I've done this every year since 2016. The Great Cycle Challenge is one of those ride-to-raise-money-for-charity events that pop up from time to time.
The charity I'm riding to raise money for is the Children's Cancer Research Fund.
The difference between this "event" and others (sort of) like it is that this one lasts the entire month of June. The riders pledge a number of miles to ride over the month. Other people donate money in support.
This year, I decided to make my goal 1000 miles. 1000 miles is more than I've ever ridden in a month, and I considered it a very aggressive goal. In fact, I have had my doubts that I could even do it.
It isn't so much that 33 miles a day is a huge physical effort. I was fairly certain that my legs would be very tired by the end of the month (through out the month actually), but that I could physically do it.
Being able to commit a couple hours a day to the effort was the question.
But, I had finally gotten a new bike, which is so much easier on my legs than my old heavy one. I figured if I road my bike to work every day, that would give my an "easy" 28 miles each day. Plus, the GCC always counts miles well into July, so technically, I didn't really even have to finish in June.
Plus ... worse case scenario ... if I couldn't do it ... it isn't like the GCC will have to give back their money. I'll be embarrassed, but really ... who cares?
So ... all that being said ... How am I doing?
I'm nailing it. Thanks for asking.
It is Day 10 of the Challenge. As I'm typing this up, I still have my bike ride home and likely another after dinner for today ... but as of now:
To be "on track", at 33.3 miles per day, I would need to be at 333.3 miles today.
As of right now ... I have logged 395.1 miles.
I have around 605 miles left to go.
I've ridden my bike every day in June.
On work days so far, I've only missed one day riding to in to work.
I'm averaging 39.5 miles a day (remember that I'm not done today yet).
My minimum day total was 29.1 miles (other than today which isn't done yet)
My biggest day was 61.3 miles. My longest single ride was also 61.3 miles.
I've gone on 23 individual rides. 3 of those rides (total of 42 miles) have been on stationary bikes at the gym, the rest have been "real miles" on my new "gravel bike".
In addition to the Great Cycle Challenge, I signed up for a Strava Climbing Challenge. I'm supposed to get 7500 meters elevation gain over the month (24,606 feet).
To be on track for this, I need to be at 8202 feet as of today. I'm actually at 13166 .. so I'm really on track to hit this goal. Given where I live, if I'm going to hit the 1000 miles, it would be hard to imagine that it would be possible to not hit the climbing goal. It seems like any little ride I go on I climb at least 900 feet.
I'm averaging over 1316 feet elevation gain per day. I should be done with the Climbing Challenge well before June ends.
So ... again ... How am I doing?
Fantastic.
I'm actually a little surprised how well I'm feeling after averaging almost 40 miles per day for 10 days. As I mentioned, the new bike really helps.
605 is certainly still a lot of miles to do in the next 20.5 days, but I'm really liking my chances of being able to finish.
Remember ... if you would like to donate to the Children's Cancer Research Fund, and help out my fund raising number ... feel free to donate on
Even if you don't want to (or already have), bookmark that page and you can keep an eye on my progress.
And ... as always, you can keep an eye on the regular SheppyBrew Channels to see what is happening with with challenge: SheppyBrew's Facebook Page; Sheppy's Twitter Feed; SheppyBrew's Instagram Page; and SheppyBrew's Website.
Go Rockies!
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