Three 30-minute rides each week of the year 2026 challenge

[bluenotebob]

Slightly easier for retired folk of

It is much easier to find the time (or at least, it should be) if you've stopped working.

What I'd also say is that it really helps to have a range of bikes at your disposal. I'm sure that @13 rider would have sailed through this challenge but without an MTB (or any bike with fat tyres) he came unstuck in freezing conditions and (quite rightly) didn't risk his road bike when there was ice all day (in January, I think).

It's one to think about for the future @sevenfourate - most of the year it's a doddle.

I had to leave the challenge earlier this month because of a combination of illness and really poor weather. But I'd kept it going for nearly 4.5 years so it wasn't too much of a let-down when I eventually failed.

 

[FrothNinja]

This thread sparked my train of thought / interest quite some time ago. And I’m under no illusion how difficult this would be. For me. And many others by so few takers ?

On paper: 3 qualifying rides a week seems an achievable; almost trivial task. And in decent weather and months of long daylight days that would be straightforward. And a lot of fun.

But - I typically work 50+ hours a week. (at work 6am until 4.30pm). Throw in travel, eating, a bath now and again, an early daily dog-walk - and maybe even some food and sleep….where would I fit in a couple of weekday rides semi-easily ? It would likely have to be 7pm+ at night. In February when it’s pitch black, freezing cold and lashing it down ? Sounds lush.

And if these cold, wet conditions were to be my rides: then there would certainly be cleaning, lubrication and maintenance to be done around those. So a ‘simple’ 1/2 hour ride could be as much as 1.5 hours (?) time invested with changing, riding, cleaning etc, a shower if wet and soaked ,changing back again blah blah.

Where in the heck am I going to fit that into a day that’s already got perhaps 16 hours accounted for………without killing myself ? *That’s what weekends are for ?

Slightly easier for retired folk of course. But still no small task - and anyone who manages this for a full year has gone to Herculean effort and given up plenty of other things at some point. Kudos say i 💪

I only work between 3 and 5 days a week - sometimes up to 7 in summer. Finding the time is tricky and the toughest thing is stepping out the door for half an hour in grotty weather. I do almost all my local miles (majority of my qualifying rides) on a 1980s 5 speed Centurion, which tends to be left to drip dry then the worst brushed off when dry. I use wet weather chain goob on it but only needs doing every other week.
I have been using the bike for getting to site when I have to work away from home.