An on-line bike touring game

[raybo]

I've created an on-line bike touring game that I call Armchair Biketouring.

My goal in creating the game was to give people an idea of what bike touring is like without all that annoying bicycling! If you are an experienced bike tourists (as most of the people on this site are), you may find that the game doesn't match your experience.

As such, I should let you know that, due to design choices, the game doesn't allow stealth camping. Also, food can be purchased from a grocery store but no allowance is made for cooking. So, a player can't buy bags of rice and beans for $6 and live on it for a week. But, since you aren't spending real money, it shouldn't hurt too much to "splurge" a bit!

I have included weather, terrain, scenery, calorie usage and consumption, bonking, places to sleep, flat tires, broken spokes, budgets, and road angels. I wrote an article about the game, if you'd like more information about it.

I'd be interested in any feedback on it.

To run the game, use the link in the first line or this direct link: www.biketouringtips.com/ArmchairBikeTouring.

Ray

[Done]

Checking it out now...

Edit: Fun concept. Might add an "extreme" version for ultra riders out there who can like to ride for 100+ miles per day! You could also make it more sophisticated by adding a "gear" section. More gear would equal more weight and therefore slower times and more required calories. On the other hand, too little gear might mean no camping (only hotels), or getting stuck at gas stations to warm up if it gets cold or rainy (slower time). Also, I can eat more than 2000 calories in a sitting, but it'll slow me down if I try to ride--although it's a nice way to catch up somewhat on a daily deficit before sleeping. Lastly, I think that it's pretty normal to run a caloric deficit on a tour, since there's simply no way to absorb as many calories as can be burned on a long day! The game needs to encourage a little suffering!

I like the photos, "trail magic," failed patches, and other little touches. Nice job!

[raybo]

Might add an "extreme" version for ultra riders out there who can like to ride for 100+ miles per day!

I wanted to ease people into the bike touring "experience" and, at the same time, show them the limits that they needed to content with.  This is why the "short" mileage limits exist.

You could also make it more sophisticated by adding a "gear" section. More gear would equal more weight and therefore slower times and more required calories. On the other hand, too little gear might mean no camping (only hotels), or getting stuck at gas stations to warm up if it gets cold or rainy (slower time).

My original design involved people starting with no gear at all and then giving them a budget that included both gear and touring costs.  But, when I calculated the difference of carrying 10 pounds less, it was just a few calories per mile (8 when going steep uphill against a 10 MPH headwind).  So, to save myself a lot of work and to simplify the game for the user, I decided to simply assume that every bike tourist is carrying camping gear, even though I don't always do so myself.

But, the idea of letting a player choose a more "extreme" option is a good idea that I will file away for a future version of the game.

Also, I can eat more than 2000 calories in a sitting, but it'll slow me down if I try to ride--although it's a nice way to catch up somewhat on a daily deficit before sleeping.

Actually, the game only limits a player to 2000 calories at a sitting if they aren't "hungry."  This prevents people from eating a day's worth of cheap food at one sitting (think 6 bags of potato chips) and then riding all day.  The limit doens't apply If some one "bonks" (is forced to eat by the game) or at the end of the day.  That said, it is hard to eat more than 2000 in one sitting!

Lastly, I think that it's pretty normal to run a caloric deficit on a tour, since there's simply no way to absorb as many calories as can be burned on a long day! The game needs to encourage a little suffering!

While losing weight might happen to some on a bike tour, most people report little to none.  That has been my experience, as well.

I tried to show "suffering" by turning the progress bar to red at the end of the day.

Thanks for checking out the game.

Ray

[Done]

But, when I calculated the difference of carrying 10 pounds less, it was just a few calories per mile (8 when going steep uphill against a 10 MPH headwind).

Interesting statistic--just don't tell Matthew Lee that he could actually carry a real sleeping pad for only an extra calorie per mile!

[DoctorRad]

How about being more likely to take a wrong turn (and not notice it for longer) the more tired you are? Same could apply to the failure of a tube patch.

Love the concept!

[Damnitman]

winter cycling...think ITI, arrowhead, Sheep MTN 150...deep snow, overflow, open water on creeks, frostbite, varying tire pressures...

[WWOOF]

You should add in giardiasis (water purification), heat stroke (avoided by night riding), dysentery, starvation, drowning, hunting, river fording (with lost cycles), and deaths of other people in your crew.
 

[Done]

You should add in giardiasis (water purification), heat stroke (avoided by night riding), dysentery, starvation, drowning, hunting, river fording (with lost cycles), and deaths of other people in your crew.
 

Don't forget cannibalism. Any real adventure required cannibalism!

[Mike Brown]

i agree with the too much eating comments.  it may work mathematically, but its not reality- i'm no noob and have never eate as much as that program wanted me too.
soorry about the annoying lack of caps my left arm is in a cast.

[raybo]

i agree with the too much eating comments.  it may work mathematically, but its not reality- i'm no noob and have never eate as much as that program wanted me too.

Keep in mind that the game is tracking all the food eaten during a day, not just while riding a bike.

Did your comment take that into account?  Or, are you referring to how much food you eat while biking?

Ray

[oma73062]

YES, I think you are righe!!!

[SlowDave]

Don't forget cannibalism. Any real adventure required cannibalism!

maybe chlamydia too.