The Leisure Challenges - 2018

2018's Leisure Programme was launched a couple of weeks ago.

Among the initiatives is the newly improved and refreshed Leisure Challenges.

We think there is a challenge in here to suit everyone regardless of circumstance, ability or level of experience - they are designed to be inclusive.

The Challenges consist of 3 optional personal challenges that can help
to provide focus and recognition for your 2018 cycling efforts.
They all start on Sunday 1st April and finish on Sunday 2nd September so you have 22 weeks to complete your particular challenge(s) ......................

The Distance Challenge:

Option 1 - Cycle the (virtual) Wild Atlantic Way i.e. 2,733 km passing through 9 counties (avg. 124 km p.w.);

Option 2 - Cycle the (virtual) Perimeter of Ireland i.e. 3,900 km travelling through 18 counties (avg. 177 km p.w.);

Option 3 - Cycle the (virtual) 32 Counties of Ireland i.e. 5,000 km (avg. 227 km p.w.).


The Climbing Challenge:

Option 1 - Climb this year's La Vuelta a España i.e. climb 14,000 metres
(avg. 636 metres p.w.);

Option 2 - Climb this year's Le Tour de France i.e. climb 38,000 metres
(avg. 1,727 metres p.w.);

Option 3 - Climb this year's Giro d'Italia i.e. climb 44,000 metres
(avg. 2,000 metres p.w.).


The Randonneur Challenge:

Between March and August inclusive, i.e. 6 months, complete 12 x 140km spins.
Any spin completed in 1 day counts.


How it works:
Sign-up electronically right here using the Leisure Challenges Sign-up form or check out the "Files" section of the club website home page.
The deadline for signing up is Sunday 15th April.


During April / early May a Challenge table is published identifying who has signed up for which challenge(s). This is when your commitment to your challenge(s) becomes public.

Once a month log your progress for the preceding month using an online form on the club's website and also distributed via whatsapp groups.

The deadline for logging your progress is the 10th of the following month.
The first deadline will be 10th May i.e. for logging your April progress and so on.

During each successive month the Challenge table is updated to incorporate your prior month progress as logged by you. There'll be a linked visual table on the club homepage that will let you see how you and your club mates are getting
along with your chosen challenge(s).


The boring stuff:
An honour system is used, i.e. you self-report your own progress.
Ideally use Strava to track your progress but manual is okay too though only for distance.
Turbo and spin class miles are deadly but must be excluded for these challenges.
Meeting the deadlines outlined above is a requirement for participation, don't worry though - there will be plenty of deadline reminders.

The "re-assessment" window:
During the 22 week challenges window, your progress might be epic or frustrating or your personal circumstances might change for the better or worse and in hindsight you wish you'd opted for an even more or less demanding challenge(s).
Don't worry - during June we'll provide a window for you to re-assess your preferred challenge(s).

Lastly for any general questions at all please reach out on this thread.

Have fun and the best of luck.

On behalf of the Leisure committee.

Fantastic job, Ken & team - amazing facility. Where would we moderate performers be without you to nag/inspire us? (All very well supermen Dave Mc & co. notching up their through-the-night 530+ km: the rest of us need less stratospheric targets).

A reminder that the clock is ticking to sign up to this year’s Leisure Challenges with Sunday April 15th the deadline.
Check out first post on this thread to sign up :)

In case you missed the original date we’ve extended the sign-up deadline for 2018’s Leisure Challenges to Sunday 22nd April.

If you’re keen for a do-able challenge for 2018 check out this thread.

On behalf of the Leisure committee.

Hi all

Clink on the link to log your April progress for the Leisure Challenges - Log your progress here.

Check out the bigger picture to see how you and your fellow riders are faring by clicking here to see the Challenges Table .

Both links will appear in the Files section of the club homepage in the coming days.

Once a month log your progress for the preceding month using this online form.
The link will sit here and in the Files section of the club homepage.
A link to this thread will also be distributed to the "Orwell Wheelers Leisure" whatsapp group each month.

When logging progress - please type your name and avoid using autocomplete which often includes character spaces which screw up the update process.

Inclusive active participation is an important element of this initiative and consequently where a rider misses an update deadline without explanation the assumption will be the rider has changed their mind about participation and so will be removed from the Challenges table.

The deadline for logging your progress is the 10th of the following month.
The first deadline will be 10th May i.e. for logging your April progress and so on.

During each successive month the Challenge table is updated to incorporate your prior month progress as logged by you. The linked visual table (imminently on the club homepage) will let you see how you and your club mates are getting along with your chosen challenge(s).

Note on the Distance challenges:
These each start in Cork.
The table's "Distance routes" sheet will outline your route by county.
As you rack up the miles the table will reflect your progress by county along your route.

The boring stuff:
An honour system is used, i.e. you self-report your own progress.
Ideally use Strava to track your progress but manual is okay too though only for distance.
Turbo and spin class miles are deadly but must be excluded for these challenges.
Meeting the deadlines outlined above is a requirement for participation, don't worry though - there will be plenty of deadline reminders.

The "re-assessment" window:
During June we'll provide a window for you to re-assess your preferred challenge(s) so don't panic if you feel you have over or under-reached.

Lastly for any general questions at all please reach out on this thread.

Have fun and the best of luck.

On behalf of the Leisure committee.

Hi Ken
Just updated my climbing and distance covered on the LC update form. It appears to have counted my climbing twice and my distance not at all. Just to let you know in case there is a gremlin present on the form
Regards
Andrew

That’s fixed Andrew.
Cheers Andrew.

Hi all
Quite a lot of riders have yet to update
(see links above) the Challenges table.
To give more time I’ve extended the deadline to Sunday 13th May.

If you’re wavering maybe because April didn’t go too well (as mine didn’t) I’d urge you to stick with the Challenges anyway.

There’s plenty time left to be on the bike more and the weather will only improve :)

You have a built-in opportunity in your back pocket to reassess your choices in June anyway.

Best of luck.

The Leisure Challenges table has now been moderated - The Challenges Table
By and large riders have gotten off to a decent start and for those
who haven't, no sweat it's early days,
Congratulations all and lots of luck in the coming months.

Hey Ken.

My April stats are as follows:

Distance:
- via commuting 315km
- via saturday spins 478km
- via sunday spins 315km
- via midweek spins 139km

Total Distance: 1247km
Total Climbing: 11,139 metres
Total Completed 140kms: 2

Apologies for the delay in providing this info - poor wifi access while abroad. I will do by 10th of each month going forward.

Gráinne

Hi Ken,
I also forgot to enter my Stats for April, I was swamped with work.
Wont happen again, sorry

April Climbing Challenge
7292 Meters

Thanks

Hi

Please update your May Challenges progress by Friday when the update window closes.

Thanks to those who have updated already.

Log your progress link

the Challenges Table

Reassment Window:
June provides you with an opportunity to revise the Challenges
you originally selected i.e. revise them up or down should you wish to.
For example you may have signed up to the Giro but now feel you have the legs for the Vuelta too :)

If you wish to make a change you can post your revised Challenges selection(s) on this thread during the month of June and they will be incorporated into the Challenges Table.
Beyond June the window for a revision closes.

Lots of luck in the months ahead.

Hey Ken,
Id like to change my climbing challenge to 44,000

Thanks
Angela

Hi
A reminder that today is the deadline to log your May progress for your Leisure Challenges.

Check out the post just above for link details.

Lots of luck.

On behalf of the Leisure committee.

Hi Ken,

Can I change my climbing challenge to the Giro?

Thanks,
Sinéad

In general most riders are on track with their challenges, so well done everyone.

We have a handful of riders in particular not hanging around with 2,000 km plus accumulated on the road after 2 months including:
Aisling Ni Neill
Denis Gleeson
Eugene Dillon
Gráinne O Callaghan
James O Callaghan
Shaun Kelly
while Evan is blitzing it again this year with north of 3,000 km banked in his legs over the 2 months.

The climbers too are doing well with most riders generally on track.
A number of riders have accumulated 20,000 m plus of climbing after 2 months, none are on 30,000 m plus while Evan and Shaun Kelly have each clocked up 40,000 m plus of climbing in April and May - nice going.

In light of their form, I'd expect the 2 boys are also considering signing up (before the 30 June deadline) to climb an additional Grand Tour.

A number of riders have already completed (check out the riders highlighted in green on the Challenges table) their chosen climbing challenge.
Adrian Gallagher
Clare Keogh
Frances Conway
Gillian Fitzgerald
Guy McDonnell
Jeremy Goff
Stefan Foster
and Valerie Plant.

Chapeau to each of you.

The randonneur group are working hard this year with some of the riders including Evan and James O Callaghan within touching distance of completing even at this early stage.
Nice going everyone.

Reassessing your challenge(s):
A reminder that the month of June is the window to reassess your challenges.
You may wish to do a longer or shorter distance route or climb an additional Grand Tour or even select a different one to the one you chose originally.
If so post your preference on this thread before the end of the month.

Lots of luck with the rest of your challenge(s)..

On behalf of the Leisure Committee.

Ken. Details as follows for May
Colm. Distance 481. Climb. 5646
Triona. Distance 290. Climb. 2947

Cheers
Triona

Just a reminder:

Reassessing your challenge(s):
If you’re keen to revise your selected challenge(s) please post on this thread by latest Saturday.

Logging your June progress:
Please log your June progress by the Tuesday 10th of July.

Lots of luck.

On behalf of the Leisure committee.

Ken, I've missed the reassessment deadline by (at least) 2 days. Feel free to reject this request with curses and obscenities. BUT,
If you don't want to do that, and can find it in your heart to do so, re-grade me to the 'Giro'/44,000m challenge.
Tom