ItsJustMe

For those in somewhat northern areas, November can be the first real test of resolve. Many of us will see our first REAL snow this month, we'll be exposed to coworkers and family members bringing us colds and other problems that will push us towards the dark side. If you started with the October challenge, keep it up! If not, it's a good time to start.

I personally started taking these challenges back when DogBoy originally posted them back in January, and I've only missed one week this year so far, back in March.

The challenge is to set a goal to commute every day by bike. Some people allow a few emergency/sick days. You may have to exclude certain days of the week for errands or what-have-you. It's really up to you and what you feel is achievable, but don't sell yourself short. Aim high.

This is totally up to you. You can start any time. There is no prize apart from pride, and no consequences for failure other than your own disappointment. This is all about setting your own goals and reaching them. And a little public bragging when you do.


For reference,
October commuting challenge

I'll start a separate thread each month throughout the winter. Take one day, one week, one month at a time, and you'll rack up more days than you probably thought possible!

CliftonGK1

Well, I didn't do so great on the October challenge , so I'll give it another shot this upcoming month.
Last week I drove to work all week. I was just feeling burnt out and needed a rest, so I took a week off. Now I'm back on the bike and feeling really refreshed and good.

Glottus

I'm in. October was pretty easy. I've been riding every day (5 days/week). Did the same through November last year. December was the month I dropped out in the past, but I've been dropping a bit of cash for gear this month to try and position myself where I can find no more excuses not to ride all winter, so see y'all then!

SingingSabre 

Same with me, Clifton. This past month has been a total bear. Too much to do with too little to go on. Things should be calming down this month and giving me more opportunities.

I'm game for this month's challenge!

HardyWeinberg

I think I'm looking at 18 days in the office for Nov. I might be feeling a sick day coming on for Weds though. If I took it tomorrow I'd probably be fine Weds, but have can't miss event tomorrow.

NeezyDeezy

I got hit by a car in September, and I think I'm finally healed up, so here's to a fresh start - I'm in.

caloso

Kind of a cheat for NorCal, since October/November is by far the best time of year to ride. But count me in anyway.

Sawtooth

Count me in. By the way, most of you know this already, but I have found that the absolute best way to ensure that I will ride no matter what is to have the fenders on, ready to go regardless of weather and to lay out all of my warm layering clothes the night before. Also, a spare bike is very nice to have for those rare flat tire mornings. Personally, I maintain a ss converter and a fully rigid mtb for commuting and try to keep both of them ridable at a moment's notice. I have fenders on both although the fenders on the mtb are quick release.

bmclaughlin807

I think I've missed a total of 5 trips since I started bike commuting back in mid-May. All but 1 of those trips was due to mechanical problems with my bike. The other trip was when my bad knee was hurting really bad and I put the bike on the bus rack.

Lossy

I'm in. However, I only ride home, and to pick up the kid at day care.

kennyd

I'm in....time to pin the ears back and "just do it" (thanks, Nike). Last night was interesting as it got dark real fast on the way home. I was expecting it, but it was still something new. Need to be a bit more careful now on the way home.

gbcb

All right, I missed most of the October Challenge thread though I was commuting by bike anyway. But count me in for November. I'm currently only working three days a week (M-W-F), so that gives me 13 commuting days this month. Assuming I get a real job lined up this month, that number may increase. Either way, while I've been bike commuting for a while, I've never done a 6-mile commute in the winter. The weather's going to get much colder very soon, so we'll see how it works. November is also one of the worst months for pollution here, so I don't know what sort of effect that will have.

Scorer75

I'm going to try and do 8 days this month.

November is that start of hockey season for me which means I can't ride on the days I play (2x a week) or on the day after I play. There is no way I'm playing hockey till 11pm and getting up the next morning to ride.

So Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday are all car days. That gives me Tuesday and Friday to commute by bike. Let's give it a shot. For the record, I have never ridden into November, I've always stopped when we changed the clock, but not with my new L&M ARC!!!

scottmorrison99

Same here!

caloso

Of course, it's supposed to rain on Thursday so that's our first challenge!

tsl

I work only four days a week and will lose two days in November to holidays. So 14 days is the most commuting I can do. Shouldn't be a problem. Don't own a car and I've used the bus only once since I bought my bike in March.

Still, there's shopping, Tuesday night group rides and planning a metric century for Veteran's Day.

Fonk

I'm in. I'm allowing myself to drive on Mondays (carry my stuff in for the week in the car, and run any errands for the week that I need the car for), and some Fridays (if my wife has to work Friday night and I have to get home early to watch my daughter, then I'll drive, otherwise I ride).

ItsJustMe

I just rolled my bike over 4000 miles for the year this morning. I ride 100 miles a week, so it looks like there's no way I'll hit 5000 by end of year, especially with thanksgiving and xmas vacation in there (though that's only 4 days off for me). Still, I should easily top 4600, and that's not too bad.

Two months to go on the 2006 challenge!

DogBoy

1/1 Still not at 100% physically. My goal is to ride as much as I can.

Adiankur

Since I have to drive to clients 2 days a week, I can only bike 13 days, with holidays. I also have to consider that I may have meetings come up with schools or insurance companies, so Ill shoot for 10 days this month, as I only started commuting october 30th and november first, today, is my first commute and Im halfway done.

Wulfheir

I work 14 days in november (going to mexico for a week).
Hope to bicycle commute all 14 days.

Yesterday I got really disappointed when a truck flashed his lights and honked behind me after following me for a couple of blocks. Then another truck nearly hit me, then slowed down and yelled that he hopes I get run over. But yesterday was a good commute home and this morn was a nice commute in.

Bike-a-Boo

This is great - I think I really need this, since this is my first winter commuting by bike. My goal is 20 days during November.

Scorer75

So far so good, November 1st.

I woke up to a beautiful sunrise and almost 60F. Wow, this "winter" commuting isn't to bad after all!!!

Next week it'll be back down in the 30's in the morning, then we'll see how it goes.

caloso

One for one. And got sprinkled on during the last half mile. I noticed that mine was the only bike at the rack.

Bolo Grubb

day one, Doing good!