Upcoming just-for-fun bicycle challenges: Coffeeneuring and Three Speed October
I’m always game for an old-fashioned, just-for-fun, bicycle challenge. Sure the Bike League’s big National Bike Challenge and city events like Atlanta’s Biketober are great, but there’s something special about the low-stakes, high-fun challenges that are run by ordinary people on the blogosphere and social media. Two of these are coming up for October: Coffeeneuring and Three Speed October.
Coffeeneuring Challenge
Coffeeneuring has been one of my favorite annual challenges for a while. The premise is simple: ride a bike to spots where you drink your beverage of choice (e.g. coffee). If you do this enough and take photos to prove it, you’ll earn a fabulous prize.
From the official rules:
Essentially the challenge boils down to this:
- over the course of 7’ish weeks,
- ride your bike to 7 different places,
- at least 2 miles round trip each time,
- drink 7 cups of coffee (or similar), and
- take 7 pictures (or other documentation) as proof of your coffeeneuring.
Read more about how to participate in Coffeeneuring here.
It begins on Saturday, October 10th. It’s free to participate, although you need to cover the cost of your prize if you want one.
Three Speed October
This one is new to me. The Society of Three Speeds manages it, and its rules are simple:
From now until Sunday November 1st:
- Ride a three speed bicycle
- Three times a week
- At least three miles (5 km) each trip
- For at least three weeks during the duration of the challenge
- During a five-week period that centers around the month of October
Read more about how to participate in Thee Speed October here.
This challenge does have an entry fee ($17 to $22), but that cost covers your materials, including your prize and an official reporting journal. Swanky.
Three Speed October has officially started already. Sadly, I do not ride a three-speed bicycle, so I cannot participate.