Chris L

I wasn't planning on doing this just yet, but bikeprolog is down, so I need a new challenge. Last year we had the virtual ride across Australia, but it was my suspicion that we had virtually neglected the best riding in the country. That suspicion has now been confirmed. Consequently, the challenge is now a virtual ride around Tasmania -- using a route that might be described as "indirect".

The deal is that those deciding to have a crack have from Monday 8 March (i.e. tomorrow) until Sunday 1 June to ride 2,349km or 1,460 miles (depending on your scale of measurement). That's nearly three months, so hopefully it will be doable. For those who find this too easy (yes, I know there are some), the challenge is two laps!

I have another challenge lined up immediately after the completion of this one which should lead nicely into the bikeforums TDF in July if all goes well. For those who are wondering what sort of terrain this will be run over, follow the link in my sig for pictures. I'll post a "stage list" featuring interim distances if anybody's interested.

So who's up for the latest challenge?

MKRG

I'm tempted...I'd be doing it fixed as well. Would that get me any extra brownies?

Machka 

2,349km or 1,460 miles in almost 3 months?? Well, that's definitely do-able although it would be more like 2 months for me because I don't see myself riding all that much outside in March yet. It's struggling to reach the freezing mark here without snowing all over the place, so cycling has been a challenge.

Is Tasmania flat? It's like a pancake here so if the challenge is also to simulate the same terrain, that might be a bit difficult for me. However, I've got wind . . . a lot of wind!!

I was just about ready to start logging miles with BikeProLog too, but discovered they were down, so I used this one instead:
https://www.bikejournal.com/

I also log my miles (outside only, of course) here: https://www.big-dogs.org/scripts/bdhome.asp

P. B. Walker

Count me in Chris. The terrain here is mostly rolling and at this time of year we've usually got a decent little breeze coming out of the northwest, which is my out route (gotta love having the tailwind on the ride home).

I assume this'll only be outdoor, on the road, miles. Do you want us to log our miles into bikeprolog, or are you cool with us just posting updates to our mileage as we go along? I use my own spreadsheet, but I don't mind using bikeprolog when it comes back up, or whatever online journal you like.

I'd definitely like to see the "stage list" with interim distances so I can find the places on the map that I'm "virtually" riding through.

P. B. Walker

Forgot to add, isn't June 1st a Tuesday?

Chris L

Tasmania's east coast is flat, the west coast is all hills. In anycase, don't worry about trying to simulate the terrain -- that isn't a requirement, although it's certainly optional. There was plenty of wind down there back in December, although someone told me it was "unseasonal". There were also plenty of dirt roads, including the infamous Jacob's Ladder.

I signed up for activebody.org last night, however, I still have about two months worth of riding to retrieve from BP.

Chris L

Outdoor is the usual rule here. You can ride them on singletrack if you'd prefer, but that's probably even harder than riding on the road. Using your own spreadsheet is fine, I'm running out of patience with BP anyway, so I may well be doing the same thing.

I'll post the stage list tonight if I remember to (someone PM me to remind me). Note that the interim distances may not necessarily correspond with the map distances. I did take more than a few detours down there, and they were worth taking!

Oh yeah, 1 June is a Tuesday -- I was looking at the wrong calendar. In that case, we have until the Tuesday of that week. Ra!

Chris L

Sorry folks, attachment was the best I could do on this occasion.

Paul L.

OK, I am in. I can do most of that with just commuting! Wow, to think I didn't realize that I was leaving Hobart this morning! Should be arriving in Berriedale after lunch!

Recumbent_Guy

I missed the first day, but I did ride last night so I can probably count that right? Should be lots o' fun.

Chris L

Dude, you've got almost three months. Missing one night shouldn't put you out of the equation.

willic

Yeh, count me in , that should be well within my scope, weather and health (just gone down with a chest infection today, that will teach me to ride in inapropriate clothing for the conditions. Doh) permitting..

Bike prolog is up again, but looks like its coming apart at the Seams, logged on to the Challenges just to find blank pages, last time it went down all the members profiles disappeared .

Csson

Last year I rode 2347km in that time, so I'll try to beat that .

/Csson

Machka 

OK, some mileages:

March 9th - 10 miles
March 13th - 17 miles
March 14th - 31 miles

Total so far: 58 miles down, 1402 miles to go!!

It's been chilly and windy here. Today's ride started at -6C/21F and dropped to -11C/12F by the end of the ride.

P. B. Walker

Here's mine so far:

3/13 - 48.58 mi
3/14 - 60.90 mi


109.48 total mi.

Machka 

March 21st: 105.5 miles

Totals so far: 163.5, 1296.5 miles to go!!

I can hardly wait till it warms up some. That century today started at -21C/-4F and peaked at -8C/18F with a -14/10F windchill factor.

Chris L

Just a point in response to that, I have never ridden in temperatures of -8C. Not because of any refusal to ride, just that it never gets that cold around here!

MediaCreations 

I did a lot of those stages in person last year when I rode from Perth to Hobart. I guess I should do the cyber ride.

Machka 

And -8C was the high for the day!!

Recumbent_Guy

Well, since the 8th, ive done 365.5miles. So only 1094.5 to go! I cant believe some of you people are out riding around in -21C..thats crazy! *shakes head* Mind you...I cant really remember the last time it got down near single digits 'round here.

Chris L

It doesn't.

Machka 

March 24 - 10 miles
March 25 - 13 miles
March 27 - 14 miles
March 28 - 46.5 miles

1213 miles to go!
I'm still hoping that it will warm up to above freezing temps one day soon!

P. B. Walker

3/24 - 36.25 mi
3/27 - 60.91 mi
3/28 - 65.69 mi

272.33 total mi. (1187.69 mi to go)

Paul L.

OK lets see I will tally by weeks.

3/8 - 73.4
3/15 - 48 121.4
3/22 -91.3 212.7
3/29 - 51.3 264

So that puts me in Stage 5 With 1196 miles to go!

Recumbent_Guy

Since the 24th(when I posted above) ive done another 120.4 miles. This means ive got 974 miles to go. Ill have to check later and see what stage that puts me at.