 miles so far this month :( but I think I can get another 470 in before its done! I look forward to the motivation!

I will be counting "miles" on the rollers, if that's OK. Sometimes weather and work conspire to keep me off the road.

I am in, April until October. Good Luck to all!

April 1: 22 / 3: 38 / 4: 30 / 7: strength training in AM and 12 mtb in pm / 10: 50.3 / 11: 60 rain 1 hour and 2 flats (same piece of glass found on 2nd flat) / 13: 22 / 16: 34.1 AE / 17: 100.5 / 20: 20.5 / 22: 12 mtb / 24: 42.2 AE / 25: 42.2 RR / 27: / 20.6 / 28: 12 mtb April Total Distance: 518.4 miles

May: 1: 54 / 2: 42 / 4: 23.1 z4x8 / 5: 22.5 z3 / 7: 23 z4x6 / 8: 56.5 GR / 15: 67 / 16: 43 / 18:6 / 20:30 / 22:50 /23:28.5 / 24:22.6 / 27:22.3 / 29:44.7 GR / 30:42.2 RR / 31: 34 May Total Distance: 609.90 miles

June 4: 22.4 / 5: 44.7 GR / 6: 34 RR / 9: 22.2 / 12: 43.2 GR / 13: 36.3 RR / 17: 33.6 / 19: 64.3 / 20: 36.9 / 26: 50.3 Total Distance: 388 miles

July 1: 22 / 3: 45.7 GR / 4: 37.41 / 5: 30.39 / 10: 62.4 / 11: 34.35 / 13: 37.61 GR / 17: 30.33 / 18: 34.37 / 20: 34.69 GR /22: 23.56 / 24: 46.31 / 28: 37.47 new saddle test = embrace the pain / 31:47.88 Total Distance July: 524.44 miles

August 3: 34.4 / 5: 34.43 / 7: 41.6 / 8: 27.9 / 10: rain / 12: saddle failure / 14: 52.84 JGR / 15: 41.35 RR / 19: 34.63 /21: 44.9 / 22: 39.58 / 24: 32.67 gr / 26: 41.06 GR / 28: 41.45 / 29: : Total Distance August: 468.06 miles

September 3: 30.24 / 4: 42.57 / 6: 51.35 / Total Distance September: 124.16 miles

So, how does this work? Do we report back every month? Every week? Every day? Whenever we want?

I did 25 miles today to bring my MTD to a whopping 55!:giver:

Anyone can report any result. Normally, participants will post accumulated miles once or twice as the month progresses, and will then provide a month end total.

It not necessary to meet the 500 mile goal either. If you’re tracking your accumulative totals and would like to build-up-to 500 miles/month, feel free to participate.
It’s all about fitness and motivation as a Clyde or Athena.

Michael

Cool. I understand. I am looking forward to this.

I'm in April- October as well. Ill post my mileage when I get home from work.

I hope that April is the start 500 mile months for me. I just missed in January with 475. Between the weather, family stuff, sickness, etc I was only able to get 320 miles in February and 320 miles in March. I am always happy to get over 300 miles in winter months.

I have a goal of getting more that 5000 miles by the first anniversary of getting my current bicycle. I have until 6Aug to do it. (I'm at 3660 as of today, so I am on a good pace to make it.)

Good luck and safe rides to everyone.

I am actually shooting for 200 miles per month, looking for at least 1200 this season. I ended up short last year, only about 900 miles.

Roller/trainer/stationary miles can be a point of contention. I count them; miles is miles, right? I don't think it makes any difference if you're out on the road, on a spin bike in the gym, a mag trainer in your basement, or a set of rollers in front of your TV.
Of all the indoor trainers, I think rollers should definitely count since you have to work to stay balanced on them.

I'm in... at 86 miles but there have been 3 perfect days and it looks a lot colder for the next week or so.

Well, there is a difference between rollers and the road. The rollers have no hills and no wind, for starters. On these counts rollers are a lot easier. On the other hand I tend to go much, much "faster" on rollers. I ride at a consistently higher cadence for longer periods than I do on the road. One thing I know for sure, I am still wiped out after I get off the rollers so I figure I am doing something right.

I havent been able to ride 100 miles for a month, much less 500. Something always crops up, mostly work.

I did 35 miles on the first and am heading out for another 35 tomorrow, so my target for April is 300

I'll join too.

So far I have ridden 66 miles in April. It's been a lovely month so far.

How about an hourly equivalent for us MTBers? I can get some 30 mile days in and i can get some 3 hour 8 mile days in. Usually the 8 mile days beat me up more than the 30 milers. I would enjoy being part of the group tracking effort, but I can't keep up with the miles riding on dirt. Pavement scares me, even those new bumbers leaves nasty marks.

What do you roadie types average in hours per month?

Well, 500 miles probably = 30 to 50 hours depending on the rider. Want to split the difference and call it 40 hours for the MTBers out there?

Trying to equate hours to miles is as pointless as trying to come up with a "value conversion" for trainer miles to Real Road (tm) miles.
A mile is a mile, no matter if you ride it on the road, on a trainer, on a spin bike or off road.

I know; the typical argument is that there are no headwinds or hills on a trainer, and that off road terrain is often more technical and difficult that road terrain. Regardless of these differences, a mile is a mile. I can choose to ride my 500 miles on the MUP or at the velodrome: They're outdoor miles, so I guess those are "real" miles... But is riding at the track or a dead-flat MUP really any more difficult than riding on rollers? What about compared to a spin bike with the resistance cranked way up?

Which weighs more: A pound of feathers or a pound of iron?

While each individual will determine what they want to include as miles, there are no rules.

Heck, no rules, no awards, no cash prizes.

The mileage goal should support your fitness and/or weight loss goals. Misrepresentations have not been an issue in the past. It's like playing solitaire, cheating is kind of pointless.

Michael