Announcing The 2026 Virtual Turkey Burn Challenge

From the first VTBC in 2021

 What It Is:

Since 2021 I have held a "Virtual Turkey Burn" challenge. A challenge to you readers to ride your bicycle(s). You readers have all responded nicely each time I have asked you to do this. Last year I had another good response and so I figured I may as well offer the chance to join in this virtual group ride once again this year. 

 Virtual: (In terms of meeting) A virtual meeting is when people around the world, regardless of their location, use video, audio, and text to link up online. Virtual meetings allow people to share information and data in real-time without being physically located together.

Turkey Burn: (relating to cycling) The day after or weekend after Thanksgiving* when cyclists ride long distances to "burn" off their Thanksgiving feast. A way to kick off the Winter cycling training season. Also a means for getting outdoors when it is cold. 

*A Change In Format for the 2026 VTBC: This year, I am modifying the time stamp a bit for this challenge ride. The reasoning for this stems back to the last two years of the challenge where weather has played a big part in making or breaking the challenge for riders. I also have to credit N.Y. Roll for some inspiration for this as he was the one who rode at a sensible time last year and did not allow the big snow storm to affect his chances at getting a metric century in. 

The Dates: I'm announcing this a bit earlier than in years past so people have a chance to ask questions and prepare. So, here is the way this is going to work for 2026. Thanksgiving Day in the USA is November 26th, 2026 this year. In years past, I would allow the Thursday through Sunday window (Thanksgiving Weekend), to be the time period for the challenge. As I stated, last year we had a huge dump of snow the day after Thanksgiving which made getting the challenge done nearly impossible. 

So, to mitigate those chances affecting the challenge going forward, and considering that the challenge has to do with Thanksgiving Day, and with a four day window for the challenge in the past being tradition, I submit that as long as Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26th, 2026) is in your four day window, the challenge is good and will be accepted as valid by myself. 

This means you could start your challenge on Monday, November 23rd, 2026, and end it on Thursday the 26th. OR you could start it Tuesday the 24th, and end it on Friday the 27th. As long as Thanksgiving Day is in your four day window, you are good to go. Other combinations are possible, but the days must be consecutive, and skipping a day in between your four days is not allowed. Of course, you CAN do this in one day, two consecutive days, three consecutive days, or in four.  

I propose a "Virtual Turkey Burn Century". Here are the parameters for participation:

1. Pick a bike. (Or multiple bicycles!) The more 'forlorn, forgotten, and neglected' of your choices, all the better. But also- Run what ya brung. If you want to use your favorite, most used bike- go for it. 
2. Ride a "century". Metric or full-on hundy, (63K or 100m) I don't care. Pavement, single track, gravel, back alleys, whatever. You decide. 
3. Take a picture. Take several if you want to. Digital works best for this.
4. Send me your pic(s) and a few words . Images and stories should be sent with a name I can credit to. (IMPORTANT!) Note: All images and words sent for publication here become the sole property of Guitar Ted Productions and may be used without compensation for entertainment purposes on this site only. 
5. TIME STAMP: Do this challenge in a FOUR DAY WINDOW which must include Thanksgiving Day the 26th. (See above for explanation) You can do a century over several days even- if you want to. Whatever.
   
6. DUE DATE: Send in your pics and words to g.ted.productions@gmail.com by Tuesday December 1st. I will put up the "Virtual Turkey Burn Reports" starting on Monday December 7th, (and possibly after- Depending upon the number of submissions)  showing off everyone's submissions. (That is, if there are any daring enough to actually do this deal.)

You can join in the fun or just come back to see if anyone actually did something and read about it here. I am committed to the idea, so there will be one report, at the least. What do you get as a participant? Just a fun activity and possibly an infamous reputation from having your images and words posted on Guitar Ted Productions. Sorry, but if you participate, that's the only reward folks! This ain't no fancy-pants organization here. If you get laughed at by your peers for having your stuff show up here, well then, I am sorry, but I warned ya! 

Okay, that's the plan. Now..... GO!