tubechallenge.com

After the discussion starting at http://www.tubeforum.co.uk/forum/viewto ... =60#p88778 about the Art on the Underground Labyrinths, I've been thinking of starting a long-term challenge...

Completing a full network challenge by seeing all "Labyrinth" artworks in order.

This won't be efficient time-wise since, at every station, I will have to get off a train, find the labyrinth then get on another train. So I'm thinking of doing it over several days, not consecutively, whenever I happen to be in London. At the end of each day, I'll "stop the clock" on my cumulative time at a particular labyrinth then start again at the same one next time. I'll try to do each day on my Oyster, but I'll have to be careful considering which labyrinths are inside the ticket barriers and which are outside. A long run of labyrinths that are inside the station could see me exceed the maximum journey time. Ending one journey by exiting a station then quickly entering the same station to start a new journey has no penalty does it?

Anyway, I won't be able to do more than the first 131 before August, when Holland Park reopens.

Am I completely mad?

No

The Raven wrote:No

I agree. Just beware of Caledonian Road, whose closure was featured on the BBC London TV News as it is shut for eight months from February to October.

It could take you a very long time just to do as far as North Harrow, bearing in mind the relative infrequency of trains on that part of the Met.

A Challenge wrote:

The Raven wrote:No

I agree. Just beware of Caledonian Road, whose closure was featured on the BBC London TV News as it is shut for eight months from February to October.

Of the three stations that are or will soon be temporarily closed, Holland Park (reopens August) is first at 132, then Tufnell Park (reopens March) at 208 and Caledonian Road at 228. What I don't know is if Paddington at 55, which the route would have me reach by the Bakerloo line, will still have its labyrinth accessible when the Bakerloo stops stopping there. I may have to make sure I get the first 55 done before April.

I've started a blog, http://diamondtittle.blogspot.co.uk, where I'll be posting if this ever goes ahead. So far I just have a couple of posts, including the full route.

RJSRdg wrote:It could take you a very long time just to do as far as North Harrow, bearing in mind the relative infrequency of trains on that part of the Met.

I've worked out a preliminary schedule for leg 1, based on Saturday timetables, including getting to the start in Chesham from Southampton. It has me taking 3 hrs 5 min to get to North Harrow from Chesham, which I guess is a very long time, relatively speaking! On day one, I probably wouldn't get any further than East Acton at #24, as I wouldn't want to turn around and head towards West Ruislip at that time of day.

michael_churchill wrote:

RJSRdg wrote:It could take you a very long time just to do as far as North Harrow, bearing in mind the relative infrequency of trains on that part of the Met.

I've worked out a preliminary schedule for leg 1, based on Saturday timetables, including getting to the start in Chesham from Southampton. It has me taking 3 hrs 5 min to get to North Harrow from Chesham, which I guess is a very long time, relatively speaking! On day one, I probably wouldn't get any further than East Acton at #24, as I wouldn't want to turn around and head towards West Ruislip at that time of day.

Good luck. I hope that you enjoy it, and don't kind it too trying. If you don't revisit Chesham the start of the challenge to the end would be a (long) FNC.

Weekend tube strike called off! Yay!

I was afraid my tube adventure plans would be curtailed.

Back to my original plan... try some of the shorter challenges like "Mouse" and "All Lines" on Saturday, potter around on Sunday by starting my Labyrinth Full Network Challenge and possibly try out my route for the DLR challenge on Monday.

This weekend will either be the start of my tube challenging career or the abrupt end.

If you do start your career successfully, how about advancing it further and turning up at a Random 15 in March?

The Orange One wrote:If you do start your career successfully, how about advancing it further and turning up at a Random 15 in March?

Says the bloke who won't attempt the proper Guinness world records attempt

Well, without worrying at all about door positions and with no running (I'm no Mo Farah), I've set my first time for the Mouse and All Lines challenge. My other excuse is carrying my rucksack packed for the weekend with me.

My time for the Mouse Challenge was 1:41:56. It made me realise that my algorithm for route planning does need to minimise interchanges rather than the number of stations visited. The only consolation is that it is faster than Andi has ever done

My time for the All Lines challenge was 48:00.

palkanetoijala31 wrote:

The Orange One wrote:If you do start your career successfully, how about advancing it further and turning up at a Random 15 in March?

Says the bloke who won't attempt the proper Guinness world records attempt

But Hugo is a fantastic support person on FNC

That Mouse time is pretty decent! My Mouse route only visits 3 stations twice but includes 2 out of station runs. Like you say, it's about interchanges. As for the All Lines, if it couldn't be done on a single Zone 1 Oyster Fare I wouldn't bother doing it that often; it's not the best challenge.

Going Underground wrote:

palkanetoijala31 wrote:

The Orange One wrote:If you do start your career successfully, how about advancing it further and turning up at a Random 15 in March?

Says the bloke who won't attempt the proper Guinness world records attempt

But Hugo is a fantastic support person on FNC

At least somebody appreciates me

Well, yesterday, I got photos of labyrinths 1 (Chesham) to 31 (West Ruislip), all stations I've never been to before. I'm on my way home now and I'll blog the pictures when I can.

This morning I set a DLR time of 2:17:31, starting at Beckton. Has anybody else done Woolwich Arsenal to Lewisham by Southeastern? It's dangerous because the service is half-hourly, but it actually worked quite well because it was late!