Are we taking the alternative challenges too far?

Post by **tubeguru** » 07 Sep 2006, 09:54

OK, having been reading this forum over the last few months, I'm struck by the number of people going out and doing the alternative tube challenges (Zone 1, Bottle, All Lines etc).

A couple of people have mentioned to me that it's getting a bit obsessional, and I tend to agree - have none of you lives to live?

Is the whole thing being devalued by the sheer number of challenges taking place? Are people taking it too far? What's the point of doing an all-lines challenge every couple of weeks?

I'm just curious.

Sam · Post by **Sam** » 07 Sep 2006, 10:49

I agree, the number of zone one challenges of late is very boring in my opinion. I have never wanted to and probably never will do a zone one challenge!
As I said, just my opinion

Going Underground · Post by **Going Underground** » 07 Sep 2006, 12:48

Tubechallenge.com has in depth details covering the alternative challenges, Zone 1, Bottle, Alphabet and lists the rules and record times...

I have found these challenges a good way of meeting in person several of the other forum members and getting to know them. Also it has been a lot of fun as well as very informative with regards to finding your way around the network...

I fully respect everyone that has done a 275, being a GWR attempt of not and would very much like to do this myself one day...

So in MY opinion;

1) If the only challenge we ever discussed was the 275 this forum would be considerably less interesting, with little news or topics...

2) If you find the alternative challenges boring then DON'T read the topics, it is not mandatory to read every post in every topic

3) You should feel proud to belong to a forum where people want to go out and try different challenges, different routes, set better times and talk about there experiences...

Like I say this is just my opinion

londongirl · Post by **londongirl** » 07 Sep 2006, 14:16

I'm with Going Underground on a number of points.

I'm a new forum'er for the lack of a better word, I have aspirations for a 275, but I also know that right now I don't have the route, knowledge or team to help me out.

Zone 1's are good to meet people, discuss routes and tips, just like other challenges are. Though I only briefly met some of the board when I did my first Zone 1 it was still nice to put a name to faces and meet a few people with a similar interest.

If I hadn't done my Zone 1 I wouldn't have learnt where I'm going wrong, what works, what to improve on... basic things about doing any challenge. See my Zone 1 for example, technically a disaster, technically not. I learnt from it.

Essentially I don't think it's that people are taking it too seriously but just using it as a midway between sitting at home talking about the 275 and actually doing it. A Zone 1, All Lines, these are all good ways to get out there without massive planning, meet the members, so on and so forth.

And again, like Going Underground said, if you don't like them, just avoid reading about them. Isn't it why we have a seperate forum to chat about them?

Most of all, the Tube Challenge has a sense of fun about it, and that's what the alternatives are. Fun.

Soup Dragon · Post by **Soup Dragon** » 07 Sep 2006, 14:46

Neil, yes there have been a lot of challenges recently, in particular during the summer holidays. There are a lot of people doing these challenges such as students and teachers who don't have time to do challenges during the rest of the year, so I think that's one reason why there have been so many challenges.

I think that we do have lives and that's the reason why a lot of us opt for doing the Z1, Bottle & Snake challenges, they don't take so much planning, they are fun and they are a great way of meeting other people from the forum. The Snake is a great example of how well the forum works, it started as a quiz question, we all tried to work out the maximum number of stations, 129 was the answer, then the forum agreed the Snake was the name and finally the challenge became a reality

You should be happy that the forum is so active and there is so much going on out there, and like others have said the best way to find out about how routes work and station layouts is to get out there and do it.

I still don't have time to commit to a full 274 but the next challenge I would be keen to do is the Z1/Z2 challenge which is exactly half the number of stations.

Sam · Post by **Sam** » 07 Sep 2006, 15:07

I didn't say you shouldn't be doing them, it just seems that certain members of this forum do them nearly every week, is it really that fun to do it that frequently?
I'm a student, but still don't see the appeal of doing a zone one.
Me and Steve broke the record without ever doing any other alternative challenge, nor have we ever done one since....
The only time I would be interested in doing a zone one is at the specified zone one day...
Plus, with challenges going on seemingly every week, it's hardly going to endear ourselves to LU for when people do record attempts.

standclearofthedoors · Post by **standclearofthedoors** » 07 Sep 2006, 15:51

Sam wrote:I didn't say you shouldn't be doing them, it just seems that certain members of this forum do them nearly every week, is it really that fun to do it that frequently?

Every week during the holidays isn't quite so bad- give it a couple of weeks & the attempts will be nonexistant once more.
I'm a student, but still don't see the appeal of doing a zone one.
Me and Steve broke the record without ever doing any other alternative challenge, nor have we ever done one since....

Sam wrote:The only time I would be interested in doing a zone one is at the specified zone one day....

Why that one as opposed to anything else? Who decrees it's alright to do it on that day?

londongirl · Post by **londongirl** » 07 Sep 2006, 16:32

I'm a student and I do. Is the student bit really important? the alternatives aren't solely student based!

Personally, your not going to endear yourself to the LU anyway so give up on that idea. Anyway, a group of say 5-7 people once a week, mainly seperated into teams of 1 and 2, for about 3 hours, running briefly few a couple of stations? it's hardly that much to take notice of. After all commuters are running to catch trains daily.

Dr Who · Post by **Dr Who** » 07 Sep 2006, 16:40

These alternative challenges are a super way of meeting people from the forum

and are a good thing to do if you have some spare time.
I see no problem with alternative challenges

I am definitely with Going Underground, Londongirl and the soup dragon with this.

Sam · Post by **Sam** » 07 Sep 2006, 16:48

Nowhere in my comments have I said it isn't alright to do alternatives challenges. I'm just saying personally for me, the only time I would be interested in doing a zone one is on the annual zone one challenge day.
It's all to do with personal preference. For me, I have better things to do than alterantive challenges, but in no way am I disrespecting people who do, I just think they are being done to death of late.

nozzacook · Post by **nozzacook** » 07 Sep 2006, 16:51

Is this not the whole point of the seperate forum area for alternative challenges

If people want to go out each week and do zone 1 challenges then so what not everyone on the forum is interested in the big 275 but like the idea of a challenge that can be completed in around 3 hours.

If this is not your idea of fun then thats fine but dont disrespect those out there doing the challenges.

This is only my opion but if you dont like it or find it boring then dont read about it.

Dr Who · Post by **Dr Who** » 07 Sep 2006, 16:53

I didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t say you did Sam

standclearofthedoors · Post by **standclearofthedoors** » 07 Sep 2006, 17:28

I Did. Apologies if i misunderstood.

editorsfoot · Post by **editorsfoot** » 07 Sep 2006, 17:34

I met up for a couple of the zone 1 challenges during the summer, as Dr Who said it's a great way of meeting different people from the forum for a few hours, and zone 1s are generally light hearted attempts.

Unless zone 1 challenge day falls during a school holiday there is no way that I will be able to attend, so the different challenges give a chance for a bit of competition, and let's face it, theres a competitive streak in almost all of us.

I also have attempted a 275 this year, and will do again, probably next year. The full challenge and zone 1 are two different sorts of challenges. If I had the time and energy I would attempt the full challenge more often, I guess travelling around on the tube just appeals to my nature, and others, hence the large number of zone 1s etc.

It just depends on how you define 'too far', some people think I take things too far by going to watch Gillingham attempt to play football 25 or 30 times a year, other people think that I'm a bit of a lightweight by not going to every game every season. It's just a question of personal taste.

Mrs editorsfoot thinks I take things too far by coming on this forum, should I be stopped from coming on here then?

petermiller36 · Post by **petermiller36** » 07 Sep 2006, 19:54

londongirl wrote:I'm with Going Underground on a number of points.

whereas I'm with Going Underground FOR a number of PINTS!

tubechallenge.com